< John 10 >
1 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who enters not by the gate into the sheepfold, but climbs over the fence, is a thief and a robber.
2 The shepherd always enters by the gate.
3 To him, the porter opens, and the sheep obey his voice. His own sheep he calls by name, and leads out.
4 And having put out his sheep, he walks before them, and they follow him; because they know his voice.
5 They will not follow a stranger, but flee from him; because they know not the voice of strangers.
6 Jesus addressed this similitude to them, but they did not comprehend what he said.
7 He therefore added, Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the gate of the fold.
8 All who preceded me were thieves and robbers; but the sheep obeyed them not.
9 I am the gate: such as enter by me shall be safe: they shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes in only to steal, to slay, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for his sheep.
12 The hireling, who is not the shepherd, and to whom the sheep do not belong, when he sees the wolf coming, abandons the sheep, and flees; and the wolf tears them, and disperses the flock.
13 The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and cares not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd. And I know my own, and am known by them,
15 (even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father; ) and I give my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep, besides, which are not of this fold. Them I must also bring; and they will obey my voice; and there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
17 For this the Father loves me, because I give my life, to be afterward resumed.
18 No one forces it from me: but I give it of myself. I have power to give it, and I have power to resume it. This commandment I have received from my Father.
19 Again there was a division among the Jews, occasioned by this discourse.
20 Many of them said, He has a demon, and is mad: why do you hear him?
21 Others said, These are not the words of a demonise. Can a demon give sight to the blind?
22 Afterward, when they were celebrating the feast of the dedication, at Jerusalem,
23 it being in winter; as Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's portico,
24 the Jews surrounding him, said to him, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you be the Messiah, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered, I told you; but you believed not. The works which I do in my Father's name, testify of me.
26 But you believe not, for you are not of my sheep.
27 My sheep, as I told you, obey my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 Besides, I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any one wrest them out of my hands. (aiōn , aiōnios )
29 My Father, who gave them me, is greater than all; and none can wrest them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and the Father are one.
31 Then the Jews again took up stones to stone him.
32 Jesus said to them, Many good works I have shown you from my Father; for which of these works do you stone me?
33 The Jews answered, For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God.
34 Jesus replied, Is it not written in your law, "I said, You are gods?"
35 If the law styled them gods, to whom the word of God was addressed, and if the language of scripture in unexceptionable;
36 do you charge him with blasphemy whom the Father has consecrated his Apostle to the world, for calling himself his Son?
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works, that you may know and believe, that the Father is in me, and I am in him.
39 They then attempted again to seize him; but he escaped out of their hands,
40 and retired again toward the Jordan, and abode in the place where John first immersed.
41 And many resorted to him, who said, John, indeed, wrought no miracle: but all that John spoke of this man, is true.
42 And many believed on him there.
