3 UJohane 1
1 Umdala, kuye uGayusi othandekayo, mina engimthanda ngeqiniso.
The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
2 Sithandwa, kuzo zonke izinto ngifisa ukuthi uphumelele njalo uphile, njengalokhu umphefumulo wakho uphumelela.
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.
3 Ngoba ngathokoza kakhulukazi, lapho kufika abazalwane, befakazela iqiniso lakho, njengoba wena uhamba eqinisweni.
For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.
4 Kangilantokozo enkulu edlula lezizinto, ukuthi ngizwe ukuthi abantwana bami bahamba eqinisweni.
I have no greater joy than this: to hear about my children walking in truth.
5 Sithandwa, wenza ngokuthembeka loba yikuphi okwenza kubazalwane lakwabemzini,
Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers.
6 abafakazele uthando lwakho phambi kwebandla; uzakwenza kuhle uba ubaphelekezela ngokufanele uNkulunkulu.
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 Ngoba ngenxa yebizo lakhe baphumile bengemukeli lutho kwabezizwe.
because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
8 Ngakho thina sifanele ukubemukela abanjalo, ukuze sibe yizisebenzi kanye leqiniso.
We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
9 Ngabhalela ibandla; kodwa uDiyotrefe othanda ukuba ngowokuqala kubo kasemukeli.
I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.
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.
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 Sithandwa, ungakulingiseli okubi, kodwa okuhle. Owenza okuhle ungokaNkulunkulu; kodwa owenza okubi kambonanga uNkulunkulu.
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 NgoDemetriyu kufakazwe yibo bonke, langeqiniso uqobo; lathi futhi siyafakaza, lani liyazi ukuthi ubufakazi bethu buqinisile.
Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 Bengilezinto ezinengi zokubhala, kodwa kangithandi ukukubhalela ngeyinki losiba;
I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;
14 kodwa ngithemba ukukubona masinyane, sibe sesikhuluma umlomo ngomlomo. Ukuthula kakube kuwe. Abangane bayakubingelela. Bingelela abangane ngamabizo.
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.
