These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand^(B) and walks among the seven golden lampstands.^{(C) 2} I know your deeds,^(D) your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested^(E) those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.^{(F) 3} You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,^(G) and have not grown weary.

⁴ Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.^{(H) 5} Consider how far you have fallen! Repent^(I) and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand^(J) from its place. ⁶ But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,^(K) which I also hate.

⁷ Whoever has ears, let them hear^(L) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,^(M) I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,^(N) which is in the paradise^(O) of God.

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,^(Q) who died and came to life again.^{(R) 9} I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!^(S) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,^(T) but are a synagogue of Satan.^{(U) 10} Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,^(V) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.^(W) Be faithful,^(X) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.^(Y)

¹¹ Whoever has ears, let them hear^(Z) what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.^(AA)