Yoane 1
1 Na ebandeli, Ye oyo azali Liloba azalaka; azalaka elongo na Nzambe, mpe azali Nzambe.
In the beginning the Word was; and the Word was with God; and the Word was God.
2 Wuta na ebandeli, azalaka elongo na Nzambe.
He was in the beginning with God;
3 Nzambe akelaki biloko nyonso na nzela na Ye; ezali na eloko moko te oyo ekelama soki na nzela na Ye te.
through him all things came into being, and nothing came into being apart from him.
4 Bomoi ewuta epai na Ye, mpe bomoi yango ezalaki pole mpo na bato.
That which came into being in him was life; and the life was the light of humanity;
5 Pole engengaka kati na molili, kasi molili eyambaki yango te.
and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness never overpowered it.
6 Nzambe atindaki moto moko, kombo na ye ezalaki « Yoane. »
There appeared a man sent from God, whose name was John;
7 Ayaki lokola motatoli, mpo na kotatola na tina na pole, mpo ete bato nyonso bandima na nzela na ye.
he came as a witness – to bear witness to the light so that through him everyone might believe.
8 Ye moko Yoane azalaki pole te, kasi ayaki nde mpo na kozala motatoli na tina na pole.
He was not the light, but he came to bear witness to the light.
9 Pole ya solo eyaki na mokili, mpe engengisaka bato nyonso.
That was the true light which enlightens everyone coming into the world.
10 Ye oyo azali Liloba azalaki kati na mokili, pamba te Ye nde akelaki yango, kasi mokili endimaki Ye te.
He was in the world; and through him the world came into being – yet the world did not know him.
11 Ayaki epai ya ekolo na Ye, kasi bato ya ekolo na Ye moko bayambaki Ye te;
He came to his own – yet his own did not receive him.
12 nzokande bato nyonso oyo bayambaki Ye, ba-oyo bandimelaki Kombo na Ye, apesaki bango makoki ya kokoma bana na Nzambe.
But to all who did receive him he gave power to become children of God – to those who believe in his name.
13 Bakomi bana na Nzambe na nzela ya mbotama ya bomoto te, na posa ya bomoto te to mpe na mokano ya moto te, kasi na mokano ya Nzambe.
For not to natural conception, nor to human instincts, nor to human will did they owe the new life, but to God.
14 Ye oyo azalaki Liloba akomaki moto mpe avandaki kati na biso, atonda na ngolu mpe na solo. Tomonaki nkembo na Ye, nkembo oyo azwi epai ya Tata na Ye, lokola Mwana se moko.
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 Yoane azalaki kotatola na tina na Ye, na mongongo makasi: « Botala Ye oyo nalobaki na tina na Ye: ‹ Ye oyo azali koya sima na ngai aleki ngai na lokumu, pamba te azalaki liboso ete ngai nazala. › »
(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 Lokola atonda na bolingo mpo na biso, apesaki biso ngolu likolo ya ngolu;
out of his fullness we have all received gift after gift of love;
17 pamba te Mibeko eyaki na nzela ya Moyize, kasi ngolu mpe solo eyaki na nzela ya Yesu-Klisto.
for the Law was given through Moses, love and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 Moto moko te amona Nzambe, kasi ezali kaka Mwana se moko oyo azali Nzambe mpe azali moko na Tata nde atalisaki biso Ye.
No one has ever yet seen God; God the only Son, who is ever with the Father – he has revealed him.
19 Tala litatoli oyo Yoane apesaki tango bakambi ya Bayuda batindaki, wuta na Yelusalemi, Banganga-Nzambe mpe Balevi, mpo na kotuna ye: — Yo ozali nani?
When the religious authorities in Jerusalem sent some Priests and Levites to ask John – “Who are you?”,
20 Abetaki monoko te, kasi alobaki na bango solo na bonsomi nyonso: — Ngai, nazali Klisto te.
he told them clearly and simply, “I am not the Christ.”
21 Batunaki ye lisusu: — Bongo ozali nani? Ozali Eliya? Azongisaki: — Nazali Eliya te. Batunaki ye lisusu: — Ozali mosakoli? Azongisaki: — Te!
“What then?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he said, “I am not.” “Are you ‘the prophet’?” He answered, “No.”
22 Bakobaki kotuna ye: — Bongo ozali penza nani? Ozali koloba nini na tina na yo moko? Yebisa biso yango, pamba te tosengeli kopesa eyano epai ya bato oyo batindi biso.
“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 Yoane azongiselaki bango kolanda ndenge mosakoli Ezayi alobaki: — Ngai, nazali mongongo ya moto oyo azali kobelela kati na esobe: « Bobongisa nzela mpo na Nkolo! »
“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 Nzokande batindami yango bazalaki Bafarizeo.
These men had been sent from the Pharisees;
25 Batunaki ye lisusu: — Soki ozali Masiya te, Eliya te to mpe mosakoli te, bongo mpo na nini ozali kobatisa?
and their next question was, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ or Elijah or ‘the prophet’?”
26 Yoane azongiselaki bango: — Ngai, nazali kobatisa na mayi; kasi kati na bino, ezali na Moto moko oyo bino boyebi te;
John’s answer was – “I baptize with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know;
27 azali koya sima na ngai, mpe ngai nabongi kutu te mpo na kofungola ata basinga ya basandale na Ye.
he is coming after me, yet I am not worthy even to unfasten his sandal.”
28 Makambo oyo nyonso esalemaki na Betani, na ngambo mosusu ya Yordani, epai wapi Yoane azalaki kobatisa.
This happened at Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 Mokolo oyo elandaki, wana Yoane amonaki Yesu koya epai na ye, alobaki: — Tala Mpate ya Nzambe, oyo alongolaka lisumu ya mokili.
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 Ezali na tina na Ye nde nalobaki: « Ezali na moko oyo azali koya sima na ngai, aleki ngai na lokumu, pamba te azalaki liboso ete ngai nazala. »
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 Ngai moko mpe nayebaki te soki esengelaki kozala nani; kasi tina oyo ngai nayaki kobatisa bato na mayi, ezalaki nde mpo ete natalisa Ye epai ya bato ya Isalaele.
I did not know who he was, but I have come baptizing with water to make him known to Israel.”
32 Bongo Yoane apesaki litatoli oyo: — Namonaki Molimo kokita wuta na likolo lokola ebenga mpe kovanda likolo na Ye.
John also said: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove and rest on him.
33 Ngai moko mpe nayebaki Ye te; kasi Ye oyo atindaki ngai kobatisa na mayi alobaki na ngai: « Moto oyo okomona Molimo kokita mpe kowumela likolo na Ye, Ye nde akobatisa kati na Molimo Mosantu. »
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 Mpe lokola ezali yango nde likambo oyo ngai namonaki, yango wana nazali kotatola: Moto oyo azali Mwana na Nzambe.
This I have seen myself, and I have declared my belief that he is the Son of God.”
35 Mokolo oyo elandaki, wana Yoane azalaki lisusu na esika yango elongo na bayekoli na ye mibale,
The next day, when John was standing with two of his disciples,
36 amonaki Yesu koleka mpe alobaki: « Botala Mpate ya Nzambe! »
he looked at Jesus as he passed and exclaimed, “There is the Lamb of God!”
37 Lokola bayekoli nyonso mibale bayokaki ndenge Yoane alobaki, balandaki Yesu.
The two disciples heard him say this, and followed Jesus.
38 Bongo tango Yesu abalukaki mpo na kotala na sima, amonaki bango mibale bazali kolanda Ye. Atunaki bango: — Bolingi nini? Bazongisaki: — Rabi, ovandaka wapi?
But Jesus turned around, 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 Yesu azongiselaki bango: — Boya mpe bokomona. Balandaki Yesu, bamonaki esika oyo azalaki kovanda mpe bavandaki elongo na Ye na mokolo wana. Ezalaki na ngonga ya minei sima na midi.
“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 Andre, ndeko ya Simona Petelo, azalaki moko kati na bato wana mibale oyo bayokaki maloba ya Yoane mpe balandaki Yesu.
One of the two, who heard what John said and followed Jesus, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41 Akendeki kokutana na Simona, ndeko na ye, mpe alobaki na ye: « Tomoni Masiya! »
He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (a word which means ‘Christ,’ or ‘Consecrated’.)
42 Bongo amemaki Simona epai ya Yesu. Yesu atalaki Simona mpe alobaki: « Ozali Simona, mwana mobali ya Yoane; kasi bakobanda kobenga yo Sefasi. »
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 Mokolo oyo elandaki, Yesu azwaki mokano ya kokende na Galile. Na nzela, akutanaki na Filipo mpe alobaki na ye: « Landa Ngai. »
The following day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip, and said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Filipo, Andre mpe Petelo bazalaki bato ya engumba Betisaida.
Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.
45 Filipo akutanaki na Natanaele mpe alobaki na ye: — Tomoni Yesu ya Nazareti, mwana mobali ya Jozefi, oyo Moyize alobela kati na buku ya Mobeko, mpe oyo basakoli balobela.
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 Natanaele atunaki ye: — Boni, eloko ya malamu ekoki mpe kobima na Nazareti? Filipo azongiselaki ye: — Yaka mpe okomona yo moko.
“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” asked Nathanael. “Come and see,” replied Philip.
47 Tango Yesu amonaki Natanaele koya epai na Ye, alobaki na tina na ye: — Tala moto ya Isalaele ya solo-solo oyo, kati na ye, lokuta ezali te!
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!”
48 Natanaele atunaki Ye: — Oyebi ngai ndenge nini? Yesu azongiselaki ye: — Liboso ete Filipo abenga yo, wana ozalaki nanu na se ya nzete ya figi, namonaki yo.
“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 Natanaele alobaki: — Moteyi, ozali solo Mwana na Nzambe; ozali penza Mokonzi ya Isalaele.
“Rabbi,” Nathanael exclaimed, “you are the Son of God, you are king of Israel!”
50 Yesu alobaki na ye: — Ondimi kaka mpo ete nalobi na yo: Namonaki yo na se ya nzete ya figi? Okomona lisusu makambo minene koleka oyo.
“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 Bongo alobaki lisusu: « Nazali koloba na bino penza ya solo: bokomona Likolo kofungwama, mpe ba-anjelu ya Nzambe komata mpe kokita mpo na Mwana na Moto. »
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.”
