New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
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To the angel of the church in Ephesus say: These things says he who has the seven stars in his right hand, who is walking in the middle of the seven gold lights:
2 "I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false.
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I have knowledge of your doings, and of your hard work and long waiting, and that you will not put up with evil men, and have put to the test those who say they are Apostles and are not, and have seen that they are false;
3 I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary.
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And you have the power of waiting, and have undergone trouble because of my name, without weariness.
4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
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But I have this against you, that you are turned away from your first love.
5 Remember then from what 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.
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So keep in mind where you were at first, and be changed in heart and do the first works; or I will come to you, and will take away your light from its place, if your hearts are not changed.
6 Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
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But at least you have the credit of hating the works of the Nicolaitans, as I do.
7 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.
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He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give of the fruit of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life:
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And to the angel of the church in Smyrna say: These things says the first and the last, who was dead and is living:
9 "I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
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I have knowledge of your troubles and how poor you are (but you have true wealth), and the evil words of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a Synagogue of Satan.
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
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Have no fear of the things which you will have to undergo: see, the Evil One will send some of you into prison, so that you may be put to the test; and you will have great trouble for ten days. Be true till death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.
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He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not come under the power of the second death.
12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:
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And to the angel of the church in Pergamos say: These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13 "I know where you are living, where Satan's throne is. Yet you are holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.
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I have knowledge that your living-place is where Satan has his seat: and you are true to my name, and were not turned away from your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my true witness, who was put to death among you, where Satan has his place.
14 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 people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice fornication.
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But I have some things against you, because you have with you those who keep the teaching of Balaam, by whose suggestion Balak made the children of Israel go out of the right way, taking food which was offered to false gods, and going after the desires of the flesh.
15 So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
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And you have those who keep the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
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See, then, that you have a change of heart; or I will come to you quickly, and will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.
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He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give of the secret manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name, of which no one has knowledge but he to whom it is given.
18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze:
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And to the angel of the church in Thyatira say: These things says the Son of God, whose eyes are like a flame of fire, and his feet like polished brass:
19 "I know your works—your love, faith, service, and patient endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first.
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I have knowledge of your works, and your love and faith and help and strength in trouble, and that your last works are more than the first.
20 But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice fornication and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
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But I have this against you, that you let the woman Jezebel say she is a prophet and give false teaching, making my servants go after the desires of the flesh and take food offered to false gods.
21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her fornication.
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And I gave her time for a change of heart, but she has no mind to give up her unclean ways.
22 Beware, I am throwing her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her I am throwing into great distress, unless they repent of her doings;
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See, I will put her into a bed, and those who make themselves unclean with her, into great trouble, if they go on with her works.
23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.
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And I will put her children to death; and all the churches will see that I am he who makes search into the secret thoughts and hearts of men: and I will give to every one of you the reward of your works.
24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call "the deep things of Satan,' to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden;
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But to you I say, to the rest in Thyatira, even to those who have not this teaching, and have no knowledge of the secrets of Satan, as they say; I put on you no other weight.
25 only hold fast to what you have until I come.
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But what you have, keep safe till I come.
26 To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations;
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He who overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him I will give rule over the nations,
27 to rule them with an iron rod, as when clay pots are shattered—
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And he will be ruling them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of the potter they will be broken, even as I have power from my Father:
28 even as I also received authority from my Father. To the one who conquers I will also give the morning star.
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And I will give him the morning star.
29 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
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He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.