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.
Kigambo yaliwo ng’ensi tennatondebwa. Kigambo yali ne Katonda, era Kigambo yali Katonda.
2 He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
Oyo, okuva ku lubereberye yaliwo ne Katonda.
3 He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
Ebintu byonna byatondebwa ku lulwe, era tewaliiwo kintu na kimu ekyatondebwa nga taliiwo.
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].
Mu ye mwe mwali obulamu; era obulamu buno ne buba ekitangaala eri abantu.
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.)
Omusana ne gwaka mu kizikiza, naye ekizikiza tekyaguyinza.
6 A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
Ne walabika omuntu ng’ayitibwa Yokaana, Katonda gwe yatuma,
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].
eyajja okutegeeza abantu ebifa ku musana, bonna bakkirize nga bayita mu ye.
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.
Yokaana si ye yali Omusana, wabula ye yatumibwa ategeeze eby’Omusana.
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].
Kristo ye yali Omusana, omusana ogw’amazima, ogujja mu nsi, okwakira buli muntu.
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.)
Kyokka newaakubadde Kigambo oyo ye yatonda ensi, bwe yajja mu nsi, ensi teyamutegeera.
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).
Yajja eri abantu be, naye abantu be ne batamusembeza.
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].
Naye bonna abaamusembeza, yabawa obuyinza okufuuka abaana ba Katonda; be bo abakkiriza erinnya lye.
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.
Abataazaalibwa musaayi, oba okwagala kw’omubiri, wadde okwagala kw’omuntu, naye abaazaalibwa okwagala kwa Katonda.
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].
Kigambo n’afuuka omubiri, n’abeera mu ffe, ne tulaba ekitiibwa kye, ng’eky’oyo omu yekka eyava eri kitaffe ng’ajjudde ekisa n’amazima.
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]!”
Yokaana Omubatiza yamwogerako, ng’alangirira nti, “Ono ye oyo gwe nayogerako nti, ‘Waliwo ajja emabega wange, eyansoka okubaawo, kubanga yaliwo nga sinnabaawo.’”
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.
Ku kujjula kwe ffenna kwe twagabana ekisa ekisukiridde ekisa.
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].
Amateeka gaatuweebwa nga gayita mu Musa, naye Yesu Kristo ye yaaleeta ekisa n’amazima.
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.
Tewali n’omu eyali alabye ku Katonda, okuggyako Omwana we omu yekka, abeera mu kifuba kya kitaffe, oyo ye yatutegeeza byonna ebimufaako.
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?”
Bino bye bigambo Yokaana Omubatiza bye yategeeza abakulembeze b’Abayudaaya bwe baamutumira bakabona n’Abaleevi okuva mu Yerusaalemi ne bamubuuza nti, “Ggwe ani?”
20 So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
Teyagaana kubaddamu, wabula yayatulira ddala nti, “Si nze Kristo.”
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.”
Ne bamubuuza nti, “Kale ggwe ani? Ggwe Eriya?” Yokaana Omubatiza n’addamu nti, “Nedda, si nze ye.” Ne bongera okumubuuza nti, “Ggwe Nnabbi ayogerwako?” N’addamu nti, “Nedda.”
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?”
Awo ne bamugamba nti, “Abatutumye tunaabagamba nti, Ggwe ani? Weeyita otya?”
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].
N’abaddamu nti, “Nze ndi ddoboozi ly’oyo ayogerera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka ng’asinziira mu ddungu nti, ‘Mutereeze ekkubo lya Mukama mweteekereteekere okujja kwe, nga nnabbi Isaaya bwe yayogera.’”
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}.
Abaatumibwa baava eri Abafalisaayo.
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]?”
Awo ne babuuza Yokaana nti, “Kale lwaki obatiza, obanga si ggwe Kristo oba Eriya oba nnabbi oli?”
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.
Yokaana n’addamu nti, “Nze mbatiza na mazzi, naye waliwo ayimiridde wakati mu mmwe gwe mutamanyi,
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.”
anvaako emabega, nze sisaanira na kusumulula buguwa bwa ngatto ze.”
28 Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
Ebyo byali Besaniya, emitala w’omugga Yoludaani, Yokaana Omubatiza gye yabatirizanga.
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.
Ku lunaku olwaddirira, Yokaana Omubatiza n’alaba Yesu ng’ajja, n’agamba nti, “Mulabe Omwana gw’Endiga owa Katonda aggyawo ebibi by’ensi.
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.’
Ye wuuyo gwe nayogerako, bwe nagamba nti, ‘Waliwo omuntu anvaako emabega ye ansinga obuyinza, kubanga ye yaliwo nga nze sinnabaawo.’
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.”
Nange nnali simumanyi, wabula nze najja okubatiza n’amazzi, ndyoke mulage eri abantu ba Isirayiri.”
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.
Awo Yokaana Omubatiza n’abategeeza nga bwe yalaba Mwoyo Mutukuvu ng’akka okuva mu ggulu ng’ali ng’ejjiba n’abeera ku Yesu,
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].’
n’abagamba nti, “Nze saamutegeera, kyokka Katonda bwe yantuma okubatiza yaŋŋamba nti, ‘Bw’olabanga Mwoyo Mutukuvu ng’akka n’abeera ku muntu, nga oyo, ye Kristo abatiza ne Mwoyo Mutukuvu.’
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).”
Ekyo nkirabye era nkiweerako obujulirwa nti Ye Mwana wa Katonda.”
35 The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
Awo ku lunaku olwaddirira nate Yokaana bwe yali ayimiridde n’abayigirizwa be babiri,
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!]”
Yesu n’ayitawo ng’atambula. Yokaana n’amutunuulira enkaliriza n’agamba nti, “Mulabe Omwana gw’Endiga wa Katonda.”
37 (When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
Awo abayigirizwa abo ababiri bwe baawulira ekyo ne bagoberera 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].”
Yesu bwe yakyuka n’abalaba nga bamugoberera n’ababuuza nti, “Mwagala ki?” Ne bamuddamu nti, “Labbi” (ekitegeeza nti: “Omuyigiriza”), “obeera wa?”
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).
N’abaddamu nti, “Mujje mulabeyo.” Awo ne bagenda naye gye yali abeera, olunaku olwo ne baluzibiza eyo nga bali naye, obudde bwali ng’essaawa kkumi ez’olweggulo okutuusa akawungeezi.
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.
Omu ku abo ababiri abaawulira Yokaana ng’ayogera ne bagoberera Yesu, yali Andereya, muganda wa Simooni Peetero.
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!”
Awo Andereya n’agenda anoonya muganda we Simooni n’amugamba nti, “Tulabye Masiya” (amakulu nti 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.
Andereya n’atwala Simooni eri Yesu. Yesu bwe yeetegereza Simooni, n’amugamba nti, “Ggwe Simooni omwana wa Yokaana, kale onooyitibwanga Keefa,” amakulu nti Peetero.
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!”
Ku lunaku olwaddirira, Yesu n’agenda e Ggaliraaya, bwe yasanga Firipo n’amugamba nti, “Ngoberera.”
44 Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
Firipo yali wa mu kibuga Besusayida ewaabwe wa Andereya ne Peetero.
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.”
Firipo bwe yalaba Nassanayiri, n’amugamba nti, “Tulabye Yesu mutabani wa Yusufu ow’e Nazaaleesi, Musa ne bannabbi gwe baawandiikako.”
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!”
Nassanayiri n’amuddamu nti, “Mu Nazaaleesi musobola okuvaamu ekintu ekirungi?” Firipo kwe kumuddamu nti, “Jjangu weerabireko.”
47 When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
Nassanayiri bwe yali asemberera Yesu, Yesu n’agamba nti, “Laba, Omuyisirayiri wawu ataliimu bukuusa.”
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.”
Nassanayiri kwe kumuddamu nti, “Ontegedde otya?” Yesu n’amugamba nti, “Firipo bw’abadde tannakutuukako, nkulabye ng’oli wansi w’omutiini.”
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]!”
Nassanayiri n’amuddamu nti, “Labbi, oli Mwana wa Katonda, gwe Kabaka wa Isirayiri!”
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!”
Awo Yesu n’amugamba nti, “Okkiriza kubanga nkugambye nti nkulabye ng’oli wansi w’omutiini? Oliraba n’ebisinga awo obukulu.
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.”
Ddala ddala nkugamba nti oliraba eggulu nga libikkuse ne bamalayika ba Katonda nga balinnya era nga bakkira ku Mwana w’Omuntu.”
