Revelation 2
English Standard Version
To the Church in Ephesus
2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of (A)him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, (B)who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 (C)“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but (D)have tested those (E)who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up (F)for my name's sake, and you (G)have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned (H)the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do (I)the works you did at first. If not, (J)I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of (K)the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 (L)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (M)To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of (N)the tree of life, which is in (O)the paradise of God.’
To the Church in Smyrna
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of (P)the first and the last, (Q)who died and came to life.
9 “‘I know your tribulation and (R)your poverty ((S)but you are rich) and the slander[a] of (T)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, (U)that you may be tested, and for (V)ten days (W)you will have tribulation. (X)Be faithful (Y)unto death, and I will give you (Z)the crown of life. 11 (AA)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (AB)The one who conquers will not be hurt by (AC)the second death.’
To the Church in Pergamum
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has (AD)the sharp two-edged sword.
13 “‘I know where you dwell, (AE)where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not (AF)deny my faith[b] even in the days of Antipas (AG)my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of (AH)Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might (AI)eat food sacrificed to idols and (AJ)practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of (AK)the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, (AL)I will come to you soon and (AM)war against them with (AN)the sword of my mouth. 17 (AO)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (AP)To the one who conquers I will give some of (AQ)the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with (AR)a new name written on the stone (AS)that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
To the Church in Thyatira
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, (AT)who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 (AU)“‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman (AV)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants (AW)to practice sexual immorality and (AX)to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but (AY)she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he (AZ)who searches mind and heart, and (BA)I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call (BB)the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I (BC)do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast (BD)what you have until I come. 26 (BE)The one who conquers and who keeps my works (BF)until the end, (BG)to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and (BH)he will (BI)rule[c] them with a rod of iron, (BJ)as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him (BK)the morning star. 29 (BL)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Footnotes
- Revelation 2:9 Greek blasphemy
- Revelation 2:13 Or your faith in me
- Revelation 2:27 Greek shepherd
Revelation 2
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Letters to the Seven Churches
The Letter to Ephesus
2 “Write to the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus:
“The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says: 2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. 3 You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you[b] and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor(A) the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in[c] God’s paradise.(B)
The Letter to Smyrna
8 “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna:
“The First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life, says: 9 I know your[d] affliction and poverty, yet you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’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 have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown[e] of life.
11 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.(C)
The Letter to Pergamum
12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum:
“The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword(D) says: 13 I know[f] where you live—where Satan’s throne is! And you are holding on to My name and did not deny your faith in Me,[g] even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness who was killed among you, where Satan lives. 14 But 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[h] in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.[i] 15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.[j] 16 Therefore repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna.[k](E) I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name(F) is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.
The Letter to Thyatira
18 “Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira:
“The Son of God, the One whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze,[l] says: 19 I know your works—your love, faithfulness,[m] service, and endurance. Your last works are greater than the first. 20 But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives My slaves to commit sexual immorality[n] and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.[o] 22 Look! I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her[p] practices. 23 I will kill her children with the plague.[q](G) Then all the churches will know that I am the One who examines minds[r] and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known the deep things[s] of Satan—as they say—I do not put any other burden on you. 25 But hold on to what you have until I come.(H) 26 The one who is victorious and keeps My works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations—
just as I have received this from My Father. 28 I will also give him the morning star.(K)
29 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
Footnotes
- Revelation 2:1 Or messenger here and elsewhere
- Revelation 2:5 Other mss add quickly
- Revelation 2:7 Other mss read in the midst of
- Revelation 2:9 Other mss add works and
- Revelation 2:10 Or wreath
- Revelation 2:13 Other mss add your works and
- Revelation 2:13 Or deny My faith
- Revelation 2:14 Or to place a trap
- Revelation 2:14 Or commit fornication
- Revelation 2:15 Other mss add which I hate
- Revelation 2:17 Other mss add to eat
- Revelation 2:18 Probably gleaming white hot; Rv 1:15
- Revelation 2:19 Or faith
- Revelation 2:20 Or commit fornication
- Revelation 2:21 Or her fornication
- Revelation 2:22 Other mss read their
- Revelation 2:23 Or I will surely kill her children
- Revelation 2:23 Lit kidneys
- Revelation 2:24 Or the secret things
- Revelation 2:27 Or rule; see 19:15
- Revelation 2:27 Ps 2:9
Revelation 2
New Living Translation
The Message to the Church in Ephesus
2 “Write this letter to the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first![b] 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. 6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
7 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
The Message to the Church in Smyrna
8 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:
9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
The Message to the Church in Pergamum
12 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:
13 “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.
14 “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. 15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. 16 Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.
The Message to the Church in Thyatira
18 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze:
19 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.
20 “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.
22 “Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering,[c] and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.
24 “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you 25 except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. 26 To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end,
To them I will give authority over all the nations.
27 They will rule the nations with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.[d]
28 They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star!
29 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.
Revelation 2
New American Standard Bible
Message to Ephesus
2 “To the angel of the church in (A)Ephesus write:
The One who holds (B)the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks [a](C)among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
2 ‘(D)I know your deeds and your labor and [b]perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have (E)put those who call themselves (F)apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have [c]perseverance and have endured (G)on account of My name, and have not become weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have (H)left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and (I)repent, and (J)do the [d]deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your (K)lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the (L)Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 (M)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (N)To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from (O)the tree of life, which is in the (P)Paradise of God.’
Message to Smyrna
8 “And to the angel of the church in (Q)Smyrna write:
(R)The first and the last, who [e](S)was dead, and has come to life, says this:
9 ‘I know your (T)tribulation and your (U)poverty (but you are (V)rich), and the [f]slander by those who (W)say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of (X)Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be (Y)tested, and you will have tribulation (Z)for ten days. [g]Be (AA)faithful until death, and I will give you (AB)the crown of life. 11 (AC)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (AD)The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the (AE)second death.’
Message to Pergamum
12 “And to the angel of the church in (AF)Pergamum write:
The One who has (AG)the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13 ‘I know where you dwell, where (AH)Satan’s throne is; and you hold firmly to My name, and did not deny (AI)My faith even in the days of Antipas, My (AJ)witness, My (AK)faithful one, who was killed among you, (AL)where Satan dwells. 14 But (AM)I have a few things against you, because you have some there who hold the (AN)teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a [h]stumbling block before the sons of Israel, (AO)to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. 15 So you too, have some who in the same way hold to the teaching of the (AP)Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore (AQ)repent; or else (AR)I am coming to you quickly, and I will wage war against them with (AS)the sword of My mouth. 17 (AT)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (AU)To the one who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden (AV)manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a (AW)new name written on the stone (AX)which no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Message to Thyatira
18 “And to the angel of the church in (AY)Thyatira write:
(AZ)The Son of God, (BA)who has [i]eyes like a flame of fire, and [j]feet like burnished bronze, says this:
19 ‘(BB)I know your deeds, and your love and faith, and service and [k]perseverance, and that your [l]deeds of late are greater than [m]at first. 20 But (BC)I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman (BD)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they (BE)commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 (BF)I gave her time to repent, and she (BG)does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who (BH)commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of [n]her deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with [o]plague, and all the churches will know that I am He who (BI)searches the [p]minds and hearts; and (BJ)I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24 But I say to you, the rest who are in (BK)Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the (BL)deep things of Satan, as they call them—I (BM)place no other burden on you. 25 Nevertheless (BN)what you have, hold firmly (BO)until I come. 26 (BP)The one who overcomes, and the one who keeps My deeds (BQ)until the end, (BR)I will give him authority over the [q]nations; 27 and he shall [r](BS)rule them with a rod of iron, (BT)as the vessels of the potter are shattered, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him (BU)the morning star. 29 (BV)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Footnotes
- Revelation 2:1 Lit in the middle of
- Revelation 2:2 Or steadfastness
- Revelation 2:3 Or steadfastness
- Revelation 2:5 Lit first deeds
- Revelation 2:8 Lit became
- Revelation 2:9 Or blasphemy
- Revelation 2:10 Or Prove yourself faithful
- Revelation 2:14 I.e., a temptation to sin
- Revelation 2:18 Lit His eyes
- Revelation 2:18 Lit His feet
- Revelation 2:19 Or steadfastness
- Revelation 2:19 Lit last deeds
- Revelation 2:19 Lit the first
- Revelation 2:22 One early ms their
- Revelation 2:23 Lit death; i.e., a particular kind of death
- Revelation 2:23 Lit kidneys; i.e., inner man
- Revelation 2:26 Or Gentiles
- Revelation 2:27 Lit shepherd
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
