Jesus and Nicodemus (Genesis 22:1–10; Romans 5:6–11)
1 WBS There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: BSB BSB: Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
2 WBS The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. BSB BSB: He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”
3 WBS Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say to thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
4 WBS Nicodemus saith to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? BSB BSB: “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”
5 WBS Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say to thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. BSB BSB: Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
6 WBS That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit. BSB BSB: Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
7 WBS Marvel not that I said to thee, Ye must be born again. BSB BSB: Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’
8 WBS The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the sound of it, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. BSB BSB: The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 WBS Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be? BSB BSB: “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 WBS Jesus answered and said to him, Art thou a teacher of Israel, and knowest not these things? BSB BSB: “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things?
11 WBS Verily, verily, I say to thee, We speak what we know, and testify what we have seen; and ye receive not our testimony. BSB BSB: Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony.
12 WBS If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how will ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? BSB BSB: If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
13 WBS And no man hath ascended to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven. BSB BSB: No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
14 WBS And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: BSB BSB: Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 WBS That whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. BSB BSB: that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
17 WBS For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him may be saved. BSB BSB: For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
18 WBS He that believeth on him, is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. BSB BSB: Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
19 WBS And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. BSB BSB: And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
20 WBS For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. BSB BSB: Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
21 WBS But he that doeth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. BSB BSB: But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”
John’s Testimony about Jesus 22 WBS After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. BSB BSB: After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.
23 WBS And John also was baptizing in Enon, near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. BSB BSB: Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.
24 WBS For John was not yet cast into prison. BSB BSB: (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
25 WBS Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying. BSB BSB: Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.
26 WBS And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou didst bear testimony, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. BSB BSB: So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”
27 WBS John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. BSB BSB: John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
28 WBS Ye yourselves bear me testimony, that I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. BSB BSB: You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’
29 WBS He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly, because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. BSB BSB: The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30 WBS He must increase, but I must decrease. BSB BSB: He must increase; I must decrease.
31 WBS He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. BSB BSB: The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.
32 WBS And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. BSB BSB: He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
33 WBS He that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal that God is true. BSB BSB: Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.
34 WBS For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for to him God giveth not the Spirit by measure. BSB BSB: For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
35 WBS The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. BSB BSB: The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
36 WBS He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. BSB BSB: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”