¹The Elder to the choice Kyria, and to her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those having known the truth,

¹Mimi Mzee nakuandikia wewe Bimkubwa mteule, pamoja na watoto wako ninaowapenda kweli. Wala si mimi tu ninayewapenda, bali pia wote wanaoujua ule ukweli wanawapenda ninyi,

²because of the truth that is remaining in us, and with us shall be to the age,

²kwa sababu ukweli unakaa nasi milele.

³there shall be with you grace, kindness, peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

³Neema na huruma na amani zitokazo kwa Mungu Baba na kwa Yesu Kristo, Mwana wa Baba, zitakuwa pamoja nasi katika ukweli na upendo.

⁴I rejoiced exceedingly that I have found of thy children walking in truth, even as a command we did receive from the Father;

⁴Nilifurahi sana kuona kwamba baadhi ya watoto wako wanaishi katika ukweli kama Baba alivyotuamuru.

⁵and now I beseech thee, Kyria, not as writing to thee a new command, but which we had from the beginning, that we may love one another,

⁵Basi, Bimkubwa, ninalo ombi moja kwako: tupendane. Ombi hili si amri mpya, bali ni amri ileile tuliyokuwa nayo tangu mwanzo.

⁶and this is the love, that we may walk according to His commands; this is the command, even as ye did hear from the beginning, that in it ye may walk,

⁶Upendo maana yake ni kuishi kwa kuzitii amri zake Mungu. Amri niliyoisikia tangu mwanzo ndiyo hii: mnapaswa nyote kuishi katika upendo.

⁷because many leading astray did enter into the world, who are not confessing Jesus Christ coming in flesh; this one is he who is leading astray, and the antichrist.

⁷Wadanganyifu wengi wamezuka duniani, watu ambao hawakiri kwamba Yesu Kristo amekuja kwetu akawa binadamu. Mtu asemaye hivyo ni mdanganyifu na ni Adui wa Kristo.

⁸See to yourselves that ye may not lose the things that we wrought, but a full reward may receive;

⁸Basi, jihadharini ninyi wenyewe ili msije mkapoteza kile mlichokishugulikia, bali mpate tuzo lenu kamili.

⁹every one who is transgressing, and is not remaining in the teaching of the Christ, hath not God; he who is remaining in the teaching of the Christ, this one hath both the Father and the Son;

⁹Asiyezingatia na kudumu katika mafundisho ya Kristo, bali anayakiuka, hana Mungu. Lakini anayedumu katika mafundisho hayo anaye Baba na Mwana.

¹⁰if any one doth come unto you, and this teaching doth not bear, receive him not into the house, and say not to him, `Hail!`

¹⁰Basi, kama mtu akija kwenu bila kuwaleteeni mafundisho hayo, msimkaribishe nyumbani kwenu, wala msimsalimu.

¹¹for he who is saying to him, `Hail,` hath fellowship with his evil works.

¹¹Maana anayemsalimu mtu huyo, anashirikiana naye katika matendo yake maovu.

¹²Many things having to write to you, I did not intend through paper and ink, but I hope to come unto you, and speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full;

¹²Ninayo mengi ya kuwaambieni lakini sipendi kufanya hivyo kwa karatasi na wino; badala yake, natumaini kuwatembeleeni na kuzungumza nanyi ana kwa ana, ili furaha yetu ikamilike.

¹³salute thee do the children of thy choice sister. Amen.

¹³Watoto wa dada yako mteule wanakusalimu.