Book of Common Prayer

⁸ And to the angel of the congregation of Smyrna write: These things says he who is the first and the last, who was dead and is alive: ⁹ I know your works and tribulation and poverty, but you are rich. And I know the blasphemy of those who call themselves Jews, and are not, but are the congregation of Satan.

¹⁰ Fear none of those things that you will suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison, to try you, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to the death, and I will give you a crown of life. ¹¹ Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.

¹² And to the messenger of the congregation in Pergamos write: This says he who has the sharp sword with two edges: ¹³ I know your works and where you dwell, even where Satan’s seat is; and you keep my name and have not denied my faith. And in my days Antipas was a faithful witness of mine, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.

¹⁴ But I have a few things against you. You have there those who maintain the doctrine of Balaam, who taught in Balak to put occasions of sin before the children of Israel, that they should eat of meat dedicated to idols, and commit fornication. ¹⁵ So also you have those who maintain the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. ¹⁶ Repent and turn therefore, or else I will come to you shortly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. ¹⁷ Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat manna that is hid, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no one knows save the one that receives it.

¹³ Woe is to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven before men. You yourselves go not in, neither do you suffer those who come to enter in.

¹⁴ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses, and that under a colour of praying long prayers, for which you shall receive the greater damnation.

¹⁵ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who compass land and sea to bring one person into your belief. And when he is brought in, you make him twofold more the child of hell than you yourselves are.

¹⁶ Woe to you, blind guides, who say that if someone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but whosoever swears by the gold of the temple, he offends. ¹⁷ O fools, and blind! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? ¹⁸ And whosoever swears by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering that lies on the altar, offends – ¹⁹ Ye fools, and blind! Which is greater: the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? ²⁰ Whoever therefore swears by the altar, swears by it and by all that is on it. ²¹ And whoever swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells therein. ²² And he who swears by heaven, swears by the seat of God and by him who sits upon it.

²³ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who tithe mint, anise, and cummin, and leave the weightier matters of the law undone: judgment, mercy, and faith. These you ought to have done, and not to have left the others undone. ²⁴ Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

²⁵ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of greed and excess. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee: cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, so that the outside of them may be clean also.