1 John 3

1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God: and [such] we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Consider how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God! The world does not acknowledge us for this reason: it did not acknowledge Him.

2 Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.

Dear ones, right now we are children of God and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is

3 And every one that hath this hope [set] on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

—everyone who has this hope upon him purifies himself, even as He is pure.

4 Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness: and sin is lawlessness.

Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness as well; yes, sin is lawlessness.

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

And you know that He was revealed in order to remove our sins—in Him there is no sin.

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

Whoever is abiding in Him does not sin; indeed, whoever is sinning has neither seen Him nor known Him.

7 [My] little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous:

Dear children, let no one mislead you; he who keeps doing righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

8 he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

He who keeps doing sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God was manifested for this purpose: to undo the devil's works.

9 Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God.

Whoever has been begotten by God does not commit sin, because His seed remains in him; actually, he is not able to sin, because he has been begotten by 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.

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are distinguished: whoever is not doing righteousness is not of God, also whoever is not loving his brother.

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

Because this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another

12 not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

—not like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own works were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.

13 Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you.

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

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.

We know that we have transferred out of the death into the life because we love our brothers; he who does not love his brother remains in the death.

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

Whoever is hating his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding within himself. (aiōnios g166)

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

We know the Love by this: He laid down His life in our behalf; we also are obligated to lay down our lives in behalf of our brothers.

17 But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?

Now whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart toward him—how does the love of God abide in him?

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

My dear children, let us not love in word or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth

19 Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him,

—yes, by this we know that we are of the Truth and may put our hearts at ease in His presence,

20 whereinsoever our heart condemn us; because God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

and that, if our heart should condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all.

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;

Dear ones, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God,

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

and whatever we may ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

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

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

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

He who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. This is how we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit whom He gave us.