6:16a

said: Here the people spoke to the rocks and mountains because they were desperate. Other ways to translate this word are:

called (New International Version)
-or-
shouted (Contemporary English Version)

People do not normally speak to rocks and mountains. See the General Comment on 6:16a–17b below.

6:16b–17b

In 6:16b–17b the people were very afraid. Your language may have a way of speaking that indicates fear. It might be short sentences. For example:

“Fall on us! Hide us from the one sitting on the throne! Hide us from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 Indeed, the great day of their wrath has come! Who can stand?”

Consider how your language indicates great fear when speaking.

6:16b

Fall on us: The speakers called on the mountains to cover them. They wanted to avoid standing before God. They were greatly afraid that God would judge them and punish them. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Cover us
-or-
Bury us

hide us from the face of: The phrase the face of often refers to being in front of someone. This phrase indicates that they do not want God to see them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

hide us from the presence of (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
hide us away from (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
hide us from the eyes of (Good News Translation)

the One seated on the throne: This phrase indicates that the person referred to as the One is a ruler. Here the phrase refers to God (4:2–5).

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer to someone other than God. If that is true in your language, you may want to include some implied information. For example:

him who sits on the throne ⌊and rules everything⌋
-or-
the ⌊great/greatest⌋ One who sits on the throne

See how you translated a similar phrase “someone seated on it” in 4:2.

6:16c

wrath of the Lamb: The word wrath refers to great anger. In some languages it is not natural to hide from an emotion like wrath or anger. If that is true in your language, you may need to translate the Lamb as the main part of the phrase. For example:

the wrathful/furious Lamb
-or-
the Lamb who is very angry

the Lamb: This phrase refers to Jesus, just as it did in 6:1. See how you translated it there.

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