John 16

1 “I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble.

[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]).

2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.

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].

3 They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me.

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

4 But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

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].”

5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’

“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?’

6 But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.

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

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

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.

8 When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;

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].

9 about sin, because they don’t believe in me;

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

10 about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more;

[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.

11 about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.

[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].

12 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.

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

13 However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.

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].

14 He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine and will declare it to you.

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

15 All things that the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine and will declare it to you.

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

16 “A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.”

“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].”

17 Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?”

[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’?”

18 They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.”

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

19 Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’?

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].’

20 Most certainly I tell you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

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.

21 A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.

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.

22 Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

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.

23 “In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

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].

24 Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.

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.

25 “I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father.

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]).

26 In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you that I will pray to the Father for you,

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.

27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God.

[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])

28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

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

29 His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech.

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

30 Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”

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.”

31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?

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

32 Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

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.

33 I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

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]!”