John 16

1 [Jesus continued by saying to us], “I have told you these things in order that you will not stop trusting in me [when people] ([cause you to suffer/persecute you]).

These things have I spoken to you, that you may not be scandalized.

2 They will not allow you to worship in (synagogues/[their] meeting places). In fact, there will be a time when anyone who kills you will think that he is serving God [by doing that].

They will put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth a service to God.

3 They will do such things because they have never known who I [really am], nor who [my] Father [is].

And these things will they do to you; because they have not known the Father, nor me.

4 I have told you these things in order that when [they start] ([to cause you to suffer]/to [persecute you]) [MTY], you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you these things when you first started [to accompany me] [MTY] because I was with you, [and they were causing trouble for me, not for you].”

But these things I have told you, that when the hour shall come, you may remember that I told you of them.

5 “Now I am [about to] return to the one who sent me. But [I am disappointed that] none of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’

But I told you not these things from the beginning, because I was with you. And now I go to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me: Whither goest thou?

6 Instead, because I have told you these things, you are very sad.

But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

7 But the truth is that it is good for you that I am going away, because if I do not go away, the [Holy Spirit], who will (encourage/be like a legal counsel for) you will not come to you. But when I go, I will send him to you.

But I tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go: for if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

8 When he comes, he will prove that those who do not belong to God [MTY] [are wrong about what is] sinful and about who is really righteous and about whom [God will] judge [and condemn for their sin].

And when he is come, he will convince the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment.

9 [He will tell people that their greatest] sin is that they do not believe in me.

Of sin: because they believed not in me.

10 [He will tell people that] because I am going [back] to my Father, and you will no longer see me, [you will know that I am the one who was truly] righteous.

And of justice: because I go to the Father; and you shall see me no longer.

11 [He will tell people that the fact] that [God] has already determined that [he] will punish [Satan], the one who rules this world, shows that [some day God] will also punish [those who do not belong to him].

And of judgment: because the prince of this world is already judged.

12 I have many more things that [I would like] to tell you, but you are not able to accept them now.

I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now.

13 But [God’s] Spirit is the one who will teach you [God’s] truth. When he comes, he will guide you so that you [understand] all [spiritual] truth. He will not speak from his own [authority]. Instead, it is the things that he hears [my Father say] that he will tell you. He will also tell you about things that will happen [later].

But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the things that are to come, he shall shew you.

14 He will honor me by revealing my [truth] to you.

He shall glorify me; because he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it to you.

15 Everything that [my] Father has is mine. That is why I said that the Spirit is able to reveal my truth to you.”

All things whatsoever the Father hath, are mine. Therefore I said, that he shall receive of mine, and shew it to you.

16 “After a short time [I will leave you, and] you will not see me. Then a short time [after that] you will see me [again].”

A little while, and now you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father.

17 [So] some of us said to each other, “What does he mean by saying ‘After a short time you will not see me,’ and ‘A short time after that you will see me again’? And [what does he mean by] ‘Because I am going back to [my] Father’?”

Then some of the disciples said one to another: What is this that he saith to us: A little while, and you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me, and, because I go to the Father?

18 We kept asking each other, “What [does he mean by] saying ‘After a little while’? We do not understand what he is saying.”

They said therefore: What is this that he saith, A little while? we know not what he speaketh.

19 Jesus realized that we wanted to ask him [about that]. So he said to us, “You are asking [RHQ] each other [what I meant] when I said, ‘After a short time you will not see me, and then a short time [after that] you will see me [again].’

And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask him; and he said to them: Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I said: A little while, and you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me?

20 Listen to this carefully: [After I] ([leave you/die]), those who oppose God [MTY] will be happy, but you will be sad. But [later] you will stop being sad and you will become joyful.

Amen, amen I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

21 A woman who is about to bear a child feels pain, because that is [what happens] [MTY] [at] that time. But after her baby is born, she forgets that pain, because she is very joyful that her child has been born.

A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

22 It will be the same with you. [I will soon die and] you will be sad. But after that, I will see you again. Then you will be joyful, and no one will be able to stop you from being joyful.

So also you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you.

23 When that happens, you will not ask me any questions [about anything]. Listen to this carefully: [After that happens, my] Father will do for you anything you ask, because of his relationship with me [MTY].

And in that day you shall not ask me any thing. Amen, amen I say to you: if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you.

24 Up to the present time, using my authority you have not asked [God to do] anything for you [MTY]. Now keep asking [him for things that you need. If you do that], you will receive them, and then you will be completely joyful.

Hitherto you have not asked any thing in my name. Ask, and you shall receive; that your joy may be full.

25 Although I have been speaking these things using figurative language, there will soon be a time when I will no longer use that kind of language. Instead, I will tell you plainly (about my Father/what my Father [wants]).

These things I have spoken to you in proverbs. The hour cometh, when I will no more speak to you in proverbs, but will shew you plainly of the Father.

26 At that time, you will ask [him for things] (because you belong to me/with my authority) [MTY]. I will not [need to] ask [my] Father to do what you ask.

In that day you shall ask in my name; and I say not to you, that I will ask the Father for you:

27 [My] Father himself loves you because you have loved me and because you have believed that I came from God [my Father], [so he wants you to ask] him (OR, [so he does not need anyone to persuade] him [to help you])

For the Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

28 I came from [my] Father into this world. Very soon I will be leaving this world and going [back] to my Father.”

I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world, and I go to the Father.

29 Then [we], his disciples, said, “Now you are speaking plainly, without using figurative language.

His disciples say to him: Behold, now thou speakest plainly, and speakest no proverb.

30 Now we understand that you know everything. You do not need anyone to ask you questions [about anything, because you know what we want to ask before we ask you]. That [also] leads us to believe that you came from God.”

Now we know that thou knowest all things, and thou needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

31 Jesus replied, “Now you [RHQ] say that you believe [that I came from God].

Jesus answered them: Do you now believe?

32 But listen! There will soon be a time, and that time is already here, when you will all run away! Each of you will run away to your own home. You will leave me, and I will be alone. But I will not [really] be alone [at that time], because [my] Father is always with me.

Behold, the hour cometh, and it is now come, that you shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

33 I have told you these things in order that you may have [inner] peace because of your relationship with me. In this world you will have trouble. But be courageous! I have defeated those who are opposed to me [MTY], and [you can defeat them, too]!”

These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world.