12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw ^vseven golden ^wlampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands ^xone like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and ^ywith a golden sash around his chest. 14 ^zThe hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. ^aHis eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like ^bburnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was ^clike the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, ^dfrom his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and ^ehis face was like the sun shining in full strength.

17 When I saw him, I ^ffell at his feet as though dead. ^gBut he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, ^hI am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have ⁱthe keys ^jof Death and Hades.