John 1
1 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.
Kiogo sa kale pabile ni neno, ni ywa neno abile pamope ni Nnongo, nga ywa Neno abile Nnongo.
2 He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
Aywoo, Neno, palyo kinchogo abile pamope ni Nnongo.
3 He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
Ilebe yoti gatipangilwa petya ywembe, mana ntopo ywembe chalowa pangika kwaa hata kilebe chimo.
4 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].
Nkati yake ngaubile ukoti, ni wolo ukoti wabile bweya ya bandu boti.
5 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.)
Bweya yating'ala mulubendo, wala lubendo lwaloweza kwaa kwiima.
6 A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
Pabile ni mundu ywatumilwe kuoma kwa Nnongo, lina lyake akemelwa Yohana.
7 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].
Ywaisile kati shaidi woshuhudia husu yelo bweya, ili bote baweze amini petya ywembe.
8 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.
Yohana abile kwaa yelo bweya, ila aisile ili shuhudia husu yelo bweya.
9 [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].
Eyo yabile bweya ya kweli yabile yaisa mu'dunia niyembe yampea bweya kila yumo.
10 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.)
Abile mu'dunia, ni dunia iumbilwe petya ywembe, ni dunia yantangite kwaa.
11 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).
Aisile kwa ilebe yake, ni bandu bake bampokya kwaa.
12 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].
Ila kwa balo baingi babampokile, balo baamini lina lyake, kwa balo kabapeya haki ya kuwa bana ba Nnongo.
13 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.
Bababelekilwe, kwa mwai kwaa, wala kwa mapenzi ga yega, wala kwa mapenzi ga mundu, ila kwa Nnongo mwene.
14 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].
Ni ywembe Neno apangilwe yega ni tama nkati yitu, tuubweni utukufu wake, kati utukufu wa mundu kichake wa kipekee ywabile kuoma kwa Tate, atwelile neema ni kweli.
15 [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]!”
Yohana atishuhudia husu ywembe, ni akoiye kwa lilobe kabaya, “Ayoo nga ywembe nimmakiye habari yake nibayite, “Yolo ywaisa baada yango nga nkolo kuliko nenga, kwa maana abile kabla yango.”
16 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.
Kwa mana kuoma mu'utimilifu wake, twenga twaboti, twapoki bure ipawa baada ya ipawa.
17 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].
Kwa mana saliya yatiisa petya Musa. Neema ni kweli yaisile petya Yesu Kristu.
18 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.
Ntopo mundu ywamwonile Nnongo muda wowoti. Mundu pekee ywabile nga Nnongo, abile mu'kifua sa Tate, apangite ywembe ayowanike.
19 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?”
Awoo nga ushuhuda ba Yohana palyo makuhani ni alawi bantumilwe kwake ni Ayahudi kubamwuliza.”Wenga wa nyai?”
20 So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
Bila kusitasita ni kakana kwaa, ila kaayangwa, “Nenga na Kristo kwaa.”
21 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.”
Eyo kabannokiya, “kwa eyo wenga wanyai? wenga wa Eliya?” Kabaya, “Nenga kwaa” Kababaya, “Wenga wa nabii?” Kayangwa, “Hapana.”
22 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?”
Boka po kabammakiya, “Wenga wa nyai, ili tubapei jibu balo batutumile?” Kabaujishuhudie kwaa wenga wa mwene?”
23 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].
Kabaya, “Nenga nga lilobe lyake ywabile mmwitu:'Mwinyoshe ndela ya Ngwana,'kati nabii Isaya abayite.”
24 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}.
Bai pabile ni bandu batumilwe palyo kuoma kwa Mafarisayo. Kabannobiya no baya,
25 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]?”
“Kwa mwanja namani wabatiza bai kati wenga wa Kristo kwaa wala Eliya wala nabii?”
26 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.
Yohana kaayangwa kabaya, “Nabatiza kwa mase, Hata nyoo, nkati yinu atiyema mundu muntangite kwaa.
27 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.”
Aywoo nga aisa baada yango, Nenga nastahili kwaa kuilegeza gidamu ya ilatu yake.”
28 Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
Makowe aga gapangike Bethania, ng'ambo ya Yordani, pandu Yohana abile atibabatiza bandu.
29 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.
Lisoba lya naibele Yohana amweni Yesu aisa kwake kabaya, “Linga mwana ngondolo wa Nnongo ywaitola sambi ya dunia!
30 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.’
Aywoo nga ywembe ywa nilongela makowe gake natibaya, “Ywembe ywaisa kunchogo kwango nga nkolo kuliko nenga, kwa mana abile kabla yango.'
31 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.”
Hata nenga nintangite kwaa ywembe, lakini ipangilwe nyoo ili aitambulishe mu'Israeli, naisile kwabatiza kwa mase.”
32 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.
Yohana atishuhudia, “Namweni Roho kuoma kumaunde mpwano wa ua, ni abile nnani yake.
33 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].’
Nenga nintangite kwaa lakini ywembe ywanitumile ili niabatize kwa mase anibakiye,'yolo ywabile lola Roho kauluka no tama nnani yake, Aywoo nga aabatiza kwa Roho Mtakatifu.'
34 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).”
Namweni na kumshuhudia yolo nga Mwana wa Nnongo.”
35 The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
Kae lisoba lyanaibele Yohana ayemi pamope ni anapunzi bake abele,
36 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!]”
bamweni Yesu katyanga ni Yohana kabaya, “Linga mwana ngondolo wa Nnongo!”
37 (When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
Anapunzi abele kaban'yowa Yohana kabaya aga kaban'yangwa Yesu.
38 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].”
Kae Yesu atikelebuka ni kuabona anapunzi balo bakinkengama, ni kabammakiya, “Mwapala namani? Kaban'yangwa, “Rabbi, (maana yake 'mwalimu,' utama kwaako?”
39 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).
Kaabakiya, “Muiche na mubweni, “Boka po kabayenda ni kubona pandu abile akitama, batitama pamope naywembe lisoba lelo, kwa mana ibile kati saa komi.
40 (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.
Yumo nkati ya balo abele kaban'yowa Yohana kalongela ni boka po kankengama Yesu abile Andrea, nnuna wake Simoni Petro.
41 [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!”
Amweni nnongo bake Simoni ni kummakiya, “Tumweni masihi” (maana yake Kristo)
42 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.
Atikunneta kwa Yesu. Yesu atikunlola ni kubaya, “Wenga wa Simoni mwana wa Yohana “wakemilwe Kefa,” (maana yake 'Petro')
43 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!”
Lisoba lya isile palyo Yesu kabapala kuboka kuyendya Galilaya, ampatike Filipo no kum'bakiya, “Ngengame nenga.”
44 Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
Filipo ywabile mwenyeji wa Bethsaida mji wa Andrea ni Petro.
45 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.”
Filipo ampatike Nathanaeli ni kummakiya, Tuweni yolo ywaandikilwe habari zake mu saliya ya manabii. Yesu mwana wa Yusufu, kuoma Nazareti.
46 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!”
Nathanieli kammakiya, “Je kilebe kinoite chalowa boka Nazareti?” Filipo kammakiya, Uiche ni ubone.”
47 When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
Yesu amweni Nathanieli kaisa kwake nobaya, “Linga, mwisaeli ywa kweli abile kwaa ni ubocho nkati yake!
48 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.”
Nathanieli kammakiya “Unitangite kwaa nenga?” Yesu kayangwa ni kummakiya, “Kabla Filipo akukema kwaa paubile pae ya mtini, natikubona.”
49 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]!”
Nathanieli kayangwa, “Rabbi wenga wa mwana wa Nnongo! wenga wa mpwalume wa Israeli”!
50 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!”
Yesu kayangwa ni kummakiya, kwa mana nikumakiye,'natikubona pae ya mtini' je waamini? walowa bona makowe makolo kuliko aga.”
51 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.”
Yesu kabaya, Amini amini naabakiya mwalowa kubona maunde gayongolilwe, ni kubona malaika kabaoboka ni uluka nnani ya mwana wa Adamu.”
