| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. | 1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him. |
| 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. | 2This is how we know that we love God's children when we love God and obey His commands. |
| 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. | 3For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden, |
| 4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. | 4because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. |
| 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? | 5And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? |
| 6This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. | 6Jesus Christ--He is the One who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. |
| 7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. | 7For there are three that testify: |
| 8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. | 8the Spirit, the water, and the blood--and these three are in agreement. |
| 9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. | 9If we accept the testimony of men, God's testimony is greater, because it is God's testimony that He has given about His Son. |
| 10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. | 10(The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son.) |
| 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. | 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. |
| 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. | 12The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn't have the Son of God does not have life. |
| 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. | 13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. |
| 14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: | 14Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. |
| 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. | 15And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for. |
| 16If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. | 16If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not bring death, he should ask, and God will give life to him--to those who commit sin that doesn't bring death. There is sin that brings death. I am not saying he should pray about that. |
| 17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. | 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that does not bring death. |
| 18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. | 18We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the One who is born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. |
| 19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. | 19We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. |
| 20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. | 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One. We are in the true One--that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. |
| 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. | 21Little children, guard yourselves from idols. |
|
