Latin Text Selections

The Latin:

Et datum est illi ut cooperiat se byssinum splendens candidum byssinum. Enim iustificationes sunt sanctorum.

The English:

And it is granted to her that she should clothe herself with fine linen, glittering and white. For the fine linen are the justifications of saints.

The Greek:

καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῇ ἵνα περιβάληται βύσσινον λαμπρὸν καθαρόν· τὸ γὰρ βύσσινον τὰ δικαιώματα τῶν ἁγίων ἐστί.

[This is part of a collective rejoicing following chapter 18. With reference to the white clothing, the New Jerome Biblical Commentary makes reference to Isaias 61:10, which is ' the garment of salvation and the robe of justice', part of the symbolism of wearing white after baptism. The NJBC also reminds us about individual responsibility.]

The Latin:

Et exércitus qui sunt in cælo, sequebántur eum in equis albis, vestíti býssino albo et mundo. Et de ore eíus procédit gládius ex utráque parte acútus, ut in ipso percútiat gentes. Et ipse reget eas in virga férrea : et ipse calcat tórcular vini furóris iræ Dei omnipoténtis. Et habet in vestiménto et in fémore suo scriptum : Rex regum et Dóminus dominántium.

The English:

And the armies that are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp two edged sword; that with it he may strike the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God the Almighty. And he hath on his garment, and on his thigh written: KING OF KINGS , AND LORD OF LORDS.

The Latin:

Et vidi cælum apértum, et ecce equus albus, et qui sedébat super eum, vocabátur Fidélis, et Verax, et cum iustítia iúdicat et pugnat. Óculi autem eíus sicut flamma ignis, et in cápite eíus diadémata multa, habens nomen scriptum, quod nemo novit nisi ipse. Et vestítus erat veste aspérsa sánguine : et vocátur nomen eíus : Verbum Dei.

The English:

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called faithful and true, and with justice doth he judge and fight. And his eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many diadems, and he had a name written, which no man knoweth but himself. And he was clothed with a garment sprinkled with blood; and his name is called, THE WORD OF GOD.

The Latin:

Et vox de throno exívit, dicens : Laudem dícite Deo nostro omnes servi eíus : et qui timétis eum pusílli et magni. Et audívi quasi vocem turbæ magnæ, et sicut vocem aquárum multárum, et sicut vocem tonitruórum magnórum, dicéntium : Allelúia : quóniam regnávit Dóminus Deus noster omnípotens. Gaudeámus, et exsultémus : et demus glóriam ei : quia venérunt núptiæ Agni, et uxor eíus præparávit se. Et datum est illi ut coopériat se býssino splendénti et cándido. Býssinum enim iustificatiónes sunt sanctórum.

The English:

And a voice came out from the throne, saying: Give praise to our God, all ye his servants; and you that fear him, little and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of great thunders, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord our God the Almighty hath reigned. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath prepared herself. And it is granted to her that she should clothe herself with fine linen, glittering and white. For the fine linen are the justifications of saints.

[That's right. The Church is decorated with the merits of the saints.]

The Latin:

Magna et mirabília sunt ópera tua, Dómine Deus omnípotens : iústæ et veræ sunt viæ tuæ, Rex sæculórum. Quis non timébit te, Dómine, et magnificábit nomen tuum ? quia solus pius es : quóniam omnes gentes vénient, et adorábunt in conspéctu tuo, quóniam iudícia tua manifésta sunt.

The English:

Great and wonderful are thy works, O Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, O King of ages. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and magnify thy name? For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come, and shall adore in thy sight, because thy judgments are manifest.

The Latin:

Nunc facta est salus, et virtus, et regnum Dei nostri, et potéstas Christi eíus : quia proiéctus est accusátor fratrum nostrórum, qui accusábat illos ante conspéctum Dei nostri die ac nocte. Et ipsi vicérunt eum propter sánguinem Agni, et propter verbum testimónii sui, et non dilexérunt ánimas suas usque ad mortem. Proptérea lætámini cæli, et qui habitátis in eis. Væ terræ, et mari, quia descéndit diábolus ad vos habens iram magnam, sciens quod módicum tempus habet.

Et irátus est draco in mulíerem : et ábiit fácere prǽlium cum réliquis de sémine eíus, qui custódiunt mandáta Dei, et habent testimónium Iésu Christi.

The English:

Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth, and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.

And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

[I was watching a program on the Discovery Channel about Revelation recently. Of course, it was all about evangelical 'christianity', people in large stadiums holding up their hands and chanting. Pastors singing about Apocalypse. One pastor dared to deny the existence of Hell. His lovey-dovey impression of the Lord Almighty does not allow the existence of Gehenna. All true believers, says he, will be caught up in the rapture while everyone else suffers down on earth.]

The Latin:

Et cum vidíssem eum, cécidi ad pedes eíus tamquam mórtuus. Et pósuit déxteram suam super me, dicens : Noli timére : ego sum primus, et novíssimus, et vivus, et fui mórtuus, et ecce sum vivens in sǽcula sæculórum : et hábeo claves mortis, et inférni.

The English:

And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not. I am the First and the Last, and alive, and was dead, and behold I am living for ever and ever, and have the keys of death and of hell.

[As always and as the angels, the Lord greets his friend with the same words. "Do not fear."]