3 UJohane 1

1 Umdala, kuye uGayusi othandekayo, mina engimthanda ngeqiniso.

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

2 Sithandwa, kuzo zonke izinto ngifisa ukuthi uphumelele njalo uphile, njengalokhu umphefumulo wakho uphumelela.

Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

3 Ngoba ngathokoza kakhulukazi, lapho kufika abazalwane, befakazela iqiniso lakho, njengoba wena uhamba eqinisweni.

For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in the truth.

4 Kangilantokozo enkulu edlula lezizinto, ukuthi ngizwe ukuthi abantwana bami bahamba eqinisweni.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

5 Sithandwa, wenza ngokuthembeka loba yikuphi okwenza kubazalwane lakwabemzini,

Beloved, you do faithfully whatsoever you do to the brethren, and to strangers;

6 abafakazele uthando lwakho phambi kwebandla; uzakwenza kuhle uba ubaphelekezela ngokufanele uNkulunkulu.

Which have borne witness of your love (agape) before the church: whom if you bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, you shall do well:

7 Ngoba ngenxa yebizo lakhe baphumile bengemukeli lutho kwabezizwe.

Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

8 Ngakho thina sifanele ukubemukela abanjalo, ukuze sibe yizisebenzi kanye leqiniso.

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow-helpers to the truth.

9 Ngabhalela ibandla; kodwa uDiyotrefe othanda ukuba ngowokuqala kubo kasemukeli.

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not.

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.

Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, babbling against us with malicious words: (logos) and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church.

11 Sithandwa, ungakulingiseli okubi, kodwa okuhle. Owenza okuhle ungokaNkulunkulu; kodwa owenza okubi kambonanga uNkulunkulu.

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good is of God: but he that does evil has not seen God.

12 NgoDemetriyu kufakazwe yibo bonke, langeqiniso uqobo; lathi futhi siyafakaza, lani liyazi ukuthi ubufakazi bethu buqinisile.

Demetrius has good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and all of you know that our record is true.

13 Bengilezinto ezinengi zokubhala, kodwa kangithandi ukukubhalela ngeyinki losiba;

I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto you:

14 kodwa ngithemba ukukubona masinyane, sibe sesikhuluma umlomo ngomlomo. Ukuthula kakube kuwe. Abangane bayakubingelela. Bingelela abangane ngamabizo.

But I trust I shall shortly see you, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to you. Our friends salute you. Greet the friends by name.