John 1
1 Ní àtètèkọ́ṣe ni Ọ̀rọ̀ wà, Ọ̀rọ̀ sì wà pẹ̀lú Ọlọ́run, Ọlọ́run sì ni Ọ̀rọ̀ náà.
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.
2 Òun ni ó sì wà pẹ̀lú Ọlọ́run ní àtètèkọ́ṣe.
He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
3 Nípasẹ̀ rẹ̀ ni a dá ohun gbogbo; lẹ́yìn rẹ̀ a kò sì dá ohun kan nínú ohun tí a ti dá.
He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
4 Nínú rẹ̀ ni ìyè wà, ìyè yìí náà sì ni ìmọ́lẹ̀ aráyé,
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].
5 ìmọ́lẹ̀ náà sì ń mọ́lẹ̀ nínú òkùnkùn, òkùnkùn kò sì borí rẹ̀.
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.)
6 Ọkùnrin kan wà tí a rán láti ọ̀dọ̀ Ọlọ́run wá; orúkọ ẹni tí ń jẹ́ Johanu.
A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
7 Òun ni a sì rán fún ẹ̀rí, kí ó lè ṣe ẹlẹ́rìí fún ìmọ́lẹ̀ náà, kí gbogbo ènìyàn kí ó lè gbàgbọ́ nípasẹ̀ rẹ̀.
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].
8 Òun fúnra rẹ̀ kì í ṣe ìmọ́lẹ̀ náà, ṣùgbọ́n a rán an wá láti ṣe ẹlẹ́rìí fún ìmọ́lẹ̀ náà.
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.
9 Ìmọ́lẹ̀ òtítọ́ ń bẹ tí ń tan ìmọ́lẹ̀ fún olúkúlùkù ènìyàn tí ó wá sí ayé.
[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].
10 Òun sì wà ní ayé, àti pé, nípasẹ̀ rẹ̀ ni a sì ti dá ayé, ṣùgbọ́n ayé kò sì mọ̀ ọ́n.
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.)
11 Ó tọ àwọn tirẹ̀ wá, àwọn tirẹ̀ kò sì gbà á.
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).
12 Ṣùgbọ́n iye àwọn tí ó gbà á, àní àwọn náà tí ó gbà orúkọ rẹ̀ gbọ́, àwọn ni ó fi ẹ̀tọ́ fún láti di ọmọ Ọlọ́run.
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].
13 Àwọn ọmọ tí kì í ṣe nípa ẹ̀jẹ̀, tàbí nípa ti ìfẹ́ ara, bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kì í ṣe nípa ìfẹ́ ti ènìyàn, bí kò ṣe láti ọwọ́ Ọlọ́run.
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.
14 Ọ̀rọ̀ náà sì di ara, òun sì ń bá wa gbé. Àwa sì ti rí ògo rẹ̀, àní ògo ọmọ rẹ kan ṣoṣo, tí ó ti ọ̀dọ̀ Baba wá, ó kún fún oore-ọ̀fẹ́ àti òtítọ́.
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].
15 Johanu sì jẹ́rìí nípa rẹ̀, ó kígbe, ó sì wí pé, “Èyí ni ẹni tí mo sọ̀rọ̀ rẹ̀ pé, ‘Ẹni tí ń bọ̀ lẹ́yìn mi pọ̀jù mí lọ, nítorí òun ti wà ṣáájú mi.’”
[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]!”
16 Nítorí láti inú ẹ̀kúnrẹ́rẹ́ oore-ọ̀fẹ́ rẹ̀ ni gbogbo wa sì ti gba ìbùkún kún ìbùkún.
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.
17 Nítorí pé nípasẹ̀ Mose ni a ti fi òfin fún ni ṣùgbọ́n òun; oore-ọ̀fẹ́ àti òtítọ́ láti ipasẹ̀ Jesu Kristi wá.
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].
18 Kò sí ẹni tí ó rí Ọlọ́run rí, bí kò ṣe òun nìkan, àní ọmọ rẹ̀ kan ṣoṣo, ẹni tí òun pàápàá jẹ́ Ọlọ́run, tí ó sì wà ní ìbáṣepọ̀ tí ó súnmọ́ jùlọ pẹ̀lú baba, òun náà ni ó sì fi í hàn.
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.
19 Èyí sì ni ẹ̀rí Johanu, nígbà tí àwọn Júù rán àwọn àlùfáà àti àwọn ọmọ Lefi láti Jerusalẹmu wá láti béèrè lọ́wọ́ rẹ̀ ẹni tí òun ń ṣe.
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?”
20 Òun kò sì kùnà láti jẹ́wọ́, ṣùgbọ́n òun jẹ́wọ́ wọ́ọ́rọ́wọ́ pé, “Èmi kì í ṣe Kristi náà.”
So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
21 Wọ́n sì bi í léèrè pé, “Ta ha ni ìwọ? Elijah ni ìwọ bí?” Ó sì wí pé, “Èmi kọ́.” “Ìwọ ni wòlíì náà bí?” Ó sì dáhùn pé, “Bẹ́ẹ̀ kọ́.”
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.”
22 Ní ìparí wọ́n wí fún un pé, “Ta ni ìwọ í ṣe? Fún wa ní ìdáhùn kí àwa kí ó lè mú èsì padà tọ àwọn tí ó rán wa wá lọ. Kí ni ìwọ wí nípa ti ara rẹ?”
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?”
23 Johanu sì fi ọ̀rọ̀ wòlíì Isaiah fún wọn ní èsì pé, “Èmi ni ohùn ẹni tí ń kígbe ní ijù, ‘Ẹ ṣe ọ̀nà Olúwa ní títọ́.’”
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].
24 Ọ̀kan nínú àwọn Farisi tí a rán
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}.
25 bi í léèrè pé, “Èéṣe tí ìwọ fi ń bamitiisi nígbà náà, bí ìwọ kì í bá ṣe Kristi, tàbí Elijah, tàbí wòlíì náà?”
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]?”
26 Johanu dá wọn lóhùn, wí pé, “Èmi ń fi omi bamitiisi, ẹnìkan dúró láàrín yín, ẹni tí ẹ̀yin kò mọ̀,
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.
27 Òun náà ni ẹni tí ń bọ̀ lẹ́yìn mi, okùn bàtà ẹni tí èmi kò tó láti tú.”
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.”
28 Àwọn nǹkan wọ̀nyí ni ó ṣẹlẹ̀ ní Betani ní òdìkejì odò Jordani, níbi tí Johanu ti ń fi omi bamitiisi.
Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
29 Ní ọjọ́ kejì, Johanu rí Jesu tí ó ń bọ̀ wá sí ọ̀dọ̀ rẹ̀, ó sì wí pé, “Wò ó, Ọ̀dọ́-àgùntàn Ọlọ́run, ẹni tí ó kó ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ ayé lọ!
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.
30 Èyí ni ẹni tí mo ń sọ nígbà tí mo wí pé, ‘Ọkùnrin kan tí ń bọ̀ wá lẹ́yìn mi, tí ó pọ̀jù mí lọ, nítorí tí ó ti wà ṣáájú mi.’
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.’
31 Èmi gan an kò sì mọ̀ ọ́n, ṣùgbọ́n ìdí tí mo fi wá ń fi omi ṣe ìtẹ̀bọmi ni kí a lè fi í hàn fún Israẹli.”
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.”
32 Nígbà náà ni Johanu jẹ́rìí sí i pé, “Mo rí Ẹ̀mí sọ̀kalẹ̀ láti ọ̀run wá bí àdàbà, tí ó sì bà lé e.
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.
33 Èmi kì bá tí mọ̀ ọ́n, bí kò ṣe pé ẹni tí ó rán mi láti fi omi bamitiisi sọ fún mi pé, ‘Ọkùnrin tí ìwọ rí tí Ẹ̀mí sọ̀kalẹ̀ tí ó bà lé lórí ni ẹni tí yóò fi Ẹ̀mí Mímọ́ bamitiisi.’
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].’
34 Èmi ti rí i, mo sì jẹ́rìí pé, èyí ni Ọmọ Ọlọ́run.”
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).”
35 Ní ọjọ́ kejì, Johanu dúró pẹ̀lú méjì nínú àwọn ọmọ-ẹ̀yìn rẹ̀.
The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
36 Nígbà tí ó sì rí Jesu bí ó ti ń kọjá lọ, ó wí pé, “Wò ó Ọ̀dọ́-àgùntàn Ọlọ́run!”
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!]”
37 Nígbà tí àwọn ọmọ-ẹ̀yìn méjì náà sì gbọ́ ohun tí ó wí yìí, wọ́n bẹ̀rẹ̀ sì í tọ Jesu lẹ́yìn.
(When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
38 Nígbà náà ni Jesu yípadà, ó rí i pé wọ́n ń tọ òun lẹ́yìn, ó sì béèrè pé, “Kí ni ẹ̀yin ń wá?” Wọ́n wí fún un pé, “Rabbi” (ìtumọ̀ èyí tí í ṣe Olùkọ́ni), “Níbo ni ìwọ ń gbé?”
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].”
39 Ó wí fún wọn pé, “Ẹ wá wò ó, ẹ̀yin yóò sì rí i.” Wọ́n sì wá, wọ́n sì rí ibi tí ó ń gbé, wọ́n sì wà ní ọ̀dọ̀ rẹ̀ ní gbogbo ọjọ́ náà. Ó jẹ́ ìwọ̀n wákàtí kẹwàá ọjọ́.
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).
40 Anderu arákùnrin Simoni Peteru jẹ́ ọ̀kan nínú àwọn méjì tí ó gbọ́ ọ̀rọ̀ Johanu, tí ó sì tọ Jesu lẹ́yìn.
(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.
41 Ohun àkọ́kọ́ tí Anderu ṣe ni láti wá Simoni arákùnrin rẹ̀, ó sì wí fún un pé, “Àwa ti rí Messia” (ẹni tí ṣe Kristi).
[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!”
42 Ó sì mú un wá sọ́dọ̀ Jesu. Jesu sì wò ó, ó wí pé, “Ìwọ ni Simoni ọmọ Jona: Kefa ni a ó sì máa pè ọ” (ìtumọ̀ èyí tí ṣe Peteru).
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.
43 Ní ọjọ́ kejì Jesu ń fẹ́ jáde lọ sí Galili, ó sì rí Filipi, ó sì wí fún un pé, “Máa tọ̀ mí lẹ́yìn.”
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!”
44 Filipi gẹ́gẹ́ bí i Anderu àti Peteru, jẹ́ ará ìlú Betisaida.
Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
45 Filipi rí Natanaeli, ó sì wí fún un pé, “Àwa ti rí ẹni náà tí Mose kọ nípa rẹ̀ nínú òfin àti ẹni tí àwọn wòlíì ti kọ̀wé rẹ̀, Jesu ti Nasareti, ọmọ Josẹfu.”
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.”
46 Natanaeli béèrè pé, “Nasareti? Ohun rere kan ha lè ti ibẹ̀ jáde?” Filipi wí fún un pé, “Wá wò ó.”
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!”
47 Jesu rí Natanaeli ń bọ̀ wá sọ́dọ̀ rẹ̀, ó sì wí nípa rẹ̀ pé, “Èyí ni ọmọ Israẹli tòótọ́, nínú ẹni tí ẹ̀tàn kò sí.”
When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
48 Natanaeli béèrè pé, “Báwo ni ìwọ ti ṣe mọ̀ mí?” Jesu sì dáhùn pé, “Èmi rí ọ nígbà tí ìwọ wà lábẹ́ igi ọ̀pọ̀tọ́ kí Filipi tó pè ọ́.”
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.”
49 Nígbà náà ni Natanaeli sọ ọ́ gbangba pé, “Rabbi, ìwọ ni Ọmọ Ọlọ́run; Ìwọ ni ọba Israẹli.”
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]!”
50 Jesu sì wí fún un pé, “Ìwọ gbàgbọ́ nítorí mo wí fún ọ pé mo rí ọ lábẹ́ igi ọ̀pọ̀tọ́. Ìwọ ó rí ohun tí ó pọ̀jù ìwọ̀nyí lọ.”
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!”
51 Nígbà náà ni ó fi kún un pé, “Èmi wí fún yín nítòótọ́, ẹ̀yin yóò rí ọ̀run ṣí sílẹ̀, àwọn angẹli Ọlọ́run yóò sì máa gòkè, wọ́n ó sì máa sọ̀kalẹ̀ sórí Ọmọ Ènìyàn.”
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.”
