Apocalisse 3

1 All'angelo della Chiesa di Sardi scrivi: Così parla Colui che possiede i sette spiriti di Dio e le sette stelle: Conosco le tue opere; ti si crede vivo e invece sei morto.

“Write [this message] to the leader [MET] of the congregation in Sardis [city]: ‘I am saying these things [to you. I am] the one who can give [to people] all the power of God’s Spirit (OR, in whom is the Spirit of God who has all kinds of power; OR, [who has God’s Spirit, who is symbolized as] seven spirits), and [I am the one] who has the seven stars. I know everything that you have done. You [(pl)] appear to be alive [spiritually], but [you are so weak spiritually it is as though] you are dead [MET].

2 Svegliati e rinvigorisci ciò che rimane e sta per morire, perché non ho trovato le tue opere perfette davanti al mio Dio.

[Become aware of your spiritual need as though you were] awaking [from sleep] [MET], and strengthen [yourself spiritually, because you are so useless that you are like someone who is] about to die [MET]. [You must do this] because I know that my God considers that nothing that you do is satisfactory.

3 Ricorda dunque come hai accolto la parola, osservala e ravvediti, perché se non sarai vigilante, verrò come un ladro senza che tu sappia in quale ora io verrò da te.

So then, keep remembering [God’s message, what] you accepted when you heard it. Obey it continually, and turn away from your sinful behavior. If [you do not become aware of your spiritual need and turn away from your] [MET] [sinful behavior], I will come to you [when you are not expecting me], as a thief [comes] [SIM]. You will never know at what time I will come to [judge] you.

4 Tuttavia a Sardi vi sono alcuni che non hanno macchiato le loro vesti; essi mi scorteranno in vesti bianche, perché ne sono degni.

Nevertheless, [there] in Sardis you have a few members who [have not been doing what is wrong. It is as though they] have not soiled their garments [MET]. As a result, because they are worthy [to live with me], they will live with me [and will be pure in every way] [MET], [like people who are dressed] in [pure] white [clothing].

5 Il vincitore sarà dunque vestito di bianche vesti, non cancellerò il suo nome dal libro della vita, ma lo riconoscerò davanti al Padre mio e davanti ai suoi angeli.

Everyone who conquers [Satan] I will dress in these same white garments [MET] (OR, will be [pure in every way as though they are] dressed in these white garments), and I will never erase their names from the book [that contains the names of the people who have eternal] life. Instead, as my Father and his angels are listening, I will acknowledge that they [MTY] [belong to me].

6 Chi ha orecchi, ascolti ciò che lo Spirito dice alle Chiese.

Everyone who wants to understand [MTY] must listen carefully to the message that [God’s] Spirit speaks to the congregations.’”

7 Così parla il Santo, il Verace, la chiave di Davide: quando egli apre nessuno chiude, e quando chiude nessuno apre. All'angelo della Chiesa di Filadelfia scrivi:

“Write [this message] to the leader [MET] of the congregation in Philadelphia [city]: ‘I am saying these things [to you. I am] God’s Holy One, the True One. [Just like King] David had authority [MTY] [to allow people to enter the ancient city of Jerusalem, so I have the authority to allow people to enter] my kingdom. [I am] the one who opens [doors] so that no one can close them, and who closes doors so that no one can open them.

8 Conosco le tue opere. Ho aperto davanti a te una porta che nessuno può chiudere. Per quanto tu abbia poca forza, pure hai osservato la mia parola e non hai rinnegato il mio nome.

I know everything you have done. Be aware that I have opened a door before you, a door that no one can close. [I know that although] there are not [many believers] (OR, much [spiritual] strength) [MTY] [in your congregation], you have obeyed what I say, and you have not denied [that you believe in] me [MTY].

9 Ebbene, ti faccio dono di alcuni della sinagoga di satana - di quelli che si dicono Giudei, ma mentiscono perché non lo sono -: li farò venire perché si prostrino ai tuoi piedi e sappiano che io ti ho amato.

[I am aware that] some of your people meet together with those who [follow/worship] Satan. They claim to be Jews, but I know that they are not true Jews. They are lying. I will cause them to come to you and to bow down [humbly] at your feet and to acknowledge that I love you.

10 Poiché hai osservato con costanza la mia parola, anch'io ti preserverò nell'ora della tentazione che sta per venire sul mondo intero, per mettere alla prova gli abitanti della terra.

Because you have paid attention to the message to endure patiently [when you suffered], I will keep you [safe from those who will try to harm you spiritually] during the period/time that is about to come. At that time [God will cause rebellious people] on the earth to suffer, in order that I can determine [whether they will turn away from their sins or not].

11 Verrò presto. Tieni saldo quello che hai, perché nessuno ti tolga la corona.

I am coming soon. [So] continue believe firmly the [message] that you have received, in order that no one may cause you to lose the reward [that God has reserved for] you.

12 Il vincitore lo porrò come una colonna nel tempio del mio Dio e non ne uscirà mai più. Inciderò su di lui il nome del mio Dio e il nome della città del mio Dio, della nuova Gerusalemme che discende dal cielo, da presso il mio Dio, insieme con il mio nome nuovo.

I will make everyone who conquers [Satan secure]. They will stand in the temple of my God, [they will stand firm like] [MET] pillars, and they will remain there forever. I will mark them with the name of my God, [showing that they belong to him. I will also mark them] with the name of the city of my God, [showing that they will live there. That city is] the New Jerusalem, the city that my God will cause to descend down from heaven. [I will also mark them] with my new name, [showing that they belong to me].

13 Chi ha orecchi, ascolti ciò che lo Spirito dice alle Chiese.

Everyone who wants to understand [MTY] must listen carefully to the message that [God’s] Spirit speaks to the congregations.’”

14 All'angelo della Chiesa di Laodicèa scrivi: Così parla l'Amen, il Testimone fedele e verace, il Principio della creazione di Dio:

“Write [this message] to the leader [MET] of the congregation in Laodicea [city: ‘I] am saying these things [to you. I am] the one who (guarantees [everything that God’s promises/] that [he] will do [all that he has promised]) [MET]. I am the one who testifies [about God] reliably and accurately. I am the one who God used to create [everything].

15 Conosco le tue opere: tu non sei né freddo né caldo. Magari tu fossi freddo o caldo!

I know everything that you have done: You [neither deny that you trust in me nor love/obey me zealously/wholeheartedly. You are like water that is] neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot!

16 Ma poiché sei tiepido, non sei cioè né freddo né caldo, sto per vomitarti dalla mia bocca.

Because you are neither enthusiastic about me nor concerned about your lack of spiritual growth [MET], I am about to [reject] you [MET], [as if] I were spitting [lukewarm water] out of my mouth.

17 Tu dici: «Sono ricco, mi sono arricchito; non ho bisogno di nulla», ma non sai di essere un infelice, un miserabile, un povero, cieco e nudo.

You are saying, “[Because we have all that we need spiritually], we are [like] rich [people who] have acquired a lot of wealth. We lack nothing!” But you do not realize that you are [lacking in so many ways spiritually that you are like] [MET] people who are very wretched and pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

18 Ti consiglio di comperare da me oro purificato dal fuoco per diventare ricco, vesti bianche per coprirti e nascondere la vergognosa tua nudità e collirio per ungerti gli occhi e ricuperare la vista.

I advise you [to obtain from me all that you need spiritually, as though you were] buying from me gold that has been refined by fire {that fire has refined}, in order that you may be [truly] rich [MET] [spiritually. Let me make you righteous, as though you were] [MET] buying from me white garments in order that you might wear clothes instead of being naked and ashamed. [Let me help you to perceive spiritual things, as though] [MET] you were buying from me eye salve to put in your eyes in order that you might see.

19 Io tutti quelli che amo li rimprovero e li castigo. Mostrati dunque zelante e ravvediti.

[Since] I rebuke and correct all those whom I affectionately love, earnestly stop your sinful behavior.

20 Ecco, sto alla porta e busso. Se qualcuno ascolta la mia voce e mi apre la porta, io verrò da lui, cenerò con lui ed egli con me.

Be aware that [I invite each one of you to respond to me] as though [MET] I [was] standing [waiting] at [your] door and knocking. I will come to all those who hear my voice and respond to me, and I [will fellowship] with them [as friends do when they] eat together [MET].

21 Il vincitore lo farò sedere presso di me, sul mio trono, come io ho vinto e mi sono assiso presso il Padre mio sul suo trono.

I will permit everyone who conquers [Satan] to sit [and rule] with me on my throne, just like I conquered [Satan] and now sit [and rule] beside my Father on his throne.

22 Chi ha orecchi, ascolti ciò che lo Spirito dice alle Chiese.

Everyone who wants to understand [MTY] must listen carefully to the message that [God’s] Spirit speaks to the congregations.’”