1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind would blow on the earth or the sea or on any tree. 2Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God, and he called out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the earth and sea, 3saying, »Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.« 4And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed,from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand,from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand,from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand,from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand,from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand,from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand,from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand,from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed. 9After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, »Salvation belongs to our Godwho sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.« 11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12saying, »Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdomand thanksgiving and honor and power and mightbe to our God for ever and ever!Amen.« 13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, »Who are these, clothed in white robes, and where have they come from?« 14I said to him, »Sir, you know.« And he said to me, »These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore, they are before the throne of Godand serve him day and night in his temple;and he who sits on the thronewill spread his tent over them. 16They will hunger no more, nor thirst anymore;the sun will not beat down on them,nor any scorching heat. 17For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd,and he will guide them to springs of living water;and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.«