AUV(i)
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and the first earth [had] passed away, and there was no longer any ocean.
2 And I [also] saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look, the Tabernacle of God [i.e., God’s presence] is with people and He will live with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be among them {{Some ancient manuscripts add “and will be their God”}}.
4 And He will wipe away all the tears from their eyes, and there will not be death anymore, or mourning, or crying, or pain anymore, for these old things have passed away.”
5 Then the One who is seated on the throne [i.e., Christ, or God] said, “Listen, I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write [this], because these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 Then He said to me, “These things have already happened. [Note: These words express the certainty of what has been predicted in this book, even though not all the events had actually taken place yet]. I am the Alpha and the Omega [See note at 1:8], the beginning and the end. I will give the person who is [spiritually] thirsty [a drink] from the spring of water of life without his having to pay for it.
7 The person who has victory [in the Christian life] will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my child.
8 But the place for cowards, and unbelievers, and disgusting people [i.e., because of their terrible sins], and murderers, and sexually immoral people, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will be the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This is the second death.”
9 Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues [i.e., judgments, See 15:1], came and spoke to me, saying, “Come here, [and] I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
10 So, he transported me away in [i.e., under the influence of] the Holy Spirit, to a very high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
11 It had the splendor of God [shining from it], and was as brilliant as a very precious stone, as crystal-clear as jasper.
12 It had a very high wall [around it], with twelve angels [stationed] at its twelve gates. The names written on the gates were those of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.
13 There were three gates on the east side [of the wall]; three gates on the north side; three gates on the south side; and three gates on the west side.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb [were inscribed on them].
15 And the angel who spoke to me [See verse 9] had a golden measuring stick with which to measure the city, its gates and its wall.
16 Now the city is laid out as a perfect square; its length is the same as its width. So, he measured the city with the stick [and found it to be] fifteen hundred miles each way; its length and width and height all being the same.
17 And he measured its wall [and found it to be] two hundred and sixteen feet [high], according to human measurements which the angel was using.
18 The material for the city’s wall was jasper, and the city [itself] was made of pure gold, as clear as glass.
19 The foundation of the city’s wall was decorated with all kinds of precious stones [Note: Not all of the following stones listed can be accurately identified today]. The first foundation stone was jasper [i.e., a bluish-colored stone]; the second was sapphire; the third was chalcedony [i.e., a translucent quartz of pale blue or gray]; the fourth was emerald;
20 the fifth was sardonyx [i.e., an orange-colored stone similar to chalcedony]; the sixth was sardius [i.e., a reddish-colored stone also called carnelian]; the seventh was chrysolite [i.e., a yellowish- or greenish-colored stone]; the eighth was beryl [i.e., a stone of bluish-green color]; the ninth was topaz [i.e., a yellow or bluish-yellow stone]; the tenth was chrysoprase [i.e., a stone of greenish-gold color]; the eleventh was jacinth [i.e., a stone of purple or reddish-blue color]; the twelfth was amethyst [i.e., a purple- or violet-colored stone].
21 And the twelve gates were made of twelve pearls, with each gate being made of a single pearl. And the street of the city was made of pure gold, as transparent as glass.
22 But I did not see a Temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the city’s Temple.
23 And the city does not need the sun or the moon to illuminate it, for the splendor of God provides the light for it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
24 And [the saved people of] the nations will walk in the city’s light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
25 And the gates of the city will never be closed during the daytime (for there will never be nighttime there).
26 And they [i.e., the kings of the earth, Verse 24] will bring the splendor and honor of [the saved people of] the nations into the city. [Note: This verse may involve a slightly different idea from verse 24].
27 And there will never be anything [morally] unclean allowed to enter it, nor any person who practices disgusting behavior [i.e., probably such sins as sexual perversion], or [any person] who is a liar. But the only ones [allowed there] are those [whose names are] recorded in the Lamb’s book of life.
22 1 Then the angel [See 21:9] showed me the river of the water of life. It was crystal-clear as it flowed out of the throne of God and the Lamb, 2 and down the middle of the city’s street. And on each side of the river stood the tree of life; it produced twelve crops of fruit, yielding a crop every month. And the leaves of the tree [served as medicine] for healing the nations. 3 And there will no longer be any curse [in the city], and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there. And God’s servants will serve Him, 4 and they will see His face, and His name will be [written] on their foreheads. 5 And it will never be nighttime there anymore; they will not need the light of a lamp or of the sun, for the Lord will give them light. And they [i.e., God’s servants] will rule [with Christ, See 20:4] forever and ever. 6 Then the angel [See 21:9] said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His servants [i.e., through the apostle John] the things that must happen soon [See 1:1]. 7 And listen, I [i.e., Christ] am coming quickly! The person who obeys the words of the prophecy of this book is blessed.” 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am [only] a fellow-servant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who obey the words of this book. You should worship God.” 10 Then the angel said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near [i.e., for the events of its prophecies to begin to happen]. 11 The person who is doing wrong should continue to do wrong [if he wants to]; and the person who is [morally] filthy should continue to be [morally] filthy [if he wants to]; and the person who does what is right should continue to do right [if he wants to]; and the person who is living a holy life should continue to live holy [if he wants to].” 12 “Listen,” [says Jesus], “I am coming quickly! And my reward is with me to pay [back] every person for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega [See note at 1:8], the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 14 Those who wash their robes are blessed because [then] they will have the right to [eat from] the tree of life, and will [be able to] enter the city through the gates. 15 On the outside [of the city] are the dogs [Note: This probably refers to people who practiced sexual perversions. See Deut. 23:17] and the sorcerers, and the sexually immoral people, and the murderers, and the idolaters and every person who loves and practices falsehood. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you people about these things for [the benefit of] the churches [See 1:4]. I am the Root and the descendant of King David, the bright Morning Star.” 17 And the Holy Spirit and the bride [i.e., the church. See 21:9] say, “Come!” And the person who hears [this] should say “Come.” And the person who is [spiritually] thirsty should come; [and] whoever wants to should come and drink the water of life without having to pay for it. 18 I testify to every person who hears the words of the prophecy of this book [Note: This is probably Jesus speaking, but could possibly be John]. If anyone adds to these words, God will add to him the calamities described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 The One who testifies about these things [i.e., Jesus] says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” May this be so. Come [ahead] Lord Jesus! 21 May the unearned favor of the Lord Jesus be with all of you. [Note: Some ancient manuscripts say “with God’s holy people”]. May it be so.
22 1 Then the angel [See 21:9] showed me the river of the water of life. It was crystal-clear as it flowed out of the throne of God and the Lamb, 2 and down the middle of the city’s street. And on each side of the river stood the tree of life; it produced twelve crops of fruit, yielding a crop every month. And the leaves of the tree [served as medicine] for healing the nations. 3 And there will no longer be any curse [in the city], and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there. And God’s servants will serve Him, 4 and they will see His face, and His name will be [written] on their foreheads. 5 And it will never be nighttime there anymore; they will not need the light of a lamp or of the sun, for the Lord will give them light. And they [i.e., God’s servants] will rule [with Christ, See 20:4] forever and ever. 6 Then the angel [See 21:9] said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His servants [i.e., through the apostle John] the things that must happen soon [See 1:1]. 7 And listen, I [i.e., Christ] am coming quickly! The person who obeys the words of the prophecy of this book is blessed.” 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am [only] a fellow-servant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who obey the words of this book. You should worship God.” 10 Then the angel said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near [i.e., for the events of its prophecies to begin to happen]. 11 The person who is doing wrong should continue to do wrong [if he wants to]; and the person who is [morally] filthy should continue to be [morally] filthy [if he wants to]; and the person who does what is right should continue to do right [if he wants to]; and the person who is living a holy life should continue to live holy [if he wants to].” 12 “Listen,” [says Jesus], “I am coming quickly! And my reward is with me to pay [back] every person for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega [See note at 1:8], the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 14 Those who wash their robes are blessed because [then] they will have the right to [eat from] the tree of life, and will [be able to] enter the city through the gates. 15 On the outside [of the city] are the dogs [Note: This probably refers to people who practiced sexual perversions. See Deut. 23:17] and the sorcerers, and the sexually immoral people, and the murderers, and the idolaters and every person who loves and practices falsehood. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you people about these things for [the benefit of] the churches [See 1:4]. I am the Root and the descendant of King David, the bright Morning Star.” 17 And the Holy Spirit and the bride [i.e., the church. See 21:9] say, “Come!” And the person who hears [this] should say “Come.” And the person who is [spiritually] thirsty should come; [and] whoever wants to should come and drink the water of life without having to pay for it. 18 I testify to every person who hears the words of the prophecy of this book [Note: This is probably Jesus speaking, but could possibly be John]. If anyone adds to these words, God will add to him the calamities described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 The One who testifies about these things [i.e., Jesus] says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” May this be so. Come [ahead] Lord Jesus! 21 May the unearned favor of the Lord Jesus be with all of you. [Note: Some ancient manuscripts say “with God’s holy people”]. May it be so.