< 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.
Kubwambilo gwaliga gulio Omusango, no Musango aliga amwi na Nyamuanga, Na Musango aligaali Nyamuanga.
2 He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
Oyo, Musango, mubwambilo aliga amwi Na Nyamuanga.
3 He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
Bhinu byona byakolelwe okutula kumwene atakabheye omwene chitalio nolwo chinu chimwi echo chakakolelwe.
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].
Bwikalo bhaye bhaliga bhuanga, no bhuanga bwaliga bwelu bwa bhanu bhona.
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.)
Bwelu nibwatika muchisute, nolwo echisute chitalisimishe.
6 A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
Aligaalio omunu oyo aliga atumwilwe okusoka Kunyamuanga unu lisina aliga 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].
Ejile okubhambalila obwelu, koleleki bhatule okwikilisha okutula kumwene.
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.
Yohana aliga atali bwelu, nawe ejile okubhambalila obwelu.
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].
Obhwo bhwaliga bhuli bwelu bhwe echimali obhwo bhwaliga nibhuja muchalo obhwelu Obhwo nibhusosha obhwelu kubhuli munu.
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.)
Aligali musi, na isi yakolelwe okutula kumwene, na isi itamumenyele.
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).
Ejile kwe bhinu byaye, na bhamu bhatamulamiye.
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].
Nawe kwa bhafu bhanu bhamulamiye, bhekilisishe lisina lyaye, kwa bhanu abhayanile okubha bhana bha Nyamuanga,
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.
Bhanu bhatebhuywe, atali kwa manyinga, okubha kwe lyenda lyo munu, nawe ku Nyamuanga wenyele.
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].
Newe musango nakolwa mubhili nekala kweswe, nichilola likusho lyaye, likusho lilabha lya munu wenyele oyo ejile okusoka ku Lata, ejuye echigongo ne chimali.
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]!”
Yohana nabhambalila omwene naikila ingulu ati,”Unu niwe naikile emisango jaye ninaika ati,”uliya kaja kulwani ni mukulu kukila anye, okubha abheyeo nichali anye.”
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.
Kwo kubha okusoka mukukumila bwaye eswe chiyabhilwe kwe chigongo.
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].
Okubha ebhilagilo bhiletelwe okutulila ku Musa. Echigongo nechimali byejile ku Yesu Kirsto.
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.
Atalio munu oyo amulolele Nyumuanga mwanya gwona. Omunu wenyele unu ni Nyamuanga, ali muchifubha cha Lata, amukolelede omwene bhamumenyega.
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?”
Na bhunu nibhubhambasi bwa Yohana omwanya abhagabhisi na bhalawi bhamutumele kwaye na Bhayahudi nibhamubhusha ati, Awe niga?”
20 So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
Nawe atetimatile atali, nabhasubya,”Anye atali Krisito.”
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.”
Kutyo nibhamubhusha ati,”kulwejo awe ni niga woli?” Awe ni Eliya? Naika ati,”Anye nitali.”nibhaika ati, Awe ni muligi? Nasubya,”Uli.”
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?”
Nibhamubwila ati,”Awe nawega, koleleki chibhayane lisubyo abhobhachitule”? Owibhambalilaatiki awe wenyele?”
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].
Naika, “anye ni bhulaka bhaye unu ali ibhala:'Mugololele injila ya Lata bhugenyi Alabha omulagi Isaya kutyo aikile.”
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}.
Bhaliga bhali bhanu bhatumilwe okusoka ku bhafalisayo. Nibhamubhusha ati ni bhaika,
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]?”
“Kulwaki oubhatija labha awe atali Kristo amwi Eliya amwi mulagi?”
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.
Yohana nabhasubya naika ati,”enibhatija kwa manji. Nolwo kutyo agati yemwe kemelegulu omunu oyo mutakumenya.
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.”
Unu niwe kaja kulwanye. Anye niteile kugesha olukobha lwa bhilato byaye.”
28 Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
Emisago jinu jitagendeleye eyo Bethania, kungego ya Yorodani enu Yohana aliga nabhatija.
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.
Mwejo Yohana namulola Yesu naja kwaye naika ati,”Lola omwana wa inama wa Nyamuanga unu kagega ebhibhibhi bye chalo!
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.’
Oyo niwe naikile emisango jaye ninaika ati,” oyo kaja inyuma yani ni mukulu kukila anye, okubha niwe atangatiye.'
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.”
Nitamumenyele omwene, nawe yakolelwe kutyo koleleki abhulisibwe ku Israeli, ati nejile nimbatija kwa manji.”
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.
Yohana nabhambalila,”nalola Omwoyo neka okusoka mulwile lwa injibha, ni mubhako ingulu yaye.
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].’
Anye nitamumenyele nawe omwene oyo antumile nibhatije kwa manji nambwila ati, unu ulilola Omwoyo neka neyanja ingulu yaye, Oyo niwe kabhatija kwa Omwoyo Mwelu.'
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).”
Nindola na nimbambalila ati onu ni Mwana wa Nyamuanga.”
35 The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
Mwejo Yohana aliga emeleguyu amwi na bheigisibwa bhaye 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!]”
Bhamulolele Yesu nalibhata na Yohana naika ati, Lola omwana wa inama wa Nyamuanga?”
37 (When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
Abheigisibwa bhabhili nibhamugwa Yohana naika ati bhamulubhe 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].”
Lindi Yesu nainduka na bhalola abheigisibwa bhaye nibhamulubha, nabhabwila ati, Omuyenjaki?” Ni bhamusubya ati,”Rabbi, (obhugajulo bwaye'mwiigisha,'wikaye aki?”
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).
Nabhabwila ati,”muje mulole.”Mbe nibhagenda nibhalola anu aliga ekaye; nibheyanja amwi nage lusiku olwo, Okubha yaliga uti saa ekumi kutya.
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.
Oumwi wa bhaliya bhabhili abhobhamunguwe Yohana naika no kumulubha Yesu aliga Andrea, owabho Simoni Petro.
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!”
Namulola omula wabho Simoni na mubwila ati,”Chamulolele Masiya”(obhugajulo bwalyo ati Kristo).
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.
Namuleta ku Yesu. Yesu namulolelela naika ati,”Awe ni Simoni omwana wa Yohana”ulibhilikilwa Kefa,”(obhugajulo bwalyo' Petro').
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!”
lusiku olwolwalubhiye omwanya Yesu nenda okugenda Galilaya, amubwene Filipo namubwila ati,”niundubhe anye.”
44 Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
Filipo aligali wa Bethsaida, mu musi gwa Andrea na Petro.
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.”
Filipo namubhona Nathanaeli namubhila ati, Chamubhona uliya unu Musa andikile emisango jaye ne bhilagilo nabhalagi. Yesu omwana wa Yusufu, okusoka Nazareti.
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!”
Nathanaeli namubwila ati,”Mbe echinu chakisi echitula okusoka Nazareti?”Filipo namubwila ati, Ija olole.”
47 When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
Yesu namulola Nathanaeli naja kumwene naika ati,”Lola, Omwisraeli wechimali wechimali unu atali bhuligelige kwaye!”
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.”
Nathanaeli namubhwila ati,” Wamenyeyeaki anye?” yesu namusubya namubwila ati,”achali Filipo okubhilikila uli asi yo mutini, gwokulola.”
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]!”
Nathanaeli nasubya,”Rabi awe uli mwana wa Nyamuanga! Awe ni Mukama wa Israeli”!
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!”
Yeau nasubya namubwila ati, kwo kubha nakubwiliye' nakulolele asi yo mutini' mbe wekilisha? oulola ebhikolwa byafu okukila bhinu.”
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.”
Yesu naika ati,”Nichimali chimali enibhabwila ati mulilola olwile lwigukile na mulibhalola bhamalaika nibhalinya na nibheka ingulu yo Mwana wa Nyamuanga.”

< John 1 >