3 Johani 1

1 Mukuru, kushamwari yangu inodikanwa Gayo, wandinoda muchokwadi.

From the elder to his dear friend Gaius, whom he sincerely loves.

2 Mudikani, ndinonyengetera kuti uve noutano hwakanaka uye kuti zvose zvikunakire kunyange sokufara kwomweya wako.

Dear friend, I pray that all may be well with you and that you may have good health – I know that all is well with your soul.

3 Ndakafara kwazvo dzimwe hama padzakauya dzikandiudza nezvokutendeka kwako pachokwadi uye kuti unoramba uchifamba sei muchokwadi.

For it was a great joy to me, when some followers of the Lord came and testified to your fidelity to the truth. I know that your own life is guided by the truth.

4 Hapana chimwe chinhu chinondifadza kupfuura kunzwa kuti vana vangu vari kufamba muchokwadi.

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to hear from time to time that the lives of my children are guided by the truth.

5 Mudikani, wakatendeka pane zvaunoita kuhama, kunyange vasiri vanhu vaunoziva.

Dear friend, you are faithful in all the things you do for other followers – even when they are strangers to you.

6 Vakataurira kereke nezvorudo rwako. Uchaita zvakanaka kana ukavadzosazve nenzira yakafanira pamberi paMwari.

They themselves have testified before the church to your love. You will do well to help them on their way in a manner worthy of the service of God.

7 Nokuda kweZita iri vakabuda, vasingagamuchiri rubatsiro kubva kuvahedheni.

For it was on behalf of Christ’s name that they set out, not accepting even one thing from the Gentiles.

8 Naizvozvo tinofanira kugamuchira vanhu vakadai kuti tishande pamwe chete muchokwadi.

Therefore, we should support people like them, and so take our share in their work for the truth.

9 Ndakanyorera kukereke, asi Dhiotirefesi, iye anoda kuva mukuru, akati haagamuchiri zvatinotaura.

I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes (who loves to be the leader among them) doesn’t welcome us.

10 Saka kana ndauya, ndichamuyeuchidza mabasa ake aanoita, okunyeya, nokuitira godo. Kwete izvozvo zvoga, anorambawo kugamuchira hama. Anodzivisawo vaya vanoda havo kuita izvozvo uye achivabudisa mukereke.

So if I come, I will bring up his actions in telling wicked nonsense about us. Not content with that, he not only refuses to personally welcome our friends who are followers, but actually stops those who would, and expels them from the church.

11 Mudikani, usatevedzera zvakaipa asi zvakanaka. Ani naani anoita zvakanaka ndiye anobva kuna Mwari. Ani naani anoita zvakaipa haana kuona Mwari.

Dear friend, do not follow a bad example, but a good one. The person who does what is good is from God; the person who does what is bad has never seen God.

12 Dhemetriasi anopupurirwa zvakanaka navose, uye kunyange nechokwadi chaicho. Nesuwo tinotaura zvakanaka nezvake, uye munoziva kuti uchapupu hwedu ndohwechokwadi.

Everyone has always had a good word for Demetrius, and the truth itself speaks for him. Yes, and we also add our good word, and you know that what we say is true.

13 Ndine zvizhinji zvokukunyorera, asi handidi kuita izvozvi nechinyoreso neingi.

I have many things to tell you, but I would rather not use pen and ink.

14 Ndinovimba kuti ndichakuonai nokukurumidza, uye tichazotaurirana chiso nechiso. Rugare kwamuri. Shamwari dziri kuno dzinokukwazisai. Kwazisai shamwari dziri ikoko namazita avo.

I hope to see you soon, and then we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. The friends here send you their greetings. Greet each one of our friends.