| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 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 Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. |
| 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 the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. |
| 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. | 3In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, |
| 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. | 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. |
| 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? | 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only 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. | 6This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit 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 the 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. | 9We accept human testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which 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. | 10Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed 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. | 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not 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 write 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. | 14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if 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 us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. |
| 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 you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. |
| 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. | 17All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to 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 anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. |
| 19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. | 19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control 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. | 20We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. |
| 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. | 21Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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