1 John, 3

1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1. See what singular love the Father has for us: we are called children of God, and we really are. This is why the world does not know us, because it did not know him.

2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2. Beloved, we are God's children and what we shall be has not yet been shown. Yet when he appears in his glory, we know that we shall be like him, for then we shall see him as he is.

3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

3. All who have such a hope try to be pure as he is pure.

4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

4. Anyone who commits a sin acts as an enemy of the law of God; any sin is a rejection of his law.

5. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

5. You know that he came to take away our sins, and that there is no sin in him.

6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

6. Whoever remains in him has no sin, whoever sins has not seen or known him.

7. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

7. My little children, do not be led astray; those who do what is right are upright, just as Jesus Christ is upright.

8. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

8. But those who sin belong to the devil, for the devil sins from the beginning. This is why the Son of God was shown to us, he was to undo the works of the devil.

9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

9. Those born of God do not sin, for the seed of God remains in them; they cannot sin because they are born of God.

10. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

10. What is the way to recognize the children of God and those of the devil? The one who does not do what is right is not of God; so, too, the one who does not love his brother or sister.

11. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

11. For this is the message taught to you from the beginning: we must love one another.

12. Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

12. Do not imitate Cain who killed his brother, for he belonged to the Evil One. Why did he kill him? Because he himself did evil and his brother did good.

13. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

13. So, be not surprised, brothers if the world hates us;

14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.

14. we love our brothers and sisters, and with this we know that we have passed from death to life. The one who does not love remains in death.

15. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

15. The one who hates his brother is a murderer, and, as you know, eternal life does not remain in the murderer.

16. Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.

16. This is how we have known what love is: he gave his life for us. We, too, ought to give our life for our brothers and sisters.

17. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

17. If anyone enjoys the riches of this world, but closes his heart when he sees his brother or sister in need, how will the love of God remain in him?

18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

18. My dear children, let us love not only with words and with our lips, but in truth and in deed.

19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

19. Then we shall know that we are of the truth and we may calm our conscience in his presence.

20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

20. Every time it reproaches us, let us say: God is greater than our conscience, and he knows everything.

21. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God.

21. When our conscience does not condemn us, dear friends, we may have complete confidence in God.

22. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

22. Then whatever we ask we shall receive, since we keep his commands and do what pleases him.

23. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

23. His command is that we believe in the Name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another, as he has commanded us.

24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

24. Whoever keeps his commands remains in God and God in him. It is by the Spirit God has given us that we know he lives in us.