₉After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd — no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. ₁₀They called out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb!” ₁₁All the angels stood round the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downwards in front of the throne and worshipped God, ₁₂saying, “Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honour, power, and might belong to our God for ever and ever! Amen!”

₁₃One of the elders asked me, “Who are these people dressed in white robes, and where do they come from?”

₁₄“I don't know, sir. You do,” I answered.

He said to me, “These are the people who have come safely through the terrible persecution. They have washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb. ₁₅That is why they stand before God's throne and serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will protect them with his presence. ₁₆Never again will they hunger or thirst; neither sun nor any scorching heat will burn them, ₁₇because the Lamb, who is in the centre of the throne, will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”