2 John

New International Version

¹The elder,^(A)

To the lady chosen by God^(B) and to her children, whom I love in the truth^(C)—and not I only, but also all who know the truth^(D)— ²because of the truth,^(E) which lives in us^(F) and will be with us forever:

³Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ,^(G) the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

⁴It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth,^(H) just as the Father commanded us. ⁵And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning.^(I) I ask that we love one another. ⁶And this is love:^(J) that we walk in obedience to his commands.^(K) As you have heard from the beginning,^(L) his command is that you walk in love.

⁷I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ^(M) as coming in the flesh,^(N) have gone out into the world.^(O) Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.^(P) ⁸Watch out that you do not lose what we^[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.^(Q) ⁹Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ^(R) does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.^(S) ¹⁰If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.^(T) ¹¹Anyone who welcomes them shares^(U) in their wicked work.

¹²I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face,^(V) so that our joy may be complete.^(W)

¹³The children of your sister, who is chosen by God,^(X) send their greetings.

Footnotes

2 John 1:8 Some manuscripts you

Psalm 139:7-12

New International Version

⁷Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee^(A) from your presence?
⁸If I go up to the heavens,^(B) you are there;
    if I make my bed^(C) in the depths, you are there.
⁹If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰even there your hand will guide me,^(D)
    your right hand^(E) will hold me fast.
¹¹If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹²even the darkness will not be dark^(F) to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.