Revelation 22
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The River of Life
22 Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life[a] with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him; 4 they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads. 5 And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. 7 And behold, I am coming soon.”
Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
Epilogue and Benediction
8 I John am he who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me; 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes,[b] that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let him who hears say, “Come.” And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price.
18 I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.[c] Amen.
Footnotes
- Revelation 22:2 Or the Lamb. In the midst of the street of the city, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, etc.
- Revelation 22:14 Other ancient authorities read do his commandments
- Revelation 22:21 Other ancient authorities omit all; others omit the saints
Revelation 22
New King James Version
The River of Life
22 And he showed me (A)a [a]pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 (B)In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was (C)the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were (D)for the healing of the nations. 3 And (E)there shall be no more curse, (F)but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His (G)servants shall serve Him. 4 (H)They shall see His face, and (I)His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 (J)There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor (K)light of the sun, for (L)the Lord God gives them light. (M)And they shall reign forever and ever.
The Time Is Near
6 Then he said to me, (N)“These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the [b]holy prophets (O)sent His angel to show His servants the things which must (P)shortly take place.
7 (Q)“Behold, I am coming quickly! (R)Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 Now I, John, [c]saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, (S)I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
9 Then he said to me, (T)“See that you do not do that. [d]For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 (U)And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, (V)for the time is at hand. 11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him [e]be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
Jesus Testifies to the Churches
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and (W)My reward is with Me, (X)to give to every one according to his work. 13 (Y)I am the Alpha and the Omega, the [f]Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
14 (Z)Blessed are those who [g]do His commandments, that they may have the right (AA)to the tree of life, (AB)and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 [h]But (AC)outside are (AD)dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
16 (AE)“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. (AF)I am the Root and the Offspring of David, (AG)the Bright and Morning Star.”
17 And the Spirit and (AH)the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” (AI)And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
A Warning
18 [i]For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: (AJ)If anyone adds to these things, [j]God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, (AK)God[k] shall take away his part from the [l]Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
I Am Coming Quickly
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be [m]with you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- Revelation 22:1 NU, M omit pure
- Revelation 22:6 NU, M spirits of the prophets
- Revelation 22:8 NU, M am the one who heard and saw
- Revelation 22:9 NU, M omit For
- Revelation 22:11 NU, M do right
- Revelation 22:13 NU, M First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
- Revelation 22:14 NU wash their robes,
- Revelation 22:15 NU, M omit But
- Revelation 22:18 NU, M omit For
- Revelation 22:18 M may God add
- Revelation 22:19 M may God take away
- Revelation 22:19 NU, M tree of life
- Revelation 22:21 NU with all; M with all the saints
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
