Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

2 Write this to the angel of the church people in Ephesus: Here are the words of the one who holds the seven stars in his hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamps.

² `He says, "I know the things you do. I know that you work hard and are patient. I know that you have nothing to do with bad men. You tested those who say they are messengers from God but are not. You proved that they are not true apostles.

³ I know that you are patient and are strong for my name's sake. And you have not given up.

⁴ But here is what I say against you. You do not love as you loved at first.

⁵ So remember what you were like at first. Stop! Live the way you did at first. If you do not, I will come and move your lamp from its place. I will do it if you do not stop.

⁶ But this is good: you hate the things which the people called Nicolaitans do. I hate the things they do also."

⁷ He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. He says, "I will let the person who wins eat fruit from the tree of life. It grows in God's garden." '