I heard what seemed to be the voice: as in verse 1, this cry of praise comes from people on earth. One may also translate “Then I heard what sounded like a great number of people shouting.”

Like the sound of many waters: as in 1.15; 14.2.

Like the sound of mighty thunderpeals: see 6.1; 14.2. Mighty in this context means “very loud.”

Hallelujah: see Rev. 19.1.

The Lord our God the Almighty reigns: see similar statements in 11.15, 17; for the title of God see also 1.8; 4.8; 15.3.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Then I heard what sounded like a great number of people shouting. It was loud like the sound of a giant waterfall (or, the waves of the sea) and like the roar of thunder (or, the sound of the sky roaring). They said, “Let us praise God! For our all-powerful God is king (or, rules over all).

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 .