| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: | 1From the elder, to Gaius my dear brother, whom I love in truth. |
| 2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. | 2Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. |
| 3For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. | 3For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth. |
| 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. | 4I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth. |
| 5Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, | 5Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers). |
| 6who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, | 6They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. |
| 7because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. | 7For they have gone forth on behalf of "The Name," accepting nothing from the pagans. |
| 8We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. | 8Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth. |
| 9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. | 9I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us. |
| 10Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. | 10Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing--the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church! |
| 11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. | 11Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God. |
| 12Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. | 12Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true. |
| 13I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; | 13I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink. |
| 14but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name. | 14But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name. |
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