Yohana 1
1 Hula ahwande hwa hali izu lyali pamo no Ngolobhe, izu ali yo Ngolobhe.
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, Ezu, Nalya handaga lyali pamo no Ngolobhe.
He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
3 Evintu vyonti vyabhombeshe ashilile omwene, asibhe omweje na hamo ata hantu hamo hahabhombeshe.
He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
4 Muhati yakwe mwali no womi, na wope owomi wali lukhozyo lwa bhantu bhonti.
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 Olukhozyo lwakholaga munkisi, enkisi yapotilwe aluzimye.
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 Pahali omuntu watumwilwe afume hwa Ngolobhe, ola itawa lyakwe ali yo Yohana.
A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
7 Ahanzele nanshi keeti ahakikisye ahusu olukhozyo, aje bhonti nkabhapate ahweteshele ashilile hwamwene.
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 O Yohana sagali lukhozyo, ila ahenzele nkahakikisye ahusu lula olukozyo.
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 Esho alilukhozyo lwelyoli lula lwalwahenzaga munsi lyope lwapanga shila muntu.
[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 munsi, na ensi yabhombwelwe ashilile omwahale, na ensi seyamenye.
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 Ahaenzele hwabhantu bhakwe, na awantu wakwe na abhantu wakwe sebhaposheye.
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 Ila hwabhala abhinji bhabhaposheye, bhabhahetesheye itawa lyakwe, nebho abhapiye elyoli eyaje bhana bha Ngolobhe,
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 Bhabhapepwe, se hwidanda, wala hulusongwo lwe bele, sio olusongwo lwa muntu, ila lwa Ngolobhe yoyo.
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 Lyope izu lyabhoshe lwebele na lyakhala muhati yeetu, tiulolile oumwamu wakwe, oumwamu nashi wa muntu mwene wahenzele afume hwa Daada, amemile uwene ne lyoli.
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 O Yohana ahakikizye ahusu omwene, na afumizye izu ayanje, “Ono yayola wanayanjile enongwa zyakwe najile, “Ola wayenza pamande yane yo gosi ashile ane, afuatanaje ahali kabla yaline.”
[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 Afuatanaje ashilile oluu golosu lwake, ate tenti tiposheye wene eshipawa baadaye shipawa.
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 Afuatanaje endajizo zyaliletilwe ashilile oMusa. Ewene ne lyoli vyahenzele ashilile oYesu Kilisti.
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 Nomo omuntu walolile Ongolobhe omuda gwagwonti. Omuntu mwene ambayo yo Ngolobhe, walipashifubha sha Daada, abhombile aje omwene amanyishe.
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 Na olu luhakikisyo lwa Yohana lula adimi na lawi bhabhatumwilwe hwa mwene na Yahudi ahubhozye, “Aje awe wenanu?”
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 Bila asyoshe syoshe saga akhene, aje “Anesene Kilisiti.”
So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
21 Esho bhabhaozyezye, “eshi awe we nanu esalezi?” We Eliya? Ajile, “Ane see yayoyo.” Wajile we kuwaa? Ajile,” Hagha.”
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 Antele bhabhozya, “Wee nanu, aje nkati bhapele ijibu bhabhatitumile”? Uhwihakikisya bhole wewe humwene?”
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 Waga, “Ane ne lizu lyakwe walila mwipoli: 'Golosyaji idala lya Ngolobhe,' na okuwa oIsaya shayanjile.”
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 Eshi bhahali abhantu bhatumwile na Mafalisayo. Bhabhozyezya aje,
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 “Yenu ohwozya eshi nkashewe Kilisiti wala see we Eliya okuwaa?”
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 O Yohana abhabhozyezye ajile, “Embozya hu menze. Ata sheshi mhati yenyu ahwemelela omuntu wa semumenye amwe.
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 Onu ndiyo wanzahwenze pamande yaline. Ane sihwanziwa alegezye ekamba zye vilato.”
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 Enongwa ezi zyabhombeshe ohwo hu Bethania, hwisyela lye Yordani, esehemu ambayo oYohana alihwozya.
Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
29 Isiku lyalyafwatile oYohana alolile uYesu ahwenza hwa mwene ajile, “Enya mwanangole wa Ngolobhe wahwega embibhi zya munsi!
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 ono yayola wana yanjile enongwa zyakwe najile, “Omwene wayenza hwi akhosi yane yo gosi ashile ane, afwatanaje ali hwitazi lyaline.'
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 Senamenye omwene, ila shabhombeshe esho aje nkobheneshe mu Israeli, aje nahenzele nabhozyaga na menze.”
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 O Yohana ahakikisizye, “Aje nalolile Ompepo ahwiha afume amwanya ofwana ngwe njebha, yasageye pamwanya yakwe.
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 Ane senamenye ila omwene wantumile aje enozyaje na menze ambozyezye, 'ola wobhalole empempo ehwiha na khale pamwanya yakwe, Oyo waibhozya hwo Mpepo Ofinjile.'
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 Endolile na ehakikisizye aje ono Mwana wa Ngolobhe.”
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 Nantele isiku lyalyafuatile oYohana ali ayemeleye pandwemo na bhanafunzi bhakwe bhabhele,
The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
36 bhalolile oYesu ajenda no Yohana ajile, “Enyaji, Omwana ngole wa Ngolobhe!”
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 bhabhele bhamwonvwezye oYohana nayanga ega bhafuatile oYesu.
(When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
38 Nantele oYesu agalushe na bhalole abhanafunzi bhala bhahulondolela, nabhabhozye, “Mhwanza yenu?” Bhajile, “Labi, (emaana yakwe 'mwalimu,' ukhala hwii?”
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 Wabhabhozya, “Enzaji mulole.”Nantele bhabhalile alole pale pakhalaga; bhakheye pamo nawo isiku elyo, afwatanaje yali efishile saa kumi eshi.
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 Omomo wa bhala bhabhele bhabhamwonvwezye oYohana nayanga nantele bhafwatile oYesu ali yo Andeleya, oholo wakwe oSimoni Petulo.
(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 Alolile oholo wakwe oSimoni omwana nahubhozye, “Tipete Omasihi” (maana yakwe Kilisiti).
[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 Bhaleta hwa Yesu. O Yesu amwezi na ajile, “Awe we Simoni omwana wa Yohana” obhakwiziwe Kefa,” (maana yakwe 'Petulo').
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 Isiku lyalyafuatile oYesu lwahanzaga asogole abhale huGalilaya, amwajile oFilipo na hubhozye, “Nfwate ane.”
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 O Filipo ali khaya wa hu Bethsaida, ekhaya ya Andrea no Petulo.
Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
45 O Filipo amwajile o Nathanaeli na hubhozye aje timwajile ola oMusa wa handishe enongwa zyakwe mu ndajizyo na Kuwaa. O Yesu omwana wa Yusufu, afume hu Nazareti.
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 O Nathanaeli abhozyezye, “Aje ahantu ahinza hawezizye afumile hu Nazareti?” O Filipo abhozezye, Aje enzaga olole.”
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 U Yesu walola oNathanaeli ahwenza hwa mwene wayanga, “Waga oyenye Omwisraeli welyoli lyoli wasaga ali nilenka muhati yakwe!”
When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
48 O Nathanaeli wabhozya, “Amenyebhole ane?” O Yesu wabhozya, “Salisele oFilipo ahukwizye nawahali pansi yikwi.”
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 O Nathanaeli wayanga, “Waga Mwalimu awe oli Mwana wa Ngolobhe! Awe oli mwene we Wisraeli”!
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 O Yesu wayanag wabhozya, “Aje afuatanaje nabhozezye 'nalilolile pansi yikwi aje ohweteshele obhalole embombo engosi ashile ezi.”
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 O Yesu wabhabhozya aje eteshile etesheli embabho lya mubhazilole emwonya zihwiguha, mubhabhalole ahalozelu wazubha na hwishe amwanya hwa Mwana wa Adamu.”
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.”
