1 John 3

1 BEHOLD, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.

13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.

15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (aiōnios g166)

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer. (aiōnios g166)

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,

22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.