16:3 Next, 4 the second angel 5 poured out his bowl on the sea and it turned into blood, like that of a corpse, and every living creature that was in the sea died.
16:4 Then 6 the third angel 7 poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. 16:5 Now 8 I heard the angel of the waters saying:
“You are just 9 – the one who is and who was,
the Holy One – because you have passed these judgments, 10
16:6 because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets,
so 11 you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!” 12
1 tn The expression “to pour out rage” also occurs in Ezek 9:8; 14:19; 20:8, 13, 21; 22:31; 30:15; 36:18.
2 sn See Ezek 7:8; 9:8; 14:19; 20:8, 13, 21; 22:22; 30:15.
3 sn For the concept of defiling the land in legal literature, see Lev 18:28; Deut 21:23.
4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “next” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
5 tn Grk “the second”; the referent (the second angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
7 tn Grk “the third”; the referent (the third angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the somewhat parenthetical nature of the remarks that follow.
9 tn Or “righteous,” although the context favors justice as the theme.
10 tn Or “because you have judged these things.” The pronoun ταῦτα (tauta) is neuter gender.
11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate that this judgment is the result of what these wicked people did to the saints and prophets.
12 tn Grk “They are worthy”; i.e., of this kind of punishment. By extension, “they got what they deserve.”