^6:5Then¹⁶ when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So¹⁷ I looked,¹⁸ and here came¹⁹ a black horse! The²⁰ one who rode it²¹ had a balance scale²² in his hand. ^6:6Then²³ I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart²⁴ of wheat will cost a day’s pay²⁵ and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But²⁶ do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”

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Footnotes

16 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
17 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature.
18 The reading “and I looked” (καὶ εἶδον, kai eidon) or some slight variation (e.g., ἶδον, idon) has excellent support ({א A C P 1611}) and its omission seems to have come through the that have already placed “and look” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) after the verb “come” (ἔρχου, erchou) in 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.
19 The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
20 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
21 Grk “the one sitting on it.”
22 A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring.
23 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
24 1086 χοῖνιξ states, “a dry measure, oft. used for grain, approximately equivalent to one quart or one liter, quart. A χ.of grain was a daily ration for one pers.… Rv 6:6ab.”
25 Grk “a quart of wheat for a denarius.” A denarius was one day’s pay for an average worker. The words “will cost” are used to indicate the genitive of price or value; otherwise the English reader could understand the phrase to mean “a quart of wheat to be given as a day’s pay.”
26 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and there was a black horse. Its rider held a set of scales in his hand. Then I heard something like a voice among the four living creatures say, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, but do not harm the oil and the wine.”

NLTNew Living Translation

When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse, and the one seated on it had a balance scale in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”

KJV 1900King James Version

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Public Domain