1Oneni basi, jinsi Baba alivyotupenda mno hata tunaitwa watoto wa Mungu! Na kweli, ndivyo tulivyo. Ndiyo maana ulimwengu haututambui sisi, kwani haumjui Mungu.
1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
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.
2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3Basi, kila mtu aliye na tumaini hili katika Kristo, hujiweka safi kama vile Kristo alivyo safi kabisa.
3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4Kila mtu atendaye dhambi anavunja sheria ya Mungu, maana dhambi ni uvunjaji wa sheria.
4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5Mnajua kwamba Kristo alikuja kuziondoa dhambi zetu, na kwamba kwake hamna dhambi yoyote.
5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6Basi, kila aishiye katika muungano na Kristo hatendi dhambi; lakini kila mtu atendaye dhambi hakupata kamwe kumwona, wala kumjua Kristo.
6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7Basi, watoto wangu, msikubali kupotoshwa na mtu yeyote. Mtu atendaye matendo maadilifu ni mwadilifu kama vile Kristo alivyo mwadilifu kabisa.
7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8Lakini atendaye dhambi ni wa Ibilisi, maana Ibilisi ametenda dhambi tangu mwanzo. Lakini Mwana wa Mungu alikuja duniani kuiharibu kazi ya Ibilisi.
8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9Kila aliye mtoto wa Mungu hatendi dhambi, maana anayo hali ya kimungu ndani yake; hawezi kutenda dhambi kwa sababu yeye ni mtoto wa Mungu.
9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
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.
10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11Na, ujumbe mliousikia tangu mwanzo ndio huu: Tunapaswa kupendana!
11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
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!
12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13Basi, ndugu zangu, msishangae kama ulimwengu unawachukia ninyi.
13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14Sisi tunajua kwamba tumekwisha pita kutoka katika kifo na kuingia katika uzima kwa sababu tunawapenda ndugu zetu. Mtu asiye na upendo hubaki katika kifo.
14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15Kila anayemchukia ndugu yake ni muuaji; nanyi mnajua kwamba muuaji yeyote yule hana uzima wa milele ndani yake.
15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
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.
16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
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?
17But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18Watoto wangu, upendo wetu usiwe maneno matupu, bali uwe upendo wa kweli na wa vitendo.
18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19Hivyo ndivyo tuwezavyo kuwa na hakika kwamba sisi ni watu wa ukweli; na hatutakuwa na wasiwasi mbele ya Mungu.
19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20Kwa maana, hata kama dhamiri yetu yatuhukumu, twajua kwamba Mungu ni mkuu zaidi kuliko dhamiri, na kwamba yeye ajua kila kitu.
20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21Wapenzi wangu, kama dhamiri yetu haina lawama juu yetu, basi, twaweza kuwa na uthabiti mbele ya Mungu,
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22na twaweza kupokea kwake chochote tunachoomba, maana tunazitii amri zake na kufanya yale yanayompendeza.
22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23Na, amri yake ndiyo hii: Kumwamini Mwanae Kristo, na kupendana kama alivyotuamuru.
23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
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.
24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.