Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
1Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. | 1And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. He had 10 horns and seven heads. On his horns were 10 diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. |
2The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. | 2The beast I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like a bear's, and his mouth was like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. |
3One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast. | 3One of his heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but his fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. |
4They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?” | 4They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against him?" |
5The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. | 5A mouth was given to him to speak boasts and blasphemies. He was also given authority to act for 42 months. |
6And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven. | 6He began to speak blasphemies against God: to blaspheme His name and His dwelling--those who dwell in heaven. |
7Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. | 7And he was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. He was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. |
8And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain. | 8All those who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered. |
9He who has an ear, let him hear: | 9If anyone has an ear, he should listen: |
10“If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints. | 10If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he goes. If anyone is to be killed with a sword, with a sword he will be killed. This demands the perseverance and faith of the saints. |
11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. | 11Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb, but he sounded like a dragon. |
12And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. | 12He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. |
13And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. | 13He also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. |
14Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. | 14He deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that he is permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who had the sword wound and yet lived. |
15The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed. | 15He was permitted to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. |
16And the second beast required all people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, | 16And he requires everyone--small and great, rich and poor, free and slave--to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, |
17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name. | 17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast's name or the number of his name. |
18Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666. | 18Here is wisdom: The one who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a man. His number is 666. |
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