Revelation 7:9-17

Contemporary English Version

People from Every Nation

⁹^(A) After this, I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted. They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰as they shouted,

“Our God, who sits
upon the throne,
has the power
to save his people,
and so does the Lamb.”

¹¹The angels who stood around the throne knelt in front of it with their faces to the ground. The elders and the four living creatures knelt there with them. Then they all worshiped God ¹²and said,

“Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom,
thanks, honor, power,
and strength belong to our God
forever and ever! Amen!”

¹³One of the elders asked me, “Do you know who these people are that are dressed in white robes? Do you know where they come from?”

¹⁴^(B) “Sir,” I answered, “you must know.”

Then he told me:

“These are the ones
who have gone through
    the great suffering.
They have washed their robes
in the blood of the Lamb
    and have made them white.
¹⁵And so they stand
    before the throne of God
and worship him in his temple
    day and night.
The one who sits on the throne
will spread his tent
    over them.
¹⁶^(C) They will never hunger
    or thirst again,
and they won't be troubled
by the sun
    or any scorching heat.

¹⁷^(D) “The Lamb in the center
of the throne
    will be their shepherd.
He will lead them to streams
    of life-giving water,
and God will wipe all tears
    from their eyes.”