Revelation 1

John receives the Revelation of Jesus Christ on the island of Patmos and is commanded to write what he sees to the seven churches in Asia. He sees the Son of man standing among seven golden candlesticks, clothed in a garment down to the foot, His countenance like the sun shining in its strength, holding seven stars in His right hand.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:	This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. God gave it to Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He sent it through His angel to His servant John.
2	Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.	John testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ — everything He saw.
3	Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.	Blessed is the one who reads, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it. The time is near.
4	John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;	John to the seven churches in Asia: Grace and peace to You from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come — and from the seven Spirits before His throne.
5	And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,	And from Jesus Christ — the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.
6	And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.	He has made us kings and priests to God His Father. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7	Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.	He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him — even those who pierced Him. All families of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
8	I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.	"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come — the Almighty.
9	I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.	I, John, am your brother and partner in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are in Jesus Christ. I was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10	I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,	I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.
11	Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.	It said, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last." Then it said, "Write in a book what You see, and send it to the seven churches — to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."
12	And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;	I turned to see the voice that spoke to me. When I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands.
13	And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.	In the middle of the lampstands stood one like the Son of Man. He was clothed with a robe reaching to His feet, and a golden sash was wrapped around His chest.
14	His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;	His head and hair were white as wool — as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire.
15	And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.	His feet were like polished bronze, glowing as if refined in a furnace. His voice was like the sound of many waters.
16	And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.	In His right hand He held seven stars. Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. His countenance was like the sun shining in full strength.
17	And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:	When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. He laid His right hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last."
18	I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.	"I am the Living One. I was dead, and now I am alive for ever and ever. Amen. I hold the keys of hell and of death."
19	Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;	"Write the things You have seen, the things that are, and the things that will take place after this."
20	The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.	"Here is the mystery of the seven stars You saw in My right hand and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."