English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are,
5
Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you.
6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.
6
They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God.
7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
7
It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.
8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
8
We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.
9
I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us.
10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
10
So 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.
11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
11
Dear 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.
12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
12
Demetrius 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.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.