< John 3 >

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Now there was one of the Pharisees whose name was Nicodemus--a ruler among the Jews.
2 The same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him.
He came to Jesus by night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher from God; for no one can do these miracles which you are doing, unless God is with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
"In most solemn truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "that unless a man is born anew he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
"How is it possible," Nicodemus asked, "for a man to be born when he is old? Can he a second time enter his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
"In most solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he 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.
Whatever has been born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever has been born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew.
Do not be astonished at my telling you, 'You must all be born anew.'
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So is it with every one who has been born of the Spirit."
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
"How is all this possible?" asked Nicodemus.
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?
"Are you," replied Jesus, "'the Teacher of Israel,' and yet do you not understand these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and bear witness of that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
In most solemn truth I tell you that we speak what we know, and give testimony of that of which we were eye-witnesses, and yet you all reject our testimony.
12 If I told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things?
If I have told you earthly things and none of you believe me, how will you believe me if I tell you of things in Heaven?
13 And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, [even] the Son of man, which is in heaven.
There is no one who has gone up to Heaven, but there is One who has come down from Heaven, namely the Son of Man whose home is in Heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
And just as Moses lifted high the serpent in the Desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
in order that every one who trusts in Him may have the Life of the Ages." (aiōnios g166)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages. (aiōnios g166)
17 For God sent not the 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 judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
18 He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
He who trusts in Him does not come up for judgement. He who does not trust has already received sentence, because he has not his trust resting on the name of God's only Son.
19 And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
And this is the test by which men are judged--the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than they loved the Light, because their deeds were wicked.
20 For every one that doeth ill hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved.
For every wrongdoer hates the light, and does not come to the light, for fear his actions should be exposed and condemned.
21 But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.
But he who does what is honest and right comes to the light, in order that his actions may be plainly shown to have been done in God.
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
After this Jesus and His disciples went into Judaea; and there He made a stay in company with them and baptized.
23 And John also was baptizing in AEnon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
And John too was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there were many pools of water there; and people came and received baptism.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
(For John was not yet in prison.)
25 There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purifying.
As the result, a discussion having arisen on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification,
26 And they came unto John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
they came to John and reported to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you on the other side of the Jordan and to whom you bore testimony is now baptizing, and great numbers of people are resorting to him."
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven.
"A man cannot obtain anything," replied John, "unless it has been granted to him from Heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but, that I am sent before him.
You yourselves can bear witness to my having said, 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I am His appointed forerunner.'
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; and the bridegroom's friend who stands by his side and listens to him, rejoices heartily on account of the bridegroom's happiness. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
He must grow greater, but I must grow less.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
He who comes from above is above all. He whose origin is from the earth is not only himself from the earth, his teaching also is from the earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all.
32 What he hath seen and heard, of that he beareth witness; and no man receiveth his witness.
What He has seen and heard, to that He bears witness; but His testimony no one receives.
33 He that hath received his witness hath set his seal to [this], that God is true.
Any man who has received His testimony has solemnly declared that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.
For He whom God has sent speaks God's words; for God does not give the Spirit with limitations."
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to His hands.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. (aiōnios g166)
He who believes in the Son has the Life of the Ages; he who disobeys the Son will not enter into Life, but God's anger remains upon him. (aiōnios g166)

< John 3 >