Jesus the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23:1–6; Ezekiel 34:11–24)
1 WBS Verily, verily, I say to you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. BSB BSB: “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 WBS But he that entereth by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep. BSB BSB: But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 WBS To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. BSB BSB: The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 WBS And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. BSB BSB: When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 WBS And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. BSB BSB: But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.”
6 WBS This parable spoke Jesus to them: but they understood not what things they were which he spoke to them. BSB BSB: Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
7 WBS Then said Jesus to them again, Verily, verily, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. BSB BSB: So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 WBS All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. BSB BSB: All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
9 WBS I am the door: by me if any man shall enter he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. BSB BSB: I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.
10 WBS The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. BSB BSB: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.
12 WBS But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. BSB BSB: The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.
13 WBS The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. BSB BSB: The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.
14 WBS I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep , and am known by mine. BSB BSB: I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
15 WBS As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. BSB BSB: just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
19 WBS There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. BSB BSB: Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message.
20 WBS And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is insane; why hear ye him? BSB BSB: Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”
21 WBS Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? BSB BSB: But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Jesus at the Feast of Dedication 23 WBS And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. BSB BSB: and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade.
24 WBS Then came the Jews around him, and said to him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou art the Christ, tell us plainly. BSB BSB: So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 WBS Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I did in my Father's name, they testify concerning me. BSB BSB: “I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf.
26 WBS But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said to you. BSB BSB: But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe.
28 WBS And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. BSB BSB: I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
29 WBS My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. BSB BSB: My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
31 WBS Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. BSB BSB: At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.
32 WBS Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shown you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? BSB BSB: But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
33 WBS The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy, and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. BSB BSB: “We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, make Yourself out to be God.”
34 WBS Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?
35 WBS If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; BSB BSB: If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—
36 WBS Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? BSB BSB: then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?
37 WBS If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. BSB BSB: If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.
38 WBS 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. BSB BSB: But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”
39 WBS Therefore they sought again to take him; but he escaped from their hand, BSB BSB: At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.
John’s Testimony Confirmed 40 WBS And went again beyond Jordan, into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. BSB BSB: Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.
41 WBS And many resorted to him, and said, John performed no miracle; but all things that John spoke of this man were true. BSB BSB: Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.”
42 WBS And many believed on him there. BSB BSB: And many in that place believed in Jesus.