Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1"Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.

2“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

3I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary.

3I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.

4But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.

4But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

5Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

6Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

6Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7"Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

8"Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life:

8“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

9I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

9“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11"Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.

11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

12"Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword:

12“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

13I know where you live--where Satan's throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.

13“‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

14But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

14But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

15In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

15So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

16Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

17"Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

18"Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: Thus says the Son of God, the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze:

18“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

19I know your works--your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first.

19“‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

20But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols.

20But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

21I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.

21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.

22Look, I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction. Unless they repent of her works,

22Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,

23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

23and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

24I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven't known "the so-called secrets of Satan"--as they say--I am not putting any other burden on you.

24But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.

25Only hold on to what you have until I come.

25Only hold fast what you have until I come.

26The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations--

26The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,

27and he will rule them with an iron scepter; he will shatter them like pottery --

27and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.

28just as I have received this from my Father. I will also give him the morning star.

28And I will give him the morning star.

29"Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.