< John 1 >

1 In the beginning was that Word, and that Word was with God, and that Word was God.
In the beginning the Word was; and the Word was with God; and the Word was God.
2 This same was in the beginning with God.
He was in the beginning with God;
3 All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made.
through him all things came into being, and nothing came into being apart from him.
4 In it was life, and that life was the light of men.
That which came into being in him was life; and the life was the light of humanity;
5 And that light shineth in the darkenesse, and the darkenesse comprehended it not.
and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness never overpowered it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was Iohn.
There appeared a man sent from God, whose name was John;
7 This same came for a witnesse, to beare witnesse of that light, that all men through him might beleeue.
he came as a witness – to bear witness to the light so that through him everyone might believe.
8 He was not that light, but was sent to beare witnesse of that light.
He was not the light, but he came to bear witness to the light.
9 This was that true light, which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world.
That was the true light which enlightens everyone coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the worlde was made by him: and the worlde knewe him not.
He was in the world; and through him the world came into being – yet the world did not know him.
11 He came vnto his owne, and his owne receiued him not.
He came to his own – yet his own did not receive him.
12 But as many as receiued him, to them he gaue prerogatiue to be the sonnes of God, euen to them that beleeue in his Name.
But to all who did receive him he gave power to become children of God – to those who believe in his name.
13 Which are borne not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of ye wil of man, but of God.
For not to natural conception, nor to human instincts, nor to human will did they owe the new life, but to God.
14 And that Word was made flesh, and dwelt among vs, (and we sawe the glorie thereof, as the glorie of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father) full of grace and trueth.
And the Word became human, and lived among us, (We saw his glory – the glory of the Only Son sent from the Father), full of love and truth.
15 Iohn bare witnesse of him, and cryed, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that commeth after me, was before me: for he was better then I.
(John bears witness to him; he cried aloud – for it was he who spoke – ‘He who is coming after me is now before me, for he was ever first’);
16 And of his fulnesse haue all we receiued, and grace for grace.
out of his fullness we have all received gift after gift of love;
17 For the Lawe was giuen by Moses, but grace, and trueth came by Iesus Christ.
for the Law was given through Moses, love and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seene God at any time: that onely begotten Sonne, which is in the bosome of the Father, he hath declared him.
No one has ever yet seen God; God the only Son, who is ever with the Father – he has revealed him.
19 Then this is the record of Iohn, when the Iewes sent Priestes and Leuites from Hierusalem, to aske him, Who art thou?
When the religious authorities in Jerusalem sent some Priests and Levites to ask John – ‘Who are you?’,
20 And he confessed and denied not, and said plainely, I am not that Christ.
he told them clearly and simply, ‘I am not the Christ.’
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he said, I am not. Art thou that Prophet? And he answered, No.
‘What then?’ they asked. ‘Are you Elijah?’ ‘No,’ he said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you “the prophet”?’ He answered, ‘No.’
22 Then said they vnto him, Who art thou, that we may giue an answere to them that sent vs? What sayest thou of thy selfe?
‘Who then are you?’ they continued. ‘Tell us so that we have an answer to give to those who have sent us. What do you say about yourself?’
23 He said, I am the voyce of him that cryeth in the wildernesse, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Esaias.
‘I,’ he answered, ‘am – “The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: make a straight road for the Lord”, as the prophet Isaiah said.’
24 Nowe they which were sent, were of the Pharises.
These men had been sent from the Pharisees;
25 And they asked him, and saide vnto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, neither Elias, nor that Prophet?
and their next question was, ‘Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ or Elijah or “the prophet”?’
26 Iohn answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there is one among you, whom ye knowe not.
John’s answer was – ‘I baptize with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know;
27 He it is that commeth after me, which was before me, whose shoe latchet I am not worthie to vnloose.
he is coming after me, yet I am not worthy even to unfasten his sandal.’
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Iordan, where Iohn did baptize.
This happened at Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day Iohn, seeth Iesus comming vnto him, and saith, Beholde that Lambe of God, which taketh away the sinne of the world.
The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him, and exclaimed, ‘Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is he of whom I saide, After me commeth a man, which was before me: for he was better then I.
I was talking about him when I said “After me there is coming a man who ranks ahead of me, because before I was born he already was.”
31 And I knewe him not: but because he should be declared to Israel, therefore am I come, baptizing with water.
I did not know who he was, but I have come baptizing with water to make him known to Israel.’
32 So Iohn bare recorde, saying, I behelde that Spirit come downe from heauen, like a doue, and it abode vpon him,
John also said: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove and rest on him.
33 And I knewe him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, he saide vnto me, Vpon whom thou shalt see that Spirit come downe, and tary still on him, that is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost.
I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water, he said to me “He on whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him – he it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”
34 And I sawe, and bare record that this is that Sonne of God.
This I have seen myself, and I have declared my belief that he is the Son of God.’
35 The next day, Iohn stoode againe, and two of his disciples.
The next day, when John was standing with two of his disciples,
36 And he behelde Iesus walking by, and said, Beholde that Lambe of God.
he looked at Jesus as he passed and exclaimed, ‘There is the Lamb of God!’
37 And the two disciples heard him speake, and followed Iesus.
The two disciples heard him say this, and followed Jesus.
38 Then Iesus turned about, and saw them follow, and saide vnto them, What seeke ye? And they saide vnto him, Rabbi (which is to say by interpretation, Master) where dwellest thou?
But Jesus turned round, and saw them following. ‘What are you looking for?’ he asked. ‘Rabbi,’ they answered (or, as we should say, “Teacher”), ‘where are you staying?’
39 He saide vnto them, Come, and see. They came and sawe where hee dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth houre.
‘Come, and you will see,’ he replied. So they went, and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was then about four in the afternoon.
40 Andrew, Simon Peters brother, was one of the two which had heard it of Iohn, and that followed him.
One of the two, who heard what John said and followed Jesus, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41 The same founde his brother Simon first, and said vnto him, We haue founde that Messias, which is by interpretation, that Christ.
He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah!’ (a word which means “Christ,” or “Consecrated”.)
42 And he brought him to Iesus. And Iesus behelde him, and saide, Thou art Simon the sonne of Iona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone.
Then he brought him to Jesus. Looking straight at him, Jesus said, ‘You are Simon, the son of John; you will be called Cephas’ (which means “Peter,” or “Rock”).
43 The day following, Iesus woulde goe into Galile, and founde Philip, and said vnto him, Followe me.
The following day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’
44 Nowe Philip was of Bethsaida, the citie of Andrew and Peter.
Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.
45 Philippe founde Nathanael, and saide vnto him, Wee haue founde him of whom Moses did write in the Lawe, and the Prophetes, Iesus that sonne of Ioseph, that was of Nazareth.
He found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and of whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph’s son!’
46 Then Nathanael sayde vnto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saide to him, Come, and see.
‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ asked Nathanael. ‘Come and see,’ replied Philip.
47 Iesus sawe Nathanael comming to him, and saide of him, Beholde in deede an Israelite, in whom is no guile.
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said, ‘Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!’
48 Nathanael sayde vnto him, Whence knewest thou mee? Iesus answered, and sayd vnto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast vnder the figge tree, I sawe thee.
‘How do you know me?’ asked Nathanael. ‘Even before Philip called you,’ replied Jesus, ‘when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’
49 Nathanael answered, and saide vnto him, Rabbi, thou art that Sonne of God: thou art that King of Israel.
‘Rabbi,’ Nathanael exclaimed, ‘you are the Son of God, you are king of Israel!’
50 Iesus answered, and sayde vnto him, Because I sayde vnto thee, I sawe thee vnder the figtree, beleeuest thou? thou shalt see greater things then these.
‘Do you believe in me,’ asked Jesus, ‘because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than those!
51 And he saide vnto him, Verely, verely I say vnto you, hereafter shall yee see heauen open, and the Angels of God ascending, and descending vpon that Sonne of man.
In truth I tell you,’ he added, ‘you will all see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’

< John 1 >