Paragraph 14:13
14:13a
a voice from heaven: This phrase refers to either God, Jesus, or someone whom God told to speak. Translate this phrase so that it can refer to anyone in heaven. For example:
speech from heaven
-or-
⌊someone⌋ say from heaven ⌊on God’s behalf⌋
telling me to write: In the Greek, the word write is a command to John to write what the person in heaven told him. For example:
“Write this:…” (New International Version (2011))
In order to avoid direct speech within direct speech, the Berean Standard Bible includes the command to write as part of the description of the angel. If your language does not have a way to express direct speech in this way, consider following the example of the Berean Standard Bible.
14:13b
Blessed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Blessed describes a person to whom God has shown favor/kindness. See how you translated this word in 1:3.
the dead—those who die in the Lord: This phrase refers to those who die as faithful believers in the Lord Jesus. They do not stop believing when the beast persecutes them. For example:
those who…die in the service of the Lord (Good News Translation)
Lord: The word Lord refers to Jesus here. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “the one who has authority over (others),” or “owner.”
In some languages it is more natural to include “Jesus” in this phrase. For example:
Lord ⌊Jesus⌋
from this moment on: This phrase probably refers to when the second beast began to require everyone to take the mark (13:11–18). The beast ordered people to kill all the believers they found (13:15c).
14:13c
“Yes,” says the Spirit: The Berean Standard Bible has placed the phrase says the Spirit in the middle of the spoken words. Place it where it would be most natural in your language. For example:
The Spirit says, “Yes,…” (New Century Version)
Yes: Here the word Yes confirms what the person in heaven said (14:13b).
says the Spirit: The Berean Standard Bible puts the verb says before the Spirit, who was doing the speaking. This is a poetic style in English. Place the verb says where it would be most natural in your language.
the Spirit: Here this phrase refers to the Holy Spirit. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer to someone else. If that is true in your language, you may want to make the meaning clear:
the ⌊Holy⌋ Spirit
-or-
the Spirit of ⌊God⌋
they will rest from their labors: This clause explains how believers will be blessed. They will be blessed because they will rest.
labors: This word refers here to working hard to serve God. The believers suffered difficulties and persecution as they served God. They will not need to work hard and suffer in heaven. After believers die, they will rest and enjoy being with Jesus. For example:
hard work (Good News Translation)
14:13d
for:
This conjunction introduces the reason why the believers will be blessed and enjoy rest. For example:
because (Good News Translation)
their deeds will follow them: This clause indicates that the good things that these people did while on earth will not be forgotten. The record or memory of these deeds will go with them into eternity. They will receive a reward for these good deeds. Other ways to translate this clause are:
their good deeds go with them (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the reward of all they have done stays with them (New Century Version)
-or-
they will be rewarded for what they have done (Contemporary English Version)
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