3 John 1

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

The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!

2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.

Beloved, I desire you to prosper concerning all things, and to be in health, even as your soul prospers,

3 For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.

for I rejoiced exceedingly, brothers coming and testifying of the truth in you, even as you walk in truth;

4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear about my children walking in truth.

I have no joy greater than these things, that I may hear of my children walking in truth.

5 Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers.

Beloved, you act faithfully in whatever you may do toward the brothers and the one [among] strangers,

6 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,

who testified of your love before an assembly, whom you will do well, having sent forward worthily of God,

7 because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

because they went forth for [His] Name, receiving nothing from the nations;

8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

we, then, ought to receive such, that we may become fellow-workers to the truth.

9 I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.

I wrote to the assembly, but he who is loving to be first among them—Diotrephes—does not receive us;

10 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.

because of this, if I may come, I will cause him to remember his works that he does, talking nonsense against us with evil words; and not content with these, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and he forbids those intending [to receive them], and he casts [them] out of the assembly.

11 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.

Beloved, do not be following that which is evil, but that which is good; he who is doing good, he is of God, [but] he who is doing evil has not seen God;

12 Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.

testimony has been given to Demetrius by all, and by the truth itself, and we also—we testify, and you have known that our testimony is true.

13 I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;

Many things I had to write, but I do not wish to write to you through ink and pen,

14 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.

and I hope to see you soon, and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace to you! The friends greet you. Be greeting the friends by name.