| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: | 1The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. |
| 2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. | 2Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. |
| 3For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. | 3It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. |
| 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. | 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. |
| 5Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, | 5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. |
| 6who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, | 6They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. |
| 7because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. | 7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. |
| 8We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. | 8We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. |
| 9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. | 9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. |
| 10Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. | 10So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. |
| 11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. | 11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. |
| 12Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. | 12Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone--and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. |
| 13I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; | 13I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. |
| 14but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name. | 14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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