< 3 John 1 >
1 The Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!
作长老的写信给亲爱的该犹,就是我诚心所爱的。
2 beloved, concerning all things I desire thee to prosper, and to be in health, even as thy soul doth prosper,
亲爱的兄弟啊,我愿你凡事兴盛,身体健壮,正如你的灵魂兴盛一样。
3 for I rejoiced exceedingly, brethren coming and testifying of the truth in thee, even as thou in truth dost walk;
有弟兄来证明你心里存的真理,正如你按真理而行,我就甚喜乐。
4 greater than these things I have no joy, that I may hear of my children in truth walking.
我听见我的儿女们按真理而行,我的喜乐就没有比这个大的。
5 Beloved, faithfully dost thou do whatever thou mayest work to the brethren and to the strangers,
亲爱的兄弟啊,凡你向作客旅之弟兄所行的都是忠心的。
6 who did testify of thy love before an assembly, whom thou wilt do well, having sent forward worthily of God,
他们在教会面前证明了你的爱;你若配得过 神,帮助他们往前行,这就好了。
7 because for [His] name they went forth, nothing receiving from the nations;
因他们是为主的名出外,对于外邦人一无所取。
8 we, then, ought to receive such, that fellow-workers we may become to the truth.
所以我们应该接待这样的人,叫我们与他们一同为真理做工。
9 I did write to the assembly, but he who is loving the first place among them — Diotrephes — doth not receive us;
我曾略略地写信给教会,但那在教会中好为首的丢特腓不接待我们。
10 because of this, if I may come, I will cause him to remember his works that he doth, with evil words prating against us; and not content with these, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and those intending he doth forbid, and out of the assembly he doth cast.
所以我若去,必要提说他所行的事,就是他用恶言妄论我们。还不以此为足,他自己不接待弟兄,有人愿意接待,他也禁止,并且将接待弟兄的人赶出教会。
11 Beloved, be not thou following that which is evil, but that which is good; he who is doing good, of God he is, and he who is doing evil hath not seen God;
亲爱的兄弟啊,不要效法恶,只要效法善。行善的属乎 神;行恶的未曾见过 神。
12 to Demetrius testimony hath been given by all, and by the truth itself, and we also — we do testify, and ye have known that our testimony is true.
低米丢行善,有众人给他作见证,又有真理给他作见证,就是我们也给他作见证。你也知道我们的见证是真的。
13 Many things I had to write, but I do not wish through ink and pen to write to thee,
我原有许多事要写给你,却不愿意用笔墨写给你,
14 and I hope straightway to see thee, and mouth to mouth we shall speak. Peace to thee! salute thee do the friends; be saluting the friends by name.
但盼望快快地见你,我们就当面谈论。 愿你平安。众位朋友都问你安。请你替我按着姓名问众位朋友安。