Johan 1
1 Tangsuek naah Lok to oh, to Lok loe Sithaw hoi nawnto oh, Lok loe Sithaw ni.
The one who expresses [MET] ([God’s character/what God is like]) has always existed (from the beginning [MTY] [of everything/before everything began]). He has always existed with God, and he has God’s nature.
2 Lok loe tangsuek na hoiah boeh ni Sithaw hoi nawnto oh.
He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
3 Anih mah hmuennawk boih to sak; anih ai ah sak ih hmuen tidoeh om ai.
He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
4 Anih thungah hinghaih oh; to hinghaih loe kami han aanghaih ah oh.
He is the one who [caused everything to] live. He, who caused us people to live, [revealed to us the truth about God as] a light [MET] [reveals what is in the darkness].
5 Aanghaih loe kaving thungah aang; toe kaving mah anih to panoek ai.
People do not want him to reveal [that what they do is evil] [MET], just [like] darkness [is evil]. But [just like] darkness cannot put out light [MET], [evil people have never prevented the one who was like a light from revealing God’s truth] (OR, [evil people have never] understood the [one who was like] a light.)
6 Sithaw khae hoi patoeh ih kami maeto oh; anih ih ahmin loe Johan.
A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
7 Anih rang hoiah kaminawk boih mah tanghaih tawnh o thai hanah, anih loe hnukung maeto ah oh moe, aanghaih hnukung ah oh hanah angzoh.
He came to tell people [about the one who was like] [MET] a light. He came to show that everything that the [one who was like a light] [MET] said was true, in order that he could enable all people to believe [in the one who was like a light].
8 Anih loe to Aanghaih to na ai ni, toe to Aanghaih hnukung ah oh han ih ni patoeh.
John himself was not the [one who was like a] light [MET]. Instead, he came to tell others about that [one who was like a] light.
9 To Aanghaih loe long nuiah angzo kaminawk boih aanghaih paekkung, Aanghaih tangtang ah oh.
[While John was doing that], the one who was truly [like] a light was about to show himself to the world. He was the one who enables all people [to know about God, as] a light [MET] enables [people to know what is in the darkness].
10 Anih loe long ah oh, long loe Anih mah ni sak, toe long mah Anih to panoek ai.
Although the one [who was like a light] was [here] on the earth, and although he was the one whom [God] caused to create everything, [most] people [MTY, HYP] did not realize who he [was]. (OR, although he was the one whom [God] caused to create everything, [most] people did not accept him.)
11 Anih loe Angmah kaminawk khaeah angzoh, toe Angmah ih kaminawk mah Anih to talawk o ai.
Although he came to the land that belonged to him [because he created it, most of] his own people, [the Jews], rejected him (OR, did not accept him).
12 Toe Anih talawk kaminawk hoi Anih ih ahmin tang kaminawk khaeah, Sithaw caa ah angcoeng thaihaih to a paek:
But those [of us who welcomed him, God] authorized [that we would have a relationship with] him [MET] [like] children [have a relationship with their father]. We were people who believed [that what he said] about himself [MTY] [was true].
13 to caanawk loe athii, taksa hoi kami koehhaih baktiah tapen ai, Sithaw koehhaih baktiah tapen kami ah ni oh o.
We became [like God’s children], not because our ancestors [belonged to God], or because of someone’s sexual desires, nor because some man desired to have children like himself. Instead, we were caused by God {God caused us} to become [like] his children.
14 Lok loe takpum ah angcoeng, aicae salakah oh moe, tahmenhaih hoi loktang hoiah koi (Ampa mah maeto khue tawnh ih lensawkhaih, ) a lensawkhaih to a hnuk o boeh.
The one who expresses [MET] ([God’s character/what God is like]) became a human being, and he lived among us [for a while]. As a result, we saw how wonderful he is. He came from [God] his father, and there was no other person as wonderful as he. He was wonderful because he always acted (kindly toward us/in ways we did not deserve), and he always [spoke] truthfully to us [about God].
15 Johan mah, Ka hnukah angzo kami loe kai tapen ai naah oh boeh, kai pongah len kue, tiah ka thuih ih lok loe Anih thuih koehhaih ih ni, tiah anih kawng to thuih.
[One day] when John was telling people about him, [he saw Jesus]. Then he shouted to them, “I told you [previously] that someone will come later who is more important than I am, since he existed [long] before me. This [is the man I was talking about]!”
16 Anih akoephaih hoi tahmenhaih loe aicae boih mah hnuk o.
We have all benefited very much from what he has done. Again and again, he has acted in kind way toward us in ways we did not deserve.
17 Kaalok loe Mosi khaeah paek, toe tahmenhaih hoi loktang loe Jesu Kri rang hoiah ni angzoh.
Moses proclaimed [God’s] laws [to our ancestors]. But what Jesus Christ did for us [was much better]. He acted in kindness toward us in ways we did not deserve and told us the truth [about God].
18 Mi mah doeh Sithaw to hnu vai ai, toe Ampa ih saoek ah kaom, maeto khue tawnh ih, Capa mah Anih to amtuengsak boeh.
No one has ever seen God. But God’s only Son, [Jesus], who has always had a very close relationship with God, has told us about God.
19 Jerusalem ih Judahnawk mah, Nang loe mi aa? tiah dueng hanah qaimanawk hoi Levinawk to anih khaeah patoeh naah, Johan mah hae tiah thuih.
The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] in Jerusalem [city] sent some [Jewish] priests and (Levites/men who worked in the temple) to where John was, to ask him some questions. They said to him, “What do you [claim about] yourself?”
20 Anih loe angphat ai ah kai loe Kri na ai ni, tiah thuih.
So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
21 Nihcae mah anih khaeah, to tih nahaeloe nang loe mi aa? Elijah maw? tiah dueng o. Anih mah, Kai loe Elijah na ai, tiah a naa. Nang loe Tahmaa maw? tiah dueng o. Anih mah, Kai loe tahmaa na ai ni, tiah a naa.
Then they asked him, “Then what [do you say about yourself]? Are you [the prophet] Elijah [that was prophesied to return] {([someone/another prophet]) [prophesied would return]} [before the Messiah]?” He replied, “No, [I] am not.” Then they asked him, “Are you the prophet [like Moses that] ([we are waiting for/God promised to send])?” He replied, “No.”
22 Nihcae mah anih khaeah, Kaicae patoeh kaminawk khaeah ka thuih pae o hanah nang loe mi aa, nangmah hoi nangmah to kawbangmaw na thuih? tiah a naa o.
So they asked him, “Then who do you [claim to be]? [Tell us] so that we can [go back and] report to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 Anih mah, Tahmaa Isaiah mah thuih ih lok baktih toengah, Kai loe Angraeng ih loklam to patoengh oh, tiah praezaek ah kahang kami ni, tiah a naa.
John replied, “[I] am the one [the prophet Isaiah said] would proclaim [this new message] loudly [to the people who would pass by] in this desolate area: ‘Prepare [yourselves to receive] the Lord when he comes [MET], [just like people prepare] a road [for an important official].
24 Nihcae loe Farasinawk mah ptoeh ih kami ah oh o.
Some of those people [who were questioning] John were ones who had been sent by the Pharisee [religious group] {whom the Pharisee [religious group] had sent}.
25 Nihcae mah anih khaeah, Kri na ai, Elijah doeh na ai, Tahmaa doeh na ai to mah, tih han ih tuinuemhaih na paek loe? tiah dueng o.
They asked John, “Since [you say] you are not the Messiah, nor [the prophet] Elijah, nor the prophet [like Moses], [what authority] do you have? [Furthermore], why are you baptizing [Jews, treating them as though they were non-Jews who wanted to become Jews]?”
26 Johan mah nihcae khaeah, Kai loe tui hoiah ni tuinuemhaih to ka paek: toe nangcae salakah kaom na panoek o ai ih kami maeto angdoet;
John replied, “I am [just] baptizing people with water [to prepare them to welcome the Messiah]. But [right now] someone is among you whom you people do not know.
27 Anih loe ka hnukah angzoh, toe kai pongah len kue, kai loe anih ih khokpanai qui khram pae han mataeng doeh kam cuk ai, tiah a naa.
He [will preach to you] after I [am gone]. [He is so important that] I am not worthy to [serve him as a slave] [MET] [by] untying his sandals.”
28 Hae hmuennawk loe Johan mah tuinuem paekhaih, Bethany avang Jordan vapui yaeh ah sak.
Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
29 Khawnbangah loe angmah khaeah kangzo Jesu to Johan mah hnuk, To naah khenah, long zaehaih phawkung, Sithaw Tuucaa! tiah thuih.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. He said to the people, “Look! Here is the [man whom] God [has appointed to be a sacrifice] [MET], [like] the lambs [that the people of Israel sacrificed! By sacrificing himself] he will [make it possible for everyone in] the world to be no longer [guilty for having] sinned.
30 Anih loe kai tapen ai naah oh boeh, ka hnukah angzo kami loe kai pongah len kue, tiah ka thuih ih kami loe, Anih hae ni.
He is the one about whom I said [before], ‘Someone will come later who is more important than I am, since he existed [long] before me.’
31 Anih to ka panoek ai: Anih loe Israel kaminawk khaeah amtueng han koi kami ah oh pongah, tui hoiah tuinuemhaih to ka paek, tiah a naa.
I myself did not [previously] recognize that he [was the Messiah]. But [now I know who he is], and I have baptized people with water to enable [you people of] Israel to recognize who he is.”
32 Johan mah, Pahuu baktiah van hoiah anghum tathuk, Anih nuiah kacuk, Muithla to ka hnuk, tiah thuih.
John spoke clearly [what God had shown him about Jesus]. He said, “I saw [God’s] Spirit as he was descending from heaven in the form of a dove. The Spirit remained on Jesus.
33 Anih to ka panoek ai: toe tui hoi tuinuem hanah kai patoehkung mah kai khaeah, Anih nuiah kacuk, anghum tathuk Muithla to na hnuk nahaeloe, Anih loe Kacai Muithla hoi tuinuem ih kami ah ni oh, tiah ang thuih.
I myself did not know [previously] that he [was the Messiah]. However, [God] sent me to baptize people with water, [people who said they wanted to turn from their sinful ways. While I was doing that], God told me, ‘The man on whom you will see my Spirit descend and remain is the one who will put the Holy Spirit within you [(pl) to truly change your lives].’
34 Ka hnuk ih baktiah hae kami loe Sithaw Capa ni, tiah ka taphong boeh, tiah thuih.
I saw [the Spirit descend on him], and I tell you that he is (the Son of God/the person who is both God and man).”
35 Khawnbangah Johan loe a hnukbang hnik hoi nawnto angdoet;
The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
36 loklam ah kacaeh Jesu to a hnuk naah, Khenah, Sithaw Tuucaa! tiah thuih.
When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look! There is the man God [has appointed to be a sacrifice, like] the lambs [MET] [the people of Israel have sacrificed!]”
37 To lok to a hnukbang hnik mah thaih hoi naah, Jesu hnukah bang hoi ving.
(When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
38 Anih hnukah bang kami hnik to Jesu mah hnuk naah, angqoi moe, nihnik khaeah, Timaw na pakrong hoi? tiah a naa. Nihnik mah anih khaeah, Rabbi, (Patukkung, tiah thuih koehhaih ih ni) naa ah maw na oh? tiah a naa hoi.
Jesus turned around and saw us/them coming behind him. So he asked us/them, “What do you want?” We/They replied, “Teacher, [tell us] where you are staying, [because we want to talk with you].”
39 Anih mah nihnik khaeah, Angzoh loe, khen hoih, tiah a naa. Nihnik loe caeh hoi moe, anih ohhaih ahmuen to khet hoi, to na ni loe Anih hoi nawnto oh hoi: to nathuem ah atue hato phak tom boeh.
He replied, “Come [with me], and you will see [where I am staying]!” So we/they went with him and saw where he was staying. We/They stayed with him until about 4 o’clock (OR, from about 4 PM until the next day).
40 Johan mah thuih ih lok thaih, Anih hnukah bang kami hnik thung ih maeto loe, Simon Piter ih amnawk Andru ni.
(One of us/One of the two men) who heard what John had said and who went with Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s [younger] brother.
41 Andru loe amya Simon to pakrong hamloe moe, anih khaeah, Messiah (Kri, tiah thuih koehhaih ih ni) to ka hnuk o boeh, tiah a naa.
[After Andrew left Jesus], the first thing he did was to find his own [older] brother Simon and say to him, “We have found the Messiah!”
42 Anih mah amya to Jesu khaeah caeh haih. Jesu mah anih to khet moe, Nang loe Jona capa Simon: Cepha (thlung, tiah thuih koehhaih ih ni, ) tiah kawk tih boeh, tiah a naa.
Then he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked intently at him, and then said, “You are Simon. Your father’s name is John. You will be given {[I] will give you} the name Cephas.” [Cephas is an Aramaic name that means ‘solid rock’. It] means [the same in Greek as the name] Peter.
43 Jesu loe khawnbangah Kalili ah caeh han amsak, Philip to a hnuk naah anih khaeah, Ka hnukah bangah, tiah a naa.
The next day [Jesus] decided to leave [the Jordan River valley]. He went to Galilee [district] and (OR, on the way there he) found a man named Philip. Jesus said to him, “Come with me!”
44 Philip loe Andru hoi Piter baktih toengah Bethsaida vangpui ih kami ah oh.
Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
45 Philip mah Nathanael to hnuk naah anih khaeah, Kaicae loe Mosi ih kaalok hoi tahmaanawk mah tarik ih, Joseph capa, Nazareth Jesu to ka hnuk o boeh, tiah a naa.
Then Philip [searched for] Nathaniel and found him, and said to him, “We have met [the Messiah], the one Moses [wrote about]! The prophets also [prophesied that he would come]. He is Jesus, from Nazareth [town]. His father’s name is Joseph.”
46 Nathanael mah anih khaeah, Nazareth hoiah hmuen kahoih tacawt thai tih maw? tiah a naa. Philip mah anih khaeah, Angzoh loe khen ah, tiah a naa.
Nathaniel replied, “Nazareth? (Nothing good can come from [such an unimportant place]!/Can anything good come from [such an unimportant place]?) [RHQ]” Philip replied, “Come and see!”
47 Philip khaeah kangzo Nathanael to Jesu mah hnuk naah, anih khaeah, Khenah, alinghaih tawn ai, Israel kami tangtang! tiah a naa.
When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
48 Nathanael mah anih khaeah, Natuek naah maw kai nang panoek loe? tiah a naa. Jesu mah anih khaeah, Philip mah na kawk ai vop, thaiduet kung tlim ah na oh naah, kang hnuk boeh, tiah a naa.
Nathaniel asked him, “How do you know what I [am like]?” Jesus replied, “I saw you before Philip called you, when you were [by yourself] under the fig tree.”
49 To naah Nathanael mah anih khaeah, Patukkung, Nang loe Sithaw Capa, Israel Siangpahrang ni, tiah a naa.
Then Nathaniel declared, “Teacher, you [must be] (the Son of God/the person who is both God and man)! You are the King of Israel [we have been waiting for]!”
50 Jesu mah anih khaeah, Thaiduet kung tlim ah na oh naah, kang hnuk boeh, tiah kang naa pongah maw na tang? Hae pongah kalen kue hmuennawk to na hnu vop tih, tiah a naa.
Jesus replied to him, “You [RHQ] believe [those things about me] because I told you I saw you when you were under the fig tree. [I was able to see you supernaturally even though I was far away from you]. But you will see [me do] things that are more surprising than that!”
51 Jesu mah anih khaeah, Loktang to, loktang ah, Kang thuih o, Kam-ong van to na hnu o ueloe, Kami Capa nuiah daw tahang anghum tathuk Sithaw ih van kaminawk to na hnu o tih, tiah a naa.
Then Jesus said to him, “This is the absolute truth: [Just like what your ancestor Jacob saw long ago in a vision], some day you [(pl)] will see heaven opened up, and you will see God’s angels ascending from me and descending on me, the one who came from heaven.”
