The angel of water: nowhere else in Revelation is this angel referred to; presumably he is in charge of all water on earth (see 14.18 for the angel in charge of fire). It is appropriate that he speak here, since the second and third bowls of God’s anger were poured out on all bodies of water.

Say: the angel speaks to God, so it may be well to say explicitly “say to God.”

Just art thou in these thy judgments: for Just see 15.3. The noun phrase these thy judgments translates a verbal phrase in Greek, “that you judged these (things).” For the verb “to judge” see 6.10. In many languages it will be natural to imitate Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation and use a noun phrase. Since in this context judgments refers to the plagues that are being sent on the world, it is possible to translate “these punishments.”

Thou who art and wast: these verb forms in modern English appear as in Good News Translation. See comments on “who is and who was” in 1.4.

O Holy One: see 15.4.

In some languages it may be more satisfactory to change the order of the various clauses and phrases as follows:

• “You are the Holy God (or, You are truly God”); you are the God who lives now and have always lived! These punishments you send on the world are just.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .