The Bible in DR Congo

1 In the beginning, our Heavenly Father created the heavens and the earth.

1 Au commencement, notre Père céleste créa les cieux et la terre.

2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of our Father was hovering over the surface of the waters.

2 Or la terre était informe et vide, les ténèbres couvraient la surface de l'abîme, et l'Esprit de notre Père planait au-dessus de la surface des eaux.

3 Then our Father said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

3 Alors notre Père dit : « Que la lumière soit », et la lumière fut.

4 He saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

4 Il vit que la lumière était bonne, et il sépara la lumière des ténèbres.

5 He called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

5 Il appela la lumière « jour », et les ténèbres, il les appela « nuit ». Il y eut un soir, il y eut un matin — ce fut le premier jour.

6 And our Father said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."

6 Et notre Père dit : « Qu'il y ait une étendue entre les eaux, pour séparer les eaux des eaux. »

7 So he made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so.

7 Il fit donc l'étendue et sépara les eaux qui sont au-dessous de l'étendue des eaux qui sont au-dessus d'elle. Et il en fut ainsi.

8 He called the expanse "sky." So there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

8 Il appela l'étendue « ciel ». Ainsi il y eut un soir, il y eut un matin — ce fut le deuxième jour.

9 Then our Father said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so.

9 Alors notre Père dit : « Que les eaux qui sont sous le ciel se rassemblent en un seul lieu, et que la terre sèche paraisse. » Et il en fut ainsi.

10 He called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And he saw that it was good.

10 Il appela la terre sèche « terre », et l'amas des eaux, il l'appela « mers ». Et il vit que cela était bon.

11 Then he said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees that bear seed-bearing fruit, each according to its kind." And it was so.

11 Puis il dit : « Que la terre produise de la verdure : des plantes portant de la semence et des arbres portant du fruit qui porte de la semence, chacun selon son espèce. » Et il en fut ainsi.

12 The land produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing seed-bearing fruit according to their kinds. And our Father saw that it was good.

12 La terre produisit de la verdure : des plantes portant de la semence selon leurs espèces, et des arbres portant du fruit qui porte de la semence selon leurs espèces. Et notre Père vit que cela était bon.

13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

13 Et il y eut un soir, il y eut un matin — ce fut le troisième jour.

14 And our Father said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark the seasons, the days, and the years,"

14 Et notre Père dit : « Qu'il y ait des luminaires dans l'étendue du ciel pour séparer le jour de la nuit, et qu'ils servent de signes pour marquer les saisons, les jours et les années,

15 "and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so.

15 et qu'ils soient des luminaires dans l'étendue du ciel pour éclairer la terre. » Et il en fut ainsi.

16 Our Father made two great lights: the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.

16 Notre Père fit deux grands luminaires : le plus grand luminaire pour gouverner le jour, et le plus petit luminaire pour gouverner la nuit. Il fit aussi les étoiles.

17 He set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth,

17 Il les plaça dans l'étendue du ciel pour éclairer la terre,

18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And he saw that it was good.

18 pour gouverner le jour et la nuit, et pour séparer la lumière des ténèbres. Et il vit que cela était bon.

19 So there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

19 Ainsi il y eut un soir, il y eut un matin — ce fut le quatrième jour.

20 Then our Father said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."

20 Alors notre Père dit : « Que les eaux foisonnent d'êtres vivants, et que les oiseaux volent au-dessus de la terre, à travers l'étendue du ciel. »

21 So he created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves and teems in the water, each according to its kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And he saw that it was good.

21 Il créa donc les grands animaux marins et tout être vivant qui se meut et foisonne dans les eaux, selon leur espèce, et tout oiseau ailé selon son espèce. Et il vit que cela était bon.

22 Our Father blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth."

22 Notre Père les bénit et dit : « Soyez féconds, multipliez-vous et remplissez les eaux dans les mers, et que les oiseaux se multiplient sur la terre. »

23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

23 Et il y eut un soir, il y eut un matin — ce fut le cinquième jour.

24 And our Father said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so.

24 Et notre Père dit : « Que la terre produise des êtres vivants selon leurs espèces : le bétail, les bêtes qui rampent sur le sol, et les animaux sauvages, chacun selon son espèce. » Et il en fut ainsi.

25 He made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And he saw that it was good.

25 Il fit les animaux sauvages selon leurs espèces, le bétail selon ses espèces, et toutes les bêtes qui rampent sur le sol selon leurs espèces. Et il vit que cela était bon.

26 Then our Father said, "Let us make humanity in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over every creature that moves along the ground."

26 Alors notre Père dit : « Faisons l'humanité à notre image, selon notre ressemblance, afin qu'elle domine sur les poissons de la mer et les oiseaux du ciel, sur le bétail, sur toute la terre, et sur toutes les bêtes qui rampent sur le sol. »

27 So our Father created humanity in their own image; in the image of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit he created them; male and female he created them.

27 Ainsi notre Père créa l'humanité à son image ; à l'image du Père, du Fils et du Saint-Esprit il la créa ; homme et femme il les créa.

28 Our Father blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

28 Notre Père les bénit et leur dit : « Soyez féconds, multipliez-vous ; remplissez la terre et assujettissez-la. Dominez sur les poissons de la mer et les oiseaux du ciel, et sur tout être vivant qui se meut sur la terre. »

29 Then he said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that bears seed-bearing fruit. They will be yours for food.

29 Puis il dit : « Je vous donne toute plante portant de la semence sur la surface de toute la terre, et tout arbre portant du fruit qui porte de la semence. Ils seront votre nourriture.

30 "And to all the animals of the earth, all the birds in the sky, and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

30 Et à tous les animaux de la terre, à tous les oiseaux du ciel et à toutes les bêtes qui rampent sur le sol — à tout ce qui a en lui un souffle de vie — je donne toute plante verte pour nourriture. » Et il en fut ainsi.

31 Our Father saw all that he had made, and it was very good. So there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

31 Notre Père vit tout ce qu'il avait fait, et c'était très bon. Ainsi il y eut un soir, il y eut un matin — ce fut le sixième jour.

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

1 Or il y avait parmi les pharisiens un homme nommé Nicodème, un chef des Juifs.

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from our Father, for no one can do these signs that you do unless our Father is with him."

2 Cet homme vint trouver Jésus de nuit et lui dit : « Rabbi, nous savons que tu es un docteur venu de la part de notre Père, car personne ne peut faire ces signes que tu fais si notre Père n'est avec lui. »

3 Jesus replied to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of our Father."

3 Jésus lui répondit : « En vérité, en vérité, je te le dis, à moins de naître de nouveau, nul ne peut voir le royaume de notre Père. »

4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

4 Nicodème lui dit : « Comment un homme peut-il naître quand il est vieux ? Peut-il entrer une seconde fois dans le sein de sa mère et naître ? »

5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of our Father."

5 Jésus répondit : « En vérité, en vérité, je te le dis, à moins de naître d'eau et du Saint-Esprit, nul ne peut entrer dans le royaume de notre Père.

6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Holy Spirit is spirit.

6 Ce qui est né de la chair est chair, et ce qui est né du Saint-Esprit est esprit.

7 Don't be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

7 Ne sois pas étonné que je t'aie dit : “Il vous faut naître de nouveau.”

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Holy Spirit.

8 Le vent souffle où il veut, et tu en entends le bruit, mais tu ne sais ni d'où il vient ni où il va. Il en est ainsi de quiconque est né du Saint-Esprit. »

9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

9 Nicodème lui dit : « Comment cela peut-il se faire ? »

10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?"

10 Jésus lui répondit : « Tu es le docteur d'Israël, et tu ne comprends pas ces choses ?

11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

11 En vérité, en vérité, je te le dis, nous disons ce que nous savons, et nous rendons témoignage de ce que nous avons vu, mais vous ne recevez pas notre témoignage.

12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

12 Si vous ne croyez pas quand je vous parle des choses terrestres, comment croirez-vous quand je vous parlerai des choses célestes ?

13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

13 Personne n'est monté au ciel, sinon celui qui est descendu du ciel, le Fils de l'homme.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

14 Et comme Moïse éleva le serpent dans le désert, ainsi faut-il que le Fils de l'homme soit élevé,

15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

15 afin que quiconque croit en lui ait la vie éternelle.

16 For our Father so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

16 Car notre Père a tant aimé le monde qu'il a donné son Fils unique, afin que quiconque croit en lui ne périsse pas, mais ait la vie éternelle.

17 For our Father did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.

17 Car notre Père n'a pas envoyé son Fils dans le monde pour condamner le monde, mais afin que le monde soit sauvé par lui.

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of our Father.

18 Celui qui croit en lui n'est pas condamné, mais celui qui ne croit pas est déjà condamné, parce qu'il n'a pas cru au nom du Fils unique de notre Père.

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

19 Et voici le jugement : la lumière est venue dans le monde, et les hommes ont aimé les ténèbres plus que la lumière, parce que leurs œuvres étaient mauvaises.

20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, for fear that his works will be exposed.

20 Car quiconque fait le mal hait la lumière et ne vient pas à la lumière, de peur que ses œuvres ne soient dévoilées.

21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in our Father.

21 Mais celui qui pratique la vérité vient à la lumière, afin qu'il soit clairement manifesté que ses œuvres ont été accomplies en notre Père.

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and there he remained with them and was baptizing.

22 Après cela, Jésus se rendit avec ses disciples dans la campagne de Judée, et là il demeura avec eux et il baptisait.

23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized,

23 Jean aussi baptisait à Énon, près de Salim, parce qu'il y avait là beaucoup d'eau ; et les gens venaient et se faisaient baptiser,

24 for John had not yet been put in prison.

24 car Jean n'avait pas encore été mis en prison.

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification.

25 Or il s'éleva une discussion entre quelques-uns des disciples de Jean et un Juif au sujet de la purification.

26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him."

26 Et ils vinrent trouver Jean et lui dirent : « Rabbi, celui qui était avec toi de l'autre côté du Jourdain, à qui tu as rendu témoignage — voici, il baptise, et tous vont à lui. »

27 John replied, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven."

27 Jean répliqua : « Un homme ne peut recevoir une seule chose si elle ne lui a été donnée du ciel.

28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'

28 Vous-mêmes pouvez témoigner que j'ai dit : “Je ne suis pas le Christ, mais j'ai été envoyé devant lui.”

29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom — Jesus. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

29 Celui qui a l'épouse, c'est l'époux — Jésus. Mais l'ami de l'époux, qui se tient là et l'écoute, se réjouit grandement à la voix de l'époux. Cette joie qui est la mienne est donc maintenant complète.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

30 Il faut qu'il croisse, et que moi, je diminue.

31 The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

31 Celui qui vient d'en haut est au-dessus de tous. Celui qui est de la terre appartient à la terre et parle à la manière de la terre. Celui qui vient du ciel est au-dessus de tous.

32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.

32 Il rend témoignage de ce qu'il a vu et entendu, et pourtant personne ne reçoit son témoignage.

33 Whoever receives his testimony confirms that our Father is true.

33 Celui qui reçoit son témoignage atteste que notre Père est véridique.

34 For the one whom our Father has sent speaks the words of our Father, for he gives the Holy Spirit without measure.

34 Car celui que notre Père a envoyé dit les paroles de notre Père, car il donne le Saint-Esprit sans mesure.

35 Our Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

35 Notre Père aime le Fils et a tout remis entre ses mains.

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of our Father remains on him.

36 Celui qui croit au Fils a la vie éternelle ; celui qui n'obéit pas au Fils ne verra pas la vie, mais la colère de notre Père demeure sur lui.

1 In the beginning, our Heavenly Father created the heavens and the earth.

1 Hapo mwanzo, Baba yetu wa Mbinguni aliumba mbingu na nchi.

2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of our Father was hovering over the surface of the waters.

2 Nayo nchi ilikuwa haina umbo, tena ilikuwa tupu; giza lilikuwa juu ya uso wa vilindi, na Roho wa Baba yetu alikuwa akitulia juu ya uso wa maji.

3 Then our Father said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

3 Ndipo Baba yetu akasema, "Iwepo nuru," na nuru ikawepo.

4 He saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

4 Akaona ya kuwa nuru ni njema, naye akaitenga nuru na giza.

5 He called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

5 Akaiita nuru "mchana," na giza akaliita "usiku." Ikawa jioni, ikawa asubuhi—siku ya kwanza.

6 And our Father said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."

6 Kisha Baba yetu akasema, "Iwepo nafasi kati ya maji ili kuyatenganisha maji na maji."

7 So he made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so.

7 Basi akaifanya nafasi, akayatenga maji yaliyo chini ya nafasi na maji yaliyo juu yake. Ikawa hivyo.

8 He called the expanse "sky." So there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

8 Akaiita nafasi "anga." Basi ikawa jioni, ikawa asubuhi—siku ya pili.

9 Then our Father said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so.

9 Ndipo Baba yetu akasema, "Maji yaliyo chini ya anga na yakusanyike mahali pamoja, nayo nchi kavu ionekane." Ikawa hivyo.

10 He called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And he saw that it was good.

10 Akaiita nchi kavu "ardhi," na maji yaliyokusanyika akayaita "bahari." Naye akaona ya kuwa ni vyema.

11 Then he said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees that bear seed-bearing fruit, each according to its kind." And it was so.

11 Kisha akasema, "Ardhi na izae mimea: mboga zizaazo mbegu na miti izaayo matunda yenye mbegu ndani yake, kila kimoja kwa jinsi yake." Ikawa hivyo.

12 The land produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing seed-bearing fruit according to their kinds. And our Father saw that it was good.

12 Ardhi ikazaa mimea: mboga zizaazo mbegu kwa jinsi zake na miti izaayo matunda yenye mbegu kwa jinsi zake. Naye Baba yetu akaona ya kuwa ni vyema.

13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

13 Ikawa jioni, ikawa asubuhi—siku ya tatu.

14 And our Father said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark the seasons, the days, and the years,"

14 Kisha Baba yetu akasema, "Iwepo mianga katika anga la mbingu ili kutenga mchana na usiku, nayo iwe kwa ajili ya ishara za kuonyesha nyakati, na siku, na miaka,"

15 "and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so.

15 "nayo iwe mianga katika anga la mbingu kuangaza juu ya nchi." Ikawa hivyo.

16 Our Father made two great lights: the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.

16 Baba yetu akafanya mianga miwili mikuu: mwanga mkubwa zaidi kuutawala mchana na mwanga mdogo kuutawala usiku. Akazifanya pia nyota.

17 He set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth,

17 Akaiweka katika anga la mbingu ili kuangaza juu ya nchi,

18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And he saw that it was good.

18 kuutawala mchana na usiku, na kuitenga nuru na giza. Naye akaona ya kuwa ni vyema.

19 So there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

19 Basi ikawa jioni, ikawa asubuhi—siku ya nne.

20 Then our Father said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."

20 Ndipo Baba yetu akasema, "Maji na yajae viumbe hai vingi, na ndege waruke juu ya nchi katika anga la mbingu."

21 So he created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves and teems in the water, each according to its kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And he saw that it was good.

21 Basi akaumba viumbe wakubwa wa baharini na kila kiumbe hai chenye kuogelea na kujaa majini, kila kimoja kwa jinsi yake, na kila ndege mwenye mabawa kwa jinsi yake. Naye akaona ya kuwa ni vyema.

22 Our Father blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth."

22 Baba yetu akavibariki, akasema, "Zaeni, mkaongezeke, mkayajaze maji ya baharini, nao ndege waongezeke duniani."

23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

23 Ikawa jioni, ikawa asubuhi—siku ya tano.

24 And our Father said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so.

24 Kisha Baba yetu akasema, "Ardhi na izae viumbe hai kwa jinsi zao: wanyama wa kufugwa, viumbe vitambaavyo juu ya nchi, na wanyama wa porini, kila kimoja kwa jinsi yake." Ikawa hivyo.

25 He made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And he saw that it was good.

25 Akawafanya wanyama wa porini kwa jinsi zao, na wanyama wa kufugwa kwa jinsi zao, na vitu vyote vitambaavyo juu ya nchi kwa jinsi zao. Naye akaona ya kuwa ni vyema.

26 Then our Father said, "Let us make humanity in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over every creature that moves along the ground."

26 Ndipo Baba yetu akasema, "Na tufanye mwanadamu kwa mfano wetu, kwa sura yetu, ili watawale samaki wa baharini na ndege wa angani, na wanyama wa kufugwa, na nchi yote, na kila kiumbe kitambaacho juu ya nchi."

27 So our Father created humanity in their own image; in the image of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit he created them; male and female he created them.

27 Basi Baba yetu akamwumba mwanadamu kwa mfano wao; kwa mfano wa Baba, na Mwana, na Roho Mtakatifu aliwaumba; mwanamume na mwanamke aliwaumba.

28 Our Father blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

28 Baba yetu akawabariki, akawaambia, "Zaeni, mkaongezeke; jazeni nchi na kuitiisha. Tawaleni samaki wa baharini na ndege wa angani, na kila kiumbe hai kitambaacho juu ya nchi."

29 Then he said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that bears seed-bearing fruit. They will be yours for food.

29 Kisha akasema, "Nimewapa kila mche utoao mbegu juu ya uso wa nchi yote, na kila mti uzaao matunda yenye mbegu. Vitakuwa chakula chenu.

30 "And to all the animals of the earth, all the birds in the sky, and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

30 "Na kwa wanyama wote wa nchi, na ndege wote wa angani, na vitu vyote vitambaavyo juu ya nchi—kila kilicho na pumzi ya uhai ndani yake—nimevipa kila mche wa kijani uwe chakula." Ikawa hivyo.

31 Our Father saw all that he had made, and it was very good. So there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

31 Baba yetu akaona kila kitu alichokifanya, na tazama, kilikuwa chema sana. Basi ikawa jioni, ikawa asubuhi—siku ya sita.

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

1 Basi palikuwa na mtu mmoja miongoni mwa Mafarisayo, jina lake Nikodemo, mkuu wa Wayahudi.

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from our Father, for no one can do these signs that you do unless our Father is with him."

2 Huyu alimjia Yesu usiku, akamwambia, "Rabi, twajua ya kuwa wewe ni mwalimu uliyetoka kwa Baba yetu, kwa maana hakuna mtu awezaye kufanya ishara hizi uzifanyazo wewe, isipokuwa Baba yetu yu pamoja naye."

3 Jesus replied to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of our Father."

3 Yesu akamjibu, akamwambia, "Amin, amin, nakuambia, mtu asipozaliwa mara ya pili hawezi kuuona ufalme wa Baba yetu."

4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

4 Nikodemo akamwambia, "Awezaje mtu kuzaliwa akiwa mzee? Aweza kuingia tena mara ya pili tumboni mwa mama yake akazaliwa?"

5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of our Father."

5 Yesu akajibu, "Amin, amin, nakuambia, mtu asipozaliwa kwa maji na kwa Roho Mtakatifu, hawezi kuingia katika ufalme wa Baba yetu."

6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Holy Spirit is spirit.

6 Kilichozaliwa kwa mwili ni mwili, na kilichozaliwa kwa Roho Mtakatifu ni roho.

7 Don't be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

7 Usistaajabu kwa kuwa nilikuambia, 'Hamna budi kuzaliwa mara ya pili.'

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Holy Spirit.

8 Upepo huvuma upendako, nawe waisikia sauti yake, lakini hujui utokako wala uendako. Ndivyo alivyo kila mtu aliyezaliwa kwa Roho Mtakatifu.

9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

9 Nikodemo akamwambia, "Yawezaje kuwa mambo haya?"

10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?"

10 Yesu akajibu, akamwambia, "Wewe u mwalimu wa Israeli, nawe huyafahamu haya?"

11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

11 Amin, amin, nakuambia, tunena tuyajuayo, na kuyashuhudia tuliyoyaona, lakini ninyi hamukubali ushuhuda wetu.

12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

12 Ikiwa nimewaambia mambo ya duniani, wala hamsadiki, mtasadikije nikiwaambia mambo ya mbinguni?

13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

13 Wala hakuna mtu aliyepaa mbinguni isipokuwa yeye aliyeshuka kutoka mbinguni, yaani, Mwana wa Adamu.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

14 Na kama vile Musa alivyomwinua yule nyoka jangwani, vivyo hivyo Mwana wa Adamu hana budi kuinuliwa,

15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

15 ili kila mtu amwaminiye apate uzima wa milele.

16 For our Father so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

16 Kwa maana Baba yetu aliupenda ulimwengu hivi, hata akamtoa Mwanawe wa pekee, ili kila mtu amwaminiye asipotee, bali awe na uzima wa milele.

17 For our Father did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.

17 Kwa maana Baba yetu hakumtuma Mwanawe ulimwenguni ili auhukumu ulimwengu, bali ili ulimwengu uokolewe kwa yeye.

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of our Father.

18 Amwaminiye yeye hahukumiwi; asiyeamini amekwisha kuhukumiwa, kwa sababu hakuliamini jina la Mwana wa pekee wa Baba yetu.

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

19 Na hii ndiyo hukumu: ya kuwa nuru imekuja ulimwenguni, nao watu wakapenda giza kuliko nuru, kwa sababu matendo yao yalikuwa maovu.

20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, for fear that his works will be exposed.

20 Maana kila mtu atendaye maovu huichukia nuru, wala haji kwenye nuru, matendo yake yasije yakakemewa.

21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in our Father.

21 Bali yeye aitendaye kweli huja kwenye nuru, ili matendo yake yaonekane wazi ya kuwa yametendwa katika Baba yetu.

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and there he remained with them and was baptizing.

22 Baada ya hayo, Yesu na wanafunzi wake wakaenda mpaka nchi ya Uyahudi, naye akakaa huko pamoja nao, akawa akibatiza.

23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized,

23 Naye Yohana pia alikuwa akibatiza huko Ainoni, karibu na Salimu, kwa sababu huko kulikuwa na maji tele, nao watu wakawa wakija, wakabatizwa.

24 for John had not yet been put in prison.

24 Kwa maana Yohana alikuwa hajatiwa gerezani bado.

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification.

25 Basi palikuwa na mashindano kati ya baadhi ya wanafunzi wa Yohana na Myahudi mmoja juu ya utakaso.

26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him."

26 Wakamjia Yohana, wakamwambia, "Rabi, yeye aliyekuwa pamoja nawe ng'ambo ya Yordani, uliyemshuhudia—tazama, huyo anabatiza, nao watu wote wanamwendea."

27 John replied, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven."

27 Yohana akajibu, akasema, "Mtu hawezi kupokea hata neno moja isipokuwa amepewa kutoka mbinguni."

28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'

28 Ninyi wenyewe mwaweza kunishuhudia ya kuwa nalisema, 'Mimi siye Kristo, bali nimetumwa mbele yake.'

29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom — Jesus. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

29 Aliye na bibi arusi ndiye bwana arusi — Yesu. Rafiki yake bwana arusi, asimamaye na kumsikia, hufurahi sana kwa sababu ya sauti ya bwana arusi. Basi furaha yangu hii sasa imetimia.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

30 Yeye hana budi kuzidi, bali mimi kupungua.

31 The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

31 Yeye ajaye kutoka juu yu juu ya yote. Yeye atokaye duniani ni wa dunia, naye hunena ya kidunia. Yeye ajaye kutoka mbinguni yu juu ya yote.

32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.

32 Hushuhudia yale aliyoyaona na kuyasikia, lakini hakuna mtu aukubaliye ushuhuda wake.

33 Whoever receives his testimony confirms that our Father is true.

33 Yeye aukubaliye ushuhuda wake huthibitisha ya kuwa Baba yetu ni mwaminifu.

34 For the one whom our Father has sent speaks the words of our Father, for he gives the Holy Spirit without measure.

34 Kwa maana yeye aliyetumwa na Baba yetu huyanena maneno ya Baba yetu, kwa kuwa yeye humtoa Roho Mtakatifu pasipo kipimo.

35 Our Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

35 Baba yetu ampenda Mwana, naye amevitia vitu vyote mkononi mwake.

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of our Father remains on him.

36 Amwaminiye Mwana yuna uzima wa milele; asiyemtii Mwana hataona uzima, bali ghadhabu ya Baba yetu inakaa juu yake.