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 holds the seven spirits^[b](B) of God and the seven stars.^(C) I know your deeds;^(D) you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.^{(E) 2} Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. ³ Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.^(F) But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief,^(G) and you will not know at what time^(H) I will come to you.

⁴ Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.^(I) They will walk with me, dressed in white,^(J) for they are worthy. ⁵ The one who is victorious^(K) will, like them, be dressed in white.^(L) I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life,^(M) but will acknowledge that name before my Father^(N) and his angels. ⁶ Whoever has ears, let them hear^(O) what the Spirit says to the churches.

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,^(B) the ruler of God’s creation.^{(C) 15} I know your deeds,^(D) that you are neither cold nor hot.^(E) I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’^(F) But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.^{(G) 18} I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,^(H) so you can become rich; and white clothes^(I) to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;^(J) and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.^(K) So be earnest and repent.^{(L) 20} Here I am! I stand at the door^(M) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,^(N) I will come in^(O) and eat with that person, and they with me.

²¹ To the one who is victorious,^(P) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,^(Q) just as I was victorious^(R) and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² Whoever has ears, let them hear^(S) what the Spirit says to the churches.”