| English Standard Version | King James Bible |
| 1The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, | 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; |
| 2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: | 2For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. |
| 3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. | 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. |
| 4I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. | 4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. |
| 5And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. | 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. |
| 6And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. | 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. |
| 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. | 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. |
| 8Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. | 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. |
| 9Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. | 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. |
| 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, | 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: |
| 11for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. | 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. |
| 12Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. | 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. |
| 13The children of your elect sister greet you. | 13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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