John 8
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
except Jesus, who went to the Mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
But he went again into the Temple Courts early in the morning, and all the people came to him; and he sat down and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
Presently, however, the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placed her in the middle of the Court,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was found in the act of adultery.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
Now Moses, in the Law, commanded us to stone such women to death; what do you say?’
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with [his] finger wrote on the ground, [ as though he heard them not].
They said this to test him, in order to have a charge to bring against him. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
However, as they continued asking him, he raised himself, and said, ‘Let the person among you who has never done wrong throw the first stone at her.’
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard [it], being convicted by [their own] conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, [even] unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When they heard that, they went out one by one, beginning with the eldest; and Jesus was left alone with the woman in the middle of the Court.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
Raising himself, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
‘No one, Sir,’ she answered. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go, and do not sin again.’
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Jesus again addressed the people. ‘I am the light of the world,’ he said. ‘The person who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
‘You are bearing testimony to yourself!’ exclaimed the Pharisees, ‘your testimony is not trustworthy.’
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, [yet] my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
‘Even if I bear testimony to myself,’ answered Jesus, ‘my testimony is trustworthy; for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, nor where I am going.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
You judge by appearances; I judge no one.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
Yet, even if I were to judge, my judgment would be trustworthy; because I am not alone, but the Father who sent me is with me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
Why, in your own Law it is said that the testimony of two persons is trustworthy.
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
I, who bear testimony to myself, am one, and the Father who sent me also bears testimony to me.’
19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
‘Where is your father, then?’ they asked. ‘You know neither me nor my Father,’ replied Jesus. ‘If you had known me, you would have also known my Father.’
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
These statements Jesus made in the Treasury, while teaching in the Temple Courts. Yet no one arrested him, for his time had not then come.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
Jesus again spoke to the people. ‘I am going away,’ he said, ‘and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin; you cannot come where I am going.’
22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
‘Is he going to kill himself,’ the people exclaimed, ‘that he says – “You cannot go where I am going”?’
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
‘You,’ added Jesus, ‘are from below, I am from above; you are of this present world, I am not;
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.
and so I told you that you would die in your sins, for, unless you believe that I am what I am, you will die in your sins.’
25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even [the same] that I said unto you from the beginning.
‘Who are you?’ they asked. ‘Why ask exactly what I have been telling you?’ said Jesus.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
‘I have still much that concerns you to speak of and to pass judgment on; yet he who sent me may be trusted, and I speak to the world only of the things which I have heard from him.’
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
They did not understand that he meant the Father.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
So Jesus added, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will understand that I am what I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but that I say just what the Father has taught me.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
Moreover, he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone; for I always do what pleases him.’
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
While he was speaking in this way, many came to believe in him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;
So Jesus went on to say to those who had believed him, ‘If you remain constant to my message, you are truly my disciples;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
and you will find out the truth, and the truth will set you free.’
33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
‘We are descendants of Abraham,’ was their answer, ‘and have never yet been in slavery to anyone. What do you mean by saying “you will be set free”?’
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
‘In truth I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
And a slave does not remain in the home always; but a son remains always. (aiōn g165)
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
If, then, the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!
37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you are seeking to put me to death, because my message finds no place in your hearts.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
I tell you what I have myself seen in the presence of my Father; and you, in the same way, do what you have learned from your father.’
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
‘Our father is Abraham,’ was their answer. ‘If you are Abraham’s children,’ replied Jesus, ‘do what Abraham did.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
But, as it is, you are seeking to put me to death – a man who has told you the truth as he heard it from God. Abraham did not act in that way.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, [even] God.
You are doing what your own father does.’ ‘We are not bastards,’ they said, ‘we have one Father – God himself.’
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
‘If God were your Father,’ Jesus replied, ‘you would have loved me, for I came out from God, and now am here; and I have not come of myself, but he sent me as his messenger.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word.
How is it that you do not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message.
44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
As for you, you are children of your father the devil, and you are determined to do what your father loves to do. He was a murderer from the first, and did not stand by the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he does what is natural to him; because he is a liar, and the father of lying.
45 And because I tell [you] the truth, ye believe me not.
But, as for me, it is because I speak the truth to you that you do not believe me.
46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
Which of you can convict me of sin? Why then don’t you believe me, if I am speaking truth?
47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.
The person who comes from God listens to God’s teaching; the reason why you do not listen is because you do not come from God.’
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
‘Aren’t we right, after all,’ replied the people, ‘in saying that you are a Samaritan, and are possessed by a demon?’
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
‘I am not possessed by a demon,’ Jesus answered, ‘but I am honouring my Father; and yet you dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
Not that I am seeking honour for myself; there is one who is seeking my honour, and he decides.
In truth I tell you, if anyone lays my message to heart, he will never really die.’ (aiōn g165)
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. (aiōn g165)
‘Now we are sure that you are possessed by a demon,’ the people replied. ‘Abraham died, and so did the prophets; and yet you say “If anyone lays my message to heart, they will never know death.” (aiōn g165)
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Are you greater than our ancestor Abraham, who died? And the prophets died too. Whom do you make yourself out to be?’
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
‘If I do honour to myself,’ answered Jesus, ‘such honour counts for nothing. It is my Father who does me honour – and you say that he is your God;
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
and yet you have not learned to know him; but I know him; and, if I were to say that I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him, and I lay his message to heart.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad.
Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; and he did see it, and was glad.’
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
‘You are not fifty years old yet,’ the people exclaimed, ‘and have you seen Abraham?’
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
‘In truth I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘before Abraham existed I was.’
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
At this they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and left the Temple Courts.
