| King James Bible | NET 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; | 1From the elder, to an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth), |
| 2For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. | 2because of the truth that resides 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 rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded us. |
| 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. | 5But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the 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. | 6(Now this is love: that we walk according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in it. |
| 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. | 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person 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 out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but 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. | 9Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching 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 house and do not give him any greeting, |
| 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. | 11because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds. |
| 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 other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak 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 greet you. |
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