Revelation 2

1To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

1Write this to the messenger of the church in Ephesus: This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;

2I know everything you do. I see your hard work and your endurance. I know you cannot tolerate evil people; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and you found them to be liars.

3and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name’s sake, and hast not grown weary.

3You have been patient and have suffered for the sake of my name without giving up.

4But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.

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

5Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.

5Think about how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at the beginning. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

6But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

6However, you do have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.

7Anyone who is willing to listen should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

8And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again:

8Write this to the messenger of the church in Smyrna: This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who died and came back to life.

9I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

9I know about your suffering and your poverty—though you are actually rich. I know the insults of those who claim to be Jews but are not; they are a synagogue of Satan.

10Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

10Do not 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 suffer for ten days. Be faithful even if you have to die, and I will give you the crown of life.

11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

11Anyone who is willing to listen should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

12And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:

12Write this to the messenger of the church in Pergamum: This is the message from the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword.

13I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth.

13I know where you live—it is where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed in your city where Satan lives.

14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.

14But I have a few things against you: You have people there who follow the teaching of Balaam. He taught Balak to trip up the people of Israel by encouraging them to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual sins.

15So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.

15In the same way, you also have people who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.

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

17He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.

17Anyone who is willing to listen should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it that no one knows except the person who receives it.

18And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass:

18Write this to the messenger of the church in Thyatira: This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.

19I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first.

19I know your works, your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. I know that you are doing more now than you did at the beginning.

20But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

20But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. She is leading my servants astray by teaching them to commit sexual sins and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

21And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication.

21I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.

22Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works.

22Look, I will throw her onto a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer terribly unless they repent of what she is doing.

23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.

23I will strike her followers dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts; I will give to each of you exactly what your actions deserve.

24But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan, as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden.

24Now I speak to the rest of you in Thyatira—to you who do not follow this teaching and have not learned the so-called 'deep secrets' of Satan. I will not put any other burden on you.

25Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come.

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

26And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:

26To the one who is victorious and continues to do my work until the end, I will give authority over the nations.

27and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:

27That person will rule them with an iron rod and smash them to pieces like clay pots—just as I received authority from my Father.

28and I will give him the morning star.

28I will also give that person the morning star.

29He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

29Anyone who is willing to listen should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.