John 3
1 And there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a leading man among his people.
2 This man came to him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou hast come as a teacher from God; for no one can do these signs which thou doest, unless God be with him.
This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one could give such signs as you are giving, unless God were with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly do I say to thee, Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
“In truth I tell you,” exclaimed Jesus, “unless a person is reborn, they cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus saith to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb a second time, and be born?
“How can a person,” asked Nicodemus, “be born when they are old? Can they be born a second time?”
5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly do I say to thee, Unless a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
“In truth I tell you,” answered Jesus, “unless a person owes their birth to water and Spirit, they cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.
All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual.
7 Marvel not that I said to thee, Ye must be born again.
Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn.
8 The wind bloweth where it will; and thou hearest the sound thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
The wind blows wherever it wants, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from, or where it goes; it is the same with everyone who owes his birth to the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be?
“How can that be?” asked Nicodemus.
10 Jesus answered and said to him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?
“What! You a teacher of Israel,” exclaimed Jesus, “and yet do not understand this!
11 Truly, truly do I say to thee, We speak that which we know, and testify that which we have seen; and ye receive not our testimony.
In truth I tell you that we speak of what we know, and state what we have seen; and yet you do not accept our statements.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how will ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?
If, when I tell you earthly things, you do not believe me, how will you believe me when I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he who came down from heaven, even the Son of man.
No one has ascended to heaven, except him who descended from heaven – the Son of Man himself.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up
And, as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (aiōnios g166)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave the only begotten Son, that every one who believeth in him may not perish, but may have everlasting life. (aiōnios g166)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
17 For God sent not the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through him the world might be saved.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.
18 He that believeth in him is not condemned; he that believeth not hath already been condemned, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The person who believes in him escapes condemnation, while the person who does not believe in him is already condemned, because they have not believed in the only Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light hath come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.
The ground of their condemnation is this, that though the light has come into the world, people preferred the darkness to the light, because their actions were wicked.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
For the person who lives an evil life hates the light, and will not come to it, fearing that their actions will be exposed;
21 But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
but the person who lives by the truth comes into the light, so it can be clearly seen that God is in all they do.
22 After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judaea; and there he remained with them, and baptized.
After this, Jesus went with his disciples into the country parts of Judea; and there he stayed with them, and baptized.
23 And John also was baptizing in AEnon, near Salim, because there was much water there; and they came, and were baptized.
John, also, was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there were many streams there; and people were constantly coming and being baptized.
24 For John was not yet thrown into prison.
(For John had not yet been imprisoned).
25 Then there arose a question on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purifying.
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a fellow Jew on the subject of purification;
26 And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, he baptizeth, and all men are going to him.
and the disciples came to John and said, “Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, and to whom you have yourself borne testimony – he, also, is baptizing, and everybody is going to him.”
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, unless it be given him from heaven.
John’s answer was – “A person can gain nothing but what is given them from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before that man.
You are yourselves witnesses that I said ‘I am not the Christ,’ but ‘I have been sent before him as a messenger.’
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy then hath become full.
It is the groom who has the bride; but the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens to him, is filled with joy when he hears the groom’s voice. This joy I have felt to the full.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
He must become greater, and I less.”
31 He that cometh from above is above all. He that is from the earth is earthly, and speaketh earthly things; he that cometh from heaven
He who comes from above is above all others; but a child of earth is earthly, and his teaching is earthly, too. He who comes from heaven is above all others.
32 testifieth what he hath seen and heard; and no one receiveth his testimony.
He states what he has seen and what he heard, and yet no one accepts his statement.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set his seal that God is true.
They who did accept his statement confirm the fact that God is true.
34 For he whom God sent speaketh the words of God; for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.
For he whom God sent as his messenger gives us God’s own teaching, for God does not limit the gift of the Spirit.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
The Father loves his Son, and has put everything in his hands.
36 He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life; and he that disobeyeth the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. (aiōnios g166)
The person who believes in the Son has eternal life, while a person who rejects the Son will not even see that life, but remains under God’s displeasure. (aiōnios g166)
