John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning the Word already was. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
In the beginning he was with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Everything came into being through him; nothing came into being without him.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
In him was life, the life that was the light of everyone.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not extinguished it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name [was] John.
God sent a man named John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all [men] through him might believe.
He came as a witness to explain about the light so that everyone might believe through him.
8 He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light.
He himself was not the light, but he came to witness to the light.
9 [That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
The true light was coming into the world to give light to everyone.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world didn't know who he was.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
He came to his own people, but they didn't accept him.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
But to all those who accepted him and trusted in him, he gave the right to become God's children.
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
These are the children born not in the usual way, not as the result of human desire or a father's decision, but born of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth.
The Word became human and lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son, full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
John gave his testimony about him, shouting out to the people, “This is the one I was telling you about when I said, ‘The one who is coming after me is more important than me, for before I ever existed he already was.’”
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
We have all been recipients of his generous nature, one gracious gift after another.
17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him.]
While no one has ever seen God, God the one and only, who is close to the Father, has shown us what God is like.
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
This is what John publicly stated when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
John declared plainly and clearly without hesitation, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
“So then, who are you?” they asked. “Elijah?” “No, I'm not,” he answered. “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he replied.
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
“Well, who are you, then?” they asked. “We have to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
“I am a voice calling in the desert, ‘Make the Lord's way straight!’” he said, using the words of the prophet Isaiah.
24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
The priests and Levites sent by the Pharisees
25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
asked him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you're not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
John replied, “I baptize with water, but standing among you is someone you don't know.
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
He is coming after me, but I am not even worthy to untie his sandals.”
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
This all happened in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
The next day John saw Jesus approaching him, and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man who is coming after me is more important than me, for before I ever existed he already was.’
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
I didn't know myself who he was, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
John gave his evidence about him, saying, “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and rest upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
I wouldn't have known him except he who sent me to baptize with water had told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descend to and rest upon, he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
I saw it happen and I declare that this is the Son of God.”
35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
The next day John was standing there with two of his disciples.
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
He saw Jesus passing by, and said, “Look! This is the Lamb of God!”
37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
When the two disciples heard what he said they went and followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master, ) where dwellest thou?
Jesus turned round and saw them following him. “What are you looking for?” he asked them. “Rabbi (which means ‘Teacher’), where are you staying?” they asked in reply.
39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
“Come and see,” he told them. So they went with him and saw where he was staying. It was about four p.m., and they spent the rest of the day with him.
40 One of the two which heard John [speak], and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of these two disciples who had heard what John said and followed Jesus.
41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
He went at once to find his brother Simon and told him, “We've found the Messiah!” (which means “Christ”).
42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
He took him to Jesus. Looking directly at Simon, Jesus said, “You are Simon, son of John. But now you will be called Cephas,” (which means “Peter”).
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. Jesus found Philip there, and told him, “Follow me.”
44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town that Andrew and Peter came from.
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We've found the one that Moses wrote about in the law and that the prophets did too—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
“From Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael wondered. “Just come and see,” Philip replied.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
As Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said about him, “Look, here's a true Israelite! There's nothing false about him.”
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
“How do you know who I am?” Nathanael asked. “I saw you there under the fig tree, before Philip called you,” Jesus replied.
49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God, the king of Israel!” Nathaniel exclaimed.
50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
“You believe this just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree?” Jesus replied. “You'll get to see much more than that!”
51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Then Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open, and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of man.”
