The first six Seals
1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 Suddenly there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow and wore a victor’s crown, and went out conquering with the intent to keep on conquering.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second creature say “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, a fiery one. Its rider was given a large sword and granted the power to take peace from the earth so that people would slaughter each other.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third creature say “Come!” Suddenly there was a black horse whose rider held a pair of scales. 6 And I heard a voice from the center of the four creatures saying, “A day’s ration of wheat for a day’s wages, and three days’ ration of barley for a day’s wages… and don’t damage the olive oil and the wine!”
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth creature say “Come!” 8 Suddenly there was a green horse whose rider was labeled Death, accompanied by Hades. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth to kill with the sword, with famine, with other causes, and with the wild animals of the earth.
9 When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw at the base of the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered on account of the Word of God and the testimony they held. 10 They shouted loudly, “How long, holy and true Ruler, until you judge the earth dwellers and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe and told to be patient for a little longer for their fellow slaves, their brothers and sisters, who were about to be killed as they were.
12 I watched the Lamb open the sixth seal, and there was a great disturbance; the sun became black as goat hair cloth and the whole moon became like blood. 13 Then the stars fell from the sky to the earth, something like when a strong wind shakes a fig tree and causes it to cast its overripe figs. 14 The sky recoiled as when a scroll is rolled up, and every mountain and island was shifted from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the great ones, the military commanders of thousands, the rich, the strong, the slave and the free all hid themselves in caves and in crevices in the mountains. 16 They said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one sitting on the throne and from the fury of the Lamb! 17 For the day of their great fury has arrived, and who is able to stand?”