< Yohana 1 >

1 Hapo Mwanzo, Neno alikuwako; naye alikuwa na Mungu, naye alikuwa Mungu.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 Tangu mwanzo Neno alikuwa na Mungu.
He was in the beginning with God.
3 Kwa njia yake vitu vyote viliumbwa; hakuna hata kiumbe kimoja kilichoumbwa pasipo yeye.
Everything was made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 Yeye alikuwa chanzo cha uhai na uhai huo ulikuwa mwanga wa watu.
In Him was life, and that life was the light of mankind.
5 Na mwanga huo huangaza gizani, nalo giza halikuweza kuushinda.
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
6 Mungu alimtuma mtu mmoja jina lake Yohane,
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 ambaye alikuja kuwaambia watu juu ya huo mwanga. Alikuja ili kwa ujumbe wake watu wote wapate kuamini.
This man came as a witness, to testify about the light, that all through him might believe.
8 Yeye hakuwa huo mwanga, ila alikuja tu kuwaambia watu juu ya huo mwanga.
He wasn’t that light, but was sent as a witness of that light.
9 Huu ndio mwanga halisi, mwanga unaokuja ulimwenguni, na kuwaangazia watu wote.
The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
10 Basi, Neno alikuwako ulimwenguni; na kwa njia yake ulimwengu uliumbwa, lakini ulimwengu haukumtambua.
The Word was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world didn’t recognize Him.
11 Alikuja katika nchi yake mwenyewe, nao walio wake hawakumpokea.
He came to His own, and those who were His own didn’t receive Him.
12 Lakini wale wote waliompokea na kumwamini, hao aliwapa uwezo wa kuwa watoto wa Mungu.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in His name:
13 Hawa wamekuwa watoto wa Mungu si kwa uwezo wa kibinadamu, wala kwa nguvu za kimwili, wala kwa mapenzi ya mtu, bali Mungu mwenyewe ndiye baba yao.
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 Naye Neno akawa mwanadamu, akakaa kwetu. Nasi tumeuona utukufu wake, utukufu wake yeye aliye Mwana wa pekee wa Baba; amejaa neema na ukweli.
The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 Yohane aliwaambia watu habari zake, akasema kwa sauti, “Huyu ndiye niliyemtaja wakati niliposema: Anakuja mtu mmoja baada yangu ambaye ni mkuu kuliko mimi, maana alikuwako kabla mimi sijazaliwa.”
John testified about Him. He cried out, saying, “This was He who I told you about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”
16 Kutokana na ukamilifu wake sisi tumepokea neema mfululizo.
From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
17 Maana Mungu alitoa Sheria kwa njia ya Mose, lakini neema na kweli vimekuja kwa njia ya Kristo.
The Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 Hakuna mtu aliyemwona Mungu wakati wowote ule. Mwana wa pekee aliye sawa na Mungu ambaye ameungana na Baba, ndiye aliyetujulisha habari za Mungu.
No one has ever seen God, but God’s only born Son, who is near to the heart of His Father, has made Him known.
19 Huu ndio ushahidi Yohane alioutoa wakati viongozi wa Wayahudi kule Yerusalemu walipowatuma makuhani wa Walawi kwake wamwulize: “Wewe u nani?”
Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 Yohane hakukataa kujibu swali hilo, bali alisema waziwazi, “Mimi siye Kristo.”
He confessed, and didn’t deny, but confessed, “I’m not the Christ.”
21 Hapo wakamwuliza, “Basi, wewe ni nani? Je, wewe ni Eliya?” Yohane akajibu, “La, mimi siye.” Wakamwuliza, “Je, wewe ni yule nabii?” Yohane akawajibu, “La!”
They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
22 Nao wakamwuliza, “Basi, wewe ni nani? Wasema nini juu yako mwenyewe? Tuambie, ili tuwapelekee jibu wale waliotutuma.”
Then they asked him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 Yohane akawajibu, “Mimi ndiye yule ambaye nabii Isaya alisema habari zake: Sauti ya mtu imesikika jangwani: Nyoosheni njia ya Bwana.”
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
24 Hao watu walikuwa wametumwa na Mafarisayo.
Now those who were sent were Pharisees.
25 Basi, wakamwuliza Yohane, “Kama wewe si Kristo, wala Eliya, wala yule nabii, mbona wabatiza?”
They asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 Yohane akawajibu, “Mimi nabatiza kwa maji, lakini yuko mmoja kati yenu, msiyemjua bado.
John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but One stands among you that you don’t know.
27 Huyo anakuja baada yangu, lakini mimi sistahili hata kumfungua kamba za viatu vyake.”
It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.”
28 Mambo haya yalifanyika huko Bethania, ng'ambo ya mto Yordani ambako Yohane alikuwa anabatiza.
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 Kesho yake, Yohane alimwona Yesu akimjia, akasema, “Huyu ndiye Mwana-kondoo wa Mungu aondoaye dhambi ya ulimwengu!
The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Look! God’s Lamb who takes away the sin of the world!
30 Huyu ndiye niliyesema juu yake: Baada yangu anakuja mtu mmoja aliye mkuu zaidi kuliko mimi, maana alikuwako kabla mimi sijazaliwa!
This is the One I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me is preferred before me because He existed before me.’
31 Mimi mwenyewe sikumfahamu, lakini nimekuja kubatiza kwa maji ili watu wa Israeli wapate kumjua.”
I didn’t know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Huu ndio ushahidi Yohane alioutoa: “Nilimwona Roho akishuka kama njiwa kutoka mbinguni na kutua juu yake.
John testified, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
33 Mimi sikumjua, lakini yule aliyenituma nikabatize watu kwa maji alikuwa ameniambia: Mtu yule utakayemwona Roho akimshukia kutoka mbinguni na kukaa juu yake, huyo ndiye anayebatiza kwa Roho Mtakatifu.
I wouldn’t have known Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘Whoever you see the Spirit descending upon, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
34 Mimi nimeona na ninawaambieni kwamba huyu ndiye Mwana wa Mungu.”
I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Son.”
35 Kesho yake, Yohane alikuwa tena mahali hapo pamoja na wanafunzi wake wawili.
The next day, John again stood with two of His disciples.
36 Alipomwona Yesu akipita akasema, “Tazameni! Huyu ndiye Mwana-kondoo wa Mungu.”
When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, God’s Lamb!”
37 Hao wanafunzi walimsikia Yohane akisema maneno hayo, wakamfuata Yesu.
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
38 Basi, Yesu aligeuka, na alipowaona hao wanafunzi wanamfuata, akawauliza, “Mnatafuta nini?” Nao wakamjibu, “Rabi (yaani Mwalimu), unakaa wapi?”
Jesus turned, and seeing them following, asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which, when translated, means Teacher), “Where are You staying?”
39 Yesu akawaambia, “Njoni, nanyi mtaona.” Hao wanafunzi wakamfuata, wakaona mahali alipokuwa anakaa, wakashinda naye siku hiyo. Ilikuwa yapata saa kumi jioni.
He told them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.
40 Andrea, nduguye Simoni Petro, alikuwa mmoja wa hao wawili waliokuwa wamemsikia Yohane akisema hivyo, wakamfuata Yesu.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.
41 Andrea alimkuta kwanza Simoni, ndugu yake, akamwambia, “Tumemwona Masiha” (maana yake Kristo).
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother, Simon, and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, translated, the Christ).
42 Kisha akampeleka Simoni kwa Yesu. Naye Yesu akamtazama Simoni akasema, “Wewe ni Simoni mwana wa Yohane. Sasa utaitwa Kefa.” (maana yake ni Petro, yaani, “Mwamba.”)
Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
43 Kesho yake Yesu aliamua kwenda Galilaya. Basi, akamkuta Filipo, akamwambia, “Nifuate.”
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he told him, “Follow me.”
44 Filipo alikuwa mwenyeji wa Bethsaida, mji wa akina Andrea na Petro.
Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Naye Filipo akamkuta Nathanieli, akamwambia, “Tumemwona yule ambaye Mose aliandika juu yake katika kitabu cha Sheria, na ambaye manabii waliandika habari zake, yaani Yesu Mwana wa Yosefu, kutoka Nazareti.”
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found Him who Moses in the Law, and also the prophets, wrote about — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 Naye Nathanieli akamwuliza Filipo, “Je, kitu chema chaweza kutoka Nazareti?” Filipo akamwambia, “Njoo uone.”
Nathanael asked Philip, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip told Nathanael, “Come and see.”
47 Yesu alipomwona Nathanieli akimjia alisema juu yake, “Tazameni! Huyo ni Mwisraeli halisi: hamna hila ndani yake.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of Nathanael, “Look! An Israelite indeed, who has no deceit in him!”
48 Naye Nathanieli akamwuliza, “Umepataje kunijua?” Yesu akamwambia, “Ulipokuwa chini ya mtini hata kabla Filipo hajakuita, nilikuona.”
Nathanael asked Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Hapo Nathanieli akamwambia, “Mwalimu, wewe ni Mwana wa Mungu. Wewe ni Mfalme wa Israeli!”
Nathanael answered, “Rabbi, You are God’s Son. You are the King of Israel.”
50 Yesu akamwambia, “Je, umeamini kwa kuwa nimekwambia kwamba nilikuona chini ya mtini? Utaona makubwa zaidi kuliko haya.”
Jesus said to him, “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
51 Yesu akaendelea kusema, “Nawaambieni kweli, mtaona mbingu zinafunguka na malaika wa Mungu wakipanda na kushuka juu ya Mwana wa Mtu.”
And He told him, “Most assuredly, I tell you, you will see Heaven opened, and God’s angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

< Yohana 1 >