1. 作长老的写信给蒙拣选的夫人和她的儿女，就是我真实所爱的；不单我爱，也是一切认识真理之人所爱的； The elder to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in truthfulness, and not only I but also all those who know the truth,
2. 爱你们是因真理的缘故，这真理存在我们里面，也必永远与我们同在。 For the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
3. 恩典、怜悯、平安从父神，并从父的儿子耶稣基督，在真理和爱中，必与我们同在。 Grace, mercy, peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4. 我看到你的儿女，有照着我们从父所受的诫命，在真理中行事为人的，就大大欢乐。 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.
5. 夫人阿，我现在请求你，我们要彼此相爱；我写给你的并不是一条新诫命，乃是我们从起初就有的诫命。 And now I ask you, lady, not as writing a new commandment to you but that which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6. 我们要照祂的诫命行，这就是爱；你们要行在爱中，这就是诫命，正如你们从起初所听见的。 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you walk in love.
7. 因为有许多迷惑人的已经出来，进到世界里，他们不承认耶稣基督是在肉体里来的。这就是那迷惑人的和敌基督的。 For many deceivers went out into the world, those who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
8. 你们要小心，不要失去我们所已经作成的，乃要得着满足的赏赐。 Look to yourselves that you do not lose the things which we wrought, but that you may receive a full reward.
9. 凡越过基督的教训，不留于其中的，就没有神；留于这教训中的，这人就有父又有子。 Everyone who goes beyond and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
10. 若有人到你们那里，不是传讲这教训，不要接他到家里，也不要对他说，愿你喜乐； If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not say to him, Rejoice!
11. 因为对他说，愿你喜乐的，就在他的恶行上有分。 For he who says to him, Rejoice, shares in his evil works.
12. 我还有许多事要写给你们，却不愿意用纸墨写出来；但盼望到你们那里，与你们当面交谈，使我们的喜乐得以满足。 Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I am hoping to be with you and to speak face to face that our joy may be made full.
13. 你那蒙拣选之姊妹的儿女都问你安。 The children of your chosen sister greet you.