¹The elder to [the] elect lady and her children, whom *I* love in truth, and not *I* only but also all who have 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,

²for the truth's sake which abides in us and shall be with us to eternity.

²kwa sababu ukweli unakaa nasi milele.

³Grace shall be with you, mercy, 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 greatly that I have found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received commandment from the Father.

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

⁵And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing to thee a new commandment, but that which we have had from [the] beginning, that we should 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 love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, according as ye have heard from the beginning, that ye might walk in it.

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

⁷For many deceivers have gone out into the world, they who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in flesh -- this is the deceiver 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 we may not lose what we have wrought, but may receive full wages.

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

⁹Whosoever goes forward and abides not in the doctrine of the Christ has not God. He that abides in the doctrine, *he* has 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 come to you and bring not this doctrine, do not receive him into [the] house, and greet him not;

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

¹¹for he who greets him partakes in his wicked works.

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

¹²Having many things to write to you, I would not with paper and ink; but hope to come to you, and to 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.

¹³The children of thine elect sister greet thee.

¹³Watoto wa dada yako mteule wanakusalimu.