John 9

1 As Jesus walked along [with us], he saw a man who had been blind from the time he was born.

And as Jesus was passing along, He saw a man, who had been blind from his birth.

2 We disciples asked him, “Teacher, was this man blind from when he was born because his parents sinned or because he himself sinned?”

And his disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who sinned? this man or his parents? that he was born blind.

3 Jesus replied, “His being blind was not because he or his parents sinned. Instead, [he has been blind] in order that [people can] see the power of God {the power of God can be seen} as a result of [what will now happen] to him.

Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God might be manifested in him.

4 While there is still time, I must do the work that the one who sent me [wants me to do. Just like daytime is followed by] nighttime when people do not work, [at the end of our lives] [MET] [it is too late for us to do what God wants].

I must perform the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night is coming, when no man can work.

5 While I am still [living] in this world, I am the [one who enables people to know about God, like] [MET] [a] light enables the people in [MTY] this world [to see what is in the darkness].”

But as long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6 After he said that, he spat on the ground. He made [a little bit of] mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.

And when He had said these things, He spit on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 Then he said to him, “Go and wash in Siloam pool!” (That name means ‘sent;’ [just like they sent the water by a channel into the pool, God sent Jesus]). So the man went and washed [in the pool], and when he went home he was able to see!

and said to him, Go wash at the pool of Siloam (which signifies Sent.) He went therefore and washed, and came again seeing.

8 His neighbors and others who previously had seen him when he was begging said, “He is the man who used to sit here and beg, isn’t he?”

And the neighbors, and they that had seen him before, that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat begging?

9 Some said, “[Yes], he is.” Others said, “No, [he is not]. It is [just] a man who looks like him!” But the man himself said, “Yes, I am that man!”

Some said, this is he: and others, It is like him: but he said, I am the man.

10 So they said to him, “How is it that now you can see?”

Therefore they said to him, How were thine eyes opened?

11 He replied, “The man whose name is Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. Then he told me to go to Siloam [pool] and wash. So I went there and washed, and then I could see.”

He answered and said, A man who is called Jesus, made clay and anointed mine eyes, and said to me, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash: and I went and washed and received my sight.

12 They said to him, “Where is that man [now]?” He said, “I do not know.”

Then said they unto him, Where is He? he answered, I know not.

13 They took to the Pharisees the man who was previously blind.

So they brought him, that had formerly been blind, to the pharisees.

14 The day on which Jesus made the mud and enabled the man to see again was a (Sabbath/Jewish day of rest). [The Pharisees considered that healing someone was work, and their rules did not permit people to do any work] ([on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day]).

Now it was the sabbath-day, when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

15 So the Pharisees also asked that man, “How did you become able to see?” He said to them, “The man put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I can see!”

Therefore the pharisees also asked him again, how he recovered his sight. And he said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

16 So some of the Pharisees said, “Since this man [Jesus] disobeys [our rules about working] (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day), he is not from God.” But others said, “If he was a sinner, (he could certainly not do such miracles!/how could he do such miracles?) [RHQ]” So they were divided.

Then said some of the pharisees, This man is not of God, because He doth not keep the sabbath: but others said, How can a wicked man do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

17 So one of them said to the blind man again, “You are the man whom he enabled to see. What do you yourself say about him?” The man said, “[I think] he is a prophet!” [So they told him to go].

So they asked the blind man again, What sayst thou concerning Him? as He hath opened thine eyes.

18 The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] still did not believe that the man was blind when he was born, and that he was [now] able to see. So they sent someone to bring the man’s parents.

And he said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and recovered sight, till they called the parents of him, that had received his sight.

19 [When they got there], one of [the Jewish leaders] asked them, “Is that man your son? Do you say that he was blind when he was born? [If that is true], how is he now able to see?”

And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say, was born blind? how then doth he now see?

20 His parents replied, “We know that he is our son. We know that he was blind when he was born.

His parents answered them, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

21 But we do not know how he is able to see now. We also do not know who enabled him to see. Ask our son! He is old enough [to answer questions from authorities like you] He can tell you himself!”

but how it is that he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age, ask him; he can speak for himself.

22 The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] had previously declared that they would prevent anyone who declared that Jesus was the Messiah from [entering] their synagogues. His parents [knew that, so] they were afraid of the Jewish [leaders] [SYN].

These things said his parents, because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed, that if any one confessed Him to be Christ, he should be turned out of the synagogue.

23 That is the reason that they said, “He is old enough [to answer questions], so ask him!”

Therefore his parents said, he is of age, ask him.

24 So they sent someone to bring back to them the man who had been blind. [When he got there], the [Jewish leaders] said to him, “Knowing that God [is listening] [IDM], tell the truth! We know that the man who healed you is a sinner.”

Then they called a second time for the man that had been blind, and said to him, Give glory to God: for we know that this man is a great sinner.

25 He replied, “I do not know if he is a sinner or not. But one thing I do know is that I was blind, but now I can see!”

He answered, and said, Whether He be a sinner, I know not: but one thing I know, that I who was blind, do now see.

26 So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he enable you to see?”

Then said they to him again, What did he do to thee? how did He open thine eyes?

27 He replied, “I told you that already, but you did not [RHQ] pay attention! Why do you want to hear me tell you again? (Do you also want to become his disciples?/You talk as though [IRO] you also want to become his disciples [RHQ]).”

He answered them, I have told you already, and ye would not hear? why would ye now hear it again? have ye also a mind to be his disciples?

28 Then they insulted him angrily. They said, “You are that man’s disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples!

Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple, but we are the disciples of Moses: we know that God spake to Moses:

29 We know that God spoke to Moses; but this man, we do not know where he is from or where he [gets any authority] from!”

but as for this man, we know not whence He is.

30 The man replied, “That is very surprising! You [say that] you do not know where he [gets any authority]. But he enabled me to see!

The man answered, and said unto them, Why this is something strange, that ye know not whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes.

31 We know that God does not help sinners [who ask God to help them]. Instead, he listens to [and helps] godly people who pray. He listens to people who do what God wants.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a servant of God, and do his will, him He heareth.

32 No one has ever enabled a man to see who was blind when he was born [like I was]. That has never happened since the world began! (aiōn g165)

From the beginning of the world it was never heard, that any one opened the eyes of a person that was born blind. (aiōn g165)

33 So if this man had not come from God, he would not be able to do anything [like that]!”

And if this man were not from God, He could do nothing.

34 They replied to him, “You (were born [as a result of your parents’] sin [EUP]/bastard)! (Do you think you are qualified to teach us?/You are not qualified to teach us!) [RHQ]” Then they threw him out [of the synagogue].

They answered, and said unto him, Thou wast wholly born in sins, and dost thou teach us?

35 Jesus heard [people say] that they had thrown that man out. He found the man and said to him, “Do you believe that the one who came down from heaven [is the Messiah]?”

And they cast him out. Now Jesus heard that they had turned him out of the synagogue; and when He met him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36 The man answered, “Sir, who is he? [Tell me], in order that I may believe in him.”

He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I may believe on Him?

37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him. [In fact, it is I], the one who am speaking to you.”

Jesus said unto him, Thou hast seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.

38 The man said, “Lord, I believe that [you are the Messiah]!” Then he [knelt down before] Jesus and worshipped him.

And he said, Lord, I believe; and worshipped Him.

39 Jesus said, “I have come into this world to judge [the people in the world]. The result will be that [those who realize that they do not know God’s truth will perceive it. That is like] [MET] [enabling] those who are blind to see. But the result will also be that people who [falsely think] [IRO] that [they understand God’s truth will never understand it. That is like] [MET] [people] who are blind remaining blind permanently.”

And Jesus said, I am come into this world to execute judgement; that they who see not, may see; and that they who say they see, may be made blind.

40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard him say that, and said to him, “You are not suggesting that we are [like] blind people, are you?”

And some of the pharisees who were present, heard these words, and said to Him, Are we blind also?

41 Jesus said to them, “If you [realized that you did not yet know God’s truth, but you wanted to, then you would be like] blind people [who wanted to see. God would be able to] forgive your sins. But you are now [falsely] claiming that you [know God’s truth, so you are like people who are blind who claim that they] can see. [Because of that, God is not able to] forgive your sins.”

Jesus replied, If ye were blind, ye would not have sin: but now ye say, We see; your sin therefore remaineth.