John 10
1 [Jesus continued by saying to us], “Listen carefully to what I say. Anyone who does not enter [the sheep pen] through the gate, if he climbs in some other way, he is a thief or a bandit.
Verily, verily, I say to you, That he who doth not enter by the door into the fold of the flock, but climbeth up in some other place, he is a thief and a robber.
2 The man who enters [the pen] through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
But he that entereth by the door, is the shepherd of the flock.
3 The man who watches the gate at [night] opens the gate for him. The sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice. He summons his own sheep by [calling out] the names [he has given] them. Then he leads them outside [the pen].
And to him the door-keeper openeth the door; and the sheep hear his voice. And he calleth the sheep by their names, and leadeth them out.
4 After he has brought out all his own [sheep], he goes in front of them. His sheep follow him because they recognize [and pay attention to] his voice.
And when he hath led out his flock, he goeth before it; and his sheep follow him, because they know his voice.
5 But they will never follow a stranger. Instead, they will run away from him, because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
But after a stranger the flock will not follow, but it fleeth from him; because it knoweth not the voice of a stranger.
6 Jesus said that [MET] [to illustrate the difference between himself and the Pharisees, who were deceiving the people]. But they did not understand what he was telling them.
This allegory spake Jesus to them; but they knew not what he said to them.
7 So Jesus spoke to them again. He said, “Listen carefully to what I am saying. I am [like] [MET] a gate for the sheep [to enter the sheepfold, because I am the one who allows people to enter God’s presence].
And Jesus said to them again: Verily, verily, I say to you, That I am the door of the flock.
8 All of [your religious leaders] who have come previously [without my authority] are [like] [MET] thieves and bandits [because they act violently and dishonestly for their own benefit]. But [just like] sheep do not [obey strangers, God’s people do not] pay attention to them.
All those who have come, were thieves and robbers: but the flock did not hear them.
9 I am [like] a gate. Those will be saved {[God] will save all those} who come [to God] by [trusting in] me. [Just like sheep] go in and out [through the gate safely] to find pasture [MET], [I will provide for them and protect them].
I am the door: and if any enter by me, he will live, and will come in and go out, and will find pasture.
10 Thieves come [to a sheep pen] only to steal or kill or destroy [sheep] [MET]. [Similarly, your religious leaders injure God’s people spiritually]. But I have come in order that people may have [eternal/spiritual] life, and that they may have abundantly [all they need to sustain them spiritually].
The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy. I have come, that they may have life, and may have that which is excellent.
11 I am [like] a good shepherd. A good shepherd [is willing to] die to save the sheep [MET]. [Similarly, I am ready to sacrifice myself to save those who belong to me].
I am a good shepherd. A good shepherd exposeth his life for the sheep.
12 A worker whom someone has hired [to look after the sheep] is not [like] the shepherd or the one who owns the sheep. So when he sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock of sheep and [seizes one sheep and] causes [the others] to scatter.
But a hireling, who is not the shepherd, and to whom the sheep do not belong, when he seeth the wolf coming, leaveth the flock, and fleeth; and the wolf cometh, and teareth, and disperseth the flock.
13 The worker runs away because he is [only] a man whom someone has hired. He is not [really] concerned about [what happens to] the sheep [MET]. [Similarly, your religious teachers do not really care what happens to you].
And a hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and hath no concern for the flock.
14 I am [like] a good shepherd. [Just like a good shepherd knows his] sheep [MET], I know those who belong to me, and they know me
I am a good shepherd; and I know my own sheep, and am known by my own.
15 in the same way as [my] Father knows me and I know [my] Father. Furthermore, I am [ready to] sacrifice myself for [those who belong to me].
As my Father knoweth me, so know I my Father; and I expose my life for the flock.
16 And I have other people [who are not Jews] who [will some day] belong to me. They will be [like] [MET] sheep from another sheep pen. I must bring them [to God/myself] also. They will pay attention to what I say, and eventually [all those who belong to me] will be [like] one flock, and [I] will be [like] [MET] their one shepherd.
And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold: and them also I must bring; and they will hear my voice; and the whole will be one flock, and one shepherd.
17 The reason [my] Father loves me is that I will sacrifice my life. But [after I do that], I will become alive again.
For this cause my Father loveth me, that I lay down my life, to resume it again.
18 No one is causing me to die. Instead, I [have chosen to] sacrifice myself. I have authority to sacrifice myself and I have authority to become alive again. That is what my Father has commanded me to do.”
There is no one that taketh it from me; but I lay it down of my own pleasure: for I have authority to lay it down, and authority to resume it again; because I have received this command from my Father.
19 After hearing these words [that Jesus said], the Jews were divided again.
And again there was a division among the Jews, on account of these sayings.
20 Many of them said, “A demon is [controlling] him and has caused him to become crazy. (It is useless to listen to him!/Why should we listen to him?) [RHQ]”
And many of them said: He hath a demon, and is wholly beside himself; why hear ye him?
21 But others said, “What he is saying is not something a man whom a demon is controlling would say. (No demon could enable a blind man to see [like he did!/] How could a demon enable a blind man to see [like he did]?) [RHQ]”
But others said: These are not the discourses of a demoniac: can a demon open the eyes of one blind?
22 Then it was time for the celebration [to remember when our ancestors] rededicated [the Temple in Jerusalem]. It was in winter.
And the feast of the dedication was held at Jerusalem, and it was winter.
23 Jesus was in the Temple [courtyard], walking in [the place that people called King] Solomon’s porch.
And Jesus walked in the temple, in the porch of Solomon.
24 The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] gathered around him and said, “How long will you keep us from knowing for sure [if you are the Messiah]? If you are the Messiah, tell us clearly!”
And the Jews gathered around him; and said to him: how long holdest thou our mind in suspense? If thou art the Messiah, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, “I have told you [that I am the Messiah], but you do not believe me! You should know who I am because of the miracles I do with my Father’s authority [MTY].
Jesus answered, and said to them: I have told you, and ye did not believe. The works which I do in the name of my Father, they testify of me
26 But instead, you do not believe in me because you do not belong to [me. You are like] [MET] sheep [who belong to a different shepherd].
But ye do not believe, because ye are not of my sheep, as I have said to you.
27 [Just like sheep] heed the voice [of their true shepherd] [MET], my [people pay attention to what I say]. I know them, and they have become my disciples.
My sheep hear my voice: and I know them: and they go after me.
29 [Those] that my Father has given to me are more precious than anything else (OR, My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than anything that opposes them). So no one can pull them away from belonging to him [MTY].
For my Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; nor can any pluck from my Father's hand.
30 [My] father and I are equal.”
I and my Father are one.
31 The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] again picked up stones to throw at Jesus [and kill him because they were angry at his saying that he was equal with God].
And again the Jews took up stones, to stone him.
32 But Jesus said to them, “You have seen me perform many miracles that my Father [told me to do. You should realize from seeing them that I am equal with God]. So, because of which of these miracles [IRO] are you wanting to [kill me by] throwing stones at me?”
Jesus said to them: Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] replied, “We are [wanting to] throw stones at you not because you performed a great miracle. Instead, [we are wanting to do it] because you are dishonoring God. You are just a man, but you are saying that you are God!”
The Jews said to him: It is not on account of good works, that we stone thee: but because thou blasphemest; and, whilst thou art a man, thou makest thyself God.
34 Jesus replied to them, “In the Scriptures it is written {([someone/the Psalmist]) has written} [RHQ] [what God said to the rulers whom he had appointed], ‘I have said that you are [like] gods.’
Jesus said to them: Is it not written in your law, I have said, Ye are gods?
35 God said that [to those leaders when he appointed them. No one objected to that]. And nothing that is in Scripture can be set aside {no one can set aside anything that is in Scripture}.
If he called them gods, because the word of God was with them, and the scripture cannot be nullified;
36 But I am the one [my] Father set apart to completely belong to him. He sent me here into this world. So (why are you angry with me for saying that [I am equal with God when I say] that I am the man who is also God?/you should not be angry with me for saying that [I am equal with God when I say] that I am the person who is both God and man!) [RHQ]
do ye say to him, whom the Father, hath sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said to you, I am the Son of God?
37 If I were not doing the miracles that my Father [told me to do, I would not expect] you to believe in me.
And if I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But because I perform these miracles, believe [what] these miracles [show about me], even though you do not believe what I [say]. If you do that, then you will know and understand that [my] Father has a close relationship with me, and I have a close relationship with [my] Father.”
But if I do them, although ye believe not me, yet believe the works; that ye may know and believe, that my Father is in me, and I in my Father.
39 After they heard that, they tried to seize him again, but he got away from them.
And again they sought to lay hold of him; but he escaped out of their hands;
40 Then Jesus went, along [with us], back across [to the east side of] the Jordan [River]. We went to the place where John was previously baptizing [people]. He/We stayed there [for a few weeks].
and retired to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John at first baptized, and tarried there.
41 Many people came to Jesus. They were saying, “John never performed a miracle, [but this man has performed many miracles]! Everything that John said about this man is true!”
And many persons came to him: and they said, John indeed wrought not even one sign; but every thing that John said of his man, was true.
42 Many people [who came] there believed ([that Jesus was the Messiah/that Jesus truly had come from God]).
And many believed on him.
