Revelation 5 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed shut with seven seals.

And I saw a powerful angel announcing in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even look inside it.

I broke down crying because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

Then one of the elders said to me, "Stop crying! Look -- the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has won the victory. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

Then I saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne, surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. He looked like he had been slaughtered, and he had seven horns and seven eyes -- these are the seven expressions of the Breath of God sent out into all the earth.

He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.

When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls full of incense -- these are the prayers of those who have been set apart for God.

And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and with your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Then I looked, and I heard the voices of thousands and thousands of angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders -- there were millions upon millions of them --

and they were singing in a loud voice: "The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea -- everything in all creation -- singing: "To the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!"

The four living creatures said, "Absolutely! It is true!" And the elders fell down and worshiped.