John

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

1"I have told you all this so that you will not give up and walk away.

2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

2People will throw you out of the meeting houses. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is serving God.

Note"Synagogues" were the local buildings where Jews met to pray and study. Being put out meant being cut off from your own community.

3And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

3They will do these things because they have never known the Father, and they do not know me.

4But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

4I am telling you now so that when the time comes, you will remember I warned you. I did not say this at the start, because I was here with you.

5But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

5But now I am going back to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'

6But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

6Instead, your hearts are full of sadness because of what I have told you.

7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

7But I am telling you the truth: it is better for you that I go away. If I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

NoteThe KJV calls the Spirit the "Comforter." In 1611 that meant more than someone who makes you feel better. It meant a helper who stands beside you and speaks up for you, like a friend in court.

8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

8When he comes, he will show the world that it is wrong about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment.

NoteThe KJV word "reprove" does not mean to scold. It means to prove someone wrong, the way evidence settles an argument.

9Of sin, because they believe not on me;

9He will show them they are wrong about sin, because they do not believe in me.

10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

10He will show them they are wrong about being right with God, because I am going to the Father and you will not see me anymore.

11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

11He will show them they are wrong about judgment, because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

12I still have much more to tell you, but it is more than you can carry right now.

13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own. He will say what he hears, and he will tell you what is coming.

14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

14He will bring honor to me, because he will take what is mine and make it clear to you.

15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

15Everything the Father has is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take what is mine and make it clear to you.

16A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

16In a little while you will not see me. Then a little while after that, you will see me again."

17Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

17Some of his followers said to each other, "What does he mean? 'In a little while you will not see me, and a little while later you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?"

18They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

18They kept saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not understand what he is talking about."

19Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?

19Jesus knew they wanted to ask him, so he said, "Are you asking each other what I meant by saying you will not see me for a little while, and then you will see me?

20Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

20I tell you the truth: you will cry and grieve while the world is glad. You will be full of sorrow, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

21When a woman is having a baby, she is in pain, because her time has come. But once the child is born, she forgets the pain because she is so happy a child has come into the world.

Note"Travail" is an old word for the hard work and pain of giving birth.

22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

22You are sad now, in the same way. But I will see you again, and your hearts will be glad, and no one can take that joy away from you.

23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

23On that day you will not need to ask me anything. I tell you the truth: whatever you ask the Father for in my name, he will give you.

24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy will be complete.

25These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

25I have been telling you these things using word pictures. But a time is coming when I will not talk that way. I will tell you about the Father plainly.

26At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

26On that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will have to ask the Father for you,

27For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

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

28I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

28I came from the Father and entered the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

29His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

29His followers said, "Now you are speaking plainly, without word pictures.

30Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

30Now we know that you know everything, and that no one even needs to ask you questions. This is why we believe you came from God."

31Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?

31Jesus answered them, "Do you believe now?

32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

32Listen, a time is coming, and is already here, when you will all scatter, each to his own home. You will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

33I have told you these things so that you can have peace because you belong to me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave. I have defeated the world."