John 5
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem when the Jews were having [another] celebration.
AFTER this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 At one of the gates [into the city] called the Sheep Gate, there is a pool. In our language we call it Bethzatha. [Around the pool] were five open areas with roofs over them.
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 Many people were lying there. They were people who were blind, lame, or paralyzed.
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 One of those who was there had been paralyzed for 38 years.
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 Jesus saw him lying there and found out that the man had been like that for a long time. He said to the man, “Do you want to become well?”
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The paralyzed man replied to him, “[Yes], sir, [I want to get well, but] there is no one to help me get down into the pool when the water is stirred {stirs}. While I am trying to get [to the pool], someone else always gets there before me.”
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus said to him, “Get up! Then pick up your mat and walk!”
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 The man immediately was healed. He picked up his mat and started walking! The day on which this happened was a Jewish day of rest.
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 So the Jewish [leaders] said to the man who had been healed, “Today is (the Sabbath/our rest day), and [in our Jewish] laws [it is written that people should not work on our] ([Sabbath/rest day]), so you should not be carrying your mat!”
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 The man replied to them, “The man who healed me, he himself said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk!’”
He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick it up and walk!’?”
Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 But since Jesus had disappeared in the crowd [without telling the man his name], the man did not know who it was [who had healed him].
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Later, Jesus found the man in the Temple [courtyard]. He [told the man his name, and] said to him, “Listen! You are healed! So stop sinning! If you do not stop sinning, something will happen to you that will be worse [than the illness you had before]!”
Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15 The man went away and told the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] that it was Jesus who had healed him.
The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16 So the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] started to harass Jesus, because Jesus was doing these things (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day).
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17 Then Jesus replied to them, “My Father has always been working every day, [including] ([the Sabbath/the day of rest]), up until now. I am doing the same thing!”
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 The Jewish leaders [SYN] considered that he was disobeying their rules about (the Sabbath/the day of rest), and that by saying that God was his Father, he was making himself equal with God. And they considered that both these things were grounds for killing him. So they tried even harder to find a way to kill him.
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Jesus replied to them by saying, “You need to know this: I can do nothing by my own [authority]. I do only the [kind of] things that I see [my] Father doing. Whatever kinds of things my Father is doing, those are the things I am doing.
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 [My] Father loves me, and he shows me everything that he is doing. He will show me [the miracles] that [he wants me to do] that will be greater than the ones that [you have already seen me do], so that you may be amazed.
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 [For example], just like [my] Father causes people who have died to become alive again, I will give [eternal] life to everyone that I want to.
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 Furthermore, [my] Father is not the one who judges people [concerning their sins]. Instead, he has given to me the work of judging people,
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 in order that all people may honor me, just like they honor [my] Father. [My] Father [considers that] anyone who does not honor me is not honoring [him], the one who sent me.
That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Listen to this carefully: Those who hear my message and believe that [God] is the one who sent me have eternal life. [God will] not (condemn them/say that he will punish them). They are no longer separated from God. Instead, they have [eternal] life. (aiōnios g166)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (aiōnios g166)
25 Listen to this carefully: There will be a time when those who are (spiritually dead/separated from God) will hear the voice of me, (the Son of God/the man who is also God). In fact, it is that time already. Those who hear [and pay attention to my message] will have [eternal] life.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 [My] Father has [power to] make things live. Similarly, he has given me the [power to enable] people to live [eternally].
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 Because I am the one who came from heaven, he has given me the authority to judge people [concerning their sins].
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Do not be surprised about that, because there will be a time when all people who have died will hear my voice,
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 and they will become alive again. Those who have lived good [lives] will rise [from their graves] and live forever. But those who have lived evil lives will rise, and I will (condemn them/declare that I will punish them [for their sins]).
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30 I do not do anything [like that] by my own authority. I judge people only according to what I hear [my Father tell me]. I will judge people fairly, because I do not want to please only myself. Instead, I want to please [my Father], who sent me.
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31 If I were the [only] one to tell people about myself, [people could rightly say that] what I say is not true.
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32 But there is someone else who tells people about me. And I know that what he tells people about me is true.
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33 As for you, when you sent messengers to John [the Baptizer to ask about me], he told the truth [about me].
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34 I do not [need that] people tell others [about me]. But instead, I am reminding [you about what John told people about me], in order that you will [believe it and] be saved {[God] will save you}.
But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35 [John’s message about me] (OR, [John]) [MET] was [like] a lamp that shines brightly. For a short while you were willing to be made happy [by that message] {to let [that message] make you happy}.
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36 But there is something else that tells you about me. [It should prove who I am] more than what John [said about me]. The miracles [PRS] that [my] Father told me to do, the miracles that I am performing, show (OR, prove) to people that my Father sent me.
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37 Furthermore, [my] Father, who sent me, tells people about me. You have never heard his voice or seen him.
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38 Furthermore, you have not believed in [me], the one he sent. So you have not [believed] his message in your inner beings.
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39 You carefully study (OR, Study) the Scriptures, because you think that by [studying] them you will [find the way to] have eternal life. And those Scriptures tell people about me! (aiōnios g166)
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (aiōnios g166)
40 But you refuse (to come to me/to believe my message) in order that you may have [eternal] life.
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41 It does not [matter to] me whether people praise me.
I receive not honour from men.
42 But you [want people to praise you]. I know that within yourselves you do not love God.
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 Although I have come to earth with my Father’s authority [MTY], you do not accept me. But if someone else comes with his own authority [MTY], you accept him!
I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44 You accept your praising each other, but you do not try to do things that will result in God himself praising you. So (there is no way you can believe [in me]!/how can you believe [my message]?) [RHQ]
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45 But do not think that I am the one who will accuse you while [my] Father is listening! No, it is Moses who will accuse you! You thought that he would [defend you].
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46 Moses wrote about me, so if you had believed what he [wrote], you would have believed what I [said]
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
47 But because you did not believe what he wrote [about me], (you will certainly not believe what I say!/how will you believe what I say?) [RHQ]”
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
