John 8
1 except Jesus, who went to the Mount of Olives.
but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 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.
At break of day however He returned to the Temple, and there the people came to Him in crowds. He seated Himself;
3 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,
and was teaching them when the Scribes and the Pharisees brought to Him a woman who had been found committing adultery. They made her stand in the centre of the court, and they put the case to Him.
4 and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was found in the act of adultery.
"Rabbi," they said, "this woman has been found in the very act of committing adultery.
5 Now Moses, in the Law, commanded us to stone such women to death; what do you say?’
Now, in the Law, Moses has ordered us to stone such women to death. But what do you say?"
6 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.
They asked this in order to put Him to the test, so that they might have some charge to bring against Him. But Jesus leant forward and began to write with His finger on the ground.
7 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.’
When however they persisted with their question, He raised His head and said to them, "Let the sinless man among you be the first to throw a stone at her."
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
Then He leant forward again, and again began to write on the ground.
9 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.
They listened to Him, and then, beginning with the eldest, took their departure, one by one, till all were gone. And Jesus was left behind alone--and the woman in the centre of the court.
10 Raising himself, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’
Then, raising His head, Jesus said to her, "Where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11 ‘No one, Sir,’ she answered. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go, and do not sin again.’
"No one, Sir," she replied. "And I do not condemn you either," said Jesus; "go, and from this time do not sin any more."]
12 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.’
Once more Jesus addressed them. "I am the Light of the world," He said; "the man who follows me shall certainly not walk in the dark, but shall have the light of Life."
13 ‘You are bearing testimony to yourself!’ exclaimed the Pharisees, ‘your testimony is not trustworthy.’
"You are giving testimony about yourself," said the Pharisees; "your testimony is not true."
14 ‘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.
"Even if I am giving testimony about myself," replied Jesus, "my testimony is true; for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you know neither of these two things.
15 You judge by appearances; I judge no one.
You judge according to appearances: I am judging no one.
16 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.
And even if I do judge, my judgement is just; for I am not alone, but the Father who sent me is with me.
17 Why, in your own Law it is said that the testimony of two persons is trustworthy.
In your own Law, too, it is written that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I, who bear testimony to myself, am one, and the Father who sent me also bears testimony to me.’
I am one giving testimony about myself, and the Father who sent me gives testimony about me."
19 ‘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.’
"Where is your Father?" they asked. "You know my Father as little as you know me." He replied; "if you knew me, you would know my Father also."
20 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.
These sayings He uttered in the Treasury, while teaching in the Temple; yet no one arrested Him, because His time had not yet come.
21 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.’
Again He said to them, "I am going away. Then you will try to find me, but you will die in your sins. Where I am going, it is impossible for you to come."
22 ‘Is he going to kill himself,’ the people exclaimed, ‘that he says – “You cannot go where I am going”?’
The Jews began to ask one another, "Is he going to kill himself, do you think, that he says, 'Where I am going, it is impossible for you to come'?"
23 ‘You,’ added Jesus, ‘are from below, I am from above; you are of this present world, I am not;
"You," He continued, "are from below, I am from above: you are of this present world, I am not of this present world.
24 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.’
That is why I told you that you will die in your sins; for, unless you believe that I am He, that is what will happen."
25 ‘Who are you?’ they asked. ‘Why ask exactly what I have been telling you?’ said Jesus.
"You--who are you?" they asked. "How is it that I am speaking to you at all?" replied Jesus.
26 ‘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.’
"Many things I have to speak and to judge concerning you. But He who sent me is true, and the things which I have heard from Him are those which I have come into the world to speak."
27 They did not understand that he meant the Father.
They did not perceive that He was speaking to them of the Father.
28 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.
So Jesus added, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He. Of myself I do nothing; but as the Father has taught me, so I speak.
29 Moreover, he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone; for I always do what pleases him.’
And He who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone: for I do always what is pleasing to Him."
30 While he was speaking in this way, many came to believe in him.
As He thus spoke, many became believers in Him.
31 So Jesus went on to say to those who had believed him, ‘If you remain constant to my message, you are truly my disciples;
Jesus therefore said to those of the Jews who had now believed in Him, "As for you, if you hold fast to my teaching, then you are truly my disciples;
32 and you will find out the truth, and the truth will set you free.’
and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free."
33 ‘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”?’
"We are descendants of Abraham," they answered, "and have never at any time been in slavery to any one. What do those words of yours mean, 'You shall become free'?"
34 ‘In truth I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
"In most solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that every one who commits sin is the slave of sin.
Now a slave does not remain permanently in his master's house, but a son does. (aiōn g165)
36 If, then, the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!
If then the Son shall make you free, you will be free indeed.
37 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.
You are descendants of Abraham, I know; but you want to kill me, because my teaching gains no ground within you.
38 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.’
The words I speak are those I have learnt in the presence of the Father. Therefore you also should do what you have heard from your father."
39 ‘Our father is Abraham,’ was their answer. ‘If you are Abraham’s children,’ replied Jesus, ‘do what Abraham did.
"Our father is Abraham," they said. "If you were Abraham's children," replied Jesus, "it is Abraham's deeds that you would be doing.
40 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.
But, in fact, you are longing to kill me, a man who has spoken to you the truth which I have heard from God. Abraham did not do that.
41 You are doing what your own father does.’ ‘We are not bastards,’ they said, ‘we have one Father – God himself.’
You are doing the deeds of your father." "We," they replied, "are not illegitimate children. We have one Father, namely God."
42 ‘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.
"If God were your Father," said Jesus, "you would love me; for it is from God that I came and I am now here. I have not come of myself, but He sent me.
43 How is it that you do not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message.
How is it you do not understand me when I speak? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my words.
44 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.
The father whose sons you are is the Devil; and you desire to do what gives him pleasure. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth--for there is no truth in him. Whenever he utters his lie, he utters it out of his own store; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
45 But, as for me, it is because I speak the truth to you that you do not believe me.
But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me.
46 Which of you can convict me of sin? Why then don’t you believe me, if I am speaking truth?
Which of you convicts me of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe me?
47 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.’
He who is a child of God listens to God's words. You do not listen to them: and why? It is because you are not God's children."
48 ‘Aren’t we right, after all,’ replied the people, ‘in saying that you are a Samaritan, and are possessed by a demon?’
"Are we not right," answered the Jews, "in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?"
49 ‘I am not possessed by a demon,’ Jesus answered, ‘but I am honouring my Father; and yet you dishonour me.
"I am not possessed by a demon," replied Jesus. "On the contrary I honour my Father, and you dishonour me.
50 Not that I am seeking honour for myself; there is one who is seeking my honour, and he decides.
I, however, am not aiming at glory for myself: there is One who aims at glory for me--and who judges.
In most solemn truth I tell you that if any one shall have obeyed my teaching he shall in no case ever see death." (aiōn g165)
52 ‘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)
"Now," exclaimed the Jews, "we know that you are possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the Prophets, and yet you say, 'If any one shall have obeyed my teaching, he shall in no case ever taste death.' (aiōn g165)
53 Are you greater than our ancestor Abraham, who died? And the prophets died too. Whom do you make yourself out to be?’
Are you really greater than our forefather Abraham? For he died. And the prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?"
54 ‘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;
"Were I to glorify myself," answered Jesus, "I should have no real glory. There is One who glorifies me--namely my Father, who you say is your God.
55 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.
You do not know Him, but I know Him perfectly; and were I to deny my knowledge of Him, I should resemble you, and be a liar. On the contrary I do know Him, and I obey His commands.
56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; and he did see it, and was glad.’
Abraham your forefather exulted in the hope of seeing my day: and he saw it, and was glad."
57 ‘You are not fifty years old yet,’ the people exclaimed, ‘and have you seen Abraham?’
"You are not yet fifty years old," cried the Jews, "and have you seen Abraham?"
58 ‘In truth I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘before Abraham existed I was.’
"In most solemn truth," answered Jesus, "I tell you that before Abraham came into existence, I am."
59 At this they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and left the Temple Courts.
Thereupon they took up stones with which to stone Him, but He hid Himself and went away out of the Temple.
