3 John 1

1 The Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!

The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.

2 beloved, concerning all things I desire thee to prosper, and to be in health, even as thy soul doth prosper,

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.

3 for I rejoiced exceedingly, brethren coming and testifying of the truth in thee, even as thou in truth dost walk;

For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.

4 greater than these things I have no joy, that I may hear of my children in truth walking.

I have no greater joy than this: to hear about my children walking in truth.

5 Beloved, faithfully dost thou do whatever thou mayest work to the brethren and to the strangers,

Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers.

6 who did testify of thy love before an assembly, whom thou wilt do well, having sent forward worthily of God,

They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a way worthy of God,

7 because for [His] name they went forth, nothing receiving from the nations;

because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

8 we, then, ought to receive such, that fellow-workers we may become to the truth.

We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

9 I did write to the assembly, but he who is loving the first place among them — Diotrephes — doth not receive us;

I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first amongst them, doesn’t accept what we say.

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.

Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, he doesn’t receive the brothers himself, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the assembly.

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;

Beloved, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God.

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.

Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 Many things I had to write, but I do not wish through ink and pen to write to thee,

I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;

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.

but I hope to see you soon. Then we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.