New King James Version

English Standard Version

1My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

2And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

2He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

3Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

4He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

4Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

5But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

5but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

6He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

6whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

7Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

7Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

8Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

8At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

9He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

9Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

10He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

10Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

11But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

12I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

13I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

13I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

14I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

14I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

17And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

18Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

18Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

20But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

21I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

22Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

22Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

23No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

24Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

24Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

25And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

25And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

26These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

26I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

27But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

27But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

28And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

28And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

29If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

29If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.