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]).

“I have spoken these things to you to avoid your being caused to stumble

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 excommunicate you; indeed, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering God service!

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

And they will do these things because they have not known either the Father or 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].”

Now I have told you these things so that when the time comes you may remember that I told you about them; I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you.

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?’

“Now then, I am going away to Him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’

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

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has 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.

Nevertheless I am telling you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, because if I do not go away the Enabler will not come to you, but if I do 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].

“Now when He comes he will convict the world about sin and about righteousness and about judgment:

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

first about sin, because they do not believe into 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.

then about righteousness, because I am going away to my Father and you will no longer see me;

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].

then about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

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

“I still have many things to say to you but you cannot bear it 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].

However, when He, the Spirit of the Truth, has come, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also communicate to you the things that are coming.

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

He will glorify me because He will take of what is mine and communicate 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 that the Father has is mine; that is why I said that He takes from what is mine and will communicate 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].”

“In just a little you will not see me, and in another little you will see me, because I am going 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 His disciples said among themselves: “What is this that He is telling us, ‘In just a little you will not see me, and in another little you will see me,’ and because ‘I am going 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.”

So they said: “What is this ‘little’ that He mentions? We do not know what He is talking about.”

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].’

Well Jesus knew that they were wanting to question Him and said to them: “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘In just a little you will not see me, and in another little you will 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.

Most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will become grieved, but your grief will 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.

When a woman gives birth she has pain, because her time has come; but when the child is born she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been 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 in your turn you are now experiencing grief, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy 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].

In that day you will not question me about anything. “Most assuredly I say to you that whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give 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.

Until now you have not asked anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made 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]).

“I have told you these things using figures of speech, but a time is coming when I will no longer talk to you with figures of speech; rather I will tell you plainly about 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 will ask in my name; I do not say to you that I will request the Father on your behalf,

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])

because the Father Himself is fond of you, in that you have become fond of me and have believed that I came forth 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 did come forth from the Father and have come into the world. I am leaving the world again and am going to the Father.”

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

His disciples say to Him: “Hey, now you are speaking plainly and using no figure of speech!

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 you know everything and don't need anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came forth from God.”

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

Jesus answered them: “Do you believe now, really?

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.

Listen, an hour is coming, actually it has already arrived, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and you will leave me alone. 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]!”

I have spoken these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but take heart, I have conquered the world!”