2 Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way and that you are healthy, just as your soul is healthy.
2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
2 Dear friend,(b) I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically(C) just as you are spiritually.(c)
2 Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].
3 I was overjoyed when some brothers arrived and testified about your truthfulness and how you live according to the truth
3 For I (D)was very glad when (E)brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you (F)are walking in truth.
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
3 For I was very glad when some brothers came and testified(D) to your faithfulness to the truth—how you are walking in the truth.(E)
3 For I was greatly pleased when [some of the] brothers came [from time to time] and testified to your [faithfulness to the] truth [of the gospel message], that is, how you are walking in truth.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers.
5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the (I)brethren, and (b)especially when they are (J)strangers;
5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
5 Dear friend,(d) you are showing faithfulness(e) by whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers.
5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in what you are providing for the brothers, and especially when they are strangers;
6 They have testified before the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to (K)send them on their way in a manner (L)worthy of God.
6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
6 They have testified to your love in front of the church.(H) You will do well to send them on their journey(I) in a manner worthy of God,(J)
6 and they have testified before the church of your love and friendship. You will do well to [assist them and] send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
7 After all, they went on their trip for the sake of the Name, accepting no support from gentiles.
7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
7 For these [traveling missionaries] went out for the sake of the Name [of Christ], accepting nothing [in the way of assistance] from the Gentiles.
8 Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can become genuine helpers with them.
8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
8 So we ought to support such people [welcoming them as guests and providing for them], so that we may be fellow workers for the truth [that is, for the gospel message of salvation].
9 I wrote a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, will not recognize our authority.
9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to (O)be first among them, does not accept (f)what we say.
9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them,(M) does not receive us.(N)
9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to put himself first, does not accept what we say and refuses to recognize my authority.
10 For this reason, when I come I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with that, he refuses to receive the brothers. He even tries to stop those who want to accept them and throws them out of the church.
10 For this reason, (P)if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not (Q)receive the (R)brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and (S)puts them out of the church.
10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
10 This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering(O) us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
10 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, unjustly accusing us with wicked words and unjustified charges. And not satisfied with this, he refuses to receive the [missionary] brothers himself, and also forbids those who want to [welcome them] and puts them out of the church.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The person who does what is good is from God. The person who does what is evil has never seen God.
11 Beloved, (T)do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. (U)The one who does good is of God; (V)the one who does evil has not seen God.
11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
11 Dear friend,(g) do not imitate what is evil,(P) but what is good. The one who does good is of God;(Q) the one who does evil has not seen God.(R)
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but [imitate] what is good. The one who practices good [exhibiting godly character, moral courage and personal integrity] is of God; the one who practices [or permits or tolerates] evil has not seen God [he has no personal experience with Him and does not know Him at all].(A)
12 Demetrius has received a good report from everyone, including the truth itself. We, too, can testify to this report, and you know that our testimony is true.
12 Demetrius (W)has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and (X)you know that our testimony is true.
12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
12 Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. And we also testify for him, and you know(S) that our testimony is true.(T)
12 Demetrius has received a good testimony and commendation from everyone—and from the truth [the standard of God’s word] itself; and we add our testimony and speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 Although I have a great deal to write to you, I would rather not write with pen and ink.
13 (Y)I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink;
13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
13 I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink.
14 Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak face to face.
14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face.
14 But 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.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.
International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.
King James Version Public Domain
New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org