John 1
1 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.
Chikanaŵe gumbikwa chachilichose jwapali jumo jwaŵilanjikwe Liloŵe, nombe jwele liloŵe jo ŵaliji pamo ni Akunnungu, nombejo ŵaliji Akunnungu.
2 He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
Chitandilile kundanda Liloŵe jo ŵaliji ni Akunnungu.
3 He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
Indu yose yagumbichikwe ni ŵelewo ni pangali ŵelewo nganichipagwa chachili chose chichagumbichikwe.
4 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].
Jwelejo ŵaliji ndande ja umi ni wele umi wo uichenawo lilanguka kwa ŵandu.
5 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.)
Ni lyele lilanguka lyo likulanguchisya mu chipi atamuno chipi cho ngachikukombola kulisima lilanguka.
6 A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
Akunnungu ŵantumile mundu jumpepe liina lyakwe Yohana,
7 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].
jwelejo ŵaiche kukwasalila ŵandu umboni nkati lilanguka lyo, kuti ŵandu wose apilikane ni kukulupilila.
8 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.
Che Yohana nsyene nganaŵa lilanguka lyo nambo ŵaiche kukwasalila ŵandu pangasisa nkati lilanguka lyo.
9 [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].
Lyelelyo lili lilanguka lisyene, lilanguka lyalikwika pachilambo ni kwalanguchisya ŵandu wose.
10 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.)
Jwelejo jwapali pachilambo pano ni kwa jwelejo Akunnungu ŵachigumbile chilambo nambo ŵandu ŵa pachilambo nganiŵamanyilila.
11 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).
Ŵaiche kwa ŵandu ŵakwe nsyene, nambo ŵandu ŵakwe nganiŵapochela.
12 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].
Nambo ŵanawose ŵaŵaapochele ni kwakulupilila, ŵaatesile akombole kuŵa ŵanache ŵa Akunnungu,
13 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.
aŵele ŵanache ŵa Akunnungu ngaŵa kwa kupagwa mpela ŵandu yakuti pa kupagwa ni ngaŵa kwa kusaka kwa mundu nambo apagwile kwa usache wakwe Akunnungu.
14 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].
Nombe Liloŵe jo ŵaliji mundu ni ŵatemi noweji. Ni uweji tuuweni ukulu wao, ukulu wao jwelejo jwajikape jwatyosile kwa Atati Akunnungu, aguumbele umbone ni usyene.
15 [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]!”
Che Yohana nsyene paŵambweni ŵaasalile ŵandu ngani jankati jwelejo kwa kunyanyisya achitiji, “Aju ni jwejula junangambaga katema panasasile kuti, ‘Akwika mundu jumo kanyuma kangu jwali jwankulungwa kumbunda une, pakuŵa jwapali uneji ngunaŵe kupagwa.’”
16 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.
Malinga ni winji wa umbone wao, uweji wose tupochele ntuuka wejinji nnope.
17 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].
Pakuŵa Akunnungu ŵagaichisye Malajisyo kwa litala li che Musa nambo umbone wa Akunnungu ni usyene ituichile kwa litala li Che Yesu Kilisito.
18 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.
Ngapagwa mundu juŵambweni Akunnungu katema kakalikose. Mwana jwajikape, jwaali Akunnungu jwausyene, ni jwakunonyelwa ni Atati, jwelejo ni jwatumanyisye Akunnungu.
19 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?”
Au uli umboni wautyosisye che Yohana, katema ilongola ŵa Ŵayahudi kutyochela ku Yelusalemu paŵaatumile ŵambopesi ni Ŵalawi kukwausya, “Ana mmwe ndi ŵaani?”
20 So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
Che Yohana nganakaana kwanga, ŵajitichisye pangasisa, “Uneji nguniŵa Kilisito Jwakuwombola.”
21 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.”
Pelepo ŵambusisye, “Sambano mmwe ndi ŵaani? Ana mmwe ni che Elia?” Che Yohana ŵajanjile, “Une nguniŵa che Elia.” Ni ŵambusisye sooni, “Ana mmwe ndi jwakulondola jwa Akunnungu jula juŵatite akwika?” Che Yohana ŵajanjile, “Ngwamba.”
22 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?”
Ni ŵanyawo ŵambusisye, “Sambano mmwe ndi ŵaani? Nkuliŵalanga ichichi? Ntusalile tukaasalile aŵala ŵatutumile kukumbusya.”
23 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].
Che Yohana ŵajanjile, mpela ila che Isaya jwakulondola jwa Akunnungu iŵang'ambaga, “Uneji ndili mundu jungunyanyisya liloŵe mwipululu, ‘Njongole litala lya Ambuje.’”
24 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}.
Ni aŵala ŵandu ŵaŵalajiswe ni Mafalisayo,
25 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]?”
ŵambusisye che Yohana, “Iŵaga mmwe nganimma Kilisito Jwakuwombola pane che Elia pane jwakulondola jwa Akunnungu jula, kwachichi nkubatisya?”
26 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.
Che Yohana ŵajanjile, “Uneji ngubatisya ni meesi, nambo apali jumo mwa ŵanyamwe, jwangankummanyilila.
27 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.”
Ni jwejula jwakwika kanyuma, une nganguŵajilwa kuŵa katumetume jwakuugula migoji ja italawanda yao.”
28 Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
Yelei yatendekwe mmusi wa ku Besania peesi lusulo lwa Yolodani apala che Yohana paŵabatisyaga ŵandu.
29 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.
Malaŵi jakwe, che Yohana ŵambweni Che Yesu aninkwaichilila ni ŵatite, “Nnole, jweleju ali Mwanangondolo jwa Akunnungu jwakwigala sambi sya ŵandu ŵa pachilambo!
30 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.’
Ajuju ni jwejula junangambaga panatite, ‘Kanyuma akwika mundu jumo jwali jwankulungwa kuumbunda une, pakuŵa jwapali uneji ngunaŵe kupagwa!’
31 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.”
Uneji nganinaamanyilila, nambo nyiche kukubatisya ni meesi kuti ŵandu ŵa ku Isilaeli ŵaamanyilile.”
32 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.
Che Yohana ŵatusalile indu iyaiweni achitiji, “Nambweni Mbumu jwa Akunnungu achitulukaga kutyochela kwinani mpela nguunda ni kwatula pachanya pao.
33 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].’
Uneji nganinaamanyilila nambo jwelejo juŵandumile ngabatisye ni meesi ŵaasalile, ‘Jwelejo juchimwaone ali nkutuluchilwa ni Mbumu jwa Akunnungu ni kwatula pachanya pao, jwelejo ni juchabatisye ni Mbumu jwa Akunnungu.’”
34 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).”
Nipele che Yohana ŵatite, “Uneji naiweni yeleyi ni malasile umboni kuti ajuju ni Mwana jwa Akunnungu.”
35 The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
Malaŵi jakwe, che Yohana ŵaliji sooni ni ŵakulijiganya ŵao ŵaŵili.
36 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!]”
Paŵaweni Che Yesu ali nkupita, ŵatite, “Munnole, ajuju ali Mwanangondolo jwa Akunnungu.”
37 (When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
Ni aŵala ŵakulijiganya ŵaŵili paŵampilikene che Yohana achiŵechetaga maloŵe go, ŵaakuiye Che Yesu.
38 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].”
Nipele, Che Yesu ŵagalawiche, ŵaweni ŵakulijiganya ŵaŵili ŵa che Yohana achakuyaga ŵausisye, “Ana nkusosanga ichichi?” Ni ŵanyawo ŵajanjile, “Labi, ana nkutama kwapi?” Labi malumbo gakwe Jwakwiganya.
39 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).
Che Yesu ŵajanjile, “Njisangane ni ŵanyamwe chimmone.” Ŵakulijiganya wo ŵaakuiye, ŵapaweni paŵatamaga, jaliji mpela saa kumi ja ligulo ni ŵanyawo ŵatemi nawo lyuŵa lila.
40 (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.
Jumo jwa aŵala ŵakulijiganya ŵaŵili ŵaŵampilikene che Yohana achiŵechetaga maloŵe go ni kwakuya Che Yesu ŵaliji che Andulea, mpwao che Simoni Petulo.
41 [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!”
Che Andulea ŵansimene kaje che Simoni mpwakwe, ni ŵansalile, “Tummweni Masiya,” yaani “Kilisito Jwakuwombola”.
42 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.
Nipele, ŵanjawisye ku Che Yesu. Ni Che Yesu ŵannolite che Simoni ni ŵatite, “Mmwejo ni che Simoni mwanagwao che Yohana. Sano chimmilanjikwe che Kefa.” Mchigiliki Petulo, malumbo gakwe, “Lwala.”
43 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!”
Malaŵi jakwe Che Yesu ŵapite ku chilambo cha Galilaya. Nipele ŵansimene che Filipo ni kunsalila, “Munguye.”
44 Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
Che Filipo ŵaliji mundu jwa musi wa ku Besesaida, musi uŵatamaga che Andulea ni che Petulo.
45 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.”
Nipele che Filipo ŵansosile che Nasanieli, ni paŵammweni ŵansalile, “Tummweni ajula juŵalembekwe mmalajisyo ga Akunnungu gaŵapele che Musa ni mu itabu ya ŵakulondola ŵa Akunnungu, Che Yesu kutyochela musi wa ku Nasaleti Mwana ju che Yusufu.”
46 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!”
Nombe che Nasanieli ŵambusisye che Filipo, “Ana chindu chambone chikukomboleka kutyochela ku Nasaleti?” Che Filipo ŵansalile, “Njise kunnole.”
47 When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
Che Yesu paŵambweni che Nasanieli achaichililaga ŵatite, “Nnole! Jwele ali Mwisilaeli nsyenesyene, nkati mwakwe mwangali unami.”
48 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.”
Che Nasanieli ŵausisye Che Yesu, “Ana mumanyilile chinauli?” Che Yesu ŵajanjile, “Akanammilanje che Filipo, nambweni ndi ntemi paasi pa chitela cha ntini pala.”
49 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]!”
Pelepo che Nasanieli ŵatite, “Jwakwiganya, mmwe ndi Mwana jwa Akunnungu, mmwe ndi Mwenye jwa ku Isilaeli!”
50 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!”
Che Yesu ŵansalile, “Ana mungulupilile pakuŵa nansalile kuti nammweni paasi pa chitela cha ntini pala? Chingawone gamakulungwa kupunda gelega.”
51 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.”
Che Yesu ŵajendelechele kusala, “Isyene ngunsalila, chinkuwone kwinani kweugule ni achikatumetume ŵa kwinani ŵa Akunnungu achikwelaga ni kutuluka pa Mwana jwa Mundu.”
