3 Yohana 1
1 Mzee, kwa Gayo mpenzi, ninayempenda katika kweli.
The Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!
2 Mpendwa, nakuombea ufanikiwe katika mambo yote na kuwa na afya njema, kama vile roho yako inavyofanikiwa.
beloved, concerning all things I desire thee to prosper, and to be in health, even as thy soul doth prosper,
3 Maana nilifurahi sana wakati nilipoambiwa na ndugu waliokuja na kutoa ushuhuda juu ya kweli yako, kama vile unavyoenenda katika kweli.
for I rejoiced exceedingly, brethren coming and testifying of the truth in thee, even as thou in truth dost walk;
4 Sina furaha kubwa zaidi ya hii, kusikia kwamba watoto wangu wanatembea katika kweli.
greater than these things I have no joy, that I may hear of my children in truth walking.
5 Mpendwa, unaenenda kwa uaminifu unapowahudumia ndugu na wageni,
Beloved, faithfully dost thou do whatever thou mayest work to the brethren and to the strangers,
6 ambao wametoa ushuhuda wa upendo wako mbele ya kanisa. Unafanya vizuri kuwasafirisha katika safari zao kwa namna ambayo inampendeza Mungu.
who did testify of thy love before an assembly, whom thou wilt do well, having sent forward worthily of God,
7 Kwa sababu kwa ajili ya Jina, walienda bila kuchukua kitu chochote kutoka kwa watu wa Mataifa.
because for [His] name they went forth, nothing receiving from the nations;
8 Hivyo, tunatakiwa kuwakaribisha watu kama hawa, ili tuwe watenda kazi wenza kwa ajili ya kweli.
we, then, ought to receive such, that fellow-workers we may become to the truth.
9 Nililiandikia kusanyiko jambo fulani, lakini Diotrofe, anayependa kuwa wa kwanza miongoni mwao, hakubaliani na sisi.
I did write to the assembly, but he who is loving the first place among them — Diotrephes — doth not receive us;
10 Hivyo, kama nikija nitayakumbuka matendo yake anayoyafanya, jinsi anavyosema maneno mabaya kinyume nasi. Hajaridhika na matendo haya, yeye mwenyewe hawapokei ndugu. Hata huwakataza wengine ambao wanatamani kuwakaribisha hao ndugu na kuwafukuza watoke kwenye kusanyiko.
because of this, if I may come, I will cause him to remember his works that he doth, with evil words prating against us; and not content with these, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and those intending he doth forbid, and out of the assembly he doth cast.
11 Mpenzi, usiige kilicho kibaya, bali iga kilicho chema. Yeye atendaye mema ni wa Mungu; na yeye atendaye mabaya hajamwona Mungu.
Beloved, be not thou following that which is evil, but that which is good; he who is doing good, of God he is, and he who is doing evil hath not seen God;
12 Demetrio ameshuhudiwa na wote na kweli yenyewe. sisi pia ni mashahidi, na unajua kuwa ushahuhuda wetu ni wa kweli.
to Demetrius testimony hath been given by all, and by the truth itself, and we also — we do testify, and ye have known that our testimony is true.
13 Ninayo mambo mengi ya kukuandikia, lakini sipendi kukuandikia kwa kalamu na wino.
Many things I had to write, but I do not wish through ink and pen to write to thee,
14 Bali ninatarajia kukuona hivi karibuni, na tutaongea nawe ana kwa ana. Amani iwe pamoja nawe. Marafiki wanakusalimu. Wasalimu marafiki kila mmoja kwa jina lake.
and I hope straightway to see thee, and mouth to mouth we shall speak. Peace to thee! salute thee do the friends; be saluting the friends by name.
