| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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; | 1The Elder: To the elect lady and her children: I love all of you in the truth--and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth-- |
| 2For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. | 2because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever. |
| 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. | 3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. |
| 4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. | 4I was very glad to find some of your children walking in the truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. |
| 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. | 5So now I urge you, dear lady--not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning--that we love one another. |
| 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. | 6And this is love: that we walk according to His commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love. |
| 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. | 7Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. |
| 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. | 8Watch yourselves so you don't lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. |
| 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. | 9Anyone who does not remain in Christ's teaching but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. |
| 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: | 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and don't say, "Welcome," to him; |
| 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. | 11for the one who says, "Welcome," to him shares in his evil works. |
| 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. | 12Though I have many things to write to you, I don't want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete. |
| 13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. | 13The children of your elect sister send you greetings. |
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