< John 7 >

1 And Jesus was walking after these things in Galilee, for he did not wish to walk in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him,
After this, Jesus spent his time going from place to place in Galilee. He did not want to do so in Judea because the Jews were out to kill him.
2 and the feast of the Jews was nigh — that of tabernacles —
But as it was almost time for the Jewish festival of the Tabernacles,
3 his brethren, therefore, said unto him, 'Remove hence, and go away to Judea, that thy disciples also may behold thy works that thou dost;
his brothers told him, “You ought to leave and go to Judea so your followers will be able to see what miracles you can do.
4 for no one in secret doth anything, and himself seeketh to be in public; if thou dost these things — manifest thyself to the world;'
No one who wants to be famous keeps what they do hidden. If you can do such miracles, then show yourself to the world!”
5 for not even were his brethren believing in him.
For even his own brothers really didn't believe in him.
6 Jesus, therefore, saith to them, 'My time is not yet present, but your time is always ready;
Jesus told them, “This is not my time to go, not yet; but you can go whenever you want, for any time's the right time for you.
7 the world is not able to hate you, but me it doth hate, because I testify concerning it that its works are evil.
The world has no reason to hate you, but it does hate me, because I make it clear that its ways are evil.
8 Ye — go ye up to this feast; I do not yet go up to this feast, because my time hath not yet been fulfilled;'
You go on to the festival. I'm not going to this festival because this is not the right time for me, not yet.”
9 and saying these things to them, he remained in Galilee.
After saying this he stayed behind in Galilee.
10 And when his brethren went up, then also he himself went up to the feast, not manifestly, but as in secret;
After his brothers left to go to the festival, Jesus also went, but not openly—he stayed out of sight.
11 the Jews, therefore, were seeking him, in the feast, and said, 'Where is that one?'
Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were searching for him and kept on asking, “Where is he?”
12 and there was much murmuring about him among the multitudes, some indeed said — 'He is good;' and others said, 'No, but he leadeth astray the multitude;'
Many people in the crowds were complaining about him. Some said, “He's a good man,” while others argued, “No! He deceives people.”
13 no one, however, was speaking freely about him, through fear of the Jews.
But no one dared to speak openly about him because they were afraid of what the Jewish leaders would do to them.
14 And it being now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up to the temple, and he was teaching,
When the festival was halfway through Jesus went to the Temple and began to teach.
15 and the Jews were wondering, saying, 'How hath this one known letters — not having learned?'
The Jewish leaders were very surprised, and asked, “How does this man have so much learning when he hasn't been educated?”
16 Jesus answered them and said, 'My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me;
Jesus answered, “My teaching is not from me but from the one who sent me.
17 if any one may will to do His will, he shall know concerning the teaching, whether it is of God, or — I do speak from myself.
Anyone who chooses to follow what God wants will know if my teaching comes from God or if I'm only speaking for myself.
18 'He who is speaking from himself his own glory doth seek, but he who is seeking the glory of him who sent him, this one is true, and unrighteousness is not in him;
Those who speak for themselves want to glorify themselves, but someone who glorifies the one who sent him is truthful and not deceitful.
19 hath not Moses given you the law? and none of you doth the law; why me do ye seek to kill?'
Moses gave you the law, didn't he? Yet none of you keeps the law! Why are you trying to kill me?”
20 The multitude answered and said, 'Thou hast a demon, who doth seek to kill thee?'
“You're demon-possessed!” the crowd replied. “No one's trying to kill you!”
21 Jesus answered and said to them, 'One work I did, and ye all wonder,
“I did one miracle and you're all shocked by it,” Jesus replied.
22 because of this, Moses hath given you the circumcision — not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers — and on a sabbath ye circumcise a man;
“However, because Moses told you to circumcise—not that it really came from Moses, but from your forefathers before him—you perform circumcision on the Sabbath.
23 if a man doth receive circumcision on a sabbath that the law of Moses may not be broken, are ye wroth with me that I made a man all whole on a sabbath?
If you circumcise on the Sabbath to make sure that the law of Moses isn't broken, why are you angry with me for healing someone on the Sabbath?
24 judge not according to appearance, but the righteous judgment judge.'
Don't judge by appearances; decide what is right!”
25 Certain, therefore, of the Jerusalemites said, 'Is not this he whom they are seeking to kill?
Then some of those from Jerusalem began wondering, “Isn't this the one they're trying to kill?
26 and, lo, he doth speak freely, and they say nothing to him; did the rulers at all know truly that this is truly the Christ?
But see how openly he's speaking, and they're saying nothing to him. Do you think the authorities believe he's the Messiah?
27 but this one — we have known whence he is; and the Christ, when he doth come, no one doth know whence he is.'
But that's not possible because we know where he comes from. When the Messiah comes, nobody will know where he's from.”
28 Jesus cried, therefore, in the temple, teaching and saying, 'Ye have both known me, and ye have known whence I am; and I have not come of myself, but He who sent me is true, whom ye have not known;
While he was teaching in the Temple, Jesus called out in a loud voice, “So you think you know me and where I'm from? However, I did not come for my own sake. The one who sent me is true. You don't know him,
29 and I have known Him, because I am from Him, and He did send me.'
but I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”
30 They were seeking, therefore, to seize him, and no one laid the hand on him, because his hour had not yet come,
So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him because his time had not yet come.
31 and many out of the multitude did believe in him, and said — 'The Christ — when he may come — will he do more signs than these that this one did?'
However, many of the crowd did put their trust in him. “When the Messiah appears, will he do more miraculous signs than this man has done?” they said.
32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers that they may take him;
When the Pharisees heard the crowd whispering this about him, they and the chief priests sent guards to arrest Jesus.
33 Jesus, therefore, said to them, 'Yet a little time I am with you, and I go away unto Him who sent me;
Then Jesus told the people, “I'll be with you just a little longer, but then I'll return to the one who sent me.
34 ye will seek me, and ye shall not find; and where I am, ye are not able to come.'
You'll search for me but you won't find me; and you can't come where I'm going.”
35 The Jews, therefore, said among themselves, 'Whither is this one about to go that we shall not find him? — to the dispersion of the Greeks is he about to go? and to teach the Greeks;
The Jews said to each other, “Where could he be going that we couldn't find him? Is he planning to go to those scattered among the foreigners, and teach the foreigners?
36 what is this word that he said, Ye will seek me, and ye shall not find? and, Where I am, ye are not able to come?'
What does he mean by saying, ‘You'll search for me but you won't find me; and you can't come where I'm going’?”
37 And in the last, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, 'If any one doth thirst, let him come unto me and drink;
On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted out in a loud voice, “If you're thirsty, come to me and drink.
38 he who is believing in me, according as the Writing said, Rivers out of his belly shall flow of living water;'
If you trust in me, you will have streams of life-giving water flowing out from within you, as Scripture says.”
39 and this he said of the Spirit, which those believing in him were about to receive; for not yet was the Holy Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
He was referring to the Spirit that those who trusted in him would later receive. The Spirit hadn't been given yet because Jesus hadn't yet been glorified.
40 Many, therefore out of the multitude, having heard the word, said, 'This is truly the Prophet;'
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This man is definitely the Prophet!”
41 others said, 'This is the Christ;' and others said, 'Why, out of Galilee doth the Christ come?
Others said, “He is the Messiah!” Still others said, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?
42 Did not the Writing say, that out of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem — the village where David was — the Christ doth come?'
Doesn't Scripture say that the Messiah comes from David's lineage, and from David's home town of Bethlehem?”
43 A division, therefore, arose among the multitude because of him.
So the crowd had a strong difference of opinion about him.
44 And certain of them were willing to seize him, but no one laid hands on him;
Some wanted to arrest him, but nobody laid a hand on him.
45 the officers came, therefore, unto the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, 'Wherefore did ye not bring him?'
Then the guards returned to the chief priests and the Pharisees who asked them, “Why didn't you bring him in?”
46 The officers answered, 'Never so spake man — as this man.'
“Nobody ever spoke like this man does,” the guards replied.
47 The Pharisees, therefore, answered them, 'Have ye also been led astray?
“Have you been fooled too?” the Pharisees asked them.
48 did any one out of the rulers believe in him? or out of the Pharisees?
“Has a single one of the rulers or Pharisees believed in him? No!
49 but this multitude, that is not knowing the law, is accursed.'
But this crowd that knows nothing about teachings of the law—they're damned anyway!”
50 Nicodemus saith unto them — he who came by night unto him — being one of them,
Nicodemus, who had previously gone to meet Jesus, was one of them and asked them,
51 'Doth our law judge the man, if it may not hear from him first, and know what he doth?'
“Does our law condemn a man without a hearing and without finding out what he actually did?”
52 They answered and said to him, 'Art thou also out of Galilee? search and see, that a prophet out of Galilee hath not risen;'
“So you're a Galilean as well, are you?” they replied. “Check the Scriptures and you'll discover that no prophet comes from Galilee!”
53 and each one went on to his house, but Jesus went on to the mount of the Olives.
Then they all went home,

< John 7 >