1After these things I looked, and look a door was opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, as it were, of a trumpet speaking with me, said: Come up here, and I will show you the things which must be done hereafter.

2And immediately I was in the spirit: and look there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one sitting.

3And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like to an emerald.

4And round about the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the seats, four and twenty leaders sitting, clothed in white clothes, and on their heads were crowns of gold.

5And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there were seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

6And before the throne was, as it were, a sea of glass like to crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind.

7And the first living creature was like a lion: and the second living creature like a calf: and the third living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an eagle flying.

8And the four living creatures had each of them six wings; and round about and within they are full of eyes. And they rested not day and night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.

9And when those living creatures gave glory, and honour, and benediction to him that sits on the throne, who liveth forever and ever;

10The four and twenty leaders fell down before him that sits on the throne, and adored him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11You art worthy, OH Lord our God, to receive glory, and honour, and power: because you have created all things; and for your will they were, and have been created.

3Praise you him, OH sun and moon: praise him, all you stars and light.

4Praise him, you heavens of heavens: and let all the waters that are above the heavens

5praise the name of the Lord. For he spoke, and they were made: he commanded, and they were created.

6He has established them forever, and for ages of ages: he has made a command, and it shall not pass away.

11As they were hearing these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately be shown.

12He said therefore: A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

13And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them: Trade till I come.

14But his citizens hated him: and they sent an embassage after him, saying: We will not have this man to reign over us.

15And it happened, that he returned, having received the kingdom: and he commanded his servants to be called, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

16And the first came, saying: Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds.

17And he said to him: Well done, you good servant, because you have been faithful in a little, you shall have power over ten cities.

18And the second came, saying: Lord, your pound has gained five pounds.

19And he said to him: Be you also over five cities.

20And another came, saying: Lord, look here is your pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin;

21For I feared you, because you art an austere man: you takest up what you did not lay down, and you reapest that which you did not sow.

22He says to him: Out of your own mouth I judge you, you evil servant. You knewest that I was an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow:

23And why then did you not give my money into the bank, that at my coming, I might have exacted it with usury?

24And he said to them that stood by: Take the pound away from him, and give it to him that has ten pounds.

25And they said to him: Lord, he has ten pounds.

26But I say to you, that to every one that has shall be given, and he shall abound: and from him that has not, even that which he has, shall be taken from him.

27But as for those my enemies, who would not have me reign over them, bring them here, and kill them before me.

28And having said these things, he went before, going up to Jerusalem.