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 I have spoken to you, that ye may not be stumbled,

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].

out of the synagogues they will put you; but an hour doth come, that every one who hath killed you, may think to offer service unto God;

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

and these things they will do to you, because they did not know 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 spoken to you, that when the hour may come, ye may remember them, that I said [them] to you, and these things to you from the beginning I did not say, 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?’

and now I go away to Him who sent me, and none of you doth ask me, Whither dost thou go?

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

but because these things I have said to you, the 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 better for you that I go away, for if I may not go away, the Comforter will not come unto you, and if I go on, I will send Him unto 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 having come, He will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment;

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

concerning sin indeed, because they do not believe 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 concerning righteousness, because unto my Father I go away, and no more do ye behold 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].

and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world hath 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 have yet many things to say to you, but ye are not able to 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].

and when He may come — the Spirit of truth — He will guide you to all the truth, for He will not speak from Himself, but as many things as He will hear He will speak, and the coming things He will tell you;

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

He will glorify me, because of mine He will take, and will tell 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, as many as the Father hath, are mine; because of this I said, That of mine He will take, and will tell 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 ye do not behold me, and again a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go away unto 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’?”

Therefore said [some] of his disciples one to another, 'What is this that he saith to us, A little while, and ye do not behold me, and again a little while, and ye shall see me, and, Because I go away unto 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 then, 'What is this he saith — the little while? we have not known what he saith.'

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].’

Jesus, therefore, knew that they were wishing to ask him, and he said to them, 'Concerning this do ye seek one with another, because I said, A little while, and you do not behold me, and again a little while, and ye 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.

verily, verily, I say to you, that ye shall weep and lament, and the world will rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow joy will become.

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.

'The woman, when she may bear, hath sorrow, because her hour did come, and when she may bear the child, no more doth she remember the anguish, because of the joy that a man was born to 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.

'And ye, therefore, now, indeed, have sorrow; and again I will see you, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one doth 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 ye will question me nothing; verily, verily, I say to you, as many things as ye may ask of 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.

till now ye did ask nothing in my name; ask, and ye 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 in similitudes I have spoken to you, but there cometh an hour when no more in similitudes will I speak to you, but freely of the Father, will tell you.

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, in my name ye will make request, and I do not say 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 doth love you, because me ye have loved, and ye have believed that I from God came forth;

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 have come to the world; again I leave the world, and go on unto the Father.'

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

His disciples say to him, 'Lo, now freely thou dost speak, and no similitude speakest thou;

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 have known that thou hast known all things, and hast no need that any one do question thee; in this we believe that from God thou didst come forth.'

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

Jesus answered them, 'Now do ye believe? lo, there doth come an hour,

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.

and now it hath come, that ye may be scattered, each to his own things, and me ye may leave alone, and 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 ye may have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation, but take courage — I have overcome the world.'