John 16

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

1Jesus said, "I have told you these things so you will not turn away from me."

Note"Offended" in the old English of the KJV does not mean hurt feelings. It means to stumble or fall away.

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

2"People will put you out of the synagogues, the buildings where Jews meet to pray and learn. A time is coming when someone who kills you will think he is doing work for God."

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

3"They will do these things to you because they have never known my Father, and they have never known 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.

4"I am telling you now so you will remember my words when that time comes. I did not tell you 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?

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

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

6"Instead, your hearts are full of sadness because I told you these things."

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.

7"But 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."

Note"Comforter" is an old word for a Helper who comes alongside you. It means more than someone who makes you feel better.

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

8"When the Helper comes, he will show the world the truth. He will show it the truth about sin, about being right with God, and about God's judging."

9Of sin, because they believe not on me;

9"He will show the truth about sin, because the people of the world do not believe in me."

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

10"He will show the truth about being right with God, because I am going to my Father. You will not see me anymore."

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

11"He will show the truth about God's judging, 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.

12"I have many more things to tell you. But right now they would be too much for you."

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.

13"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all the truth. He will not speak his own words. He will say what he hears. And he will tell you what is going to happen."

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

14"He will show people how great I am. He will take what is mine and tell it 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.

15"Everything my Father has belongs to me too. That is why I said he takes what is mine and tells it 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.

16"In a little while you will not see me. Then a little while later you will see me. This is because I am going to the Father."

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 began talking with each other. They asked, "What does he mean by this? He says we will not see him for a little while. Then he says we will see him again. And he says it is because he is going to the Father."

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

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

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 about it. He said, "Are you asking each other what I meant? I said you will not see me for a little while. Then a little while later 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.

20"I tell you the truth. You will cry and be sad, while the world is glad. You will hurt inside. But your sadness 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.

21"A woman having a baby has pain, because her time has come. But when the baby is born, she forgets the pain. She is glad that a child has come into the world."

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.

22"In the same way, you are sad now. But I will see you again, and your hearts will be glad. 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.

23"On that day you will not ask me anything. I tell you the truth: whatever you ask the Father 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.

24"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive it. Then your joy will be full."

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.

25"I have been telling you these things with word pictures. A time is coming when I will not talk that way. Then I will tell you plainly about the Father."

Note"Proverbs" here does not mean short wise sayings. It means picture-language, saying a thing one way to show what it is like.

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

26"On 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.

27"The Father himself loves you. He loves you because you have loved me. You have also 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.

28"I came from the Father, and I came into 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 to him, "Look, now you are speaking plainly. You are not using 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.

30"Now we are sure that you know everything. You do not need anyone to ask you questions. That 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.

32"Listen. A time is coming, and it is here now. You will all be scattered, each one to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because my 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.

33"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have hard trouble. But be brave. I have won over the world."

Note"Be of good cheer" means take courage, not just be happy. "Tribulation" means hard trouble.