3 Sione 1

1 Ko e motuʻa ki he ʻofeina ko Keio, ʻaia ʻoku ou ʻofa moʻoni ki ai;

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

2 ‌ʻE ʻofeina, ko e fungani ʻi he meʻa ʻoku ou kolea, ke ke monūʻia, mo moʻui mālōlō, ʻo hangē pe ko e monūʻia ʻo ho laumālie.

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 He ne u fiefia lahi, ʻi he haʻu ʻae kāinga, ʻo fakamoʻoni ki he moʻoni ʻoku ʻiate koe, ʻo hangē ko hoʻo ʻeveʻeva ʻi he moʻoni.

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 ‌ʻOku ʻikai haʻaku fiefia ʻe lahi hake, ka ko ʻeku fanongo ʻoku ʻaʻeva ʻeku fānau ʻi he moʻoni.

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

5 ‌ʻE ʻofeina, ʻoku ke fai angatotonu pe ʻaia ʻoku ke fai ki he ngaahi kāinga, mo e kakai muli;

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

6 Pea kuo nau fakamoʻoni ʻi he ʻao ʻoe siasi ki hoʻo ʻofa: pea kapau te ke moimoiʻi ʻakinautolu ʻi heʻenau fononga ʻo taau mo e ʻOtua, ko hoʻo fai lelei ia:

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 He naʻe ʻalu atu ʻakinautolu koeʻuhi ko hono huafa, ʻo ʻikai maʻu ha meʻa mei he kakai Senitaile.

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

8 Ko ia ʻoku totonu ai ʻetau talia ʻae kakai pehē, ke tau hoko ko e kau tokoni ki he moʻoni.

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

9 Ne u tohi ki he siasi: ka ko Taiotifi ʻoku manako ke lahi hake ʻiate kinautolu, ʻoku ʻikai te ne tali ʻakinautolu.

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

10 Ko ia, kapau te u ʻalu atu, te u manatu ki heʻene ngaahi ngāue ʻoku ne fai, ʻa ʻene palau kiate kitautolu ʻi he ngaahi lea kovi: pea ʻi heʻene taʻefiu ai, ʻoku ʻikai te ne tali ʻe ia ʻae kāinga, pea ʻoku ne taʻofi kiate kinautolu naʻe loto ki ai, ʻo ne kapusi [ʻakinautolu ]mei he siasi.

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 ‌ʻE ʻofeina, ʻoua naʻa angimui ki ha kovi, ka ko ia pe ʻoku lelei. Ko ia ʻoku ne fai lelei, ʻoku ʻoe ʻOtua ia: ka ko ia ʻoku ne fai kovi, kuo ʻikai mamata ia ki he ʻOtua,

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 ‌ʻOku ongoongolelei ʻa Temetelio ʻi he kakai kotoa pē, pea ʻi he moʻoni foki: ʻio, pea ʻoku mau fakamoʻoni foki; pea ʻoku mou ʻilo ʻoku moʻoni ʻemau fakamoʻoni.

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 Kuo lahi ʻae meʻa ke u tohi atu ai, ka ʻoku ʻikai teu loto ke tohi kiate koe ʻaki ʻae vaitohi mo e peni:

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

14 Ka ʻoku ou ʻamanaki ʻe vave ʻeku mamata kiate koe, pea te ta alea ʻo femamataʻaki. Ke ʻiate koe ʻae fiemālie. ʻOku ʻofa atu ʻae kāinga kiate koe. Tala ʻae ʻofa ki he kāinga, ʻo huaʻaki [honau ] hingoa.

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.