8I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, he who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
9I, John, your brother, and partner with you in the affliction, and kingdom, and patient endurance in Jesus, was in the island called Patmos, on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day; and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11saying: What thou seest, write in a book, and send to the seven churches; to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
12And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lamp-stands; 13and in the midst of the lamp-stands one like to the Son of Man, clothed with a garment falling down to the feet, and girded round at the breasts with a golden girdle. 14But his head and his hairs were white, as white wool, as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15and his feet were like to burnished brass, as if burning in a furnace[15]; and his voice was as the sound of many waters. 16And he had in his hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and his countenance was as the sun shining in his strength.
17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand on me, saying: Fear not: I am the first and the last, 18and the living one; and I became dead, and behold I am alive forevermore; and I have the keys of death and of the underworld. 19Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall be after these; 20the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest on my right hand, and the seven golden lamp-stands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven lamp-stands are the seven churches.
II. To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp-stands. 2I know thy works, and thy labor and patience, and how thou canst not bear evil men; and thou didst try those who say they are apostles, and are not, and didst find them liars; 3and thou hast patience, and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not been weary.
4But I have this against thee, that thou hast left thy first love. 5Remember therefore from whence thou hast fallen, and repent, and do the first works; but if not, I am coming to thee, and will remove thy lamp-stand out of its place, if thou repent not.
6But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him that overcomes, to him I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
8And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things says the first and the last, who became dead, and lived again. 9I know thy affliction, and poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer. Behold, the Devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye will have affliction ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.