3 UJohane 1
1 Umdala, kuye uGayusi othandekayo, mina engimthanda ngeqiniso.
The elder, to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2 Sithandwa, kuzo zonke izinto ngifisa ukuthi uphumelele njalo uphile, njengalokhu umphefumulo wakho uphumelela.
Dear one, I pray for you to prosper in every way and to be healthy, just as your soul prospers.
3 Ngoba ngathokoza kakhulukazi, lapho kufika abazalwane, befakazela iqiniso lakho, njengoba wena uhamba eqinisweni.
Because it gave me great joy when some brothers came and testified to the truth about you, how you are walking in Truth.
4 Kangilantokozo enkulu edlula lezizinto, ukuthi ngizwe ukuthi abantwana bami bahamba eqinisweni.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in Truth.
5 Sithandwa, wenza ngokuthembeka loba yikuphi okwenza kubazalwane lakwabemzini,
Dear one, you are faithful in whatever you do for the brothers, and for the strangers
6 abafakazele uthando lwakho phambi kwebandla; uzakwenza kuhle uba ubaphelekezela ngokufanele uNkulunkulu.
who testified to your love before the church—you will do well by sending them on their way in a manner worthy of God,
7 Ngoba ngenxa yebizo lakhe baphumile bengemukeli lutho kwabezizwe.
because it was for the sake of the Name that they went out, accepting nothing from pagans.
8 Ngakho thina sifanele ukubemukela abanjalo, ukuze sibe yizisebenzi kanye leqiniso.
We therefore ought to welcome such, so that we may work together for the Truth.
9 Ngabhalela ibandla; kodwa uDiyotrefe othanda ukuba ngowokuqala kubo kasemukeli.
I wrote to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who wants to dominate the others, does not acknowledge us.
10 Ngakho, uba ngifika, ngizakhumbuza imisebenzi yakhe ayenzayo, uyasihleba ngamazwi amabi; futhi kakholiswa yilezizinto, yena uqobo kemukeli abazalwane, uyabalela lalabo abathanda ukukwenza, njalo uyabaxotsha ebandleni.
So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, slandering us with malignant words. And not satisfied with that, not only does he himself not receive the brothers, but he forbids those who want to do so, kicking them out of the congregation.
11 Sithandwa, ungakulingiseli okubi, kodwa okuhle. Owenza okuhle ungokaNkulunkulu; kodwa owenza okubi kambonanga uNkulunkulu.
Dear one, do not imitate what is bad, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.
12 NgoDemetriyu kufakazwe yibo bonke, langeqiniso uqobo; lathi futhi siyafakaza, lani liyazi ukuthi ubufakazi bethu buqinisile.
Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—even by the truth itself. Yes, we also speak well of him, and we know that our testimony is true.
13 Bengilezinto ezinengi zokubhala, kodwa kangithandi ukukubhalela ngeyinki losiba;
I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink;
14 kodwa ngithemba ukukubona masinyane, sibe sesikhuluma umlomo ngomlomo. Ukuthula kakube kuwe. Abangane bayakubingelela. Bingelela abangane ngamabizo.
rather I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name.
