1The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 7For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
12Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
1Ndine mkulu wampingo, kulembera:
Mayi wosankhidwa ndi Mulungu ndi kwa ana ake amene ndimawakonda mʼchoonadi. Ndipo sindine ndekha amene ndimawakonda, komanso onse odziwa choonadi. 2Timakukondani chifukwa cha choonadi chimene chimakhala mwa ife ndipo chidzakhala mwa ife mpaka muyaya.
3Chisomo, chifundo ndi mtendere zochokera kwa Mulungu Atate ndi kwa Yesu Khristu, Mwana wa Atate, zikhale ndi ife mʼchoonadi ndi mʼchikondi.
Choonadi ndi Chikondi
4Ndinakondwera kwambiri nditapeza ana anu ena akuyenda mʼchoonadi, monga Atate anatilamulira. 5Ndipo tsopano, amayi wokondedwa, sindikukulemberani lamulo latsopano koma lomwe lija takhala nalo kuyambira pachiyambi. Ine ndikukupemphani kuti tidzikondana wina ndi mnzake. 6Ndipo chikondi ndiye kuyenda momvera malamulo ake. Lamulo lake ndi lakuti mukhale moyo wachikondi monga munamva kuyambira pachiyambi.
7Ndikunena zimenezi chifukwa anthu ambiri onyenga, amene savomereza kuti Yesu Khristu anabwera monga munthu, akuyenda mʼdziko lapansi. Munthu aliyense otere ndi wonyenga ndiponso wokana Khristu. 8Chenjerani kuti mungataye chimene mwagwirira ntchito, koma chitani khama kuti mukalandire mphotho yanu yonse. 9Aliyense amene sasunga chiphunzitso cha Khristu, alibe Mulungu. Koma amene amasunga chiphunzitsochi, ameneyo alinso ndi Atate ndi Mwana. 10Ngati wina aliyense abwera kwa inu osaphunzitsa zimenezi, musamulandire mʼnyumba mwanu kapena kumupatsa moni. 11Aliyense wolandira munthu wotere ndiye kuti akuvomerezana nazo ntchito zake zoyipa.
12Ndili nazo zambiri zoti ndikulembereni, koma sindikufuna kuzilemba mʼkalata. Mʼmalo mwake, ndikuyembekeza kufika kwanuko kuti tidzakambirane nanu pamaso ndi pamaso, potero chimwemwe chathu chidzakhala chathunthu.
13Ana a mlongo wanu wosankhidwa ndi Mulungu akupereka moni.
