1 T he elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.

The Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!

2 B eloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

beloved, concerning all things I desire thee to prosper, and to be in health, even as thy soul doth prosper,

3 F or I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth.

for I rejoiced exceedingly, brethren coming and testifying of the truth in thee, even as thou in truth dost walk;

4 G reater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

greater than these things I have no joy, that I may hear of my children in truth walking.

5 B eloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal;

Beloved, faithfully dost thou do whatever thou mayest work to the brethren and to the strangers,

6 w ho bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:

who did testify of thy love before an assembly, whom thou wilt do well, having sent forward worthily of God,

7 b ecause that for the sake of the Name they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

because for name they went forth, nothing receiving from the nations;

8 W e therefore ought to welcome such, that we may be fellow-workers for the truth.

we, then, ought to receive such, that fellow-workers we may become to the truth.

9 I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

I did write to the assembly, but he who is loving the first place among them -- Diotrephes -- doth not receive us;

10 T herefore, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth, prating against us with wicked words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that would he forbiddeth and casteth them out of the church.

because of this, if I may come, I will cause him to remember his works that he doth, with evil words prating against us; and not content with these, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and those intending he doth forbid, and out of the assembly he doth cast.

11 B eloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Beloved, be not thou following that which is evil, but that which is good; he who is doing good, of God he is, and he who is doing evil hath not seen God;

12 D emetrius hath the witness of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness: and thou knowest that our witness is true.

to Demetrius testimony hath been given by all, and by the truth itself, and we also -- we do testify, and ye have known that our testimony is true.

13 I had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write them to thee with ink and pen:

Many things I had to write, but I do not wish through ink and pen to write to thee,

14 b ut I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.

and I hope straightway to see thee, and mouth to mouth we shall speak. Peace to thee! salute thee do the friends; be saluting the friends by name.