[translation] John 1:5

I spent this Advent exploring John 1:5, rendering it in various ways. It was an Advent with much darkness, as you know, but also an Advent of brilliant Light that we celebrate today.

So I offer this verse as a Christmas present:
(I am of course much endebted to both the NRSV and the NIV.)


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The Light enlightens the darkness, and the darkness will never take hold of it.

And the Light in the darkness shines, and the darkness does not overwhelm it.

And in darkness the Light shines, and the Light is never outshone in darkness.

The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not comprehend it.

And the Light in darkness shines
It keeps on shining.

And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

And the Light illumines the darkness, and the darkness cannot comprehend it.

Light shines in darkness; darkness cannot overwhelm it.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

The Light brightens the darkness, and the darkness is faint.

In darkness, undimmed Light.

Light
in
darkness.
Light
in
darkness.
Light
in
darkness.

Shining in obscurity, undaunted by midnight: the Light of the world.

The Light illumines the darkness, but the darkness doesn't understand.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not understand it

in every dark time, Light forever.

This Light that's shining in the shadow places? Those shadows can't even begin to grapple with it.

Light
Even in the dark
especially in the dark
Light


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Bright Christmastide to all,
Ruth Ellen