3 Yohana 1
1 Mzee, kwa Gayo mpenzi, ninayempenda katika kweli.
The elder to beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2 Mpendwa, nakuombea ufanikiwe katika mambo yote na kuwa na afya njema, kama vile roho yako inavyofanikiwa.
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be healthy, just as it is well with your soul.
3 Maana nilifurahi sana wakati nilipoambiwa na ndugu waliokuja na kutoa ushuhuda juu ya kweli yako, kama vile unavyoenenda katika kweli.
For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and bore witness to your truth, just as you walk in truth.
4 Sina furaha kubwa zaidi ya hii, kusikia kwamba watoto wangu wanatembea katika kweli.
I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children walk in the truth.
5 Mpendwa, unaenenda kwa uaminifu unapowahudumia ndugu na wageni,
Beloved, you practice faithfulness whenever you work for the brothers and for strangers
6 ambao wametoa ushuhuda wa upendo wako mbele ya kanisa. Unafanya vizuri kuwasafirisha katika safari zao kwa namna ambayo inampendeza Mungu.
who have borne witness of your love in the presence of the church. You do well to send them off on their journey in a manner worthy of God,
7 Kwa sababu kwa ajili ya Jina, walienda bila kuchukua kitu chochote kutoka kwa watu wa Mataifa.
because it was for the sake of the name that they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
8 Hivyo, tunatakiwa kuwakaribisha watu kama hawa, ili tuwe watenda kazi wenza kwa ajili ya kweli.
We therefore should welcome such as these, so that we will be fellow workers for the truth.
9 Nililiandikia kusanyiko jambo fulani, lakini Diotrofe, anayependa kuwa wa kwanza miongoni mwao, hakubaliani na sisi.
I wrote something to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does 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.
So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. Not satisfied with that, he not only refused to welcome the brothers himself, but he also stops those who want to welcome them and puts them out of the church.
11 Mpenzi, usiige kilicho kibaya, bali iga kilicho chema. Yeye atendaye mema ni wa Mungu; na yeye atendaye mabaya hajamwona Mungu.
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
12 Demetrio ameshuhudiwa na wote na kweli yenyewe. sisi pia ni mashahidi, na unajua kuwa ushahuhuda wetu ni wa kweli.
Demetrius is borne witness to by all and by the truth itself. We also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 Ninayo mambo mengi ya kukuandikia, lakini sipendi kukuandikia kwa kalamu na wino.
I had many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write them to you with pen and ink.
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.
But I expect to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. May peace be with you. The friends greet you. Greet our friends there by name.
