John 1
1 In the beginning the Word already was. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Hapo mwanzo alikuwako Neno, huyo Neno alikuwa pamoja na Mungu, naye Neno alikuwa Mungu.
2 In the beginning he was with God.
Tangu mwanzo huyo Neno alikuwa pamoja na Mungu.
3 Everything came into being through him; nothing came into being without him.
Vitu vyote viliumbwa kwa yeye, wala pasipo yeye hakuna chochote kilichoumbwa ambacho kimeumbwa.
4 In him was life, the life that was the light of everyone.
Ndani yake ndimo ulimokuwa uzima na huo uzima ulikuwa nuru ya watu.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not extinguished it.
Nuru hungʼaa gizani nalo giza halikuishinda.
6 God sent a man named John.
Alikuja mtu mmoja aliyetumwa kutoka kwa Mungu, jina lake Yohana.
7 He came as a witness to explain about the light so that everyone might believe through him.
Alikuja kama shahidi apate kuishuhudia hiyo nuru, ili kwa kupitia kwake watu wote waweze kuamini.
8 He himself was not the light, but he came to witness to the light.
Yeye mwenyewe hakuwa ile nuru, bali alikuja kuishuhudia hiyo nuru.
9 The true light was coming into the world to give light to everyone.
Kwamba nuru halisi, imwangaziayo kila mtu ilikuwa inakuja ulimwenguni.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world didn't know who he was.
Huyo Neno alikuwako ulimwenguni na ingawa ulimwengu uliumbwa kupitia kwake, haukumtambua.
11 He came to his own people, but they didn't accept him.
Alikuja kwa walio wake, lakini wao hawakumpokea.
12 But to all those who accepted him and trusted in him, he gave the right to become God's children.
Bali wote waliompokea, aliwapa uwezo wa kufanyika watoto wa Mungu, ndio wale waliaminio jina lake.
13 These are the children born not in the usual way, not as the result of human desire or a father's decision, but born of God.
Hawa ndio wasiozaliwa kwa damu, wala kwa mapenzi ya mwili au kwa mapenzi ya mtu, bali kwa mapenzi ya Mungu.
14 The Word became human and lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son, full of grace and truth.
Neno alifanyika mwili, akakaa miongoni mwetu, nasi tukauona utukufu wake, utukufu kama wa Mwana pekee atokaye kwa Baba, amejaa neema na kweli.
15 John gave his testimony about him, shouting out to the people, “This is the one I was telling you about when I said, ‘The one who is coming after me is more important than me, for before I ever existed he already was.’”
Yohana alishuhudia habari zake, akapaza sauti, akisema, “Huyu ndiye yule niliyewaambia kwamba, ‘Yeye ajaye baada yangu ni mkuu kuniliko mimi, kwa kuwa alikuwepo kabla yangu.’”
16 We have all been recipients of his generous nature, one gracious gift after another.
Kutokana na ukamilifu wake, sisi sote tumepokea neema juu ya neema.
17 The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Kwa kuwa sheria ilitolewa kwa mkono wa Mose, lakini neema na kweli imekuja kupitia Yesu Kristo.
18 While no one has ever seen God, God the one and only, who is close to the Father, has shown us what God is like.
Hakuna mtu yeyote aliyemwona Mungu wakati wowote, ila ni Mungu Mwana pekee, aliye kifuani mwa Baba ndiye ambaye amemdhihirisha.
19 This is what John publicly stated when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
Huu ndio ushuhuda wa Yohana wakati Wayahudi walipowatuma makuhani na Walawi kutoka Yerusalemu kumuuliza, “Wewe ni nani?”
20 John declared plainly and clearly without hesitation, “I am not the Messiah.”
Yohana alikiri waziwazi pasipo kuficha akasema, “Mimi si Kristo.”
21 “So then, who are you?” they asked. “Elijah?” “No, I'm not,” he answered. “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he replied.
Wakamuuliza, “Wewe ni nani basi? Je, wewe ni Eliya?” Yeye akajibu, “Hapana, mimi siye.” “Je, wewe ni yule Nabii?” Akajibu, “Hapana.”
22 “Well, who are you, then?” they asked. “We have to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
Ndipo wakasema, “Basi tuambie wewe ni nani ili tupate jibu la kuwapelekea wale waliotutuma. Wewe wasemaje juu yako mwenyewe?”
23 “I am a voice calling in the desert, ‘Make the Lord's way straight!’” he said, using the words of the prophet Isaiah.
Akawajibu kwa maneno ya nabii Isaya, akisema, “Mimi ni sauti ya mtu aliaye nyikani, ‘Yanyoosheni mapito ya Bwana.’”
24 The priests and Levites sent by the Pharisees
Basi walikuwa wametumwa watu kutoka kwa Mafarisayo
25 asked him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you're not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”
wakamuuliza, “Kama wewe si Kristo, wala si Eliya na wala si yule Nabii, kwa nini basi unabatiza?”
26 John replied, “I baptize with water, but standing among you is someone you don't know.
Yohana akawajibu, “Mimi ninabatiza kwa maji, lakini katikati yenu yupo mtu msiyemjua.
27 He is coming after me, but I am not even worthy to untie his sandals.”
Yeye ajaye baada yangu, sistahili hata kufungua kamba za viatu vyake.”
28 This all happened in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Mambo haya yote yalitukia huko Bethania, ngʼambo ya Mto Yordani, mahali Yohana alipokuwa akibatiza.
29 The next day John saw Jesus approaching him, and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Siku iliyofuata, Yohana alimwona Yesu akimjia akasema, “Tazama, Mwana-Kondoo wa Mungu aichukuaye dhambi ya ulimwengu!
30 This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man who is coming after me is more important than me, for before I ever existed he already was.’
Huyu ndiye yule niliyewaambia kwamba, ‘Mtu anakuja baada yangu ambaye ni mkuu kuniliko mimi, kwa kuwa alikuwepo kabla yangu.’
31 I didn't know myself who he was, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”
Mimi mwenyewe sikumfahamu, lakini sababu ya kuja nikibatiza kwa maji ni ili yeye apate kufunuliwa kwa Israeli.”
32 John gave his evidence about him, saying, “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and rest upon him.
Kisha Yohana akatoa ushuhuda huu: “Nilimwona Roho akishuka kutoka mbinguni kama hua, akakaa juu yake.
33 I wouldn't have known him except he who sent me to baptize with water had told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descend to and rest upon, he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
Mimi nisingemtambua, lakini yeye aliyenituma nibatize kwa maji alikuwa ameniambia, ‘Yule mtu utakayemwona Roho akimshukia na kukaa juu yake, huyo ndiye atakayebatiza kwa Roho Mtakatifu.’
34 I saw it happen and I declare that this is the Son of God.”
Mimi mwenyewe nimeona jambo hili na ninashuhudia kuwa huyu ndiye Mwana wa Mungu.”
35 The next day John was standing there with two of his disciples.
Siku iliyofuata, Yohana alikuwa huko tena pamoja na wanafunzi wake wawili.
36 He saw Jesus passing by, and said, “Look! This is the Lamb of God!”
Alipomwona Yesu akipita, akasema, “Tazama, Mwana-Kondoo wa Mungu!”
37 When the two disciples heard what he said they went and followed Jesus.
Wale wanafunzi wawili walipomsikia Yohana akisema haya, wakamfuata Yesu.
38 Jesus turned round and saw them following him. “What are you looking for?” he asked them. “Rabbi (which means ‘Teacher’), where are you staying?” they asked in reply.
Yesu akageuka, akawaona wakimfuata akawauliza, “Mnataka nini?” Wakamwambia, “Rabi,” (maana yake Mwalimu), “Unaishi wapi?”
39 “Come and see,” he told them. So they went with him and saw where he was staying. It was about four p.m., and they spent the rest of the day with him.
Yesu akawajibu, “Njooni, nanyi mtapaona!” Hivyo wakaenda na kupaona mahali alipokuwa anaishi, wakakaa naye siku ile, kwa kuwa ilikuwa yapata saa kumi.
40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of these two disciples who had heard what John said and followed Jesus.
Andrea nduguye Simoni Petro, alikuwa mmoja wa wale wawili waliosikia yale Yohana aliyokuwa amesema, naye ndiye alimfuata Yesu.
41 He went at once to find his brother Simon and told him, “We've found the Messiah!” (which means “Christ”).
Kitu cha kwanza Andrea alichofanya ni kumtafuta Simoni nduguye na kumwambia, “Tumemwona Masiya” (yaani, Kristo).
42 He took him to Jesus. Looking directly at Simon, Jesus said, “You are Simon, son of John. But now you will be called Cephas,” (which means “Peter”).
Naye akamleta kwa Yesu. Yesu akamwangalia na kusema, “Wewe ni Simoni mwana wa Yohana. Utaitwa Kefa” (ambalo limetafsiriwa Petro).
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. Jesus found Philip there, and told him, “Follow me.”
Siku iliyofuata Yesu aliamua kwenda Galilaya. Akamkuta Filipo, akamwambia, “Nifuate.”
44 Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town that Andrew and Peter came from.
Basi Filipo alikuwa mwenyeji wa Bethsaida, mji alikotoka Andrea na Petro.
45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We've found the one that Moses wrote about in the law and that the prophets did too—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Filipo naye akamkuta Nathanaeli na kumwambia, “Tumemwona yeye ambaye Mose aliandika habari zake katika Sheria na ambaye pia manabii waliandika kumhusu, yaani, Yesu wa Nazareti, mwana wa Yosefu.”
46 “From Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael wondered. “Just come and see,” Philip replied.
Nathanaeli akauliza, “Nazareti! Je, kitu chochote chema chaweza kutoka Nazareti?” Filipo akamwambia, “Njoo uone.”
47 As Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said about him, “Look, here's a true Israelite! There's nothing false about him.”
Yesu alipomwona Nathanaeli anakaribia, akanena habari zake akasema, “Tazama huyu ni Mwisraeli kweli kweli; hana hila ndani yake.”
48 “How do you know who I am?” Nathanael asked. “I saw you there under the fig tree, before Philip called you,” Jesus replied.
Nathanaeli akamuuliza, “Umenifahamuje?” Yesu akamjibu, “Nilikuona ulipokuwa bado uko chini ya mtini, kabla hata Filipo hajakuita.”
49 “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, the king of Israel!” Nathaniel exclaimed.
Nathanaeli akamwambia, “Rabi, wewe ni Mwana wa Mungu! Wewe ni Mfalme wa Israeli!”
50 “You believe this just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree?” Jesus replied. “You'll get to see much more than that!”
Yesu akamwambia, “Unaamini kwa kuwa nilikuambia nilikuona ulipokuwa bado uko chini ya mtini? Basi utaona mambo makuu zaidi kuliko hilo.”
51 Then Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open, and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of man.”
Ndipo akawaambia, “Amin, amin nawaambia, ninyi mtaona mbingu ikifunguka na malaika wa Mungu wakipanda na kushuka juu ya Mwana wa Adamu.”
