3 John 1

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

The Elder to his dear friend Gaius. Truly I love you.

2 Beloved, I desire that in all things thou shouldest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.

My dear friend, I pray that you may in all respects prosper and enjoy good health, just as your soul already prospers.

3 For I rejoiced exceedingly when [the] brethren came and bore testimony to thy [holding fast the] truth, even as thou walkest in truth.

For it is an intense joy to me when brethren come and bear witness to your fidelity to the truth--that you live in obedience to the truth.

4 I have no greater joy than these things that I hear of my children walking in the truth.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living in obedience to the truth.

5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully [in] whatever thou mayest have wrought towards the brethren and that strangers,

My dear friend, you are acting faithfully in all your behaviour towards the brethren, even when they are strangers to you.

6 (who have witnessed of thy love before [the] assembly, ) in setting forward whom on their journey worthily of God, thou wilt do well;

They have testified, in the presence of the Church, to your love; and you will do well to help them on their journey in a manner worthy of your fellowship with God.

7 for for the name have they gone forth, taking nothing of those of the nations.

For it is for Christ that they have gone forth, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow-workers with the truth.

It is therefore our duty to show hospitality to such men, so that we may be fellow workers in promoting the truth.

9 I wrote something to the assembly; but Diotrephes, who loves to have the first place among them, receives us not.

I wrote to the Church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the first place among them, refuses to listen to us.

10 For this reason, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he does, babbling against us with wicked words; and not content with these, neither does he himself receive the brethren; and those who would he prevents, and casts [them] out of the assembly.

For this reason, if I come, I shall not forget his conduct, nor his idle and mischievous talk against us. And he does not stop there: he not only will not receive the brethren, but those who desire to do this he hinders, and excludes them from the Church.

11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He that does good is of God. He that does evil has not seen God.

My dear friend, do not follow wrong examples, but right ones. He who habitually does what is right is a child of God: he who habitually does what is wrong has not seen God.

12 Demetrius has witness borne to him by all, and by the truth itself; and we also bear witness, and thou knowest that our witness is true.

The character of Demetrius has the approval of all men, and of the truth itself. We also express our approval of it, and you know that we only give our approval to that which is true.

13 I had many things to write to thee, but I will not with ink and pen write to thee;

I have a great deal to say to you, but I do not wish to go on writing it with ink and pen.

14 but I hope soon to see thee, and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace [be] to thee. The friends greet thee. Greet the friends by name.

But I hope to see you very soon, and then we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. Our friends send greetings to you. Greet our friends individually.