3 John 1
1 The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
Umdala, kuye uGayusi othandekayo, mina engimthanda ngeqiniso.
2 Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Sithandwa, kuzo zonke izinto ngifisa ukuthi uphumelele njalo uphile, njengalokhu umphefumulo wakho uphumelela.
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth.
Ngoba ngathokoza kakhulukazi, lapho kufika abazalwane, befakazela iqiniso lakho, njengoba wena uhamba eqinisweni.
4 Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
Kangilantokozo enkulu edlula lezizinto, ukuthi ngizwe ukuthi abantwana bami bahamba eqinisweni.
5 Beloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal;
Sithandwa, wenza ngokuthembeka loba yikuphi okwenza kubazalwane lakwabemzini,
6 who bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:
abafakazele uthando lwakho phambi kwebandla; uzakwenza kuhle uba ubaphelekezela ngokufanele uNkulunkulu.
7 because that for the sake of the Name they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
Ngoba ngenxa yebizo lakhe baphumile bengemukeli lutho kwabezizwe.
8 We therefore ought to welcome such, that we may be fellow-workers with the truth.
Ngakho thina sifanele ukubemukela abanjalo, ukuze sibe yizisebenzi kanye leqiniso.
9 I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
Ngabhalela ibandla; kodwa uDiyotrefe othanda ukuba ngowokuqala kubo kasemukeli.
10 Therefore, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth, prating against us with wicked words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that would he forbiddeth, and casteth [them] out of the church.
Ngakho, uba ngifika, ngizakhumbuza imisebenzi yakhe ayenzayo, uyasihleba ngamazwi amabi; futhi kakholiswa yilezizinto, yena uqobo kemukeli abazalwane, uyabalela lalabo abathanda ukukwenza, njalo uyabaxotsha ebandleni.
11 Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
Sithandwa, ungakulingiseli okubi, kodwa okuhle. Owenza okuhle ungokaNkulunkulu; kodwa owenza okubi kambonanga uNkulunkulu.
12 Demetrius hath the witness of all [men], and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness; and thou knowest that our witness is true.
NgoDemetriyu kufakazwe yibo bonke, langeqiniso uqobo; lathi futhi siyafakaza, lani liyazi ukuthi ubufakazi bethu buqinisile.
13 I had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write [them] to thee with ink and pen:
Bengilezinto ezinengi zokubhala, kodwa kangithandi ukukubhalela ngeyinki losiba;
14 but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace [be] unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.
kodwa ngithemba ukukubona masinyane, sibe sesikhuluma umlomo ngomlomo. Ukuthula kakube kuwe. Abangane bayakubingelela. Bingelela abangane ngamabizo.
