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.
I.
1 Presbiters nūmīļōtajam Gajam, kuru es mīļoju ikš patīseibas.
2 Nūmīļōtais! Vyspyrms es nūvēleju tev byut piļneigi vasalam un lai tev labi klōtūs tai, kai tova dvēsele ir piļneigi vasala.
3 Es beju ļūti prīceigs, kad brōli atgōjuši līcynōja par tovu patīseibu, kai tu dzeivoj patīseibā. 4 Man nav lelōkas prīcas, kai kad es dzēržu, ka muni bārni dzeivoj patīseibā.
5 Nūmīļōtais! Tu esi bejis uzticeigs vysā, kū tu brōlim un kū svešinīkim esi darejis. 6 Par tovu mīlesteibu jī līcynōja sapuļces prīškā. Tu dareisi pareizi, jo tu jim, kai Dīvam pīdar, arī turpmōk paleidzēsi. 7 Jō vōrda dēļ jī ir izgōjuši un nu pogōnim nikō nasajam. 8 Par taidim (veirim) jōgōdoj mums, lai arī mes byutu leidzstrōdnīki patīseibā.
9 Es draudzei nūsyuteju rokstu, bet Diotrefes, kas vysod grib byut pyrmais, myusu napījam. 10 Kad es aizīšu, es jam par tū dareišu pōrmatumus; kū jys dora, ka par mums izplota ļaunas runas un ar tū veļ naap amīrynōdams, pat brōļu napījam un tim, kas grybātu pījimt, traucej un nu draudzes jūs izslādz.
11 Nūmīļōtais, nador pakaļ ļaunajam, bet gon lobajam. Kas dora lobu, tys ir nu Dīva; bet kas ļaunu dora, tys Dīva nikod vēl nav redzējis.
12 Par Demetriju visi dūd lobu atsauksmi, arī par jō taisneigumu. Arī mes par jū labi atsasaucam, un tu zyni, ka myusu līceiba ir patīsa.
13 Man byutu veļ daudz kas tev rokstams, bet es nagrybu ar spolvu un tinti tev raksteit. 14 Es ceru ōtri tevi redzēt un tad mes izarunōsim mutiski.
15 Mīrs lai ir tev! Tevi sveicynoj draugi. Sveicynoj draugus kotru atseviški.
