< John 10 >
1 Verily, verily I say unto you, He that entreth not into the sheep-fold by the door, but climbeth up some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that cometh in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice; and He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he bringeth forth his sheep, he goeth before them: and the sheep follow him; because they know his voice.
5 But they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him; because they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable Jesus spake unto them; but they did not understand what He said to them.
7 Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily I tell you, that I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not regard them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved; and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh only to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they may have life, and may have it in perfection.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.
12 But the hireling, that is not the true shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf seizeth them, and disperseth the sheep.
13 Now the hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and I know my own sheep, and am known by them.
15 Even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice; so there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 For this doth the Father love me; because I lay down my life: that I may take it again.
18 None taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment I have received from my Father.
19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews on account of these words.
20 And many of them said, He is a demoniac, and is mad; why do ye hear Him?
21 Others said, These are not the words of a demoniac; can a demon open the eyes of the blind?
22 Now it was the feast of dedication at Jerusalem, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus was walking about the temple, in Solomon's portico.
24 Then the Jews came round Him, and said unto Him, How long dost thou hold us in suspense? If thou be the Messiah, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I have told you, and ye do not believe me: though the works that I do in the name of my Father, testify of me.
26 But ye believe not; because ye are not of my sheep: for as I said unto you, my sheep hear my voice,
27 and I know them, and they follow me.
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; nor shall any one force them out of my hand. (aiōn , aiōnios )
29 My Father who gave them to me, is greater than all: and therefore none is able to force them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and the Father are one. Then the Jews again took up stones to stone Him.
31 But Jesus said unto them,
32 Many good works have I shewn you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered Him, saying, We do not go about to stone thee for a good work, but for blasphemy; and because thou being a man makest thyself God.
34 Jesus replied, Is it not written in your law, "I have said, ye are gods?"
35 And if it stiled them gods, to whom the word of God came, (and the scripture cannot be made void, )
36 do ye say of Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God?
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in Him.
39 Therefore they sought again to seize Him; but He escaped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jordan,
40 to the place where John was at first baptizing, and there He abode.
41 And many resorted to Him, and said, John wrought no miracle, but all that he said concerning this man, was true.
42 And many there believed on Him.
