Chapter 16 of 22

Revelation 16

Every verse twice: in the King James Version, and in the World Bible Guide plain reading — what it says, in words anyone can follow.

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Illustration for the book of Revelation

Revelation 16, verse by verse

Each verse is given twice: first in the King James Version, then in the World Bible Guide plain reading.

1

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

I felt a powerful voice from the sanctuary commanding the seven angels, "Go forth, and unleash God's fury upon the earth."

2

And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

The first angel acted, releasing his bowl over the earth. A painful, repulsive sore broke out on those who bore the beast's mark and worshipped its image, causing them great suffering.

3

And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

The second angel released his flask into the ocean, turning it into a lifeless, bloody pool. Every creature in the sea perished.

4

And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

The third angel, with a heavy heart, poured out his bowl over the rivers and springs, and they turned to blood.

5

And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

I felt the angel of the waters declare, "You are just, O Lord, who exists in past, present, and future, for your judgments are fair."

6

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

They've cruelly shed the blood of holy ones and prophets, and now you've given them blood to drink; indeed, they deserve it.

7

And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

Then, from the altar, another voice echoed, "Indeed, Almighty Lord God, your decisions are pure and just."

8

And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

The fourth angel unleashed his power upon the sun, granted the ability to sear humanity with intense flames.

9

And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

People suffered under intense heat, cursing God who had control over these disasters. Yet, they didn't change their ways to honor Him.

10

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

The fifth angel unleashed his wrath upon the beast's throne, plunging its realm into utter darkness. Overwhelmed by pain, they bit their tongues in agony.

11

And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

They cursed the God of heaven, overwhelmed by their pain and suffering, yet they refused to regret their actions.

12

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

The sixth angel released his vial over the mighty Euphrates River; its waters vanished, paving the way for the eastern kings.

13

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

I witnessed three impure entities, resembling frogs, emerging from the dragon, the beast, and the deceitful prophet, filling the air with a sense of dread and unease.

14

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

These are demonic spirits, performing wonders, going out to the kings of the whole world, rallying them for battle on the great day of God Almighty.

15

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Watch out, I'll arrive unexpectedly, like a thief. The one who stays alert and holds onto their integrity is truly fortunate. Otherwise, they may lose their dignity and be exposed to public humiliation.

16

And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

He brought them all together at a place known in Hebrew as Armageddon.

17

And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

The seventh angel released his flask into the sky. A powerful voice echoed from heaven's temple, from the throne, declaring, "It's complete."

18

And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

Suddenly, a chorus of voices echoed, followed by thunderous roars and flashes of lightning. Then, the earth shook violently, a quake so powerful and immense, unlike anything mankind had ever experienced.

19

And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

The mighty city shattered into three, and the world's cities crumbled. God remembered Babylon's sins, preparing to serve her a bitter cup of His intense anger.

20

And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

Every island vanished, and the mountains disappeared, leaving a profound sense of loss and emptiness.

21

And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

A devastating hailstorm descended from the heavens, each hailstone weighing about a hundred pounds. People cursed God, overwhelmed by the severity of this terrible storm.

Go on with Revelation 16

Hear it read aloud in the iPhone and iPad app, or bring a question about it to Simon Peter, Paul, Philip, John the Baptist, Judas Iscariot or Jesus. When an answer rests on a passage, you see which one. Each person is an interpretation drawn from the text, never the person.

The chapters of Revelation