1I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and earth had disappeared, and the sea was gone. 2Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, dressed like a bride ready for her husband. 3I heard a loud voice from the throne say, "God lives with humans! God will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won't be any more death. There won't be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared."

5The one sitting on the throne said, "I am making everything new." He said, "Write this: 'These words are faithful and true.'" 6He said to me, "It has happened! I am the A and the Z, the beginning and the end. I will give a drink from the fountain filled with the water of life to anyone who is thirsty. It won't cost anything. 7Everyone who wins the victory will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my children. 8But cowardly, unfaithful, and detestable people, murderers, sexual sinners, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

9One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the last seven plagues came to me and said, "Come! I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb."

10He carried me by his power away to a large, high mountain. He showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. 11It had the glory of God. Its light was like a valuable gem, like gray quartz, as clear as crystal. 12It had a large, high wall with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14The wall of the city had 12 foundations. The 12 names of the 12 apostles of the lamb were written on them.

15The angel who was talking to me had a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16The city was square. It was as wide as it was long. He measured the city with the stick. It was 12,000 stadia long. Its length, width, and height were the same. 17He measured its wall. According to human measurement, which the angel was using, it was 144 cubits. 18Its wall was made of gray quartz. The city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass. 19The foundations of the city wall were beautifully decorated with all kinds of gems: The first foundation was gray quartz, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth onyx, the sixth red quartz, the seventh yellow quartz, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth green quartz, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21The 12 gates were 12 pearls. Each gate was made of one pearl. The street of the city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass.

22I did not see any temple in it, because the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are its temple. 23The city doesn't need any sun or moon to give it light because the glory of God gave it light. The lamb was its lamp. 24The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25Its gates will be open all day. They will never close because there won't be any night there. 26They will bring the glory and wealth of the nations into the holy city. 27Nothing unclean, no one who does anything detestable, and no liars will ever enter it. Only those whose names are written in the lamb's Book of Life will enter it.