13 1 He took his stand on the sea-shore.
Then Some witnesses read: ... testimony to Jesus. Then I stood by the sea-shore and ... out of the sea I saw a beast rising. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten diadems, and on each head a blasphemous name. 13 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear's and its mouth like a lion's mouth. The dragon conferred upon it his power and rule, and great authority. 13 3 One of its heads appeared to have received a death-blow; but the mortal wound was healed. The whole world went after the beast in wondering admiration. 13 4 Men worshipped the dragon because he had conferred his authority upon the beast; they worshipped the beast also, and chanted, 'Who is like the Beast? Who can fight against it?'
13 5 The beast was allowed to mouth bombast and blasphemy, and was given the right to reign for forty-two months. 13 6 It opened its mouth in blasphemy against God, reviling his name and his heavenly dwelling. Some witnesses read: reviling his name and his dwelling-place, that is, those that live in heaven. 13 7 It was also allowed to wage war on God's people and to defeat them, and was granted Some witnesses read: It was granted ... (omitting the words: was also ... them, and). authority over every tribe and people, language and nation. 13 8 All on earth will worship it, except those whose names the Lamb that was slain keeps in his roll of the living, written there since the world was made. 13 9 Hear, you who have ears to hear!
13 11 Then I saw another beast, which came up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb's, but spoke like a dragon. 13 12 It wielded all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship this first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. 13 13 It worked great miracles, even making fire come down from heaven to earth before men's eyes. 13 14 By the miracles it was allowed to perform in the presence of the beast it deluded the inhabitants of the earth, and made them erect an image in honour of the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived. 13 15 It was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that it could speak, and could cause all who would not worship the image to be put to death. 13 16 Moreover, it caused everyone, great and small, rich and poor, slave and free, to be branded with a mark on his right hand or forehead, 13 17 and no one was allowed to buy or sell unless he bore this beast's mark, either name or number. 13 18 (Here is the is key; and anyone who has intelligence may work out the number of the beast. The number represents a man's name, and the numerical value of its letters is six hundred and sixty-six.)