01 — The verse
Au commencement était la Parole, et la Parole était avec Dieu, et la Parole était Dieu.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Louis Segond 1910. Public domain. The English line is a learner gloss by the house, not a new translation.
02 — Twice
There is no recording on this card yet. Follow the highlight with your voice: once slowly, then closer to speech.
Au commencement était la Parole, et la Parole était avec Dieu, et la Parole était Dieu.
Follow the line with your voice. Recordings will sit beside this card when they are published.
Follow the line with your voice. Recordings will sit beside this card when they are published.
03 — Three words
le commencement
the beginning
Au commencement — the same opening as Genesis, heard in French.
la Parole
the Word
A name in this verse, not a loose remark. Capital, and feminine: elle.
était
was
Imparfait of être. Unfinished, already true: il était, elle était.
A sentence for this week
Au commencement de ma journée, je lis une parole.
04 — A faith note
The verse does not ask you to finish the mystery. It asks you to hear one claim slowly: the Word was already there, with God, and was God.
05 — Say this
Au commencement était la Parole.