John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

From the start, the Divine Message existed. This Message was not separate from God, but was indeed the very essence of God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

From the very start, God was always there.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Everything in existence was crafted by His hands; nothing that exists came to be without His touch.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Within him thrived life, a life that radiated as a beacon of hope for humanity.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Even in the deepest darkness, the light continues to glow, but the darkness fails to grasp its brilliance.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

A divine messenger named John, chosen by God, walked among us.

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

He arrived to testify, to share the brilliance of the Divine, so that everyone might find faith through him.

He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

He wasn't the Divine Light himself, but was chosen to testify about its existence.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

The genuine Light, illuminating every person who enters this world, was indeed real.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He existed within the world he himself created, yet the world failed to recognize him.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

He returned home, but his own people didn't welcome him.

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:

Those who welcomed and believed in Him, He gifted the strength to become children of God.

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

They came into being, not through human desire or effort, but through the divine will of God.

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 Divine Message took human form and lived among us. We witnessed His radiant glory, a glory unique to Him as the Father's only Son, filled with endless love and undeniable truth.

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 passionately testified about him, exclaiming, "He's the one I was talking about! The one who comes after me is more important than I am because he existed before me."

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

From his abundant love, we have all been blessed, receiving kindness upon kindness.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Moses provided us with laws, but it was Jesus Christ who brought us the gifts of mercy and honesty.

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

No one has ever seen God, but His only Son, who is very close to His heart, has revealed Him to us.

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

This is the account of John, when religious leaders from Jerusalem questioned him, asking, "Who are you?"

And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

He admitted openly and honestly, without any denial, "I am not the Messiah."

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

They questioned him, "Are you Elias?" He replied with a firm, "No." They probed further, "Are you the prophet?" His response was a simple, resolute, "No."

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

They asked him, "Who are you? We need to report back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

He declared, "I am a lone voice, shouting in the wilderness, 'Clear a path for the Lord,' just as the prophet Esaias foretold."

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

Those who were dispatched belonged to the Pharisees, filled with a sense of duty and stern resolve.

And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

They questioned him, "If you're not the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet, then why are you baptizing people?"

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

John replied with conviction, "I merely baptize using water. But there's someone among you, unknown to you, who is far more significant."

He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

The one who follows me surpasses me, and I am not even worthy to untie his shoes.

These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

In the distant lands of Bethabara, beyond the Jordan River, John was performing baptisms.

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 following day, John spotted Jesus approaching him. With awe and reverence, he exclaimed, "Look, it's the Lamb of God, the one who erases the world's sins!"

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 man I spoke of, who comes after me but surpasses me, because he existed before me.

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

I didn't recognize him before, but my purpose is to reveal him to our people, Israel. That's why I'm here, baptizing with water.

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

John passionately testified, "I witnessed the Spirit gently descend from heaven like a dove, and it rested on him."

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 didn't recognize him at first, but the one who asked me to baptize with water told me, 'When you see the Spirit come down and stay on someone, that's the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

With my own eyes, I witnessed and can confirm with all my heart, this is indeed God's own Son.

Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

The day after, John stood there again with his two disciples, their hearts filled with anticipation and reverence.

And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

Watching Jesus stroll by, he exclaimed, "Look, there's God's chosen one!"

And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Hearing his words, the two disciples felt a surge of faith, and with hearts full of hope, they chose to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

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 around, noticing them trailing behind. He asked, "What are you looking for?" They responded, "Teacher, where do you live?"

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.

He invited them, "Come, see for yourselves." They followed him, saw where he lived, and decided to stay with him that day. It was around four in the afternoon.

One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was deeply moved by John's words and chose to follow him.

He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

He excitedly found his brother Simon and told him, "We've discovered the Messiah, also known as Christ!"

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 led him to Jesus. Seeing him, Jesus said with warmth, "You are Simon, Jona's son. From now on, you'll be known as Cephas - meaning 'A Rock'."

The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

The next day, Jesus set out for Galilee. He found Philip and, with a warm, inviting voice, simply said to him, "Follow me."

Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Philip hailed from Bethsaida, the same vibrant city that nurtured Andrew and Peter.

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 excitedly found Nathanael and told him, "We've found the one Moses and the prophets wrote about! It's Jesus from Nazareth, Joseph's son."

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Nathanael skeptically asked, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip, with a hint of excitement, simply replied, "Come and see for yourself."

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Seeing Nathanael approach, Jesus warmly exclaimed, "Look, a true Israelite, pure and honest!"

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.

Nathanael asked, "How do you know me?" Jesus replied, "Before Philip even called you, when you were alone under the fig tree, I noticed you."

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Nathanael, filled with awe, declared to him, "Teacher, you are indeed God's Son; you are the true King of Israel."

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.

Jesus responded, "Just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree, you believe? You're going to witness even more amazing things than this."

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.

He assured him, "Truly, I promise you, soon you'll witness the heavens part and God's angels will rise and fall upon the human embodiment of divinity."