Revelation 2
Christ dictates letters to four churches: Ephesus, which has left its first love; Smyrna, which will suffer tribulation ten days but must be faithful unto death; Pergamos, which dwells where Satan's seat is but tolerates false teaching; and Thyatira, which suffers the woman Jezebel to teach and seduce His servants.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; | "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things are said by the One who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands." |
| 2 | I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: | "I know Your works, Your labor, and Your patient endurance. I know You cannot tolerate evil men. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and You found them to be liars." |
| 3 | And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. | "You have endured and had patience, and for My name's sake You have labored and not grown weary." |
| 4 | Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. | "But I have this against You: You have left Your first love." |
| 5 | Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. | "Remember from where You have fallen. Repent and do the works You did at first. If not, I will come to You and remove Your lampstand from its place — unless You repent." |
| 6 | But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. | "But You have this in Your favor: You hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." |
| 7 | He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. | "Let the one who has an ear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." |
| 8 | And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; | "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things are said by the First and the Last, who was dead and came to life." |
| 9 | I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. | "I know your works, your tribulation, and your poverty — but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews but are not, and are the synagogue of Satan." |
| 10 | Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. | "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life." |
| 11 | He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. | "Let the one who has an ear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death." |
| 12 | And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; | "To the angel of the church in Pergamos write: These things are said by the One who has the sharp two-edged sword." |
| 13 | I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. | "I know your works and where you live — where Satan's throne is. You hold fast to My name and have not denied My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My faithful martyr, who was killed among you where Satan lives." |
| 14 | But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. | "But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel — to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication." |
| 15 | So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. | "You also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans in the same way — which I hate." |
| 16 | Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. | "Repent. If not, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth." |
| 17 | He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. | "Let the one who has an ear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes I will give the hidden manna. I will also give Him a white stone, with a new name written on it that no one knows except the one who receives it." |
| 18 | And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; | "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things are said by the Son of God, Who has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like polished bronze." |
| 19 | I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. | "I know Your works — your love, Your service, Your faith, and Your patient endurance. I know that Your latter works exceed the first." |
| 20 | Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. | "But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and seduces My servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols." |
| 21 | And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. | "I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her fornication." |
| 22 | Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. | "I am going to throw her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation — unless they repent of her deeds." |
| 23 | And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. | "I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches minds and hearts. I will give to each of you according to your works." |
| 24 | But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. | "But to the rest of you in Thyatira — all who do not hold this teaching and have not learned what they call 'the deep things of Satan' — I put no other burden on you." |
| 25 | But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. | "Only hold fast to what you have until I come." |
| 26 | And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: | "To the one who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, I will give authority over the nations." |
| 27 | And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. | "He will rule them with a rod of iron, as when clay pots are broken in pieces — just as I also received authority from My Father." |
| 28 | And I will give him the morning star. | "And I will give him the morning star." |
| 29 | He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. | "Let the one who has an ear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches." |