New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

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:

2“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

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.

3and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

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

4Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

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

5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

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.

6But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

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

7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

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.

8“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

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:

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

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.

10Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

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.

11“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

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.

12“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

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

13“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

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.

14But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

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.

15Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

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

16Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

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

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

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.

18“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

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:

19“I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

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

20Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

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.

21And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

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

22Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

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

23I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your 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.

24“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

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.

25But hold fast what you have till I come.

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

26And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

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

27‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;

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

28and I will give him the morning star.

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

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

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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