1 The 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;
Mzee, kwa mama mteule na watoto wake niwapendao katika kweli; wala si mimi peke yangu, bali na wote waijuao ile kweli;
2 for the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
kwa ajili ya hiyo kweli ikaayo ndani yetu, nayo itakuwa pamoja nasi hata milele.
3 Grace 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.
Neema, na rehema, na amani, zitokazo kwa Mungu Baba na kwa Yesu Kristo Mwana wa Baba, zitakuwa pamoja nasi katika kweli na upendo.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
Nalifurahi mno kwa kuwa nimewaona baadhi ya watoto wako wanaenenda katika kweli, kama vile tulivyopokea amri kwa Baba.
5 And 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.
Na sasa mama, nakuomba, si kwamba nakuandikia amri mpya, bali ile tuliyokuwa nayo tangu mwanzo, kwamba tupendane.
6 And 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.
Na huu ndio upendo: tuenende kwa kuzifuata amri zake. Hii ndiyo ile amri, kama mlivyosikia tangu mwanzo kwamba mwenende katika hiyo.
7 For 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.
Kwa maana wadanganyifu wengi wametokea duniani, wasiokiri ya kuwa Yesu Kristo yuaja katika mwili. Huyo ndiye yule mdanganyifu na mpinga Kristo.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
Jiangalieni nafsi zenu msiyapoteze mliyoyatenda, bali mpokee thawabu timilifu.
9 Whosoever 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.
Kila apitaye cheo, wala asidumu katika mafundisho ya Kristo, yeye hana Mungu. Yeye adumuye katika mafundisho hayo, huyo ana Baba na Mwana pia.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
Mtu akija kwenu, naye haleti mafundisho hayo, msimkaribishe nyumbani mwenu, wala msimpe salamu.
11 for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Maana yeye ampaye salamu azishiriki kazi zake mbovu.
12 Having 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.
Kwa kuwa ninayo mambo mengi, sitaki kuyaandika kwa karatasi na wino; lakini nataraji kuja kwenu, na kusema nanyi uso kwa uso, ili furaha yetu iwe imetimizwa.
13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
Watoto wa ndugu yako aliye mteule, wakusalimu.
