1See what love the Father has given to us, that we should be called [the] children of God. For this reason the world knows us not, because it knew him not.
1Oneni basi, jinsi Baba alivyotupenda mno hata tunaitwa watoto wa Mungu! Na kweli, ndivyo tulivyo. Ndiyo maana ulimwengu haututambui sisi, kwani haumjui Mungu.
2Beloved, now are we children of God, and what we shall be has not yet been manifested; we know that if it is manifested we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
2Wapenzi wangu, sisi ni watoto wa Mungu sasa, lakini bado haijaonekana wazi jinsi tutakavyokuwa. Lakini tunajua kwamba wakati Kristo atakapotokea, tutafanana naye kwani tutamwona vile alivyo.
3And every one that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as *he* is pure.
3Basi, kila mtu aliye na tumaini hili katika Kristo, hujiweka safi kama vile Kristo alivyo safi kabisa.
4Every one that practises sin practises also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
4Kila mtu atendaye dhambi anavunja sheria ya Mungu, maana dhambi ni uvunjaji wa sheria.
5And ye know that *he* has been manifested that he might take away our sins; and in him sin is not.
5Mnajua kwamba Kristo alikuja kuziondoa dhambi zetu, na kwamba kwake hamna dhambi yoyote.
6Whoever abides in him, does not sin: whoever sins, has not seen him or known him.
6Basi, kila aishiye katika muungano na Kristo hatendi dhambi; lakini kila mtu atendaye dhambi hakupata kamwe kumwona, wala kumjua Kristo.
7Children, let no man lead you astray; he that practises righteousness is righteous, even as *he* is righteous.
7Basi, watoto wangu, msikubali kupotoshwa na mtu yeyote. Mtu atendaye matendo maadilifu ni mwadilifu kama vile Kristo alivyo mwadilifu kabisa.
8He that practises sin is of the devil; for from [the] beginning the devil sins. To this end the Son of God has been manifested, that he might undo the works of the devil.
8Lakini atendaye dhambi ni wa Ibilisi, maana Ibilisi ametenda dhambi tangu mwanzo. Lakini Mwana wa Mungu alikuja duniani kuiharibu kazi ya Ibilisi.
9Whoever has been begotten of God does not practise sin, because his seed abides in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been begotten of God.
9Kila aliye mtoto wa Mungu hatendi dhambi, maana anayo hali ya kimungu ndani yake; hawezi kutenda dhambi kwa sababu yeye ni mtoto wa Mungu.
10In this are manifest the children of God and the children of the devil. Whoever does not practise righteousness is not of God, and he who does not love his brother.
10Lakini yeyote asiyetenda mambo maadilifu, au asiyempenda ndugu yake, huyo si mtoto wa Mungu. Hiyo ndiyo tofauti iliyoko kati ya watoto wa Mungu na watoto wa Ibilisi.
11For this is the message which ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:
11Na, ujumbe mliousikia tangu mwanzo ndio huu: Tunapaswa kupendana!
12not as Cain was of the wicked one, and slew his brother; and on account of what slew he him? because his works were wicked, and those of his brother righteous.
12Tusiwe kama Kaini ambaye, kwa kuongozwa na yule Mwovu, alimuua ndugu yake. Na, kwa nini alimuua? Kwa sababu matendo yake yalikuwa maovu, lakini yale ya ndugu yake yalikuwa mema!
13Do not wonder, brethren, if the world hate you.
13Basi, ndugu zangu, msishangae kama ulimwengu unawachukia ninyi.
14*We* know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [his] brother abides in death.
14Sisi tunajua kwamba tumekwisha pita kutoka katika kifo na kuingia katika uzima kwa sababu tunawapenda ndugu zetu. Mtu asiye na upendo hubaki katika kifo.
15Every one that hates his brother is a murderer, and ye know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
15Kila anayemchukia ndugu yake ni muuaji; nanyi mnajua kwamba muuaji yeyote yule hana uzima wa milele ndani yake.
16Hereby we have known love, because *he* has laid down his life for us; and *we* ought for the brethren to lay down [our] lives.
16Sisi tumepata kujua upendo ni nini, kwani Kristo aliyatoa maisha yake kwa ajili yetu. Nasi vilevile tunapaswa kuyatoa maisha yetu kwa ajili ya ndugu zetu.
17But whoso may have the world's substance, and see his brother having need, and shut up his bowels from him, how abides the love of God in him?
17Basi, mtu akiwa na mali za hapa duniani, halafu akamwona ndugu yake ana shida, lakini akawa na moyo mgumu bila kumwonea huruma, anawezaje kusema kwamba anampenda Mungu?
18Children, let us not love with word, nor with tongue, but in deed and in truth.
18Watoto wangu, upendo wetu usiwe maneno matupu, bali uwe upendo wa kweli na wa vitendo.
19And hereby we shall know that we are of the truth, and shall persuade our hearts before him --
19Hivyo ndivyo tuwezavyo kuwa na hakika kwamba sisi ni watu wa ukweli; na hatutakuwa na wasiwasi mbele ya Mungu.
20that if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
20Kwa maana, hata kama dhamiri yetu yatuhukumu, twajua kwamba Mungu ni mkuu zaidi kuliko dhamiri, na kwamba yeye ajua kila kitu.
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness towards God,
21Wapenzi wangu, kama dhamiri yetu haina lawama juu yetu, basi, twaweza kuwa na uthabiti mbele ya Mungu,
22and whatsoever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and practise the things which are pleasing in his sight.
22na twaweza kupokea kwake chochote tunachoomba, maana tunazitii amri zake na kufanya yale yanayompendeza.
23And this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another, even as he has given us commandment.
23Na, amri yake ndiyo hii: Kumwamini Mwanae Kristo, na kupendana kama alivyotuamuru.
24And he that keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given to us.
24Anayezitii amri za Mungu anaishi katika muungano na Mungu na Mungu anaishi katika muungano naye. Kwa njia ya Roho ambaye Mungu ametujalia, sisi twajua kwamba Mungu anaishi katika muungano nasi.