7. from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,from the tribe of Levi 12,000,from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8. from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
9. Then I looked, and there was a great number of people. There were so many people that no one could count them. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language of the earth. They were all standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and had palm branches in their hands.
10. They were shouting in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
11. The elders and the four living things were there. All the angels were standing around them and the throne. The angels bowed down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.
12. They were saying, “Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength belong to our God forever and ever. Amen!”
13. Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people in white robes? Where did they come from?”
14. I answered, “You know who they are, sir.”And the elder said, “These are the people who have come out of the great suffering. They have washed their robes with the blood of the Lamb. Now they are clean and white.
15. And they are before the throne of God. They worship God day and night in his temple. And the One who sits on the throne will protect them.
16. Those people will never be hungry again. They will never be thirsty again. The sun will not hurt them. No heat will burn them.
17. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of water that give life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”