3 John 1

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

The elder to beloved Gaius, 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 all may go well with you and that you may be healthy, just as it is well with your soul.

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 bore witness to your truth, just 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 that my children walk in the truth.

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

Beloved, you practice faithfulness whenever you work for the brothers and for strangers

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

who have borne witness of your love in the presence of the church. You do well to send them off on their journey in a manner worthy of God,

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

because it was for the sake of the name that 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 should welcome such as these, so that we will 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 something to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not receive us.

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.

So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. Not satisfied with that, he not only refused to welcome the brothers himself, but he also stops those who want to welcome them and puts them out of the church.

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, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not 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 is borne witness to by all and by the truth itself. We also bear witness, 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 do not wish to write them to you with pen and ink.

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 expect to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. May peace be with you. The friends greet you. Greet our friends there by name.