Yohanes 1
1 Le gɔmedzedzea me la, Nya la li, eye Nya la li kple Mawu, eye Nya lae nye Mawu.
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 Eli kple Mawu le gɔmedzedzea me.
He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
3 To eya me wowɔ nuwo katã, eye eya manɔmee la, womewɔ naneke si wowɔ la o.
He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
4 Eya me agbe le, eye agbe siae nye amegbetɔwo ƒe kekeli.
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 Kekeli la klẽ ɖe viviti me, eye viviti la mete ŋu ɖu edzi o.
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 Ame aɖe va dzɔ si Mawu dɔ ɖo ɖa. Eŋkɔe nye Yohanes.
A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
7 Ame sia va be yeaɖi ɖase tso kekeli la ŋu, ale be to eya dzi la, amewo katã naxɔe ase.
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 Menye Yohanes ye nye kekeli la o. Eya la, ɖeko wòva be yeaɖi ɖase le kekeli la ŋu.
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 Kekeli vavã si klẽna na amewo katã la gbɔna va xexea me.
[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 Enɔ xexea me, gake xexea me mekpɔe dze sii o, evɔ eya dzi woto wɔ xexea me.
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 Eva eya ŋutɔ tɔwo gbɔ, gake eya ŋutɔ ƒe amewo mexɔe o.
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 Ke ame siwo katã xɔe, eye woxɔ eƒe ŋkɔ dzi se la, ena ŋusẽ wo be woazu Mawu ƒe viwo,
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 ame siwo womedzi tso ʋu alo ŋutilã ƒe lɔlɔ̃nu alo ŋutsu ƒe lɔlɔ̃nu me o, ke boŋ tso Mawu ƒe lɔlɔ̃nu me.
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 Nya la trɔ zu ŋutilã va nɔ mía dome, eye eƒe agbe yɔ fũu kple amenuveve kple nyateƒe la. Míekpɔ eƒe ŋutikɔkɔe si nye Mawu, Fofo la ƒe Vi ɖeka hɔ̃ɔ la tɔ.
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 (Yohanes ɖi ɖase tso eŋuti gblɔ be, “Ame siae nye ame si ŋu menɔ nu ƒom le, esi megblɔ be, ‘Ame aɖe si li xoxoxo hafi meva dzɔ la gbɔna, ame sia de ŋgɔ wum sãa.’”)
[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 Ena yayra geɖe mí tso eƒe amenuveve sɔ gbɔ la me.
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 Se la to Mose dzi va, ke Yesu Kristo ya tsɔ amenuveve kple nyateƒe la vɛ.
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 Ame aɖeke mekpɔ Mawu kpɔ o, ame si nye Via ɖeka hɔ̃ɔ la, ame si nɔ anyi ɖe Fofo la ƒe axadzi la, eyae ɖee fia mí.
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 Azɔ esiae nye Yohanes ƒe ɖaseɖiɖi esime Yudatɔ siwo le Yerusalem la dɔ nunɔlawo kple Levitɔwo ɖo ɖe egbɔ be woabiae be, “Ame kae nènye?”
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 Megbe o, ke boŋ eʋu eme na wo faa be, “Menye nyee nye Kristo la o.”
So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
21 Wogabiae be, “Ekema ame kae nènye, Eliyaa?” Egaɖo eŋu be, “Ao, menye Eliyae menye o.” Wogabiae be, “Nyagblɔɖila lae nènyea?” Eye wòɖo eŋu be, “Gbeɖe, menye nyee o.”
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 Wogabiae be, “Ke ame ka tututue nènye? Gblɔe na mí, ale be míanya nya si míagblɔ na ame siwo dɔ mí la. Gblɔ nya aɖe na mí tso ɖokuiwò ŋu.”
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 Yohanes ɖo eŋu na wo kple Nyagblɔɖila Yesaya ƒe nya siawo be, “Nyee nye ame si le ɣli dom le gbea dzi ƒe gbe be, ‘Midzra Yehowa ƒe mɔ la ɖo wòanɔ dzɔdzɔe.’”
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 Farisitɔwo ƒe ame dɔdɔwo hã
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 biae be, “Esi menye wòe nye Kristo la alo Eliya loo alo Nyagblɔɖila la o ɖe, nu ka ta nèle mawutsi dem ta na amewo ɖo?”
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 Yohanes ɖo eŋu na wo be, “Mele mawutsi dem ta na amewo kple tsi, gake ame aɖe le mia dome,
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 si le yonyeme gbɔna, eye nyemedze be matu eƒe afɔkpaka gɔ̃ hã o.”
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 Nu siawo katã dzɔ le Betania, kɔƒe aɖe si le Yɔdan tɔsisi la godo, afi si Yohanes nɔ mawutsi dem ta na amewo le la me.
Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
29 Esi ŋu ke la, Yohanes kpɔ Yesu wògbɔna egbɔ, ale wòdo ɣli gblɔ be, “Mikpɔ ɖa! Mawu ƒe Alẽvi si le xexe sia me ƒe nu vɔ̃wo ɖem ɖa lae nye ekem!
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 Eya ŋutie menɔ nu ƒom le esi megblɔ be, ‘Ŋutsu aɖe gbɔna kpuie, ame si de ŋgɔ wum boo, eye wòli xoxoxo hafi nye ya meva dzɔ gɔ̃.’
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 Nye ŋutɔ nyemenya ame si wònye o, ke nye dɔ koe nye be made mawutsi ta na amewo kple tsi, atsɔ aɖee afia Israel dukɔ la.”
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 Azɔ Yohanes ɖi ɖase le ale si wòkpɔ Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la wònɔ akpakpa ƒe nɔnɔme me, nɔ ɖiɖim ɖe Yesu dzi tso dziƒo la ŋu.
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 Yohanes gagblɔ be, “Nye la, nyemenya be eyae nye amea o, gake esi Mawu ɖom ɖa be made mawutsi ta na amewo la, egblɔ nam be, ‘Ne èkpɔ Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la wòle ɖiɖim ɖe ame aɖe dzi la, nyae be eyae nye ame si dim nèle. Eyae ade mawutsi ta na amewo kple Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la.’
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 Mekpɔe be nu sia tututue dzɔ ɖe ŋutsu sia dzi, eya ta meɖi ɖase be eyae nye Mawu ƒe Vi la.”
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 Le ŋkeke evea gbe la, Yohanes kple eƒe nusrɔ̃la eve aɖewo nɔ tsitre ɖe teƒe aɖe, eye Yesu va to wo gbɔ yina.
The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
36 Yohanes li ŋku ɖe Yesu dzi gãa hegblɔ be, “Mikpɔ ɖa! Mawu ƒe Alẽvi lae nye ekem!”
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 Nusrɔ̃la eveawo se nya sia, eye wodze Yesu yome.
(When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
38 Yesu trɔ kɔ kpɔ wo wonɔ eyome, eye wòbia wo be, “Nu ka dim miele?” Woɖo eŋu be, “Rabi” (si gɔmee nye “Nufiala”), “afi ka nènɔna?”
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 Yesu gblɔ na wo be, “Miva kpɔe ɖa.” Ale wokplɔe ɖo yi aƒe si me wònɔna la me, eye wonɔ egbɔ tso ɣetrɔ ga ene me va se ɖe fiẽ hafi dzo.
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 Ame siawo dometɔ ɖekae nye Andrea si nye Simɔn Petro nɔvi.
(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 Nu gbãtɔ si Andrea wɔ lae nye be edi nɔvia Simɔn, eye wògblɔ nɛ be, “Míekpɔ Mesia la” (si gɔmee nye Kristo).
[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 Enumake wòkplɔ nɔvia Simɔn va Yesu gbɔ. Yesu kpɔe dũu, eye wògblɔ be, “Wòe nye Simɔn, Yohanes ƒe vi. Woayɔ wò azɔ be Kefa” (si gɔmee nye Kpe Gbadza).
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 Esi ŋu ke la, Yesu ɖoe be yeayi Galilea. Esi wònɔ mɔa dzi yina la, edo go Filipo, eye wògblɔ nɛ be, “Va, nàdze yonyeme.”
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 Filipo sia tso Betsaida si nye Andrea kple Petro wo de.
Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
45 Filipo hã ɖe abla yi ɖadi Nataniel, eye wògblɔ nɛ be, “Nɔvi, míeke ɖe Mesia, ame si ŋuti woŋlɔ nu tsoe le Nyagblɔɖilawo kple Mose ƒe sea me la ŋu. Eŋkɔe nye Yesu, eye fofoae nye Yosef si tso Nazaret.”
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 Nataniel gblɔ be, “Nu nyui aɖe ate ŋu ado tso Nazaretia?” Filipo ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Va kpɔe ɖa.”
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 Esi Yesu kpɔ Nataniel wògbɔna egbɔ la, egblɔ be, “Israelvi vavã si me alakpa aɖeke mele o lae nye esi gbɔna.”
When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
48 Nataniel bia Yesu be, “Aleke nèwɔ nya ame si ƒomevi menye?” Yesu ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Mekpɔ wò le gboti ma te xoxoxo hafi Filipo va yɔ wò.”
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 Nataniel gblɔ be, “Nufiala, wòe nye Mawu ƒe Vi la vavã. Wòe nye Israel ƒe fia la!”
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 Yesu gabiae be, “Ɖe nèxɔ dzinye se elabena mete ŋu kpɔ wò le gboti ma tea? Nu gãwo wu esia aɖe ame si menye la afia wò.
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 Nyateƒe gblɔm mele na wò be, èle dziƒo kpɔ ge wòaʋu, eye mawudɔlawo anɔ Amegbetɔ Vi la gbɔ vam, aganɔ dziƒo yim.”
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.”
