Yohannis 1
1 Jalqabatti dubbiitu ture; dubbichis Waaqa wajjin ture; dubbiin sunis Waaqa ture.
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 Innis jalqabatti Waaqa wajjin ture.
He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
3 Wanni hundinuu isaan taʼe; waan taʼe hunda keessaas wanni isa malee taʼe tokko iyyuu hin jiru.
He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
4 Jireenyi isa keessa ture; jireenyi sunis ifa namootaa ture.
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 Ifni sun dukkana keessatti ni ibsa; dukkanni garuu isa hin moʼanne.
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 Nama Waaqa biraa ergame kan maqaan isaa Yohannis jedhamu tokkotu ture.
A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
7 Innis akka namni hundinuu karaa isaatiin amanuuf dhuga baatuu taʼee waaʼee ifa sanaa dhugaa baʼuuf dhufe.
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 Waaʼee ifa sanaa dhugaa baʼuu dhufe malee inni mataan isaa ifa hin turre.
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 Ifni dhugaa kan nama hundaaf ifa kennu sun gara addunyaa dhufaa ture.
[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 Inni addunyaa keessa ture; addunyaan isaan uumame; addunyaan garuu isa hin beekne.
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 Innis gara saba isaa dhufe; sabni isaa garuu isa hin fudhanne.
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 Warra isa fudhatanii maqaa isaatti amananiif garuu akka ijoollee Waaqaa taʼaniif mirga kenne.
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 Isaanis Waaqa irraa dhalatan malee dhiiga irraa yookaan fedhii foonii irraa yookaan fedhii dhiiraa irraa hin dhalanne.
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 Dubbiin foon taʼee nu gidduu jiraate. Nus ulfina isaa, ulfina Ilma Tokkicha ayyaanaa fi dhugaadhaan guutamee Abbaa biraa dhufe sanaa argineerra.
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 Yohannisis waaʼee isaa dhugaa baʼe. Sagalee isaas ol fudhatee akkana jedhe; “Inni ani, ‘Inni na duubaan dhufu na caala; inni na dura tureetii’ jedhee waaʼee isaa dubbadhe sun isa kana.”
[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 Guutama isaa irraas hundi keenya ayyaana irratti ayyaana arganneerra.
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 Seerri karaa Museetiin kennameetii; ayyaannii fi dhugaan garuu karaa Yesuus Kiristoosiitiin dhufe.
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 Eenyu iyyuu takkumaa Waaqa hin argine; garuu Ilma Tokkicha Abbaa bira jiru sanatu isa beeksise.
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 Yommuu Yihuudoonni lubootaa fi Lewwota Yerusaalem Yohannisitti erganii, “Ati eenyu?” jedhanii gaafachiisanitti dhuga baʼumsi Yohannis kenne kana ture.
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 Inni dhugaa baʼe malee hin ganne; “Ani Kiristoos miti” jedhee dhugaa baʼe.
So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
21 Isaanis, “Yoos ati eenyu ree? Eeliyaas moo?” jedhanii isa gaafatan. Innis, “Lakki, ani isa miti” jedhee deebiseef. Isaanis, “Yoos ati Raajichaa ree?” jedhaniin. Inni immoo, “Lakki” jedheen.
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 Isaanis, “Ati eenyu ree? Akka warra nu erganiif deebii kenninuuf ati eenyu ofiin jetta?” jedhaniin.
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 Yohannisis dubbii Isaayyaas raajichi dubbate sanaan deebisee, “Ani sagalee gammoojjii keessaa, ‘Gooftaaf karaa qajeelchaa’ jedhee iyyu sanaa dha” jedheen.
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 Fariisonni ergaman tokko tokkos,
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 akkana jedhanii isa gaafatan; “Ati erga Kiristoos yookaan Eeliyaas yookaan raajicha taʼuu baattee maaliif cuuphxa ree?”
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 Yohannis immoo akkana jedhee deebiseef; “Ani bishaaniin nan cuupha; namni isin isa hin beekne tokko garuu isin gidduu dhaabata.
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 Innis isa na duubaan dhufu kan ani hidhaa kophee isaa iyyuu hiikuufii hin mallee dha.”
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 Wanni kun hundi Yordaanos gama iddoo Yohannis itti cuuphaa ture Biitaaniyaa keessatti taʼe.
Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
29 Guyyaa itti aanutti Yohannis utuu Yesuus gara isaa dhufuu argee akkana jedhe; “Ilaa Hoolaa Waaqaa isa cubbuu addunyaa balleessu!
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 Inni ani, ‘Namni na duubaan dhufu na caala; inni na dura tureetii’ jedhee waaʼee isaa dubbadhe sun isa kana.
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 Ani mataan koo iyyuu isa hin beekun ture; sababiin ani bishaaniin cuuphaa dhufeef garuu akka inni saba Israaʼelitti mulʼifamuuf.”
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 Yohannis itti fufee akkana jedhee dhugaa baʼe; “Ani utuu Hafuurri akkuma gugeetti samii irraa gad buʼee isa irra jiraatuu nan arge.
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 Inni akka ani bishaaniin cuuphuuf na erge sun, ‘Namichi ati utuu Hafuurri gad buʼee isa irra jiraatuu argitu sun, isa Hafuura Qulqulluudhaan cuuphu dha’ jedhee utuu natti himuu baatee silaa ani iyyuu isa hin beeku ture.
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 Anis argeera; akka inni Ilma Waaqaa taʼes dhugaa baʼeera.”
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 Guyyaa itti aanutti Yohannis ammas barattoota isaa keessaa lama wajjin achi ture.
The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
36 Innis utuu Yesuus achi irra darbuu argee, “Ilaa, Hoolaa Waaqaa!” jedhe.
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 Barattoonni lamaanis waan kana dubbachuu isaa dhagaʼanii Yesuus duukaa buʼan.
(When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
38 Yesuusis of irra garagalee isa duukaa buʼuu isaanii argee, “Isin maal barbaaddu?” jedheen. Isaanis, “Rabbii, ati eessa jiraatta?” jedhaniin. Rabbii jechuun Barsiisaa jechuu dha.
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 Innis, “Kottaatii ilaalaa” jedheen. Isaanis dhaqanii akka inni eessa jiraatu argan; gaafa sana isa wajjin oolan. Yeroon sunis gara saʼaatii kurnaffaa ture.
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 Warra waan Yohannis dubbate dhagaʼanii Yesuus duukaa buʼan lamaan keessaa inni tokko Indiriiyaas obboleessa Simoon Phexros ture.
(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 Innis duraan dursee obboleessa isaa Simoonin argatee, “Nu Masiihicha arganneerra” jedheen; Masiihii jechuun Kiristoos jechuu dha.
[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 Indiriiyaasis Simʼoonin gara Yesuusitti fide. Yesuusis isa ilaalee, “Ati Simoon ilma Yohannis, Keefaa jedhamtee ni waamamta” jedheen. Keefaa jechuun Phexros jechuu dha.
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 Yesuusis guyyaa itti aanutti Galiilaa dhaquu barbaade. Innis Fiiliphoosin argee, “Na duukaa buʼi” jedheen.
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 Fiiliphoosis akkuma Indiriiyaasii fi Phexros nama magaalaa Beetisayidaa ture.
Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
45 Fiiliphoos Naatnaaʼelin argee, “Isa Museen kitaaba Seeraa keessatti waaʼee isaa barreessee fi isa raajonnis waaʼee isaa barreessan, ilma Yoosef, Yesuus nama Naazreeti arganneerra” jedheen.
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 Naatnaaʼelis, “Naazreeti keessaa wanni gaariin baʼuu ni dandaʼaa?” jedhee gaafate. Fiiliphoosis, “Kottuutii ilaali” jedheen.
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 Yesuusis utuu Naatnaaʼel gara isaa dhufuu argee, “Ilaa Israaʼelicha dhugaa kan haxxummaan keessa hin jirre!” jedhee waaʼee isaa dubbate.
When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
48 Naatnaaʼelis, “Ati eessatti na beekta?” jedheen. Yesuusis, “Utuu Fiiliphoos si hin waamin dura yeroo ati muka harbuu jala turtettin si arge” jedhee deebiseef.
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 Naatnaaʼelis, “Yaa Barsiisaa, ati Ilma Waaqaa ti! Ati Mootii Israaʼel” jedheen.
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 Yesuus immoo akkana jedheen; “Ati sababii ani muka harbuu jalattan si arge siin jedheef amantee? Waan kana caalu iyyuu arguuf jirta.”
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 Innis itti dabalee, “Ani dhuguman, dhuguman isiniin jedha; samiin banamee utuu ergamoonni Waaqaa Ilma Namaa irra ol baʼanii gad buʼanuu ni argitu” jedheen.
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.”
