3 John 1
1 The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth:
Mzee: Kwa Gayo rafiki yangu, nimpendaye katika kweli.
2 Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.
Mpendwa, naomba ufanikiwe katika mambo yote na kuwa na afya njema kama vile roho yako ifanikiwavyo.
3 For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
Ilinifurahisha sana baadhi ya ndugu walipokuja na kutueleza juu ya uaminifu wako katika kweli na jinsi unavyoendelea kuenenda katika hiyo kweli.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Sina furaha kubwa kuliko hii, kusikia kwamba watoto wangu wanaenenda katika kweli.
5 Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you.
Rafiki mpendwa, wewe ni mwaminifu kwa yale unayowatendea ndugu, ingawa wao ni wageni kwako.
6 They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
Wameshuhudia kuhusu upendo wako mbele ya kanisa. Utafanya vyema ukiwasafirisha kama inavyostahili kwa Mungu.
7 For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
Ilikuwa ni kwa ajili ya hilo Jina waliondoka, bila kukubali kupokea msaada wowote kutoka kwa watu wasioamini.
8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
Kwa hiyo imetupasa sisi kuonyesha ukarimu kwa watu kama hao ili tuweze kutenda kazi pamoja kwa ajili ya kweli.
9 I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
Nililiandikia kanisa, lakini Deotrefe, yeye apendaye kujifanya wa kwanza, hakubali mamlaka yetu.
10 So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.
Hivyo kama nikija, nitakumbuka matendo yake atendayo, akitusingizia kwa maneno ya hila. Wala hatosheki na hayo anayotusingizia, bali pia hukataa kuwakaribisha ndugu, na hata huwazuia wale walio tayari kufanya hivyo na kuwafukuza watoke kanisani.
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
Rafiki mpendwa, usiige lile lililo baya bali lile lililo jema. Yeyote atendaye mema atoka kwa Mungu, bali atendaye mabaya hajamwona Mungu.
12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Kila mtu ameshuhudia mema kuhusu Demetrio, vivyo hivyo hata na hiyo kweli yenyewe. Sisi pia twashuhudia mema juu yake, nanyi mwajua kwamba ushuhuda wetu ni kweli.
13 I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.
Ninayo mambo mengi ya kukuandikia, lakini sipendi kuandika kwa kalamu na wino.
14 Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.
Badala yake, nataraji kukuona upesi, nasi tutaongea pamoja ana kwa ana. Amani iwe kwako. Rafiki zetu walioko hapa wanakusalimu. Wasalimu hao rafiki zetu walioko huko, kila mmoja kwa jina lake.
