Revelation
Chapter 17
1 1 Then one of the seven angels who were holding the seven bowls came and said to me,＂Come here. I will show you the judgment on the great harlot 2 who lives near the many waters.
那七位拿着七个盂的天使中，有一位前来，向我说道：＂你来，我要指给你看，那在多水之旁为王的大淫妇受的惩罚；
2 3 The kings of the earth have had intercourse with her, and the inhabitants of the earth became drunk on the wine of her harlotry.＂
世上的诸王都同她行过邪淫，地上的居民也都喝醉了她淫乱的酒。＂
3 Then he carried me away in spirit to a deserted place where I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast 4 that was covered with blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns.
于是天使叫我神魂超拔，提我到了旷野，我便看见了一个妇人，坐在一只朱红色且满了亵渎名号的兽身上，它有七个头，十只角。
4 The woman was wearing purple and scarlet and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a gold cup that was filled with the abominable and sordid deeds of her harlotry.
这妇人身穿紫红和朱红色的衣服，全身点缀着金子、宝石和珍珠；她手里拿着满盛可憎之物和她淫污的金杯。
5 On her forehead was written a name, which is a mystery,＂Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.＂
她的额上写着一个含有奥秘的名字：＂伟大的巴比伦！淫乱和地上可憎之物的母亲。＂
6 5 I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the holy ones and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. 6 When I saw her I was greatly amazed.
我又看见这妇人痛饮了圣徒的血，和为耶稣殉道者的血；我一看见她，遂大为惊奇。
7 The angel said to me,＂Why are you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, the beast with the seven heads and the ten horns.
天使便对我说：＂你为什麽惊奇？我要告诉你这妇人和驮着她，而有七个头和十只角的那兽的奥秘：
8 7 The beast that you saw existed once but now exists no longer. It will come up from the abyss and is headed for destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world shall be amazed when they see the beast, because it existed once but exists no longer, and yet it will come again.
你所看见的那兽，先前在而今不在，可是它又要从深渊中上来，自趋于丧亡；地上的居民，凡他们的名字从创世之初，没有记录在生命册中的，看见那先前在，而今不在，将来又在的兽，都必要惊奇。
9 Here is a clue 8 for one who has wisdom. The seven heads represent seven hills upon which the woman sits. They also represent seven kings:
这里需要一个有智慧的明悟去理解：七个头是指那妇人所坐的七座山，也是指七位君王；
10 five have already fallen, one still lives, and the last has not yet come, 9 and when he comes he must remain only a short while.
五位已经倒了，一位仍在，另一位还没有来到；当他来到时，必要存留片刻。
11 The beast 10 that existed once but exists no longer is an eighth king, but really belongs to the seven and is headed for destruction.
至于那先前在而今不在的兽，是第八位，也属于那七位中之一，它要趋于丧亡。
12 The ten horns that you saw represent ten kings who have not yet been crowned; 11 they will receive royal authority along with the beast for one hour.
你所看见的那十只角，是指十个君王，他们还没有领受王位，但必要同那兽一起得到权柄；他们当国王，只一个时辰。
13 They are of one mind and will give their power and authority to the beast.
他们的意见都一致：就是把自己的能力和权柄都交给那兽。
14 They will fight with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and king of kings, and those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.＂
他们要同羔羊交战，羔羊却要战胜他们，因为他是万主之主，万王之王，同他在一起的蒙召、被选和忠信的人，也必要获胜。＂
15 Then he said to me,＂The waters that you saw where the harlot lives represent large numbers of peoples, nations, and tongues.
天使又对我说：＂你看见那淫妇所统治的水，是指诸民族、群众、邦国和异语人民。
16 The ten horns 12 that you saw and the beast will hate the harlot; they will leave her desolate and naked; they will eat her flesh and consume her with fire.
你看见的那十只角和那兽，必要憎恨那淫妇，使她成为孤独凄凉，赤身裸体的，并吞食她的肉，且用火焚烧她，
17 For God has put it into their minds to carry out his purpose and to make them come to an agreement to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are accomplished.
因为天主使它们的心中有这意念，叫它们实行天主的计划，就是叫它们一心，把它们的王权交给那兽，直到天主的话完全应验为止。
18 The woman whom you saw represents the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth.＂
你所看见的那妇人，是指那座对地上的诸王握有王权的大城。＂
Footnotes〔注解〕
1 [1-6] Babylon, the symbolic name (Rev 17:5) of Rome, is graphically described as＂the great harlot.＂
2 [17:1-19:10] The punishment of Babylon is now described as a past event and, metaphorically, under the image of the great harlot who leads people astray into idolatry.
3 [2] Intercourse . . . harlotry: see the note on Rev 14:4. The pagan kings subject to Rome adopted the cult of the emperor.
4 [3] Scarlet beast: see the note on Rev 13:1-10. Blasphemous names: divine titles assumed by the Roman emperors; see the note on Rev 13:5-6.
5 [6] Reference to the great wealth and idolatrous cults of Rome.
6 [6b-18] An interpretation of the vision is here given.
7 [8] Allusion to the belief that the dead Nero would return to power (Rev 17:11); see the note on Rev 13:3.
8 [9] Here is a clue: literally,＂Here a mind that has wisdom.＂ Seven hills: of Rome.
9 [10] There is little agreement as to the identity of the Roman emperors alluded to here. The number seven (Rev 17:9) suggests that all the emperors are meant; see the note on Rev 1:4.
10 [11] The beast: Nero; see the note on Rev 17:8.
11 [12-13] Ten kings who have not yet been crowned: perhaps Parthian satraps who are to accompany the revived Nero (the beast) in his march on Rome to regain power; see the note on Rev 13:3. In Rev 19:11-21, the Lamb and his companions will conquer them.
12 [16-18] The ten horns: the ten pagan kings (Rev 17:12) who unwittingly fulfill God's will against harlot Rome, the great city; cf Ezekiel 16:37.