✧1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ✧2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ✧3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. ✧4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. ✧5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. ✧6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. ✧7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. ✧
King James Version (KJV). King James Version (1769 text). Public domain outside the United Kingdom.
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He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
✧9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
✧10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
✧11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
✧12Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
✧13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
✧14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.
✧15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
✧16Hereby perceive we the love [ of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.
✧17But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
✧18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
✧19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
✧20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
✧21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God.
✧22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
✧23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
✧24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.