1 T he Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!

¶ The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

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

Beloved, I wish that thou be prospered in all things and be sound, even as thy soul prospers.

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

¶ For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou dost walk in the truth.

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

I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my sons walk in the truth.

5 B eloved, faithfully dost thou do whatever thou mayest work to the brethren and to the strangers,

Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatever thou doest regarding the brethren and with the strangers,

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

who have borne witness of thy charity before the congregation, whom if thou wilt help them as is convenient according to God, thou shalt do well;

7 b ecause for name they went forth, nothing receiving from the nations;

because for his name’s sake, they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

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

We, therefore, ought to receive such, that we might be fellow workers to the truth.

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

¶ I wrote unto the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, did not receive us.

10 b ecause 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.

Therefore, if I come, I will cause his deeds to be understood, speaking against us with malicious words, and not content with this, he does not receive the brethren and forbids those that desire to receive them and casts them out of the congregation.

11 B eloved, 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;

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good is of God, but he that does evil has not seen God.

12 t o 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.

¶ Everyone gives testimony of Demetrius, even the truth itself; and we also bear witness, and ye have known that our witness is true.

13 M any things I had to write, but I do not wish through ink and pen to write to thee,

I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee,

14 a nd 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.

For I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.