John 1
1 In the Beginning the Word was; and the Word was with God; and the Word was God.
Hapo Mwanzo, Neno alikuwako; naye alikuwa na Mungu, naye alikuwa Mungu.
2 He was in the Beginning with God;
Tangu mwanzo Neno alikuwa na Mungu.
3 through him all things came into being, and nothing came into being apart from him.
Kwa njia yake vitu vyote viliumbwa; hakuna hata kiumbe kimoja kilichoumbwa pasipo yeye.
4 That which came into being in him was Life; and the Life was the Light of Man;
Yeye alikuwa chanzo cha uhai na uhai huo ulikuwa mwanga wa watu.
5 and the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness never overpowered it.
Na mwanga huo huangaza gizani, nalo giza halikuweza kuushinda.
6 There appeared a man sent from God, whose name was John;
Mungu alimtuma mtu mmoja jina lake Yohane,
7 he came as a witness — to bear witness to the Light that through him all men might believe.
ambaye alikuja kuwaambia watu juu ya huo mwanga. Alikuja ili kwa ujumbe wake watu wote wapate kuamini.
8 He was not the Light, but he came to bear witness to the Light.
Yeye hakuwa huo mwanga, ila alikuja tu kuwaambia watu juu ya huo mwanga.
9 That was the True Light which enlightens every man coming into the world.
Huu ndio mwanga halisi, mwanga unaokuja ulimwenguni, na kuwaangazia watu wote.
10 He was in the world; and through him the world came into being — yet the world did not know him.
Basi, Neno alikuwako ulimwenguni; na kwa njia yake ulimwengu uliumbwa, lakini ulimwengu haukumtambua.
11 He came to his own — yet his own did not receive him.
Alikuja katika nchi yake mwenyewe, nao walio wake hawakumpokea.
12 But to all who did receive him he gave power to become Children of God — to those who believe in his Name.
Lakini wale wote waliompokea na kumwamini, hao aliwapa uwezo wa kuwa watoto wa Mungu.
13 For not to natural conception, nor to human instincts, nor to will of man did they owe the new Life, but to God.
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.
14 And the Word became Man, and dwelt among us, (We saw his glory — the glory of the Only Son sent from the Father), full of love and truth.
Naye Neno akawa mwanadamu, akakaa kwetu. Nasi tumeuona utukufu wake, utukufu wake yeye aliye Mwana wa pekee wa Baba; amejaa neema na ukweli.
15 (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”);
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.”
16 out of his fullness we have all received some gift, gift after gift of love;
Kutokana na ukamilifu wake sisi tumepokea neema mfululizo.
17 for the Law was given through Moses, love and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Maana Mungu alitoa Sheria kwa njia ya Mose, lakini neema na kweli vimekuja kwa njia ya Kristo.
18 No man has ever yet seen God; God the Only Son, who is ever with the Father — He has revealed him.
Hakuna mtu aliyemwona Mungu wakati wowote ule. Mwana wa pekee aliye sawa na Mungu ambaye ameungana na Baba, ndiye aliyetujulisha habari za Mungu.
19 When the Jews sent some Priests and Levites to John from Jerusalem, to ask — “Who are you?”, his statement was this:
Huu ndio ushahidi Yohane alioutoa wakati viongozi wa Wayahudi kule Yerusalemu walipowatuma makuhani wa Walawi kwake wamwulize: “Wewe u nani?”
20 He confessed and did not deny it, he confessed — “I am not the Christ.”
Yohane hakukataa kujibu swali hilo, bali alisema waziwazi, “Mimi siye Kristo.”
21 “What then?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he said, “I am not.” “Are you ‘the Prophet’?” He answered, “No.”
Hapo wakamwuliza, “Basi, wewe ni nani? Je, wewe ni Eliya?” Yohane akajibu, “La, mimi siye.” Wakamwuliza, “Je, wewe ni yule nabii?” Yohane akawajibu, “La!”
22 “Who then are you?” they continued; “tell us, that we may have some answer to give to those who have sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
Nao wakamwuliza, “Basi, wewe ni nani? Wasema nini juu yako mwenyewe? Tuambie, ili tuwapelekee jibu wale waliotutuma.”
23 “I,” he answered, “am — ‘The voice of one crying aloud in the Wilderness — “straighten the way of the Lord”’, as the Prophet Isaiah said.”
Yohane akawajibu, “Mimi ndiye yule ambaye nabii Isaya alisema habari zake: Sauti ya mtu imesikika jangwani: Nyoosheni njia ya Bwana.”
24 These men had been sent from the Pharisees;
Hao watu walikuwa wametumwa na Mafarisayo.
25 and their next question was: “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor yet ‘the Prophet’?”
Basi, wakamwuliza Yohane, “Kama wewe si Kristo, wala Eliya, wala yule nabii, mbona wabatiza?”
26 John’s answer was — “I baptize with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know;
Yohane akawajibu, “Mimi nabatiza kwa maji, lakini yuko mmoja kati yenu, msiyemjua bado.
27 he is coming after me, yet I am not worthy even to unfasten his sandal.”
Huyo anakuja baada yangu, lakini mimi sistahili hata kumfungua kamba za viatu vyake.”
28 All this took place at Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was then baptizing.
Mambo haya yalifanyika huko Bethania, ng'ambo ya mto Yordani ambako Yohane alikuwa anabatiza.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him, and exclaimed: “Here is the Lamb of God, who is to take away the sin of the world!
Kesho yake, Yohane alimwona Yesu akimjia, akasema, “Huyu ndiye Mwana-kondoo wa Mungu aondoaye dhambi ya ulimwengu!
30 It was of him that I spoke when I said ‘After me there is coming a man who is now before me, for he was ever First.’
Huyu ndiye niliyesema juu yake: Baada yangu anakuja mtu mmoja aliye mkuu zaidi kuliko mimi, maana alikuwako kabla mimi sijazaliwa!
31 I myself did not know him, but, that he may be made known to Israel, I have come, baptizing with water.”
Mimi mwenyewe sikumfahamu, lakini nimekuja kubatiza kwa maji ili watu wa Israeli wapate kumjua.”
32 John also made this statement — “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of the heavens, and it remained upon him.
Huu ndio ushahidi Yohane alioutoa: “Nilimwona Roho akishuka kama njiwa kutoka mbinguni na kutua juu yake.
33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water, he said to me ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon him — he it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
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.
34 This I have seen myself, and I have declared my belief that he is the Son of God.”
Mimi nimeona na ninawaambieni kwamba huyu ndiye Mwana wa Mungu.”
35 The next day, when John was standing with two of his disciples,
Kesho yake, Yohane alikuwa tena mahali hapo pamoja na wanafunzi wake wawili.
36 he looked at Jesus as he passed and exclaimed: “There is the Lamb of God!”
Alipomwona Yesu akipita akasema, “Tazameni! Huyu ndiye Mwana-kondoo wa Mungu.”
37 The two disciples heard him say this, and followed Jesus.
Hao wanafunzi walimsikia Yohane akisema maneno hayo, wakamfuata Yesu.
38 But Jesus turned round, and saw them following. “What are you looking for?” he asked. “Rabbi,” they answered (or, as we should say, ‘Teacher’), “where are you staying?”
Basi, Yesu aligeuka, na alipowaona hao wanafunzi wanamfuata, akawauliza, “Mnatafuta nini?” Nao wakamjibu, “Rabi (yaani Mwalimu), unakaa wapi?”
39 “Come, and you shall 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.
Yesu akawaambia, “Njoni, nanyi mtaona.” Hao wanafunzi wakamfuata, wakaona mahali alipokuwa anakaa, wakashinda naye siku hiyo. Ilikuwa yapata saa kumi jioni.
40 One of the two, who heard what John said and followed Jesus, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
Andrea, nduguye Simoni Petro, alikuwa mmoja wa hao wawili waliokuwa wamemsikia Yohane akisema hivyo, wakamfuata Yesu.
41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him: “We have found the Messiah!” (a word which means ‘Christ,’ or ‘Consecrated’.)
Andrea alimkuta kwanza Simoni, ndugu yake, akamwambia, “Tumemwona Masiha” (maana yake Kristo).
42 Then he brought him to Jesus. Fixing his eyes on him, Jesus said: “You are Simon, the son of John; you shall be called Kephas” (which means ‘Peter,’ or ‘Rock’).
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.”)
43 The following day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip, and said to him: “Follow me.”
Kesho yake Yesu aliamua kwenda Galilaya. Basi, akamkuta Filipo, akamwambia, “Nifuate.”
44 Philip was from Bethsaida, and a fellow-townsman of Andrew and Peter.
Filipo alikuwa mwenyeji wa Bethsaida, mji wa akina Andrea na Petro.
45 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!”
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.”
46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” asked Nathanael. “Come and see,” replied Philip.
Naye Nathanieli akamwuliza Filipo, “Je, kitu chema chaweza kutoka Nazareti?” Filipo akamwambia, “Njoo uone.”
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said: “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!”
Yesu alipomwona Nathanieli akimjia alisema juu yake, “Tazameni! Huyo ni Mwisraeli halisi: hamna hila ndani yake.”
48 “How do you know me?” asked Nathanael. “Even before Philip called you,” replied Jesus, “when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Naye Nathanieli akamwuliza, “Umepataje kunijua?” Yesu akamwambia, “Ulipokuwa chini ya mtini hata kabla Filipo hajakuita, nilikuona.”
49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael exclaimed, “you are the Son of God, you are King of Israel!”
Hapo Nathanieli akamwambia, “Mwalimu, wewe ni Mwana wa Mungu. Wewe ni Mfalme wa Israeli!”
50 “Do you believe in me,” asked Jesus, “because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You shall see greater things than those!
Yesu akamwambia, “Je, umeamini kwa kuwa nimekwambia kwamba nilikuona chini ya mtini? Utaona makubwa zaidi kuliko haya.”
51 In truth I tell you,” he added, “you shall all see Heaven open, and ‘the angels of God ascending and descending’ upon the Son of Man.”
Yesu akaendelea kusema, “Nawaambieni kweli, mtaona mbingu zinafunguka na malaika wa Mungu wakipanda na kushuka juu ya Mwana wa Mtu.”
