1I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals. I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!"
2Then I saw a white horse. The rider had a bow, and he was given a crown. He rode out as a conqueror, determined to keep on conquering.
3When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!"
4Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given the power to take peace from the earth so that people would kill each other. He was also given a large sword.
5When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" Then I saw a black horse, and its rider held a scale in his hand.
6I heard a voice among the four living creatures say, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages! But don't harm the olive oil and the wine!"
7When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature say, "Come!"
8I saw a pale horse, and the one riding it was named Death. The grave followed close behind him. He was given power over a fourth of the earth to kill people with war, hunger, disease, and wild animals.
9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw the souls of those who had been killed for believing God's message and for telling about Jesus. They were under the altar.
10They shouted loudly, "How long, Holy and True Master, until you judge the people on earth and avenge our deaths?"
11Each of them was given a long white robe. They were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their fellow servants and brothers, who were also going to be killed, was complete.
12I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal. There was a massive earthquake, the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon turned blood red.
13The stars in the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree shaking off its unripe figs when a strong wind blows.
14The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
15Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and everyone else, slave and free, hid themselves in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
16They cried out to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one sitting on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"