Chapter 6

Seventh Vision: Four Chariots.^{(A) 1} Again I raised my eyes and saw four chariots^[a] coming out from between two mountains; and the mountains were of bronze. ² The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses, ³ the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong horses. ⁴ I asked the angel who spoke with me, “What are these, my lord?” ⁵ The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of the heavens,^[b] which are coming forth after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.^{(B) 6} The one with the black horses is going toward the land of the north, and the white horses go toward the west, and the dappled ones go toward the land of the south.” ⁷ These strong horses went out, eager to set about patrolling the earth, for he said, “Go, patrol the earth!” So they patrolled the earth.

⁶ Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders a Lamb^[a] that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the [seven] spirits of God sent out into the whole world.^(A)

IV. The Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Plagues, with Interludes^[a]

Chapter 6^[b]

The First Six Seals. ^1 [c]Then I watched while the Lamb broke open the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures cry out in a voice like thunder, “Come forward.” ² I looked, and there was a white horse, and its rider had a bow.^[d] He was given a crown, and he rode forth victorious to further his victories.^(A)

³ When he broke open the second seal, I heard the second living creature cry out, “Come forward.” ^4 [e](B)Another horse came out, a red one. Its rider was given power to take peace away from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And he was given a huge sword.

⁵ When he broke open the third seal, I heard the third living creature cry out, “Come forward.” I looked, and there was a black horse,^[f] and its rider held a scale in his hand. ⁶ I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures. It said, “A ration of wheat costs a day’s pay,^[g] and three rations of barley cost a day’s pay. But do not damage the olive oil or the wine.”^(C)

⁷ When he broke open the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature cry out, “Come forward.” ⁸ I looked, and there was a pale green^[h] horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades accompanied him. They were given authority over a quarter of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and plague, and by means of the beasts of the earth.^(D)

⁹ When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar^[i] the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the witness they bore to the word of God.