3 John 1

1 [You(sg) know me as] the [chief] Elder. [I am writing this letter to you], my dear friend Gaius, whom I truly love.

L’ancien à Gaïus, le bien-aimé, que j’aime dans [la] vérité.

2 Dear friend, I ask [God that things may go] well for you in every way, [specifically], that you will be physically healthy just like you are spiritually healthy [MTY].

Bien-aimé, je souhaite qu’à tous égards tu prospères et que tu sois en bonne santé, comme ton âme prospère;

3 I am very happy because some fellow believers have come [here] and told me that you conduct your life in a manner [that is consistent with God’s] true message.

car je me suis très fort réjoui quand des frères sont venus et ont rendu témoignage à ta vérité, comment toi tu marches dans la vérité.

4 I am very happy when I hear that (people whom I helped to believe in Christ/my [spiritual] children) are conducting their lives like you are!

Je n’ai pas de plus grande joie que ceci, c’est que j’entende dire que mes enfants marchent dans la vérité.

5 Dear friend, you are [serving Jesus] loyally/faithfully whenever you do things to help fellow believers, [even those whom you] do not know, who are traveling [around doing God’s work].

Bien-aimé, tu agis fidèlement dans tout ce que tu fais envers les frères, et cela [envers ceux-là même qui sont] étrangers,

6 [Some of] them have reported before the congregation [here how] you have showed that you love them. You should continue to help such people in their travels in a way that is pleasing to God.

qui ont rendu témoignage à ton amour devant l’assemblée; et tu feras bien de leur faire la conduite d’une manière digne de Dieu,

7 When those fellow believers went out [to tell people about Jesus] [MTY], the people who do not believe in Christ did not give them anything [to help them].

car ils sont sortis pour le nom, ne recevant rien de ceux des nations.

8 So we [who believe in Christ] ought to give food and money to such people to help [them as they teach others God’s] true message.

Nous donc, nous devons recevoir de tels hommes, afin que nous coopérions avec la vérité.

9 I wrote [a letter] to the congregation [telling them to help those fellow believers]. However, Diotrephes does not (acknowledge my authority/[pay any attention to what] I wrote), because he (desires to be in charge/wants to be the leader) of [the congregation].

J’ai écrit quelque chose à l’assemblée; mais Diotrèphe, qui aime à être le premier parmi eux, ne nous reçoit pas;

10 So, when I arrive [there], I will [publicly] tell what he does: He tells others evil nonsense about us [in order to] harm [us by what he] says, and he is not content with only doing that. He himself refuses to receive the fellow believers who are traveling around doing God’s work, and he also stops those who want to receive them by expelling them from the congregation.

c’est pourquoi, si je viens, je me souviendrai des œuvres qu’il fait en débitant de méchantes paroles contre nous; et, non content de cela, lui-même il ne reçoit pas les frères et il empêche ceux qui veulent [les recevoir], et les chasse de l’assemblée.

11 Dear friend, do not imitate a bad [example like that]. Instead, [keep imitating] good [examples. Remember that] people who do good deeds ([truly] belong to God/are [spiritual children] of God), [but] those who do [what is] evil do not (know/have fellowship with) God.

Bien-aimé, n’imite pas le mal, mais le bien. Celui qui fait le bien est de Dieu; celui qui fait le mal n’a pas vu Dieu.

12 All [the believers who know Demetrius] say that he [is a good person]. The fact [that he conducts his life in a way that is consistent/in accordance with God’s] true [message] shows [that he is a good person], and we also say the same thing [about him]. You know that what we say [about him] is true. [So it will be good if you welcome him and help him. He is the one who will be bringing this letter to you].

Démétrius a le témoignage de tous et de la vérité elle-même; et nous aussi, nous lui rendons témoignage: et tu sais que notre témoignage est vrai.

13 [When I began] to write this letter, I had much more [that I intended] to tell you. But [now] I do not want to say [it] in a letter [MTY].

J’avais beaucoup de choses à t’écrire, mais je ne veux pas t’écrire avec l’encre et la plume,

14 Instead, I expect to [come and] see you soon. Then we will talk directly with one another. [I pray that God will enable] you [to experience inner] peace. Our friends [here] (send you their greetings/say that they are thinking affectionately about you) [MTY]. Tell our friends [there] that we (send our greetings to/are thinking fondly about) them.

mais j’espère te voir bientôt et nous parlerons bouche à bouche. Paix te soit. Les amis te saluent. Salue les amis, chacun par son nom.