3 UJohane 1
1 Mina omdala, Ngilobela umngane wami othandekayo uGayiyasi, engimthanda ngeqiniso.
The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!
2 Mngane wami othandekayo, ngiyakhuleka ukuba ube lempilo enhle lokuthi konke kukuhambele kuhle njengalokhu umphefumulo wakho uphila kuhle.
Beloved, I desire you to prosper concerning all things, and to be in health, even as your soul prospers,
3 Kwangithokozisa kakhulu ukuba labanye abazalwane abafika bafakaza ngokuthembeka kwakho eqinisweni kanye lokuthi uyaqhubeka uphila ngeqiniso.
for I rejoiced exceedingly, brothers coming and testifying of the truth in you, even as you walk in truth;
4 Angilakuthokoza okukhulu okudlula ukuzwa ukuthi abantwabami baphila ngokweqiniso.
I have no joy greater than these things, that I may hear of my children walking in truth.
5 Mngane othandekayo, uthembekile kulokho okwenzela abazalwane, lanxa nje kuwe bengabemzini.
Beloved, you act faithfully in whatever you may do toward the brothers and the one [among] strangers,
6 Sebetshele ibandla ngothando lwakho. Ngicela ubathume ngendlela edumisa uNkulunkulu.
who testified of your love before an assembly, whom you will do well, having sent forward worthily of God,
7 Baphuma ngenxa yeBizo, abaze bathola usizo kwabangakholwayo.
because they went forth for [His] Name, receiving nothing from the nations;
8 Ngakho kufanele sitshengise ukuphana ebantwini abanjalo ukuze sisebenzele ndawonye iqiniso.
we, then, ought to receive such, that we may become fellow-workers to the truth.
9 Ngalobela ebandleni kodwa uDiyothrefasi othanda ubukhulu akasoze asemukela.
I wrote to the assembly, but he who is loving to be first among them—Diotrephes—does not receive us;
10 Ngakho-ke, ngingeza ngizakukhangelisisa lokhu akwenzayo, ekhuluma kakubi ngathi. Kasuthiseki ngalokho, uyala ukwamukela abazalwane. Labafuna ukwenzanjalo uyabalela abaxotshe ebandleni.
because of this, if I may come, I will cause him to remember his works that he does, talking nonsense against us with evil words; and not content with these, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and he forbids those intending [to receive them], and he casts [them] out of the assembly.
11 Bangane abathandekayo, lingalingiseli okubi, kodwa lingisani okuhle. Lowo oyenza okuhle ngokaNkulunkulu. Lowo oyenza okubi kakamboni uNkulunkulu.
Beloved, do not be following that which is evil, but that which is good; he who is doing good, he is of God, [but] he who is doing evil has not seen God;
12 UDemetriyasi unconywa ngabantu bonke kanye laliqiniso uqobo. Lathi sikhuluma okuhle ngaye njalo liyakwazi ukuthi ubufakazi bethu buliqiniso.
testimony has been given to Demetrius by all, and by the truth itself, and we also—we testify, and you have known that our testimony is true.
13 Ngilokunengi engingalilobela khona, kodwa angifuni ukusebenzisa usiba le-inki.
Many things I had to write, but I do not wish to write to you through ink and pen,
14 Ngithemba ukuthi ngizalibona masinyane lapho esizakhuluma khona ubuso ngobuso. Ukuthula kakube kini. Abangane abalapha bayalibingelela. Bingelela abangane abangapho munye ngamunye.
and I hope to see you soon, and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace to you! The friends greet you. Be greeting the friends by name.
