| Holman Christian Standard Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me: "Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute who sits on many waters. | 1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, |
| 2The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality." | 2with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” |
| 3So he carried me away in the Spirit to a desert. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and 10 horns. | 3And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. |
| 4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She had a gold cup in her hand filled with everything vile and with the impurities of her prostitution. | 4The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. |
| 5On her forehead a cryptic name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE VILE THINGS OF THE EARTH. | 5And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” |
| 6Then I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. | 6And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly. |
| 7Then the angel said to me, "Why are you astonished? I will tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the 10 horns, that carries her. | 7But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. |
| 8The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present again." | 8The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. |
| 9Here is the mind with wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. | 9This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; |
| 10They are also seven kings: Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for a little while. | 10they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. |
| 11The beast that was and is not, is himself an eighth king, yet he belongs to the seven and is going to destruction. | 11As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. |
| 12The 10 horns you saw are 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. | 12And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. |
| 13These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. | 13These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. |
| 14These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." | 14They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” |
| 15He also said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. | 15And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. |
| 16The 10 horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire. | 16And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, |
| 17For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His plan by having one purpose and to give their kingdom to the beast until God's words are accomplished. | 17for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. |
| 18And the woman you saw is the great city that has an empire over the kings of the earth." | 18And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.” |
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