| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1"To the messenger of the church in Sardis, write: 'The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: 'I know what you've been doing. You are known 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 the things that are left, which are about to die. I note that your actions are incomplete 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. |
| 3So remember what you received and heard. Obey it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you won't know the time when I will come to 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 soiled their clothes. They will walk with me in white clothes 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. |
| 5The person who conquers in this way will wear white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the Book of Life. I will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and 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. |
| 6Let everyone 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"To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia, write: 'The one who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens a door that no one can shut, and who shuts a door that no one can open, 'says this: | 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 what you've been doing. Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut. You have only a little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name. | 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. |
| 9I will make those who belong to the synagogue of Satan—those who claim to be Jews and aren't, but are lying—come and bow down at your feet. Then they will realize 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 obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you from the hour of testing that is coming to the whole world to test those living 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 soon! Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your victor's crown. | 11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. |
| 12I will make the one who conquers to become a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, and he will never go out of it again. I will write on him the name of my God, the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God), and my own 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. |
| 13Let everyone 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"To the messenger of the church in Laodicea, write: 'The Amen, the witness who is faithful and true, the originator of God's creation, says this: | 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 actions, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. | 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! |
| 16Since you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit 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! |
| 17You say, "I am rich. I have become wealthy. I don't need anything." Yet you don't realize that you are miserable, 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, |
| 18Therefore, I advise you to buy from me gold purified in fire so you may be rich, white clothes to wear so your shameful nakedness won't show, and ointment to put on your eyes so 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! |
| 19I correct and discipline those whom I love, so be serious and repent! | 19All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent! |
| 20Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat 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. |
| 21To the one who conquers I will give a place to sit with me on my throne, just as I have conquered and have 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. |
| 22Let everyone 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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