Day 79 of 365

¹Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him.

²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments.

³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.

⁴For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

⁵Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

⁶This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

⁷For there are three who testify:

⁸the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one.

⁹If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God's testimony that he has testified concerning his Son.

¹⁰He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.

¹¹The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

¹²He who has the Son has the life. He who does not have God's Son does not have the life.

¹³These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

¹⁴This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.

¹⁵And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.

¹⁶If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I do not say that he should make a request concerning this.

¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.

¹⁸We know that whoever is born of God does not sin, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

¹⁹We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

²⁰We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

²¹Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

¹The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all those who know the truth;

²for the truth's sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:

³Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

⁴I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.

⁵Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

⁶This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

⁷For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Anti-Christ.

⁸Watch yourselves, that you do not lose the things which we have accomplished, but that you receive a full reward.

⁹Whoever goes on and does not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. He who remains in the teaching, the same has both the Father and the Son.

¹⁰If anyone comes to you, and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not welcome him,

¹¹for he who welcomes him participates in his evil works.

¹²Having many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.

¹³The children of your chosen sister greet you.

¹The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.

²Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.

³For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.

⁴I have no greater joy than this, to hear about my children walking in truth.

⁵Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers.

⁶They have testified about your love before the church. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God,

⁷because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the pagans.

⁸We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

⁹I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.

¹⁰Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the church.

¹¹Beloved, do not imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn't seen God.

¹²Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.

¹³I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;

¹⁴but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

¹⁵No text for this verse number in this edition.

¹God, the nations have come into your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

²They have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your holy ones to the animals of the earth.

³Their blood they have shed like water around Jerusalem. There was no one to bury them.

⁴We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.

⁵How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?

⁶Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you; on the kingdoms that do not call on your name;

⁷For they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland.

⁸Do not hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are in desperate need.

⁹Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake.

¹⁰Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let it be known among the nations, before our eyes, that vengeance for your servants' blood is being poured out.

¹¹Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.

¹²Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.

¹³So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations.

¹Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.

²A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.

³The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts.

⁴An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

⁵Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

⁶Children's children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their parents.

⁷Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.

⁸A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

⁹He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

¹⁰A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.

¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹²Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

¹⁵He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

¹⁶Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he has no understanding?

¹⁷A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.

¹⁹He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

²⁰One who has a perverse heart doesn't find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

²¹He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.

²²A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

²³A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.

²⁴Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

²⁶Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.

²⁷He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

²⁸Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.