| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by 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, |
| 2With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." | 2with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality and the earth's inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality." |
| 3Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten 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, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. | 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. |
| 5The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations 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." |
| 6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony 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 explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. | 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, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come. | 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. |
| 9"This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. | 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; but when he does come, he must remain for only 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 who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his 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. |
| 12"The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. | 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. |
| 13They have one purpose and will 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. |
| 14They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." | 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." |
| 15Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, 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 beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her 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 accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled. | 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. |
| 18The woman you saw is the great city that rules 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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