1 ¶ Behold, what charity the Father has given us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world does not know us, because it does not know him.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

2 B eloved, now we are the sons of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be; but we know that if he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

3 A nd every one that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

4 ¶ Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

5 A nd ye know that he appeared to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.

You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

6 W hosoever abides in him does not sin: whosoever sins has not seen him or known him.

No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

7 L ittle children, let no one deceive you; he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he also is righteous.

Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;

8 H e that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared, that he might undo the works of the devil.

the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

9 W hosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

10 I n this the sons of God are manifest, and the sons of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness and that loves not his brother is not of God.

By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

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

For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

12 N ot as Cain, who was of the wicked one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.

13 M arvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you.

Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.

14 ¶ We know that we are passed from death unto life, in that we love the brethren. He that does not love his brother abides in death.

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

15 W hosoever hates his brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 I n this we have known the charity of God because he laid down his life for us; we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 B ut whosoever has this world’s goods and sees his brother have need and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how does the charity of God abide in him?

But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

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

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

19 A nd in this we know that we are of the truth and have our hearts certified before him.

We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him

20 ¶ And if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

21 B eloved, if our heart does not condemn us, then we have confidence in God;

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

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

and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

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

This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

24 A nd he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.

The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.