John 16

1 These things I have spoken unto you that ye may not be offended.

I've told you this so you won't give up your trust in me.

2 They shall put you out of the synagogues; but the hour is coming that every one who kills you will think to render service to God;

They will expel you from the synagogues—in fact the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a service.

3 and these things they will do because they have not known the Father nor me.

They'll do this because they have never known the Father or me. I've told you this so that when these things happen, you'll remember what I told you.

4 But I have spoken these things to you, that when their hour shall have come, ye may remember them, that I have said [them] unto you. But I did not say these things unto you from [the] beginning, because I was with you.

I didn't need to tell you this right at the beginning because I was going to be with you.

5 But now I go to him that has sent me, and none of you demands of me, Where goest thou?

But now I'm going to the one who sent me, and yet not one of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’

6 But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

Of course, now that I've told you, you're full of grief.

7 But I say the truth to you, It is profitable for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you.

But I'm telling you the truth: it's better for you that I go away, for if I don't the Comforter won't come to you. If I go away, I will send him to you.

8 And having come, he will bring demonstration to the world, of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

When he comes, he will convince those in the world that they have wrong ideas regarding sin, about what is right, and about judgment:

9 of sin, because they do not believe on me;

Sin, for they don't trust in me.

10 of righteousness, because I go away to [my] Father, and ye behold me no longer;

What is right, for I'm going to the Father and you won't see me any longer.

11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Judgment, for the ruler of this world has been condemned.

12 I have yet many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now.

There's much more I want to explain to you, but you couldn't stand it now.

13 But when he is come, the Spirit of truth, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but whatsoever he shall hear he shall speak; and he will announce to you what is coming.

However, when the Spirit of truth comes, he will teach you the whole truth. He doesn't speak for himself, but he only says what he hears, and he will tell you what's going to happen.

14 He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine and shall announce [it] to you.

He brings me glory for he teaches you whatever he receives from me.

15 All things that the Father has are mine; on account of this I have said that he receives of mine and shall announce [it] to you.

All that belongs to the Father is mine. This is why I said that the Spirit teaches you whatever he receives from me.

16 A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me, [because I go away to the Father].

In a little while you won't see me anymore, but then a little while after that you will see me.”

17 [Some] of his disciples therefore said to one another, What is this he says to us, A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me, and, Because I go away to the Father?

Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean, ‘In a little while you won't see me, but a little while after that you will see me’? and ‘For I'm going to the Father’?”

18 They said therefore, What is this which he says [of] the little while? We do not know [of] what he speaks.

They were asking, “What does he mean by ‘in a little while’? We don't know what he's talking about.”

19 Jesus knew therefore that they desired to demand of him, and said to them, Do ye inquire of this among yourselves that I said, A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me?

Jesus realized that they wanted to ask him about this. So he asked them, “Are you wondering about my comment, ‘In a little while you won't see me, but a little while after that you will see me’?

20 Verily, verily, I say to you, that ye shall weep and lament, ye, but the world shall rejoice; and ye will be grieved, but your grief shall be turned to joy.

I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will turn into joy.

21 A woman, when she gives birth to a child, has grief because her hour has come; but when the child is born, she no longer remembers the trouble, on account of the joy that a man has been born into the world.

A woman in labor suffers pain because her time has come, but once the baby is born, she forgets the agony because of the joy that a child has been brought into the world.

22 And ye now therefore have grief; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one takes from you.

Yes, you're grieving now, but I will see you again; and you will rejoice, and no one can take away your joy.

23 And in that day ye shall demand nothing of me: verily, verily, I say to you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

When that time comes you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

24 Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Until now you haven't asked for anything in my name, so ask and you shall receive, and your happiness will be complete.

25 These things I have spoken to you in allegories; the hour is coming that I will no longer speak to you in allegories, but will declare to you openly concerning the Father.

I've been talking to you using picture language. But soon I won't use such picture language any more when I speak to you. Instead I'll explain the Father to you very plainly.

26 In that day ye shall ask in my name; and I say not to you that I will demand of the Father for you,

At that time you will ask in my name. I'm not saying to you that I will plead with the Father on your behalf,

27 for the Father himself has affection for you, because ye have had affection for me, and have believed that I came out from God.

for the Father himself loves you—because you love me and believe that I came from God.

28 I came out from the Father and have come into the world; again, I leave the world and go to the Father.

I left the Father and came into the world; now I leave the world and return to my Father.”

29 His disciples say to him, Lo, now thou speakest openly and utterest no allegory.

Then the disciples said, “Now you're talking very plainly and not using picture language.

30 Now we know that thou knowest all things, and hast not need that any one should demand of thee. By this we believe that thou art come from God.

Now we're certain that you know everything, and that in order to know what questions people are thinking you don't need to ask them. This convinces us that you came from God.”

31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?

“Are you really convinced now?” Jesus asked.

32 Behold, [the] hour is coming, and has come, that ye shall be scattered, each to his own, and shall leave me alone; and [yet] I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

“The time is coming—in fact it's just about to happen—when you will be scattered, each of you to your own homes, leaving me all alone. But I'm not really alone, for the Father is with me.

33 These things have I spoken to you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye have tribulation; but be of good courage: I have overcome the world.

I've told you all this so that you may have peace because you are one with me. You will suffer in this world, but be brave—I have defeated the world!”