Translation
[All] ethnic groups
will walk by its light
and the leaders of the earth
Go to footnote numberbring their glory into it,
Go to footnote numberParaphrase
Some from all the categories of people will want to be guided in the right way to live by the example of God’s people, even the richest and the most powerful of the earth bring (either voluntarily or involuntarily) their authority and wealth and they will give them as tribute to Jesus as a sign of submission to His authority just like the other followers of Jesus do.
Footnotes
1
This word is often translated “kings,” but it can also means, “leaders, chiefs, commanders, etc.” I prefer to use a general term because we cannot be sure what types of leaders were intended.
2: “bring their glory into it”
This verb is present tense. By rendering it simply as “bring” it enables the verb to apply to any era. It is simply a statement of reality. The fact that the first verb in the sentence is future may color this one, making it have somewhat of a futuristic idea, but because it is present it must be seen more broadly than a future. Context also indicates that it will continue to happen
What does it mean that the “kings of the earth bring their glory into it”? This has been disputed greatly among scholars, many of whom think that this passage is talking about heaven. I reject that notion and choose to interpret it as referring to the church. So will the kings bring their glory to the church? No. The people of John’s day would have understood it as tribute. The rich and powerful will do what kings have always done with their wealth and power when they have been vanquished by a more powerful king, they pay him tribute and they submit their authority to his. They will do this either voluntarily or involuntarily. Powerful people will submit to God in this way, alongside all other followers of Jesus who also bring all they are and have and give it to Jesus for He is worthy. This is a statement about how great Jesus is. The church is involved only because those in the true church are already doing this very thing.