But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,  who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. (NRSV)

But to all who received him, he gave them the right to become children of God – to those who believe in his name – they were born not as the result of a blood-line, nor physical desire, nor a man’s choice but by God’s action. (DNW)

O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.

Gertrude the Great

When things began ‘the Word’ already was, and the ‘Word’ was always intimately close to God, and the ‘Word’ was one with God. When things began, this one was close to God, . Every single thing came about through his doing, and without him nothing came about, not one thing that began. In him was life, and the life was the light of humans, The light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness has never grasped it.

There came a man – ‘sent with a mission’ from God, by name John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might come to believe (through him). That one definitely was not the light, but was sent to testify to the light.

He (the Word) was the true light, that shines on every one by his coming into the world. He was in the world and the world came into being through him. yet the world did not recognise him. He came to his own homeland, yet his own kin did not receive him.

He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.  The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. NRSV

That one (John) definitely was not the light, but was sent to testify to the light. He (the Word) was the true light, that shines on every one by his coming into the world.
He was in the world and the world came into being through him. yet the world did not recognise him. He came to his own homeland, yet his own kin did not receive him. (DNW)

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

St Ignatius

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. (NRSV)

There came a man – ‘sent with a mission’ from God, by name John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might come to believe (through him). (DNW)

Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
Amen

St Anselm

In him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (NRSV)

In him was life, and the life was the light of humans, The light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness has never grasped it. (DNW)

Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.

Thomas More (c.1478-1535)

He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. (NRSV)

When things began, this one was close to God, . Every single thing came about through his doing, and without him nothing came about, not one thing. (DNW)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (NRSV)

When things began ‘the Word’ already was, and the ‘Word’ was always intimately close to God, and the ‘Word’ was one with God. (DNW)

O Lord Jesus Christ, stay beside me to defend me, within me to guide me, before me to lead me, and above me to bless me, that with you and in you, I may live, and move and have my being, for ever and ever. Amen.
(unknown)