11 For v this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, w that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like x Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? y Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, 1 z that the world hates you. 14 We know that a we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 b Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that c no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that d he laid down his life for us, and e we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But f if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet g closes his heart against him, h how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not i love in word or talk but in deed and j in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, k if our heart does not condemn us, l we have confidence before God; 22 and m whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and n do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, o that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and p love one another, q just as he has commanded us. 24 r Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, 2 and God 3 in him. And s by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.