1 B ehold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did 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 children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, 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 everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Sin and the Child of God

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

4 W hoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

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

5 A nd you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

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

6 W hoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor 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 who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He 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 who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy 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 hoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. The Imperative of Love

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 children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

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 F or this is the message that you 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 murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his 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 D o not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.

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

14 W e know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who 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 hoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. The Outworking of Love

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

16 B y this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And 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 whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love 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 or 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 by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

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

20 F or 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, we have confidence toward God.

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

22 A nd whatever we ask we receive from 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 A nd 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. The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error

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 N ow he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom 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.