JMNT(i)
1 Then I saw "a new (new in nature; different from the usual; better than the old; superior in value and attraction; new in quality) atmosphere (or: sky; or: heaven) and a new Land (or: earth)" [Isa. 65:17; 66:22], for you see, actually, the first (former; preceding; earlier) atmosphere (or: heaven) and the first (former, preceding) Land (or: earth; soil; ground) went away (or: passed away), and the sea does not exist any longer.
2 And then I saw the set-apart (or: holy) city, a new Jerusalem, continuously (or: progressively) descending from out of the atmosphere (or: presently stepping down out of the midst of the sky; or: steadily stepping in accord, forth from heaven), [coming] from God, being prepared (having been made ready) as a bride, being arranged (having been set in order; adorned; decorated) for (or: by) her man (husband; a male person of full age and stature).
3 Next I heard a great voice from out of the throne [other MSS: atmosphere; heaven] saying, "Consider! God's tent (the Tabernacle of God) [is] with mankind (the humans), 'and He will continue living in a tent (dwell in a Tabernacle) with them, and they will continue being (will constantly exist being) His people, and God Himself will continue being with them [some MSS add: their God].' [Lev. 26:11-12; Isa. 7:14; 8:8, 10; Jer. 31:33; Ezk. 37:27; 2 Chr. 6:18]
4 "And He will continue anointing (or: progressively smear or wipe away) every tear from their eyes. And death will no longer continue existing (or: the death shall proceed being no more) – neither will mourning (sadness; grief), nor an outcry, nor hard work (painful toil; misery) continue existing any longer ([they] will continue being no more), because the FIRST THINGS went (or: passed) away."
5 And then the One (or: He [who is]) continuously sitting upon the throne said, "Consider this! I am presently making all things new (or: habitually creating everything [to be] new and fresh; progressively forming [the] whole anew; or, reading panta as masculine: periodically making all humanity new; progressively creating every person anew; constantly constructing all people fresh and new; continuously renewing everyone)!" Next He is saying [to me], "Write, because these words are dependable (or: faithful) ones and true ones (ones full of faith and realities)."
6 Then He said to me, "They have come into being (been born; come to be) and stand accomplished (are produced) [Concordant Gr. Text reads, with Sinaiticus: I have become (been born)!; Griesbach reads gegone: It has been done; Rotherham simply says: Accomplished; Barclay, Young, Beck, NASB, NKJV, Amplified all read w/Griesbach; Weymouth, Williams, Wuest, Robertson & Vincent read w/the Nestle-Aland & Metzger Text, gegonan (3rd. per. pl.)]! I am the Alpha and the Omega: The Beginning (Origin; Source; Headship; First Principle) and The End (The Goal; Consummation; The Finished Product; The Destiny; The Purpose). "To him who is continuously thirsty, I will continue giving from out of the spring (or: fountain) of the Water of the Life, as an undeserved (free) gift (or: I will freely continue giving...).
7 "The one habitually overcoming will proceed inheriting (acquiring by lot) these things, and I will continue being a God for him (in him; to him) and he will continue being a son [Griesbach reads: the son] for Me (in Me; to Me).
8 "But for the timid (cowardly) folks and for faithless ones (unbelieving people) and for abominable folks (detestable ones) and for murderers, and for prostitutes and for sorcerers (enchanters; users of drugs) and for idolaters and for all the liars (the false ones): their portion [of the inheritance?] [is] within the lake (or: basin; artificial pool; marshy area) continuously burning with Fire and Deity, which is the Second Death."
9 And one of the seven agents – the ones holding (having) the seven shallow bowls: the ones being continuously full of (or: brimming with) the seven plagues – came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here! I will proceed in showing you the Bride, the Wife of the little Lamb."
10 Next he carried (or: carries) me away, in spirit (or: in the midst of a Breath-effect), upon a great and high mountain, and showed (points out to) me the set-apart (or: holy) city, Jerusalem, progressively (or: habitually; or: presently) descending out of the atmosphere (or: heaven), from God
11 – continuously having (holding; or: = bringing with it) the glory of God (God’s glory; God’s reputation; or: God’s appearance; or: the opinion from God), her illuminator (that which gives her light; the cause of her light) – like a most precious stone, as a jasper stone being continuously crystal-clear,
12 continuously having a great and high wall, having twelve gates, and upon the gates twelve agents, and names [Sinaiticus adds: of them] having been inscribed (engraved; imprinted) upon [them], which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel:
13 from the east (a rising) three gates; from the north three gates; from the south three gates; from the west (a sinking) three gates.
14 And the wall of the City continuously has twelve foundations, and upon them twelve names of the twelve emissaries of the little Lamb.
15 And he who is speaking with me was holding and continues having a measure, a golden reed, so that he may measure the City – even her gates and her walls.
16 And the City is lying (or: is continually being laid) square (four-angled; four-cornered), and her length [is] even as much as the width. And he measured (or: measures) the City with the reed upon twelve thousand race-courses (stadiums; fixed standards of measure): her length and width and height are equal.
17 And he measured her wall: one hundred forty four cubits – (a) human’s measure, which is an agent's [measure].
18 And that which was built within her wall is jasper, and the City [is] pure (clear; clean; cleansed) gold like pure (clear, clean) crystal (or: glass),
19 and the foundations of the wall of the city are ones having been set in order (made a system, a world; adorned) with every precious stone. The first foundation: jasper; the second, sapphire (or: lapis lazuli); the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;
20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius (or: carnelian); the seventh, chrysolite (or: topaz); the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz (or: peridot); the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, hyacinth (jacinth); the twelfth, amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates [are] twelve pearls – each one of the several gates was [made] out of one pearl. And the broad place (street; plaza; square) of the City [is] pure (clean, clear; cleansed) gold, as a translucent crystal (or: transparent glass).
22 And I did not see an inner sanctuary [= the holy place, or places, of the Temple] within her, for the Lord [=Yahweh], Almighty (All-Strong) God, even the little Lamb, is her inner sanctuary (or: dwelling place).
23 And the City continually has no need of the sun nor of the moon, to the end that they may (should) continually shine for her, for the Glory of God illuminates (enlightens; gives light to) her, and her lamp [is] the little Lamb.
24 And the multitudes (nations; people groups; ethnic groups; or: non-Jews) will continue walking about (i.e., living their lives) by means of her Light. And the kings of the Land (or: earth) continually carry (bring; bear) their glory [Codex Vaticanus adds: and honor] into her.
25 And her gates shall by no means be closed (or: locked) [by] day, for night will not be in that place (or: for there will not be night there).
26 And they will continue carrying (or: bringing) the glory (or: reputation; notion; opinion; appearance; imagination) and the honor (or: value; worth; respect) of and from the multitudes (nations; non-Jews; ethnic groups) into her.
27 And under no circumstances may anything common (profane; ceremonially unclean) – even the one continuously making an abomination and a lie – enter into her, except the ones having been written (or: being engraved) within the scroll of “The Life of the little Lamb” (or: the little Lamb’s scroll of “The Life”).
22 1 And he showed (points out to) me a river of "water of life" (or: Life's water; or: water which is Life), bright (resplendent, glistening, clear, sparkling) as crystal (clear ice), continuously flowing (issuing) forth from out of God's – even the little Lamb's – throne!
2 Within the midst of her broad place (plaza; square; street), and on each side of the river, [is] a tree (a wood; timber; a log; same word used in Gen. 2:9, LXX; figure for “the cross” in the NT) of life periodically producing twelve fruits, continually yielding (or: giving away) according to each month, and the leaves of the tree (wood; timber) [are given] for (or: into) service (nurture, care; healing or medical service; a body of household attendants) of the multitudes (nations; Gentiles; non-Jews; ethnic groups).
3 And every curse will no longer exist. And God's throne – even the Little Lamb's – will continue being (or: existing) within Her [i.e., the City], and His slaves will continue rendering sacred service to Him,
4 and will constantly see His face, and His Name [is; or: will be] upon their foreheads.
5 And night will no longer continue existing. And so they continuously have no need of the light of a lamp, or even the light of the sun, because [the] Lord [= Yahweh] God will continue giving light upon (or: will constantly illuminate) them, and they will continue reigning (performing as kings) on into the ages of the ages (or: the indefinite time periods of the eons).
6 Then he said to me, "These words are faithful ones and true ones, and the Lord [= Yahweh], the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent (or: sends) His agent with a commission (as an envoy) to show (point out; exhibit) to His slaves things which of necessity must (it is binding to) come into being (be birthed; happen, occur) in speed (swiftness, quickness, – so Lexicons; but Wuest, Williams, Barclay, Lattimore, Beck, Goodspeed, NEB translate this phrase: soon; others give: shortly).
7 "And consider this! I am continuously (habitually; repeatedly) coming quickly (swiftly). Blessed (Happy) [is] the one continuously keeping (actively observing; watching over) the words (or: messages; thoughts and ideas) of the prophecy of this scroll."
8 And I, John, [am] the person progressively hearing and seeing these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship in front of the feet of the agent [who] is progressively exhibiting (pointing out) these things to me.
9 And he is saying to me, "See! No! I am your fellow-slave, even of (belonging to; from among) your brothers – of (or: belonging to and from among) the prophets and of those continuously keeping and observing the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
10 Next he is saying to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this scroll, for the season (fitting situation) is progressively near (or: continues existing close at hand).
11 "The one continuously acting unjustly (unfairly; inequitably; contrary to the Way pointed out; also: = living out of covenant) must yet (or: still) act unjustly (unfairly; = apart form covenant); and the filthy one must yet (still) be filthy; and the just one (fair and equitable one; = the one in covenant) must yet (still) do justice (behave fairly and deal equitably in rightwised, covenant relationships); and the set-apart (holy) person must yet (or: still) be set apart (or: made holy)."
12 "Consider this! I am continuously (habitually; progressively) coming quickly (swiftly), and My wage (reward for work; compensation; recompense) [is] with Me, to give back (give away; render; pay) to each one as his work is (= what he deserves).
13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning (Origin; Source; Headship) and the End (Goal; Finished Product; Purposed Destiny).
14 "Blessed (Happy) folks [are] the ones (folks; people) continually washing their garments (equipment) [other MSS: continually doing His inner goals], to the end that their authority (or: right; privilege) will continue being over (or: upon) the tree (pole) of The Life, and they may enter into the City by the gates.
15 "Outside [are] the dogs and the sorcerers (users of drugs) and the fornicators (male prostitutes) and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone continuously fond of (being friendly to) and constantly practicing (making; doing) falsehood (deception; a lie).
16 "I, Jesus, sent (or: send) My agent to bear witness to you people [concerning] these things [being imposed] upon the called-out communities (or: to testify these things to, by or in you, over the [situation of the] summoned-forth assemblies). I am (I continuously exist being) the Root and the Offspring (Race; Genus) of David, The Bright (Radiant) Morning Star.
17 "And now the Spirit (Breath-effect) and the Bride are continuously saying, 'Be repeatedly and/or progressively coming!' Then let the one continuing to listen and hear say, 'Be continuously coming!' And so let the person constantly thirsting continuously come; let the one habitually willing (or: intending; desiring) at once take (or: receive with the hand) Water of Life freely (or: as a free gift)."
18 I am continuously testifying (repeatedly witnessing) to (or: in) everyone [who is] habitually hearing the words (or: messages) of the prophecy of this scroll: If ever anyone should overlay (place upon; thus: add) upon them, God will overlay (impose; add) upon him those plagues having been written within this scroll.
19 And if anyone should take away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of the Life, and out of (or: forth from) the set-apart City – of (or: pertaining to) the things being written within this scroll.
20 The One continuously testifying these things is saying, "Yes, I am continuously (or: habitually; repeatedly; or: presently) coming quickly (swiftly; promptly)!" Amen (So be it; It is so; Count on it). Be continuously coming (or: repeatedly coming and going), Lord Jesus!
21 The Grace and favor of the Lord Jesus [is] with everyone (or: all humanity; [other MSS read: ... with all of you; ... with the set-apart ones; ... with all the set-apart folks]). Count on it (or: It is so; Amen). [written circa A.D. 68-70 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]