John 3
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Now there was one of the Pharisees whose name was Nicodemus--a ruler among the Jews.
2 This man came to him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou have come a teacher from God, for no man can do these signs that thou do if God is not with him.
He came to Jesus by night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher from God; for no one can do these miracles which you are doing, unless God is with him.
3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to thee, If any man is not begotten from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
"In most solemn truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "that unless a man is born anew he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus says to him, How can a man be begotten, being old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's belly, and be born?
"How is it possible," Nicodemus asked, "for a man to be born when he is old? Can he a second time enter his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to thee, If any man is not begotten from water and Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
"In most solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
6 That which is begotten from the flesh is flesh, and that which is begotten from the Spirit is spirit.
Whatever has been born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever has been born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said to thee, ye must be begotten from above.
Do not be astonished at my telling you, 'You must all be born anew.'
8 The wind blows where it will, and thou hear the sound of it, but know not from where it comes, and where it goes. So is every man who is begotten from the Spirit.
The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So is it with every one who has been born of the Spirit."
9 Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things happen?
"How is all this possible?" asked Nicodemus.
10 Jesus answered and said to him, Thou are the teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things?
"Are you," replied Jesus, "'the Teacher of Israel,' and yet do you not understand these things?
11 Truly, truly, I say to thee, we speak that which we know, and testify of what we have seen, and ye do not accept our testimony.
In most solemn truth I tell you that we speak what we know, and give testimony of that of which we were eye-witnesses, and yet you all reject our testimony.
12 If I told you earthly things, and ye do not believe, how will ye believe if I should tell you heavenly things?
If I have told you earthly things and none of you believe me, how will you believe me if I tell you of things in Heaven?
13 And no man has ascended into heaven, except he who came down out of heaven: the Son of man who is in heaven.
There is no one who has gone up to Heaven, but there is One who has come down from Heaven, namely the Son of Man whose home is in Heaven.
14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up,
And just as Moses lifted high the serpent in the Desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 so that every man who believes in him would not perish, but may have eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
in order that every one who trusts in Him may have the Life of the Ages." (aiōnios g166)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that every man who believes in him would not perish, but have eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages. (aiōnios g166)
17 For God sent the Son into the world not that he might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
18 He who believes in him is not condemned. He who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
He who trusts in Him does not come up for judgement. He who does not trust has already received sentence, because he has not his trust resting on the name of God's only Son.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil.
And this is the test by which men are judged--the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than they loved the Light, because their deeds were wicked.
20 For every man who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be exposed.
For every wrongdoer hates the light, and does not come to the light, for fear his actions should be exposed and condemned.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God.
But he who does what is honest and right comes to the light, in order that his actions may be plainly shown to have been done in God.
22 After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the Judean country. And he remained there with them and immersed.
After this Jesus and His disciples went into Judaea; and there He made a stay in company with them and baptized.
23 And John also was immersing in Aenon near Salim because there was much water there. And they came and were immersed.
And John too was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there were many pools of water there; and people came and received baptism.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
(For John was not yet in prison.)
25 Therefore a debate developed from John's disciples with the Jews about purification.
As the result, a discussion having arisen on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification,
26 And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with thee beyond the Jordan, about whom thou have testified, behold, this man immerses, and all men come to him.
they came to John and reported to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you on the other side of the Jordan and to whom you bore testimony is now baptizing, and great numbers of people are resorting to him."
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it is given to him from heaven.
"A man cannot obtain anything," replied John, "unless it has been granted to him from Heaven.
28 Ye yourselves testify that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent ahead of that man.
You yourselves can bear witness to my having said, 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I am His appointed forerunner.'
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices with joy because of the bridegroom's voice. This therefore my joy is fulfilled.
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; and the bridegroom's friend who stands by his side and listens to him, rejoices heartily on account of the bridegroom's happiness. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
30 It is necessary for that man to increase, but me to decrease.
He must grow greater, but I must grow less.
31 He who comes from above is above all things. He who is of the earth is of the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all things.
He who comes from above is above all. He whose origin is from the earth is not only himself from the earth, his teaching also is from the earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all.
32 And what he has seen and heard, of this he testifies, and no man receives his testimony.
What He has seen and heard, to that He bears witness; but His testimony no one receives.
33 He who has received his testimony has set a seal that God is true.
Any man who has received His testimony has solemnly declared that God is true.
34 For he whom God sent speaks the sayings of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
For He whom God has sent speaks God's words; for God does not give the Spirit with limitations."
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to His hands.
