Juan 1
1 En el principio ya era el Verbo; y el Verbo era con Dios, y Dios era el Verbo.
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 Éste era en el principio con Dios.
He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
3 Todas las cosas por éste fueron hechas; y sin él nada de lo que es hecho, fue hecho.
He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
4 En él estaba la vida, y la vida era la luz de los hombres.
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 Y la luz en las tinieblas resplandece; y las tinieblas no la comprendieron.
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 Fue un hombre enviado de Dios, el cual se llamaba Juan.
A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
7 Este vino por testimonio, para que diese testimonio de la Luz, para que por él todos creyesen.
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 El no era la Luz; mas fue enviado para que diese testimonio de la Luz.
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 Aquella Palabra era la Luz verdadera, que alumbra a todo hombre, que viene en este mundo.
[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 En el mundo estaba, y el mundo fue hecho por él, y el mundo no le conoció.
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 A lo suyo vino; y los suyos no le recibieron.
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 Mas a todos los que le recibieron, dióles poder de ser hechos hijos de Dios, esto es, a los que creen en su nombre:
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 Los cuales no son engendrados de sangres, ni de voluntad de la carne, ni de voluntad de hombre, sino de Dios.
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 Y el Verbo fue hecho carne, y habitó entre nosotros; y vimos su gloria, gloria como del unigénito del Padre, lleno de gracia y de verdad.
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 Juan dio testimonio de él, y clamó, diciendo: Este es del que yo decía: El que viene en pos de mí, es mayor que yo; porque es primero que yo.
[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 Y de su plenitud tomamos todos, y gracia por gracia.
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 Porque la ley por Moisés fue dada; mas la gracia y la verdad por Jesu Cristo vinieron.
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 A Dios nadie le vio jamás: el unigénito hijo que está en el seno del Padre, él nos le declaró.
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 Y éste es el testimonio de Juan, cuando los Judíos enviaron de Jerusalem sacerdotes y Levitas, que le preguntasen: ¿Tú, quién eres?
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 Y confesó, y no negó; mas confesó: Yo no soy el Cristo.
So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
21 Y le preguntaron: ¿Qué pues? ¿Eres tú Elías? Dijo: No soy. ¿Eres tú el profeta? Y respondió: No.
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 Dijéronle pues: ¿Quién eres? para que demos respuesta a los que nos enviaron. ¿Qué dices de ti mismo?
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 Dijo: Yo soy la voz del que clama en el desierto: Enderezád el camino del Señor, como dijo Isaías profeta.
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 Y los que habían sido enviados eran de los Fariseos.
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 Y preguntáronle, y le dijeron: ¿Por qué pues bautizas, si tú no eres el Cristo, ni Elías, ni el profeta?
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 Y Juan les respondió, diciendo: Yo bautizo con agua; mas en medio de vosotros está uno, a quien vosotros no conocéis:
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 Este es el que ha de venir en pos de mí, el cual es mayor que yo, del cual yo no soy digno de desatar la correa del zapato.
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 Estas cosas fueron hechas en Betabara de la otra parte del Jordán, donde Juan bautizaba.
Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
29 El siguiente día ve Juan a Jesús que venía a él, y dice: He aquí el Cordero de Dios, que quita el pecado del mundo.
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 Este es del que dije: Tras mí viene un varón, el cual es mayor que yo; porque era primero que yo.
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 Y yo no le conocía; mas para que fuese manifestado a Israel, por eso vine yo bautizando con agua.
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 Y Juan dio testimonio, diciendo: Ví al Espíritu que descendía del cielo como paloma, y reposó sobre él.
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 Y yo no le conocía; mas el que me envió a bautizar con agua, aquel me dijo: Sobre aquel que vieres descender el Espíritu, y que reposa sobre él, éste es el que bautiza con el Espíritu Santo.
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 Y yo ví, y he dado testimonio, que éste es el Hijo de Dios.
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 El siguiente día otra vez estaba Juan, y dos de sus discípulos.
The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
36 Y mirando a Jesús que andaba por allí, dijo: He aquí el Cordero de Dios.
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 Y oyéronle los dos discípulos hablar, y siguieron a Jesús.
(When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
38 Y volviéndose Jesús, y viéndoles seguirle, díceles: ¿Qué buscáis? Y ellos le dijeron: Rabbi, (que interpretado, quiere decir, Maestro, ) ¿dónde moras?
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 Díceles: Veníd, y ved. Vinieron, y vieron donde moraba; y quedáronse con él aquel día; porque era como la hora décima.
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 Era Andrés, el hermano de Simón Pedro, uno de los dos que habían oído hablar a Juan, y le habían seguido.
(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 Este halló primero a su hermano Simón, y le dijo: Hemos hallado al Mesías, que interpretado es, el Cristo.
[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 Y le trajo a Jesús. Y mirándole Jesús, dijo: Tú eres Simón, hijo de Jonás: tú serás llamado Céfas, que quiere decir, Piedra.
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 El día siguiente quiso Jesús ir a Galilea, y halla a Felipe; y le dice: Sígueme.
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 Y era Felipe de Betsaida, la ciudad de Andrés y de Pedro.
Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
45 Felipe halló a Natanael, y le dice: Hemos hallado a aquel de quien escribió Moisés en la ley, y los profetas: Jesús de Nazaret, el hijo de José.
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 Y le dijo Natanael: ¿De Nazaret puede haber algo de bueno? Dícele Felipe: Ven, y ve.
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 Jesús vio venir a sí a Natanael, y dijo de él: He aquí un verdaderamente Israelita, en el cual no hay engaño.
When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
48 Dícele Natanael: ¿De dónde me conoces? Respondióle Jesús, y le dijo: Antes que Felipe te llamara, cuando estabas debajo de la higuera, te ví.
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 Respondió Natanael, y le dijo: Rabbi, tú eres el Hijo de Dios; tú eres el Rey de Israel.
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 Respondió Jesús, y le dijo: ¿Porque te dije: Víte debajo de la higuera, crees? cosas mayores que estas verás.
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 Y le dice: De cierto, de cierto os digo: De aquí adelante veréis el cielo abierto, y los ángeles de Dios que suben y descienden sobre el Hijo del hombre.
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.”
