| | | Ostervald | |
| 1 | The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; | L'Ancien, à la dame élue et à ses enfants, que j'aime dans la vérité, et non pas moi seul, mais encore tous ceux qui ont connu la vérité, | The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth; |
| 2 | For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. | A cause de la vérité qui demeure en nous, et qui sera avec nous pour l'éternité: | for the truth`s sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever: |
| 3 | Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. | La grâce, la miséricorde, et la paix soient avec vous, de la part de Dieu le Père, et de la part du Seigneur Jésus-Christ, le Fils du Père, dans la vérité et la charité. | Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. |
| 4 | I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. | J'ai été fort réjoui de trouver plusieurs de tes enfants qui marchent dans la vérité, selon le commandement que nous avons reçu du Père. | I rejoice greatly that I have found [certain] of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father. |
| 5 | And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. | Et maintenant, dame élue, je te prie, non comme si je t'écrivais un commandement nouveau, mais celui que nous avons eu dès le commencement, c'est que nous nous aimions les uns les autres. | And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. |
| 6 | And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. | Et c'est ici la charité, que nous marchions selon ses commandements. C'est là le commandement comme vous l'avez entendu dès le commencement, afin que vous le suiviez. | And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it. |
| 7 | For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. | Car plusieurs séducteurs sont entrés dans le monde, qui ne confessent point que Jésus-Christ est venu en chair. Un tel homme est le séducteur et l'antichrist. | For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, [even] they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. |
| 8 | Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. | Prenez garde à vous, afin que nous ne perdions pas le fruit de notre travail, mais que nous en recevions une pleine récompense. | Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward. |
| 9 | Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. | Quiconque est transgresseur et ne demeure pas dans la doctrine de Christ, n'a point Dieu. Celui qui demeure dans la doctrine de Christ, a et le Père et le Fils. | Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. |
| 10 | If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: | Si quelqu'un vient à vous, et n'apporte point cette doctrine, ne le recevez point dans votre maison, et ne le saluez point. | If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into [your] house, and give him no greeting: |
| 11 | For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. | Car celui qui le salue, participe à ses mauvaises oeuvres. | for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works. |
| 12 | Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. | Quoique j'eusse plusieurs choses à vous écrire, je n'ai pas voulu le faire avec le papier et l'encre; mais j'espère allez chez vous, et vous parler bouche à bouche, afin que notre joie soit parfaite. | Having many things to write unto you, I would not [write them] with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full. |
| 13 | The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. | Les enfants de ta soeur l'élue te saluent! Amen. | The children of thine elect sister salute thee. |
