All living beings in the whole universe join in the praise offered to the Lamb and to God.

Every creature: this includes all living creatures, human beings and animals as well.

In heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea: here the sea is added to the other three (see verse 3) in order to include all living creatures. The sea includes all bodies of water, and in some languages the plural form may have to be used.

And all therein: this is added for emphasis; it provides no new information. This is a normal feature of the writer’s style, and a translation should reflect it if possible.

Saying: as in other instances, a translation may choose to say “singing.”

In this short song the imperative be means that what follows should be offered, or given, to God and the Lamb as praise they deserve to receive.

Blessing and honor and glory and might: this is like the list in verse 12; but might here translates a different Greek word from the word translated “might” in verse 12. However, in this context there is no essential difference of meaning between the two. Good News Translation suggests a difference in meaning by using the words “strength” (verse 12) and “might” (verse 13).

For ever and ever: or, “for all time to come,” “throughout all eternity.”

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 .