1 John 1 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

What existed from the very beginning -- what we've heard with our own ears, what we've seen with our own eyes, what we've looked at and touched with our own hands -- this is what we're telling you about: the Word of life.

This life was made visible -- we actually saw it. We're telling you what we witnessed firsthand, and we're announcing to you this limitless life that was with the Father and was made visible to us.

What we've seen and heard, we're sharing with you too, so that you can have a deep connection with us. And our deep connection is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus the One.

We're writing this to you so that our joy will be complete.

This is the message we heard from him and are passing on to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.

If we say we have a deep connection with him but keep living in the darkness, we're lying and not living by the truth.

But if we live in the light, the same way he is in the light, we have a deep connection with each other, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every failure.

If we say we have no failure in us, we're fooling ourselves and the truth isn't in us.

If we honestly admit our failures, he is faithful and just -- he will forgive our failures and cleanse us from everything we've done wrong.

If we say we haven't failed, we're making him out to be a liar, and his word has no place in us.