| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1"Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: "The One who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. | 1"To the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: 'I know your deeds, that you have a reputation that you are alive, but in reality you are dead. |
| 2Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before My God. | 2Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about to die, because I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. |
| 3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. But if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come against you. | 3Therefore, remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you. |
| 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. | 4But you have a few individuals in Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. |
| 5In the same way, the victor 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. | 5The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before my Father and before his angels. |
| 6"Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. | 6The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' |
| 7"Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: "The Holy One, the True One, the One who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and closes and no one opens says: | 7"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open: |
| 8I know your works. Because you have limited strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name, look, I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close. | 8I know your deeds. (Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut.) I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name. |
| 9Take note! I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying--note this--I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you. | 9Listen! I am going to make those people from the synagogue of Satan--who say they are Jews yet are not, but are lying--Look, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. |
| 10Because you have kept My command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come over the whole world to test those who live on the earth. | 10Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. |
| 11I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown. | 11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. |
| 12The victor: I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary 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. | 12The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God), and my new name as well. |
| 13"Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. | 13The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' |
| 14"Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: "The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God's creation says: | 14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God's creation: |
| 15I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. | 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! |
| 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to 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'm rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,' and you don't know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, | 17Because you say, "I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing," but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, |
| 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. | 18take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see! |
| 19As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent. | 19All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent! |
| 20Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. | 20Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me. |
| 21The victor: I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne. | 21I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. |
| 22"Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches." | 22The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" |
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