1 From the Elder—
To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love.
2 My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health—as I know you are well in spirit. 3 I was so happy when some Christians arrived and told me how faithful you are to the truth—just as you always live in the truth. 4 Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth.
Gaius Is Praised
5 My dear friend, you are so faithful in the work you do for other Christians, even when they are strangers. 6 They have spoken to the church here about your love. Please help them to continue their trip in a way that will please God. 7 For they set out on their trip in the service of Christ without accepting any help from unbelievers. 8 We Christians, then, must help these people, so that we may share in their work for the truth.
Diotrephes and Demetrius
9 I wrote a short letter to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to be their leader, will not pay any attention to what I say. 10 When I come, then, I will bring up everything he has done: the terrible things he says about us and the lies he tells! But that is not enough for him; he will not receive the Christians when they come, and even stops those who want to receive them and tries to drive them out of the church!
11 My dear friend, do not imitate what is bad, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good belongs to God; whoever does what is bad has not seen God.
12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius; truth itself speaks well of him. And we add our testimony, and you know that what we say is true.
Final Greetings
13 I have so much to tell you, but I do not want to do it with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk personally.
15 Peace be with you.
All your friends send greetings. Greet all our friends personally.
1 Okuza komunene.
Me tjanga komusuverwa Gajus, epanga randje, ngu mba suvera tjiri.
2 Gajus omusuverwa, ami me kumbu kutja u ṋingapare moviṋa avihe, nokutja u kare omuveruke morutu otja tjinga au ri omuveruke mombepo. 3 Ami mba nyanda tjinene ovakambure ovakweṋu tji ve ya nave ndji raere kutja ove wa ṱakama mouatjiri nokutja u nongarero ombwa youatjiri. 4 Kape notjiṋa tji tji ndji pa enyando tjinene posi yaingwi okuzuva kutja ovanatje vandje ve hupa mouatjiri.
Gajus ma tangwa
5 Mukwetu omusuverwa, oove omuṱakame moviungura mbi u ungurira ovakambure ovakweṋu, nandarire kutja ove ko ve i. 6 Owo va serekarera orusuvero rwoye kombongo. Arikana ve vatera mouyenda wawo momuhingo mbu tjata ku Ndjambi; 7 orondu owo ve ri mouyenda wokuzuvarisa Kristus ave hi nokuyakura ombatero yovehinangamburiro. 8 Neṱe ovakambure opu twa sokuvatera ovandu mba kokutja tu rire vemwe motjiungura tjawo tjokuhandjaura ouatjiri.
Diotrefes na Demetrius
9 Ami mba tjanga orutuu orusupi kombongo, nungwari Diotrefes, ngu vanga okurira omunane wawo, ke na ko na tja nomambo ngu me hungire. 10 Nu tji mbe ya ngo me mu zemburukisa avihe mbya tjita: Oviṋa ovivi mbye hungirira eṱe, novizeze mbye kora! Nungwari oviṋa mbi ku ye kapuwo, eye ke nokuyakura ovakambure ovakwao tji mave ya, nu ma tjaere nangarire imba mbu mave vanga okuveyakura ne ve kondo kombongo!
11 Mukwetu omusuverwa, o horere kouvi, nungwari horera kouwa. Ingwi ngu tjita ouwa eye owa Ndjambi, nu ngu tjita ouvi, eye ke i Ndjambi.
12 Demetrius u nondangu ombwa mokati kovandu avehe; nouatjiri wina u mu hongonona komuhingo mbo. Eṱe tu mu hongonona nao wina, nove mo tjiwa kutja omahongononeno wetu ouatjiri.
Ombinika osenina
13 Ami mbi nomambo omengi okukuraera, nungwari hi nokuvanga okukutjangera. 14 Me zeri kutja tu hakaene tjimanga, tjazumba arire tji twa hungire pamwe nawa.
15 Ohange ngai kare na ove. Omapanga woye aehe maye minike. Nu minika omapanga wetu aehe, arihe peke.
