| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 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 spoke to me. "Come," he said, "I will show you the condemnation and punishment of the great prostitute who sits 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 committed sexual immorality and the earth's inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality." |
| 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. | 3So he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness, and there I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and 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. | 4Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from 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. | 5On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: "Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth." |
| 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. | 6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus. I was greatly astounded when I saw her. |
| 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 are you astounded? I will interpret for you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the 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 you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth--all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world--will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come. |
| 9Here is the mind with wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. | 9(This requires a mind that has wisdom.) The seven heads are seven mountains the woman sits on. They are also seven kings: |
| 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. | 10five have fallen; one is, and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time. |
| 11The beast that was and is not, is himself an eighth king, yet he belongs to the seven and is going to destruction. | 11The beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king and yet is one of the seven, and is going 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. | 12The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority as kings with the beast for one hour. |
| 13These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. | 13These kings have a single intent, and they will give 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 with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful." |
| 15He also said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. | 15Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw (where the prostitute is seated) are peoples, multitudes, 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. | 16The ten horns that you saw, and the beast--these will hate the prostitute and make her desolate and naked. They will consume 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 into their minds to carry out his purpose by making a decision to give 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." | 18As for the woman you saw, she is the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth." |
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