English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
6
There once was a man, his name John, sent by God
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
7
to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in.
8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
8
John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
9
The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
10
He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn't even notice.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
11
He came to his own people, but they didn't want him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
12
But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
13
These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.