1:5a

The Light shines in the darkness: The verb shines is in the present tense. Use a verb form that indicates that the light continues to shine. Here the author’s words are literal and a metaphor. Literally, at creation and ever since, light has shined into darkness.

But the words are also a metaphor. John is beginning to speak about Jesus, the One who is like the light. Jesus is like the light because he enables people to see something. Here, Jesus shows or tells people about God. In your translation, you should continue to use the metaphor and not yet explain that it refers to Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

The light keeps shining in the dark. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The light still shines in the darkness. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

in the darkness: The word darkness is a metaphor that refers to evil. Just as darkness is the absence of light, so evil is the absence of good. It is the absence of the knowledge of God and trust in him. If your language does not use darkness as a figure of speech for evil, you may need to say something like this:

in the ⌊evil⌋ darkness
-or-
in the dark ⌊place where evil lives⌋

1:5b

and: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and can be translated in two ways:

(1) It continues the previous thought and means and.

(Berean Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New International Version (2011))

(2) It contrasts with the previous thought and means “but.”

(Revised Standard Version, New International Version (1984), NET Bible)

Although one could read 1:5b as a contrast to 1:5a, it is more likely that the thought continues. Darkness does not normally overcome a light; rather, light drives away darkness. Using “but” could imply that people expect darkness to overcome light. So it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

the darkness has not overcome it: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as overcome :

(1) It means overcome or “gain control of.” For example:

the darkness has not overpowered it (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, English Standard Version, God’s Word, NIV2011)

(2) It means “understood.” For example:

the darkness has not understood it (New International Version (1984))

(New International Version (1984), New American Standard Bible, King James Version)

Some English translations (Revised English Bible, NET Bible) say “mastered,” which can be understood in either sense. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and most Bible scholars. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

the darkness has not conquered it
-or-
the darkness can never extinguish it (New Living Translation (2004))

Here again darkness is a metaphor referring to evil and deliberately not knowing God. It is personified, meaning that it is spoken about like it was a person and could act. In some languages it is more natural to explain some of this figure of speech. For example:

The ⌊evil powers/forces of⌋ darkness tried to destroy ⌊the one who is⌋ the light, but they could not.

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