3“Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God^a and the seven stars:^b I know your works;^c you have a reputation^K for being alive, but you are dead.^d ²Be alert^e and strengthen^L what remains, which is about to die,^M for I have not found your works complete before my God. ³Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come^N like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you.^f ⁴But you have a few people^O in Sardis who have not defiled^A their clothes,^g and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

KOr have a name
LOther read guard
MOr strengthen who remain, who are about to die
NOther add upon you
O few names
AOr soiled

Cross references

a Rv 1:4; 4:5; 5:6
b Rv 1:16,20; 2:1
c Rv 2:2,19; 3:8,15
d Rm 6:11
e Mt 25:13; 26:40–41; Ac 20:31; 1Co 16:13; 1Pt 5:8; 2Pt 3:10
f Mt 24:42–44; Mk 13:32–37; Lk 12:35–40; 1Th 5:1–11; Rv 16:15
g Zch 3:3–4; 2Co 7:1; Rv 14:4

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:

“This is what the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead. Be on the alert and strengthen the remaining things that are about to die, for I have not found your works completed before my God. Therefore remember how you have received and heard, and observe it, and repent. If therefore you are not on the alert, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothing, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.

KJV 1900King James Version

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Public Domain