13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God

    and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne

    will shelter them with his presence.

16 

‘Never again will they hunger;

    never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat down on them,’[a]

    nor any scorching heat.

17 

For the Lamb at the center of the throne

    will be their shepherd;

‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[b]

    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[c]”