English Standard Version | NET Bible |
1And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. | 1Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. |
2And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. | 2Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. |
3One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. | 3One of the beast's heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; |
4And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” | 4they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: "Who is like the beast?" and "Who is able to make war against him?" |
5And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. | 5The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. |
6It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. | 6So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God--to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. |
7Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, | 7The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, |
8and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. | 8and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. |
9If anyone has an ear, let him hear: | 9If anyone has an ear, he had better listen! |
10If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. | 10If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, then by the sword he must be killed. This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints. |
11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. | 11Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon. |
12It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. | 12He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. |
13It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, | 13He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people |
14and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. | 14and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived. |
15And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. | 15The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. |
16Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, | 16He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. |
17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. | 17Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast--that is, his name or his number. |
18This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. | 18This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast's number, for it is man's number, and his number is 666. |
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