< John 3 >
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jewish people.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
2 This man came to him at night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."
He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
7 Do not be surprised that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to him, "How can these things be?"
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things?
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things?
11 Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony.
Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony.
12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
13 And no one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 so that everyone who believes in him may have life without end. (aiōnios )
that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. (aiōnios )
16 For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have life without end. (aiōnios )
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (aiōnios )
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
18 The one who believes in him is not judged, but the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their works were evil.
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, so that his works will not be exposed.
Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
21 But the one who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God."
But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”
22 After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and was baptizing.
After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.
23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized.
Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.
24 For John was not yet thrown into prison.
(For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
25 Now a dispute arose between John's disciples with a Jew about purification.
Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.
26 And they came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, look, he is baptizing, and everyone is coming to him."
So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”
27 John answered, "No one can receive anything, unless it has been given to him from heaven.
John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves bear me witness that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before him.'
You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine is now complete.
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
He must increase; I must decrease.
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.
32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.
He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.
Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.
34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for he does not give the Spirit by measure.
For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has everlasting life, but whoever refuses to believe in the Son won't see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (aiōnios )
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.” (aiōnios )