³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

¹⁵ “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. ^(A)Would that you were either cold or hot! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

⁵ having the appearance of godliness, but ^(A)denying its power. ^(B)Avoid such people.

Israel Refined for God's Glory

To the Church in Sardis

3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him ^(A)who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

“‘I know your works. You have the reputation ^(B)of being alive, ^(C)but you are dead.

¹⁵ See to it that no one ^(A)fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ^(B)“root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

^25 (A)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ^(B)you clean the outside of ^(C)the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of ^(D)greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of ^(E)the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

³ and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and ^(A)blows the trumpet and warns the people,