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 unto you, He that entreth not into the sheep-fold by the door, but climbeth up some other way, 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 cometh in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep.
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].
To him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice; and He calleth his own sheep by name, 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 bringeth forth his sheep, he goeth before them: and the 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 they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him; because they know not the voice of strangers.
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 parable Jesus spake unto them; but they did not understand 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].
Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily I tell you, that I am the door of the sheep.
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 that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not regard 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: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved; and shall go in and out, and 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 only to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they may have life, and may have it in perfection.
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 the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down 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 the hireling, that is not the true shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf seizeth them, and disperseth the sheep.
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].
Now the hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
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 the good shepherd, and I know my own sheep, and am known by them.
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].
Even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
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: them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice; so there shall be one fold, 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 doth the Father love me; because I lay down my life: that I may take 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.”
None taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment I have received from my Father.
19 After hearing these words [that Jesus said], the Jews were divided again.
There was a division therefore again among the Jews on account of these words.
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 is a demoniac, and is mad; why do ye hear 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]”
Others said, These are not the words of a demoniac; can a demon open the eyes of the blind?
22 Then it was time for the celebration [to remember when our ancestors] rededicated [the Temple in Jerusalem]. It was in winter.
Now it was the feast of dedication 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 was walking about the temple, in Solomon's portico.
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!”
Then the Jews came round Him, and said unto Him, How long dost thou hold us in suspense? If thou be 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 them, I have told you, and ye do not believe me: though the works that I do in the name of my Father, 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 believe not; because ye are not of my sheep: for as I said unto you, my sheep hear my voice,
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.
and I know them, and they follow 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].
My Father who gave them to me, is greater than all: and therefore none is able to force them out of my Father's hand.
30 [My] father and I are equal.”
I and the Father are one. Then the Jews again took up stones to stone Him.
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].
But Jesus said unto them,
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?”
Many good works have I shewn 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 answered Him, saying, We do not go about to stone thee for a good work, but for blasphemy; and because thou being a man 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 replied, 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}.
And if it stiled them gods, to whom the word of God came, (and the scripture cannot be made void, )
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 of Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, thou blasphemest, because I said, 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.
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, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in Him.
39 After they heard that, they tried to seize him again, but he got away from them.
Therefore they sought again to seize Him; but He escaped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jordan,
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].
to the place where John was at first baptizing, and there He abode.
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 resorted to Him, and said, John wrought no miracle, but all that he said concerning this man, was true.
42 Many people [who came] there believed ([that Jesus was the Messiah/that Jesus truly had come from God]).
And many there believed on Him.
