Opening the Seven Seals
1 At the same time I saw the Lamb open the first of the seven seals, I heard one of the four living creatures shout with a voice like thunder. It said, “Come out!” 2 Then I saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow and was given a crown. He had already won some victories, and he went out to win more.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come out!” 4 Then another horse came out. It was fiery red. And its rider was given the power to take away all peace from the earth, so people would slaughter one another. He was also given a big sword.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come out!” Then I saw a black horse, and its rider had a balance scale in one hand. 6 I heard what sounded like a voice from somewhere among the four living creatures. It said, “A liter of wheat will cost you a whole day's wages! Three liters of barley will cost you a day's wages too. But don't ruin the olive oil or the wine.”
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come out!” 8 Then I saw a pale green horse. Its rider was named Death, and Death's Kingdom followed close behind. They were given power over one fourth of the earth, and they could kill its people with swords, famines, diseases, and wild animals.
9 When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of everyone who had been killed for speaking God's message and telling about their faith. 10 They shouted, “Master, you are holy and faithful! How long will it be before you judge and punish the people of this earth who killed us?”
11 Then each of those who had been killed was given a white robe and told to rest for a little while. They had to wait until the complete number of the Lord's other servants and followers would be killed.
12 When I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, I looked and saw a great earthquake. The sun turned as dark as sackcloth, and the moon became red as blood. 13 The stars in the sky fell to earth, just like figs shaken loose by a windstorm. 14 Then the sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all mountains and islands were moved from their places.
15 The kings of the earth, its famous people, and its military leaders hid in caves or behind rocks on the mountains. They hid there together with the rich and the powerful and with all the slaves and free people. 16 Then they shouted to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us! Hide us from the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb. 17 That terrible day has come! God and the Lamb will show their anger, and who can face it?”
Zwizhalilo zwili zwitathatu
1 Ngono ndakabona Pkhwizana izhula tjizhalilo tje kutanga mu zwizhalilo zwili kutendeka, ngono ndakahwa tjimwe tje zwibumbiwa zwinotjila zwinna tjilebeleka nge hwi linonga nsindo we gole tjiti, “Izha!” 2 Ndakalinga, ngono abona mbizi tjena, ntathi wayo wakabe akabhata dati, ngono kapiwa tjiala tje bushe. Kayenda ali nkundi kunokunda.
3 Pkhwizana ikati izhula tjizhalilo tje bubili, ngono ahwa tjibumbiwa tjinotjila tje bubili tjiti, “Izha!” 4 Kukabhuda imwe mbizi kakale, ili shaba kwakabondelela. Ntathi wayo wakapiwa masimba kudusa mbakiso mu shango, kuti ndizo bathu babulayane. Ngono kapiwa thumo gulugulu.
5 Pkhwizana ikati izhula tjizhalilo tje butatu, ahwa tjibumbiwa tje butatu tjiti, “Izha!” Ndakalinga, ngono abona mbizi thema. Ntathi wayo wakabe akabhata ikale mu luboko gugwe. 6 Ndakahwa nsindo unonga hwi udwa pakati kwe zwibumbiwa zwinna liti, “Lithara ye korong i ndipo ye zhuba, lithara dzili thatu dze bhali i ndipo ye zhuba. Koga musitjinye mafuta ne nkumbi.”
7 Ikati izhula tjizhalilo tje bunna ahwa tjibumbiwa tje bunna tjiti, “Izha!” 8 Alinga, ngono abona mbizi ye mbala we dundubadzi. Ntathi wayo wakabe edang'wa kuyi Lufu, ngono bugalo gwe bafi gwakansala shule, ngono bapiwa simba pezhugwi kwe lubabi gwe bunna gwe shango, kubulaya nge thumo nenge bhamba nenge bugwele nenge kushingisa phuka dze shango.
9 Pkhwizana ikati izhula tjizhalilo tje bushanu, abona kusi kwe tjibeso meya ye bathu bakabulayigwa dama le Ndzimu ne butendeki gwabakapa. 10 Bakabe bedana nge hwi lipezhugwi beti, “She Masimbawose, wakayengemala, una malebeswa, kowotola lubaka gungapani, musathu mukasumikilisa bathu ba muno mu shango, ne kubgwilizila malopa edu abakatebula?” 11 Mmwe ne mmwe wabo wakapiwa zwiambalo zwitjena. Ngono bakadwiwa kukayi banyaluluke kwe tjibaka tjilefana, kudzina balanda sa ibo ne zwikamu zwabo, zwibulawebo ngobe zwabe pejo ngobulawa, sa ibo bakabulawa, kuti mbalo iswike.
12 Ngono ikati izhula tjizhalilo tje butathatu, alinga abona kutengenyeka kwe shango kukulu, zhuba likashanduka likabe dema se jila dema le tjililo ne mwedzi ukashanduka ukanga malopa. 13 Nyenyedzi dzikawila pasi se phaya dzisakabidwa, dzishashamuka mu nti ha phepo ina masimba iwuzunguza. 14 Zhuzhugwi kukanyelela se lukwalo gupetiwa, dombo limwe ne limwe ne tjigwizi tjimwe ne tjimwe tjikadusiwa mu magalo atjo. 15 Ipapo bomambo be shango ino ne babusi ne balauli be babhayani ne bafumi ne bana masimba ne bathu bose, balanda ne bakasungunuka bakabgwata mu makuhwu ne kusi kwe shongwe mu matombo. 16 Bakadana matombo ne shongwe nge hwi lipezhugwi beti, “Mutiwile, mutisumbikile buso gwa iye ugele mu tjigalo tje bushe ne bushongola gwe Pkhwizana! 17 Zhuba gulu le bushongola gwabo latjizha, ngono ndiani ungalimilila?”