5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were;

Other Translations of Revelation 16:5

King James Version

5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

English Standard Version

5 And I heard the angel in charge of the watersGreek angel of the waters say, "Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.

The Message

5 I heard the Angel of Waters say, Righteous you are, and your judgments are righteous, The Is, The Was, The Holy.

New King James Version

5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things.

New Living Translation

5 And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying, "You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was, because you have sent these judgments.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Revelation 16:5

Commentary on Revelation 16:1-7

(Read Revelation 16:1-7)

We are to pray that the will of God may be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Here is a succession of terrible judgments of Providence; and there seems to be an allusion to several of the plagues of Egypt. The sins were alike, and so were the punishments. The vials refer to the seven trumpets, which represented the rise of antichrist; and the fall of the enemies of the church shall bear some resemblance to their rise. All things throughout their earth, their air, their sea, their rivers, their cities, all are condemned to ruin, all accursed for the wickedness of that people. No wonder that angels, who witness or execute the Divine vengeance on the obstinate haters of God, of Christ, and of holiness, praise his justice and truth; and adore his awful judgments, when he brings upon cruel persecutors the tortures they made his saints and prophets suffer.