| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. | 1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him. |
| 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. | 2This is how we know that we love God's children when we love God and obey His commands. |
| 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. | 3For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden, |
| 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. | 4because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. |
| 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? | 5And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? |
| 6This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. | 6Jesus Christ--He is the One who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. |
| 7For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. | 7For there are three that testify: |
| 8And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. | 8the Spirit, the water, and the blood--and these three are in agreement. |
| 9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. | 9If we accept the testimony of men, God's testimony is greater, because it is God's testimony that He has given about His Son. |
| 10He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. | 10(The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son.) |
| 11And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. | 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. |
| 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. | 12The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn't have the Son of God does not have life. |
| 13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. | 13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. |
| 14Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. | 14Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. |
| 15And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. | 15And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for. |
| 16If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. | 16If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not bring death, he should ask, and God will give life to him--to those who commit sin that doesn't bring death. There is sin that brings death. I am not saying he should pray about that. |
| 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. | 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that does not bring death. |
| 18We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. | 18We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the One who is born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. |
| 19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. | 19We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. |
| 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. | 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One. We are in the true One--that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. |
| 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. | 21Little children, guard yourselves from idols. |
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