3 John 1
1 The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!
Mimi mzee nakuandikia wewe Gayo, rafiki yangu, ninayekupenda kweli.
2 Beloved, I desire you to prosper concerning all things, and to be in health, even as your soul prospers,
Mpenzi wangu, nakutakia mafanikio mema ya kila aina; nakutakia afya njema ya mwili kama ulivyo nayo rohoni.
3 for I rejoiced exceedingly, brothers coming and testifying of the truth in you, even as you walk in truth;
Nimefurahi sana ndugu kadhaa walipofika hapa, wakaiambia juu ya uaminifu wako kuhusu ukweli; naam, wewe unaishi daima katika ukweli.
4 I have no joy greater than these things, that I may hear of my children walking in truth.
Hakuna kitu kinachonifurahisha zaidi kuliko kusikia kwamba watoto wangu wanaishi katika ukweli.
5 Beloved, you act faithfully in whatever you may do toward the brothers and the one [among] strangers,
Mpenzi wangu, wewe ni mwaminifu kila mara unapowahudumia ndugu, hata kama ni wageni.
6 who testified of your love before an assembly, whom you will do well, having sent forward worthily of God,
Ndugu hao wamelieleza kanisa hapa habari za upendo wako. Tafadhali uwasaidie waendelee na safari yao kwa namna itakayompendeza Mungu,
7 because they went forth for [His] Name, receiving nothing from the nations;
Maana wanaanza safari yao katika utumishi wa Kristo bila kupokea msaada wowote kutoka kwa watu wasioamini.
8 we, then, ought to receive such, that we may become fellow-workers to the truth.
Basi, sisi tunapaswa kuwasaidia watu hawa, ili nasi tupate kushiriki katika kazi yao kwa ajili ya ukweli.
9 I wrote to the assembly, but he who is loving to be first among them—Diotrephes—does not receive us;
Niliandika barua fupi kwa hilo kanisa; lakini Diotrefe, ambaye hupenda kuwa kiongozi wao, hataki kabisa kunisikiliza.
10 because of this, if I may come, I will cause him to remember his works that he does, talking nonsense against us with evil words; and not content with these, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and he forbids those intending [to receive them], and he casts [them] out of the assembly.
Basi, nitakapokuja nitayafichua mambo yote anayofanya, maneno mabaya anayotutolea na uongo anaosema juu yetu. Isitoshe, yeye hukataa kuwakaribisha hao ndugu walio safarini, na hata huwazuia watu wengine wanaotaka kuwakaribisha, na hujaribu kuwafukuzia nje ya kanisa.
11 Beloved, do not be following that which is evil, but that which is good; he who is doing good, he is of God, [but] he who is doing evil has not seen God;
Mpenzi wangu, usifuate mfano mbaya, bali mfano mwema. Kila atendaye mema ni wa Mungu; lakini anayetenda mabaya hajapata kumwona Mungu.
12 testimony has been given to Demetrius by all, and by the truth itself, and we also—we testify, and you have known that our testimony is true.
Kila mtu anamsifu Demetrio; naam, ukweli wenyewe unamsifu. Nasi pia tunatoa ushahidi wetu juu yake, nawe wajua kwamba tunachosema ni kweli.
13 Many things I had to write, but I do not wish to write to you through ink and pen,
Ninayo bado mengi ya kukwambia, lakini sipendi kuyaandika kwa kalamu na wino.
14 and I hope to see you soon, and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace to you! The friends greet you. Be greeting the friends by name.
Natumaini kukuona karibuni na hapo tutazungumza ana kwa ana. Nakutakia amani. Rafiki zako wanakusalimu. Wasalimu rafiki zetu wote kila mmoja binafsi.
