Paragraph 22:18–19

22:18a

I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: The warning is told in 22:18b–19c. The Berean Standard Bible indicates that the warning is told after this clause by using a colon (:) at the end of the clause. Other ways to translate the clause are:

Here is my warning for everyone who hears the prophecies in this book: (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
My warning to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book is this :

I: Here, this pronoun probably refers to John. For example:

I, John, (Good News Translation)

testify: The word testify refers to saying something that is truthful and accurate. Here the word indicates that people should accept the warnings spoken in 22:18b–19c. For example:

solemnly declare (New Living Translation (2004))

prophecy: The word prophecy refers to a message that God gives to someone. The message may include a vision, as in Ezekiel 1 and Daniel 8. This word refers to 2:1–22:16 here. See how you translated this word in 22:7.

22:18b

If anyone adds to them: This clause refers to changing the meaning of anything that John had written in this book either by:

(a) adding words that he had not written,

(b) adding meanings that he did not intend.

John wanted his readers to teach and copy his visions and prophecies exactly as he had written them.

Other ways to translate this clause are:

If anyone adds anything to what is written here (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
If anyone adds to these words (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

22:18c

God will add to him the plagues described in this book: The phrase add to him the plagues indicates what God will do to anyone who adds to the book of Revelation. He will cause the plagues described in this book to happen to that person.

The word add poetically connects this clause with 22:18b. If possible, use the word add here as well. For example:

God will add the plagues described in this book ⌊to his woes/troubles⌋ .

the plagues described in this book: The Greek words are literally “the plagues having been written in this book.” This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active or intransitive clause. For example:

the plagues which ⌊I⌋ wrote in this book
-or-
the plagues in this book

plagues: This word refers to disasters that harm a lot of people. It can refer to diseases that kill many people. It can refer to locusts that damage many crops.

Some languages do not have a general word such as plagues for that meaning. If that is true in your language, you may need to use a descriptive phrase. For example:

things that cause much suffering

See how you translated the word plagues in 6:8 or 15:1.

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