| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. | 1"Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. |
| 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. | 2Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God. |
| 3Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. | 3Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you. |
| 4You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. | 4But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. |
| 5He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. | 5"In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels. |
| 6“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ | 6"Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. |
| 7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: | 7"Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: Thus says the Holy One, the true one, the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens: |
| 8“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. | 8I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. |
| 9Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. | 9Note this: I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying--I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you. |
| 10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. | 10Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. |
| 11Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. | 11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown. |
| 12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. | 12"The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God--the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God--and my new name. |
| 13“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ | 13"Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. |
| 14“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: | 14"Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God's creation: |
| 15“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. | 15I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. |
| 16So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. | 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. |
| 17Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— | 17For you say, 'I'm rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,' and you don't realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. |
| 18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. | 18I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. |
| 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. | 19As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. |
| 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. | 20See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. |
| 21To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. | 21"To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. |
| 22“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ” | 22"Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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