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.
Kundandubhoko, ashinkupagwa Lilobhe, Lilobhejo paaliji pamo na a Nnungu, shibhaliji a Nnungu na jwalakwe Lilobhe paaliji nneyo peyo.
2 He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
Lilobheju paaliji pamo na a Nnungu kuuumila kundandubho.
3 He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
Indu yowe puipengenywe kupitila Jwenejo, shakwa shindu shipengenywe gwangali jwenejo.
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].
Jwenejo shiumilo sha gumi na pugwaliji shilangaya kubhandu.
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.)
Shilangayasho shinalangaya pa lubhindu, wala lubhindu lwangakombola kuima shilangaya.
6 A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
Gwakoposhele mundu jumo atumilwe na a Nnungu, lina lyakwe a Yowana,
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].
jwenejo ashinkuika kukong'ondela ga shilangayasho. Nkupinga kwa ntenga gwakwe bhandu bhowe bhakulupalilanje.
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.
A Yowana bhayene nngabha shene shilangayasho, ikabhe bhashinkuika kukong'ondela ga jwene aliji shilangayasho.
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].
Jweneju ni shilangaya shiyene akwiya pa shilambolyo, kukwamulishilanga bhandu bhowe.
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.)
Shilangayajo paaliji pashilambolyo, kupitila jwenejo shilambolyo gushipengenywe, ikabheje bhandu bha pa shilambolyo bhangammanyanga.
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).
Aishe kubhandu bhakwe, ikabheje bhandu bhakwe bhangamposhelanga.
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].
Ikabheje bhowe bhamposhelenje nikunkulupalila, gwabhatendilenje kubha bhana bha a Nnungu,
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.
bhabhelekwenje nngabha kwa komboywa na mundu, wala mashili ga shiilu wala kwaapinga mundu, ikabhe kwaapinga a Nnungu.
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].
Lilobhe gwatendeshe kubha mundu nigwatemi kunngwetu. Na uwe gutuubhweni ukonjelo gwakwe, ukonjelo guka Mwana jwa jika akoposhela kwa Atati, agumbele nema na kweli.
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]!”
A Yowana bhabhatisha bhayene gubhaabhalanjilenje bhandu kwa lilobhe lya utiya bhalinkuti, “Jweneju junantayaga kuti, ‘Akwiya nnyuma jangu jwankulungwa kumbunda nne, pabha aapali nne nganabhe pagwa.’”
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.
Kwa ligongo lya punda nema jabho, uwe tubhowe tupatile mboka ja punda.
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].
Pabha Shalia pujiishe kupitila a Musha, nema na kweli puiishe kupitila a Yeshu Kilishitu.
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.
Jwakwa mundu jojowe abhabhweni a Nnungu, ikabhe Mwana jwa jikape jwa a Nnungu, ali pamo na Atati, jwenejo atulangwiye shibhali a Nnungu.
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?”
Gweguno ni ukong'ondelo gwa a Yowana ku bhakulungwanji bha Bhayaudi bha ku Yelushalemu, pubhaatumilenje bhakulungwanji bha bhishila na Bhalawi, bhakaabhuyanje a Yowana, “Mmwe agani?”
20 So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
A Yowana bhangakana kwaajangulanga, gubhaabhalanjilenje gwangali nng'iyo, “Nne nngabha a Kilishitu.”
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.”
Penepo gubhaabhushiyenje, “Bhai, Mmwe agani? Bhuli, mmwe a Eliya?” A Yowana gubhajangwile, “Nng'oope, nne nngabha bhene.” Gubhabhushiyenje, “Mmwe ankulondola bha a Nnungu bhala?” A Yowana gubhaajangwilenje, “Nng'oope.”
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?”
Bhalabhonji gubhaabhushiyenje, “Bhai, mmwe agani? Nkwitaya bhuli mmayene? Ntubhalanjile, nkupinga tukaabhalanjilanje bhatutumilenje kukummuya bhala.”
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].
A Yowana gubhaajangwilenje, malinga ankulondola bha a Nnungu a Ishaya shibhalugwile. “Nne ni lilobhe lika mundu lipilikanika kuanga. Mwaalashiyanje Bhakulungwa mpanda gwabho, ‘Nngoloyanje mushibhapite.’”
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}.
Bhene bhandunji bhatumilwenje na Mapalishayo bhala,
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]?”
gubhaabhushiyenje a Yowana, “Monaga mmwe nngabha a Kilishitu na nngabha a Eliya na wala nngabha ankulondola bha a Nnungu bhala, pakuti nnabhatisha?”
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.
A Yowana gubhaajangwilenje, “Nne ngunabhatisha kwa mashi, ikabheje bhapali bhamo munkumbi gwenunji bhunkanabhe kwaamanyanga.
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.”
Bhene bhunalugwile bhanakwiya nnyuma jangu, nne nangatopela kubha ntumishi jwabho nkali jwa gopola mbundo ya ilatu yabho.”
28 Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
Genego kugatendeshe ku Bhetania, kung'ambo lushi lwa Yolodani kubhabhatishaga a Yowana.
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.
Malabhi gakwe, a Yowana gubhaabhweni a Yeshu bhalinkwajiila, gubhashite, “Nnole, bhenebha Mwana Ngondolo jwa a Nnungu, bhaajigala yambi ya bhandu bha pashilambolyo!
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.’
Bhenebha bhunakungulushilaga nilinkuti, ‘Nnyuma jangu bhanakwiya bhandu bhamo bhali bhakulungwa kumbunda nne, pabha bhaapali nne nganabhe pagwa!’
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.”
Nne namwene ngaamanyiji, ikabheje njikwiya bhatisha kwa mashi nkupinga bhandu bha Ishilaeli bhaamanyanje.”
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.
A Yowana gubhakong'ondele bhalinkuti, “Nashinkumona Mbumu jwa a Nnungu alituluka mbuti nnjubha, kukoposhela kunnungu nikwaatula.
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].’
Nne nganaamanye, ikabheje bhene bhandumile kubhatisha kwa mashi bhala bhanugulile, ‘Mundu jushimummone alikuntula Mbumu jwa Ukonjelo, jwenejo shaabhatishe kwa Mbumu jwa Ukonjelo.’
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).”
Nne nigabhweni na ngunakong'ondela kuti bhenebha Bhanabhabho a Nnugu.”
35 The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
Malabhi gakwe, a Yowana pubhaaliji na bhaajiganywa bhabho bhabhili.
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!]”
Bhakaabhoneje a Yeshu bhalipita, gubhashite, “Nnolanje! Mwana Ngondolo jwa a Nnungu.”
37 (When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
Bhaajiganywa bhabhili bha a Yowana bhala, bhakapilikananjeje gene malobhego, gubhaakagwilenje a Yeshu.
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].”
Bhai, a Yeshu gubhatendebhwishe gubhaabhweninji bhaajiganywa bha a Yowana bhalikwakagulanga, gubhaabhushiyenje, “Nkuloleyanga nndi?” Bhalabhonji gubhaajangwilenje, “Alabhi, kunkutama kwei?” A Labhi, malombolelo gakwe Bhaajiganya.
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).
A Yeshu gubhabhaalanjilenje, “Nnjiyangananje shimpabhonanje.” Bhaajiganywa bhala gubhaakagwilenje gubhapabhweninji pubhatamaga, puyaliji shaa kumi ja ligulo na gubhatemi nabhonji lyene lyubhalyo.
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 bhene bhaajiganywa bhabhili bhaapilikenenje a Yowana bhalibheleketa nikwakagula a Yeshu, pubhashemwaga a Ndeleya, apwabho a Shimoni Petili.
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!”
A Ndeleya gubhatandwibhe kwaaloleya akulu bhabho a Shimoni, gubhaalugulile, “Twaabhweni a Mashiya” malombolelo gakwe a Kilishitu Bhaatapula.
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.
Kungai gubhaapeleshe kwa a Yeshu. Na bhalabho a Yeshu gubhaalolile nigubhashite, “Mmwe a Shimoni bhana bhabho a Yowana. Nnaino shinshemwe a Kepa.” Malombolelo gakwe Petili, yani, “Liganga.”
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!”
Malabhi gakwe a Yeshu gubhapinjile kwenda ku Galilaya. Bhai, gubhaabhweni a Pilipi gubhaabhalanjile, “Nngagule.”
44 Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
A Pilipi pubhaliji bhandu bha ku Bhetishaida shilambo shibhatamaga a Ndeleya na a Petili.
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.”
A Pilipi bhakaabhoneje a Natanaeli nigubhaabhalanjile, “Twaabhweni bhene bhajandikwe muitabhu ya shalia ya a Musha na ya ashinkulondola bha a Nnungu, a Yeshu bhana bhabho a Yoshepu bha ku Nashaleti.”
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!”
A Natanaeli gubhaabhushiye a Pilipi, “Bhuli, inakomboleka shindu shoshowe sha mmbone kukopoka ku Nashaleti?” A Pilipi gubhaabhalanjile, “Nnjiye kunnole.”
47 When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
A Yeshu bhakaabhoneje a Natanaeli bhalikwajiila, gubhashite, “Nnolanje, bhenebha Bhaishilaeli bha kweli, bhangali ya nyata muntima gwabho.”
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.”
A Natanaeli gubhaabhushiye, “Mmwe pummanyi nne shanabhuli?” A Yeshu gubhajangwile, “Nammweni nni paina nkongo pala, nkali nkanabhe shemwa na a Pilipi.”
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]!”
Penepo a Natanaeli gubhaalugulile, “Mmajiganya, mmwe Bhanabhabho a Nnungu. Mmwe a Mpalume bha Ishilaeli!”
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!”
A Yeshu gubhaabhalanjile, “Bhuli, nnakulupalila pabha njikummalanjila kuti namweni nni paina nkongo pala? Shinngabhone gamakulungwa kupunda genega.”
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.”
A Yeshu gubhapundile kubheleketa, “Kweli kweli ngunakummalanjilanga, shinkubhonanje kunnungu kuliuguka na ashimalaika bha a Nnungu bhalikwelanga na tuluka kwangu nne Mwana juka Mundu.”
