John 9

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

1Jesus was walking along. He saw a man who had been blind since he was born.

2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

2His followers asked him, "Teacher, this man was born blind. Who sinned, this man or his parents?"

NoteThe KJV says "Master." Here it means "Teacher," not someone who owns a servant.

3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

3Jesus said, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned. This happened so God's work could be seen in him."

4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

4"We must do the work of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming. Then no one can work."

5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

5"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

6When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

6After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground. He made mud with the spit and put it on the man's eyes.

7And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

7Jesus said, "Go wash in the pool of Siloam." The name Siloam means "Sent." So the man went and washed. He came back able to see.

8The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

8His neighbors, and people who had seen him begging, asked, "Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?"

9Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

9Some said, "Yes, it is him." Others said, "No, he just looks like him." But the man kept saying, "I am the one."

10Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

10So they asked him, "Then how did your eyes get opened?"

11He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

11He said, "The man called Jesus made mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go wash at Siloam. I went and washed, and then I could see."

12Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

12They asked, "Where is he?" The man said, "I don't know."

13They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

13They took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. The Pharisees were teachers who were very strict about God's rules.

14And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

14The day Jesus made the mud and opened the man's eyes was the Sabbath, the day of rest.

15Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

15So the Pharisees also asked him how he got his sight. He said, "He put mud on my eyes. I washed, and now I can see."

16Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

16Some Pharisees said, "This man is not from God. He does not keep the day of rest." Others said, "How can a sinner do such wonders?" So they did not agree with each other.

17They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

17They asked the man again, "He opened your eyes. What do you say about him?" The man said, "He is a prophet, someone who speaks for God."

18But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

18The Jewish leaders would not believe the man had been blind and could now see. So they sent for his parents.

19And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

19They asked them, "Is this your son? You say he was born blind. How can he see now?"

20His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

20His parents answered, "We know he is our son. We know he was born blind."

21But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

21"But we don't know how he can see now. We don't know who opened his eyes. He is old enough. Ask him. He can speak for himself."

22These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. The leaders had already agreed on this rule. Anyone who said Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the meeting place.

NoteBeing "put out of the synagogue" meant being shut out of the town's worship meetings and its community life.

23Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

23That is why his parents said, "He is old enough. Ask him."

24Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

24So they called the man in a second time. They said, "Give the praise to God. We know this man is a sinner."

Note"Give God the praise" was a set phrase used when questioning someone. It meant "tell the truth in front of God."

25He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

25He answered, "I don't know if he is a sinner. I know one thing. I was blind, and now I see."

26Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

26They asked him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"

27He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?

27He answered, "I already told you, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to follow him too?"

28Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.

28Then they said mean things to him. They said, "You are his follower. We follow Moses."

29We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

29"We know God spoke to Moses. But we don't even know where this man comes from."

30The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

30The man answered, "That is a remarkable thing. You don't know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes."

31Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

31"We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the person who worships him and does what he wants."

32Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

32"No one has ever heard of anyone opening the eyes of a man born blind."

33If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

33"If this man were not from God, he could not do anything like this."

34They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

34They answered, "You were born full of sin. Are you trying to teach us?" And they threw him out.

35Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

35Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out. He found him and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"

36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

36The man answered, "Who is he, sir? Tell me, so I can believe in him."

37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

37Jesus said, "You have already seen him. He is the one talking with you now."

38And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

38The man said, "Lord, I believe." And he bowed down and worshipped Jesus.

39And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

39Jesus said, "I came into this world to judge. People who do not see will see. People who see will become blind."

40And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

40Some Pharisees who were there heard this. They asked him, "Are we blind too?"

41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

41Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But you say you can see. So your sin stays."