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 given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t 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 is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for 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.

Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

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

Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. 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 was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.

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

Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him.

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

Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even 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.

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might 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.

Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t 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.

In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t 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 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.

unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

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

Don’t be surprised, my brothers, 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 brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death.

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

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining 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.

By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

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 of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?

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

My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, 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.

And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him,

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

because if our heart condemns us, 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 hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward 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 should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.

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.

He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.