¹⁴ If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, ^(A)he will receive a reward.

⁸ He who plants and he who waters are one, and each ^(A)will receive his wages according to his labor.

²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and ^(A)faithful servant.^{[a] (B)}You have been faithful over a little; ^(C)I will set you over much. Enter into ^(D)the joy of your master.’ ²² And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

⁵ Therefore ^(A)do not pronounce judgment before the time, ^(B)before the Lord comes, ^(C)who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. ^(D)Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

To the Church in Smyrna

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

⁹ “‘I know your tribulation and ^(C)your poverty (^(D)but you are rich) and the slander^[a] of ^(E)those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, ^(F)that you may be tested, and for ^(G)ten days ^(H)you will have tribulation. ^(I)Be faithful ^(J)unto death, and I will give you ^(K)the crown of life. ^11 (L)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ^(M)The one who conquers will not be hurt by ^(N)the second death.’

⁴⁵ “Who then is ^(A)the faithful and ^(B)wise servant,^[a] whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? ^46 (C)Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁷ Truly, I say to you, ^(D)he will set him over all his possessions.

⁴ And when ^(A)the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the ^(B)unfading ^(C)crown of glory.

Shepherd the Flock of God

5 So I exhort the elders among you, ^(A)as a fellow elder and ^(B)a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:

¹⁹ For what is our hope or ^(A)joy or crown of boasting ^(B)before our Lord Jesus at his ^(C)coming? Is it not you?