3 John 1
1 From the elder to his dear friend Gaius, whom he sincerely loves.
Umdala, kuye uGayusi othandekayo, mina engimthanda ngeqiniso.
2 Dear friend, I pray that all may be well with you and that you may have good health – I know that all is well with your soul.
Sithandwa, kuzo zonke izinto ngifisa ukuthi uphumelele njalo uphile, njengalokhu umphefumulo wakho uphumelela.
3 For it was a great joy to me, when some followers of the Lord came and testified to your fidelity to the truth. I know that your own life is guided by the truth.
Ngoba ngathokoza kakhulukazi, lapho kufika abazalwane, befakazela iqiniso lakho, njengoba wena uhamba eqinisweni.
4 Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to hear from time to time that the lives of my children are guided by the truth.
Kangilantokozo enkulu edlula lezizinto, ukuthi ngizwe ukuthi abantwana bami bahamba eqinisweni.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in all the things you do for other followers – even when they are strangers to you.
Sithandwa, wenza ngokuthembeka loba yikuphi okwenza kubazalwane lakwabemzini,
6 They themselves have testified before the church to your love. You will do well to help them on their way in a manner worthy of the service of God.
abafakazele uthando lwakho phambi kwebandla; uzakwenza kuhle uba ubaphelekezela ngokufanele uNkulunkulu.
7 For it was on behalf of Christ’s name that they set out, not accepting even one thing from the Gentiles.
Ngoba ngenxa yebizo lakhe baphumile bengemukeli lutho kwabezizwe.
8 Therefore, we should support people like them, and so take our share in their work for the truth.
Ngakho thina sifanele ukubemukela abanjalo, ukuze sibe yizisebenzi kanye leqiniso.
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes (who loves to be the leader among them) doesn’t welcome us.
Ngabhalela ibandla; kodwa uDiyotrefe othanda ukuba ngowokuqala kubo kasemukeli.
10 So if I come, I will bring up his actions in telling wicked nonsense about us. Not content with that, he not only refuses to personally welcome our friends who are followers, but actually stops those who would, and expels them from the church.
Ngakho, uba ngifika, ngizakhumbuza imisebenzi yakhe ayenzayo, uyasihleba ngamazwi amabi; futhi kakholiswa yilezizinto, yena uqobo kemukeli abazalwane, uyabalela lalabo abathanda ukukwenza, njalo uyabaxotsha ebandleni.
11 Dear friend, do not follow a bad example, but a good one. The person who does what is good is from God; the person who does what is bad has never seen God.
Sithandwa, ungakulingiseli okubi, kodwa okuhle. Owenza okuhle ungokaNkulunkulu; kodwa owenza okubi kambonanga uNkulunkulu.
12 Everyone has always had a good word for Demetrius, and the truth itself speaks for him. Yes, and we also add our good word, and you know that what we say is true.
NgoDemetriyu kufakazwe yibo bonke, langeqiniso uqobo; lathi futhi siyafakaza, lani liyazi ukuthi ubufakazi bethu buqinisile.
13 I have many things to tell you, but I would rather not use pen and ink.
Bengilezinto ezinengi zokubhala, kodwa kangithandi ukukubhalela ngeyinki losiba;
14 I hope to see you soon, and then we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. The friends here send you their greetings. Greet each one of our friends.
kodwa ngithemba ukukubona masinyane, sibe sesikhuluma umlomo ngomlomo. Ukuthula kakube kuwe. Abangane bayakubingelela. Bingelela abangane ngamabizo.
