⁸ And when he had taken it, the four living creatures^(A) and the twenty-four elders^(B) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp^(C) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers^(D) of God’s people.

⁹ When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under^(A) the altar^(B) the souls of those who had been slain^(C) because of the word of God^(D) and the testimony they had maintained. ¹⁰ They called out in a loud voice, “How long,^(E) Sovereign Lord,^(F) holy and true,^(G) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth^(H) and avenge our blood?”^(I)

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes^(A)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes^(B) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.^{(C) 15} Therefore,

³ Another angel,^(A) who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people,^(B) on the golden altar^(C) in front of the throne. ⁴ The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God^(D) from the angel’s hand.