1Mukuru kumudzimai wakasanangurwa navana vake vandinoda muchokwadi; uye kwete ini ndoga, asiwo vose vakaziva chokwadi;
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;
2nekuda kwechokwadi, chinogara matiri, chichagarawo nesu nokusingaperi.
2For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
3Ngazvive nemwi, nyasha, tsitsi, nerugare, zvinobva kuna Mwari Baba nokuna Ishe Jesu Kristu, Mwanakomana waBaba, muchokwadi nerudo.
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.
4Ndinofara zvikuru, nekuti ndakawana pavana venyu vanofamba muchokwadi, sezvatakagamuchira murairo kuna Baba.
4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
5Ikozvino ndinokukumbirisai, amai, kwete sezvivonzi ndinonyora murairo mutsva kwamuri, asi uyo watakanga tinawo kubva pakutanga, kuti tidanane.
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.
6zvino urwu ndirwo rudo, kuti tifambe nemirairo yake. Uyu ndiwo murairo, kuti sezvamakanzwa kubva pakutanga, mufambe mauri.
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.
7Nekuti vanyepedzeri vazhinji vakapinda munyika, vasingabvumi kuti Jesu Kristu wakauya panyama. Uyu ndiye munyepedzeri nemupikisi waKristu.
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.
8Zvichenjererei imi, kuti tirege kurashikirwa nezvinhu zvatakabatira, asi kuti tipiwe mubairo wakakwana.
8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9Umwe neumwe, unodarika, asingarambiri mukudzidzisa kwaKristu, haana Mwari; asi uyo, unorambira mukudzidzisa kwaKristu ndiye une zvose Baba noMwanakomana.
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.
10Kana kukauya umwe kwamuri, asingauyi nedzidziso iyi, musamugamuchira mumba, kana kuti kwaari, Hekanhi!
10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11Nekuti unoti kwaari: Hekanhi! unodyidzana naye pamabasa ake akaipa.
11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
12Kunyange ndine zvinhu zvizhinji zvekunyora kwamuri, handina kuda kukunyorerai pabepa neingi; asi ndinotarisira kuuya kwamuri, tigotaurirana muromo nomuromo, kuti mufaro wenyu uzadziswe.
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.
13Vana vomunin'ina wenyu wakasanangurwa vanokukwazisai.
13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.