A Satire on Idolatry

10 Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, house of Israel. This is what the Lord says:

(A)Do not learn the way of the nations,
And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens,
Although the nations are terrified by them;
For the customs of the peoples are (B)futile;
For (C)it is wood cut from the forest,
The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.
They (D)decorate the idol with silver and gold;
They (E)fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not totter.
They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
And they (F)cannot speak;
They must be (G)carried,
Because they cannot walk!
Do not fear them,
For they (H)can do no harm,
Nor can they do any good.”

(I)There is none like You, Lord;
You are (J)great, and Your name is great in might.
(K)Who would not fear You, O (L)King of the nations?
For it is Your due!
For among all the (M)wise men of the nations
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You.
But they are altogether (N)stupid and foolish;
The instruction from idols is nothing but wood!
Beaten (O)silver is brought from (P)Tarshish,
And (Q)gold from Uphaz,
The work of a craftsman and of the hands of a goldsmith;
Their clothing is of violet and purple;
They are all the (R)work of skilled people.
10 But the Lord is the (S)true God;
He is the (T)living God and the (U)everlasting King.
The (V)earth quakes at His wrath,
And the nations cannot (W)endure His indignation.

11 [a]This is what you shall say to them: “The (X)gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will (Y)perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”

12 It is (Z)He who made the earth by His power,
Who (AA)established the world by His wisdom;
And by His understanding He has (AB)stretched out the heavens.
13 When He utters His (AC)voice, there is a roar of waters in the heavens,
And He makes the (AD)clouds ascend from the end of the earth;
He makes lightning for the rain,
And brings out the (AE)wind from His storehouses.
14 Every person is (AF)stupid, devoid of knowledge;
Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,
For his cast metal images are deceitful,
And there is no breath in them.
15 They are (AG)worthless, a work of mockery;
At the (AH)time of their punishment they will perish.
16 The (AI)Portion of Jacob is not like these;
For He is the [b](AJ)Maker of everything,
And (AK)Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;
The (AL)Lord of armies is His name.

17 (AM)Pick up your bundle from the ground,
You who live under siege!
18 For this is what the Lord says:
“Behold, I am (AN)slinging out the inhabitants of the land
At this time,
And I will cause them distress,
So that they may [c]be found.”

19 (AO)Woe to me, because of my [d]injury!
My (AP)wound is incurable.
But I said, “This certainly is a sickness,
And I (AQ)must endure it.”
20 My (AR)tent is destroyed,
And all my ropes are broken.
My (AS)sons have gone from me and are no more.
There is (AT)no one to stretch out my tent again
Or to set up my curtains.
21 For the shepherds have become stupid
And (AU)have not sought the Lord.
Therefore they have not prospered,
And (AV)all their flock is scattered.
22 The sound of a (AW)report! Behold, it is coming—
A great roar (AX)from the land of the north—
To (AY)make the cities of Judah
A desolation, a haunt of jackals.

23 I know, Lord, that (AZ)a person’s way is not in himself,
(BA)Nor is it in a person who walks to direct his steps.
24 (BB)Correct me, Lord, but with justice;
Not with Your anger, or You will [e]bring me to nothing.
25 (BC)Pour out Your wrath on the nations that (BD)do not know You,
And on the families who (BE)do not call upon Your name;
For they have devoured Jacob;
They have (BF)devoured him and consumed him,
And have laid waste his [f]settlement.

The Broken Covenant

11 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, (BG)Hear the words of this (BH)covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: “(BI)Cursed is the one who does not obey the words of this covenant which I commanded your forefathers on the (BJ)day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the (BK)iron furnace, saying, ‘(BL)Listen to My voice, and [g]do according to all that I command you; so you shall be (BM)My people, and I will be your God,’ in order to confirm the (BN)oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’” Then I replied, “(BO)Amen, Lord.”

And the Lord said to me, “(BP)Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘(BQ)Hear the words of this covenant and (BR)do them. For I solemnly (BS)warned your fathers on the (BT)day I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even to this day, (BU)warning them persistently, saying, “(BV)Listen to My voice.” Yet they (BW)did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart, each one of them; therefore I brought on them all the (BX)words of this covenant which I commanded them to do, but they did not.’”

Then the Lord said to me, “A (BY)conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They have (BZ)turned back to the wrongdoings of their [h]ancestors who (CA)refused to hear My words, and they (CB)have followed other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have (CC)broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.” 11 Therefore this is what the Lord says: “Behold, I am (CD)bringing disaster on them which they will (CE)not be able to escape; though they will (CF)cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. 12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will (CG)go and cry out to the gods to whom they [i]burn incense, but they certainly will not save them in the time of their disaster. 13 For your gods are [j](CH)as many as your cities, Judah; and [k]as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the (CI)shameful thing, altars for [l](CJ)burning incense to Baal.

14 “So as for you, (CK)do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will (CL)not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster.

15 What right has My (CM)beloved in My house
When (CN)she has carried out many evil schemes?
Can the sacrificial flesh take away from you your disaster,
[m]So that you can rejoice?”
16 The Lord named you
“A (CO)green olive tree, beautiful in fruit and form”;
With the (CP)noise of a great [n]tumult
He has (CQ)set fire to it,
And its branches are worthless.

17 The Lord of armies, who (CR)planted you, has (CS)pronounced evil against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, which they have [o]done to provoke Me by [p](CT)offering sacrifices to Baal.

Plots against Jeremiah

18 Moreover, the Lord (CU)made it known to me and I knew it;
Then You showed me their deeds.
19 But I was like a gentle (CV)lamb led to the slaughter;
And I did not know that they had (CW)devised plots against me, saying,
“Let’s destroy the tree with its [q]fruit,
And (CX)let’s cut him off from the (CY)land of the living,
So that his (CZ)name will no longer be remembered.”
20 But, Lord of armies, who (DA)judges righteously,
Who (DB)puts the [r]feelings and the heart to the test,
Let me see Your vengeance on them,
For to You I have [s]committed my cause.

21 Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the people of (DC)Anathoth, who are (DD)seeking your life, saying: “(DE)Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, so that you do not (DF)die by our hand”; 22 therefore, this is what the Lord of armies says: “Behold, I am going to (DG)punish them! The (DH)young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters will die by famine; 23 and a remnant (DI)will not be left to them, because I will (DJ)bring disaster on the people of Anathoth—(DK)the year of their punishment.”

Jeremiah’s Prayer

12 (DL)Righteous are You, Lord, when I plead my case with You;
Nevertheless I would (DM)discuss matters of justice with You:
Why has the (DN)way of the wicked prospered?
Why are all those who (DO)deal in treachery at ease?
You have (DP)planted them, they have also taken root;
They grow, they have also produced fruit.
You are (DQ)near [t]to their lips
But far from their [u]mind.
But You (DR)know me, Lord;
You see me
And (DS)examine my heart’s attitude toward You.
Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter,
And [v]set them apart for a (DT)day of slaughter!
How long is the (DU)land to mourn,
And the (DV)vegetation of the [w]countryside to dry up?
Due to the (DW)wickedness of those who live in it,
(DX)Animals and birds have been snatched away,
Because people have said, “He will not see our final (DY)end.”

“If you have run with infantrymen and they have tired you out,
How can you compete with horses?
If you fall down in a land of peace,
How will you do in the (DZ)thicket by the Jordan?
For even your (EA)brothers and the household of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you,
Even they have called aloud after you.
Do not believe them, though they say (EB)nice things to you.”

God’s Answer

“I have (EC)forsaken My house,
I have abandoned My inheritance;
I have handed the (ED)beloved of My soul
Over to her enemies.
My inheritance has become to Me
Like a lion in the forest;
She has [x](EE)roared against Me;
Therefore I have come to (EF)hate her.
Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me?
Are the (EG)birds of prey against her on every side?
Go, gather all the (EH)animals of the field,
Bring them to devour!
10 Many (EI)shepherds have ruined My (EJ)vineyard,
They have (EK)trampled down My field;
They have made My (EL)pleasant field
A desolate wilderness.
11 [y]It has been made a desolation;
Desolate, it (EM)mourns [z]before Me;
The (EN)whole land has been made desolate,
Because no one (EO)takes it to heart.
12 On all the [aa](EP)bare heights in the wilderness
Destroyers have come,
For the (EQ)sword of the Lord is devouring
From one end of the land even to the [ab]other;
There is (ER)no peace for [ac]anyone.
13 They have (ES)sown wheat but have harvested thorns,
They have (ET)strained themselves [ad]to no profit.
So be ashamed of your (EU)produce
Because of the (EV)fierce anger of the Lord.”

14 This is what the Lord says concerning all My (EW)wicked neighbors who (EX)do harm to the inheritance with which I have endowed My people Israel: “Behold, I am going to drive them out of their land, and I will (EY)drive the house of Judah out from among them. 15 And it will come about that after I have driven them out, I will (EZ)again have compassion on them; and I will (FA)bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land. 16 Then, if they will really (FB)learn the ways of My people, to (FC)swear by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ just as they taught My people to (FD)swear by Baal, they will be (FE)built up in the midst of My people. 17 But if they do not listen, then I will (FF)drive out that nation, drive it out and destroy it,” declares the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 10:11 This verse is in Aram
  2. Jeremiah 10:16 Lit Fashioner
  3. Jeremiah 10:18 Lit find
  4. Jeremiah 10:19 Lit breaking
  5. Jeremiah 10:24 Lit diminish me
  6. Jeremiah 10:25 Or pasture
  7. Jeremiah 11:4 Lit do them
  8. Jeremiah 11:10 Lit former fathers
  9. Jeremiah 11:12 Or offer sacrifices
  10. Jeremiah 11:13 Lit the number of
  11. Jeremiah 11:13 Lit the number of
  12. Jeremiah 11:13 Or offering sacrifices to
  13. Jeremiah 11:15 Lit Then
  14. Jeremiah 11:16 I.e., confused noise
  15. Jeremiah 11:17 Or done for themselves
  16. Jeremiah 11:17 Or burning incense
  17. Jeremiah 11:19 Lit bread
  18. Jeremiah 11:20 Lit kidneys
  19. Jeremiah 11:20 Lit rolled
  20. Jeremiah 12:2 Lit in their mouth
  21. Jeremiah 12:2 Lit kidneys
  22. Jeremiah 12:3 Lit sanctify them
  23. Jeremiah 12:4 Lit whole field
  24. Jeremiah 12:8 Lit raised her voice
  25. Jeremiah 12:11 Lit One has made it
  26. Jeremiah 12:11 Or upon
  27. Jeremiah 12:12 Or caravan trails
  28. Jeremiah 12:12 Lit other end of the land
  29. Jeremiah 12:12 Lit all flesh
  30. Jeremiah 12:13 Lit they do not profit

God and Idols(A)

10 Hear what the Lord says to you, people of Israel. This is what the Lord says:

“Do not learn the ways of the nations(B)
    or be terrified by signs(C) in the heavens,
    though the nations are terrified by them.
For the practices of the peoples are worthless;
    they cut a tree out of the forest,
    and a craftsman(D) shapes it with his chisel.(E)
They adorn it with silver(F) and gold;
    they fasten it with hammer and nails
    so it will not totter.(G)
Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
    their idols cannot speak;(H)
they must be carried
    because they cannot walk.(I)
Do not fear them;
    they can do no harm(J)
    nor can they do any good.”(K)

No one is like you,(L) Lord;
    you are great,(M)
    and your name is mighty in power.
Who should not fear(N) you,
    King of the nations?(O)
    This is your due.
Among all the wise leaders of the nations
    and in all their kingdoms,
    there is no one like you.

They are all senseless(P) and foolish;(Q)
    they are taught by worthless wooden idols.(R)
Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish(S)
    and gold from Uphaz.
What the craftsman and goldsmith have made(T)
    is then dressed in blue and purple—
    all made by skilled workers.
10 But the Lord is the true God;
    he is the living God,(U) the eternal King.(V)
When he is angry,(W) the earth trembles;(X)
    the nations cannot endure his wrath.(Y)

11 “Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish(Z) from the earth and from under the heavens.’”[a]

12 But God made(AA) the earth(AB) by his power;
    he founded the world by his wisdom(AC)
    and stretched out the heavens(AD) by his understanding.
13 When he thunders,(AE) the waters in the heavens roar;
    he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning(AF) with the rain(AG)
    and brings out the wind from his storehouses.(AH)

14 Everyone is senseless and without knowledge;
    every goldsmith is shamed(AI) by his idols.
The images he makes are a fraud;(AJ)
    they have no breath in them.
15 They are worthless,(AK) the objects of mockery;
    when their judgment comes, they will perish.
16 He who is the Portion(AL) of Jacob is not like these,
    for he is the Maker of all things,(AM)
including Israel, the people of his inheritance(AN)
    the Lord Almighty is his name.(AO)

Coming Destruction

17 Gather up your belongings(AP) to leave the land,
    you who live under siege.
18 For this is what the Lord says:
    “At this time I will hurl(AQ) out
    those who live in this land;
I will bring distress(AR) on them
    so that they may be captured.”

19 Woe to me because of my injury!
    My wound(AS) is incurable!
Yet I said to myself,
    “This is my sickness, and I must endure(AT) it.”
20 My tent(AU) is destroyed;
    all its ropes are snapped.
My children are gone from me and are no more;(AV)
    no one is left now to pitch my tent
    or to set up my shelter.
21 The shepherds(AW) are senseless(AX)
    and do not inquire of the Lord;(AY)
so they do not prosper(AZ)
    and all their flock is scattered.(BA)
22 Listen! The report is coming—
    a great commotion from the land of the north!(BB)
It will make the towns of Judah desolate,(BC)
    a haunt of jackals.(BD)

Jeremiah’s Prayer

23 Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own;
    it is not for them to direct their steps.(BE)
24 Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure—
    not in your anger,(BF)
    or you will reduce me to nothing.(BG)
25 Pour out your wrath on the nations(BH)
    that do not acknowledge you,
    on the peoples who do not call on your name.(BI)
For they have devoured(BJ) Jacob;
    they have devoured him completely
    and destroyed his homeland.(BK)

The Covenant Is Broken

11 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Listen to the terms of this covenant(BL) and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. Tell them that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed(BM) is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant— the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt,(BN) out of the iron-smelting furnace.(BO)’ I said, ‘Obey(BP) me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people,(BQ) and I will be your God. Then I will fulfill the oath I swore(BR) to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey’(BS)—the land you possess today.”

I answered, “Amen,(BT) Lord.”

The Lord said to me, “Proclaim(BU) all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow(BV) them. From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again,(BW) saying, “Obey me.” But they did not listen or pay attention;(BX) instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts.(BY) So I brought on them all the curses(BZ) of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.(CA)’”

Then the Lord said to me, “There is a conspiracy(CB) among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. 10 They have returned to the sins of their ancestors,(CC) who refused to listen to my words.(CD) They have followed other gods(CE) to serve them.(CF) Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant(CG) I made with their ancestors. 11 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster(CH) they cannot escape.(CI) Although they cry(CJ) out to me, I will not listen(CK) to them. 12 The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense,(CL) but they will not help them at all when disaster(CM) strikes. 13 You, Judah, have as many gods(CN) as you have towns;(CO) and the altars you have set up to burn incense(CP) to that shameful(CQ) god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’

14 “Do not pray(CR) for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen(CS) when they call to me in the time of their distress.

15 “What is my beloved doing in my temple
    as she, with many others, works out her evil schemes?
    Can consecrated meat(CT) avert your punishment?(CU)
When you engage in your wickedness,
    then you rejoice.[b]

16 The Lord called you a thriving olive tree(CV)
    with fruit beautiful in form.
But with the roar of a mighty storm
    he will set it on fire,(CW)
    and its branches will be broken.(CX)

17 The Lord Almighty, who planted(CY) you, has decreed disaster(CZ) for you, because the people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and aroused(DA) my anger by burning incense to Baal.(DB)

Plot Against Jeremiah

18 Because the Lord revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing. 19 I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter;(DC) I did not realize that they had plotted(DD) against me, saying,

“Let us destroy the tree and its fruit;
    let us cut him off from the land of the living,(DE)
    that his name be remembered(DF) no more.”
20 But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously(DG)
    and test the heart(DH) and mind,(DI)
let me see your vengeance(DJ) on them,
    for to you I have committed my cause.

21 Therefore this is what the Lord says about the people of Anathoth(DK) who are threatening to kill you,(DL) saying, “Do not prophesy(DM) in the name of the Lord or you will die(DN) by our hands”— 22 therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will punish them. Their young men(DO) will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. 23 Not even a remnant(DP) will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.(DQ)

Jeremiah’s Complaint

12 You are always righteous,(DR) Lord,
    when I bring a case(DS) before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:(DT)
    Why does the way of the wicked prosper?(DU)
    Why do all the faithless live at ease?
You have planted(DV) them, and they have taken root;
    they grow and bear fruit.(DW)
You are always on their lips
    but far from their hearts.(DX)
Yet you know me, Lord;
    you see me and test(DY) my thoughts about you.
Drag them off like sheep(DZ) to be butchered!
    Set them apart for the day of slaughter!(EA)
How long will the land lie parched(EB)
    and the grass in every field be withered?(EC)
Because those who live in it are wicked,
    the animals and birds have perished.(ED)
Moreover, the people are saying,
    “He will not see what happens to us.”

God’s Answer

“If you have raced with men on foot
    and they have worn you out,
    how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble[c] in safe country,
    how will you manage in the thickets(EE) by[d] the Jordan?
Your relatives, members of your own family—
    even they have betrayed you;
    they have raised a loud cry against you.(EF)
Do not trust them,
    though they speak well of you.(EG)

“I will forsake(EH) my house,
    abandon(EI) my inheritance;
I will give the one I love(EJ)
    into the hands of her enemies.(EK)
My inheritance has become to me
    like a lion(EL) in the forest.
She roars at me;
    therefore I hate her.(EM)
Has not my inheritance become to me
    like a speckled bird of prey
    that other birds of prey surround and attack?
Go and gather all the wild beasts;
    bring them to devour.(EN)
10 Many shepherds(EO) will ruin my vineyard
    and trample down my field;
they will turn my pleasant field
    into a desolate wasteland.(EP)
11 It will be made a wasteland,(EQ)
    parched and desolate before me;(ER)
the whole land will be laid waste
    because there is no one who cares.
12 Over all the barren heights in the desert
    destroyers will swarm,
for the sword(ES) of the Lord(ET) will devour(EU)
    from one end of the land to the other;(EV)
    no one will be safe.(EW)
13 They will sow wheat but reap thorns;
    they will wear themselves out but gain nothing.(EX)
They will bear the shame of their harvest
    because of the Lord’s fierce anger.”(EY)

14 This is what the Lord says: “As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance(EZ) I gave my people Israel, I will uproot(FA) them from their lands and I will uproot(FB) the people of Judah from among them. 15 But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion(FC) and will bring(FD) each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country. 16 And if they learn(FE) well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’(FF)—even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal(FG)—then they will be established among my people.(FH) 17 But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy(FI) it,” declares the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 10:11 The text of this verse is in Aramaic.
  2. Jeremiah 11:15 Or Could consecrated meat avert your punishment? / Then you would rejoice
  3. Jeremiah 12:5 Or you feel secure only
  4. Jeremiah 12:5 Or the flooding of

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 (A)Do not let your heart be troubled; [a]believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many [b]rooms; if that were not so, [c]I would have told you, because (B)I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, (C)I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that (D)where I am, there you also will be. And you know the way where I am going.” (E)Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?” Jesus *said to him, “I am (F)the way, and (G)the truth, and (H)the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

Oneness with the Father

(I)If you [d]had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you (J)know Him, and have (K)seen Him.”

(L)Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus *said to him, “Have I been with [e]you for so long a time, and yet [f]you have not come to know Me, Philip? (M)The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that (N)I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? (O)The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own, but the Father, as He remains in Me, does His works. 11 Believe Me that (P)I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise (Q)believe because of the works themselves. 12 Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and (R)greater works than these he will do; because (S)I am going to the Father. 13 And (T)whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that (U)the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything (V)in My name, I will do it.

15 (W)If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

The Holy Spirit

16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [g](X)Helper, so that He may be with you forever; 17 the Helper is (Y)the Spirit of truth, (Z)whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; (AA)I am coming to you. 19 [h](AB)After a little while, (AC)the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; (AD)because I live, you also will live. 20 (AE)On that day you will know that (AF)I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you. 21 (AG)The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and (AH)the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will (AI)reveal Myself to him.” 22 (AJ)Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what has happened (AK)that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, (AL)If anyone loves Me, he will (AM)follow My word; and (AN)My Father will love him, and We (AO)will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. 24 The one who does not love Me (AP)does not follow My words; and (AQ)the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while remaining with you. 26 But the (AR)Helper, the Holy Spirit (AS)whom the Father will send in My name, (AT)He will teach you all things, and (AU)remind you of all that I said to you. 27 (AV)Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. (AW)[i]Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor [j]fearful. 28 (AX)You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away, and (AY)I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced [k]because (AZ)I am going to the Father, for (BA)the Father is greater than I. 29 And now (BB)I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 30 I will not speak much more with you, for (BC)the ruler of the world is coming, and he has [l]nothing in regard to Me, 31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, [m]I do exactly as (BD)the Father commanded Me. Get up, (BE)let’s go from here.

Footnotes

  1. John 14:1 Or you believe in God, believe also
  2. John 14:2 Or dwelling places
  3. John 14:2 Or would I have told you that I am going...?
  4. John 14:7 Two early mss have come to know...you will know
  5. John 14:9 I.e., you plural, the disciples
  6. John 14:9 I.e., you singular, Philip
  7. John 14:16 Or Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor
  8. John 14:19 Lit Yet a little and the world
  9. John 14:27 Or Stop letting your hearts
  10. John 14:27 Or cowardly
  11. John 14:28 Or that
  12. John 14:30 I.e., no grounds for any accusation
  13. John 14:31 Lit and just as the Father...so I do

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled.(A) You believe(B) in God[a];(C) believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there(D) to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back(E) and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.(F) You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

Thomas(G) said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am(H) the way(I) and the truth(J) and the life.(K) No one comes to the Father except through me.(L) If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well.(M) From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip(N) said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.(O) How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?(P) The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority.(Q) Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.(R) 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes(S) in me will do the works I have been doing,(T) and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask(U) in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands.(V) 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate(W) to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.(X) The world cannot accept him,(Y) because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans;(Z) I will come to you.(AA) 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.(AB) Because I live, you also will live.(AC) 20 On that day(AD) you will realize that I am in my Father,(AE) and you are in me, and I am in you.(AF) 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.(AG) The one who loves me will be loved by my Father,(AH) and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas(AI) (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”(AJ)

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.(AK) My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.(AL) 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.(AM)

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate,(AN) the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,(AO) will teach you all things(AP) and will remind you of everything I have said to you.(AQ) 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.(AR) I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled(AS) and do not be afraid.

28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’(AT) If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father,(AU) for the Father is greater than I.(AV) 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.(AW) 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world(AX) is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.(AY)

“Come now; let us leave.

Footnotes

  1. John 14:1 Or Believe in God
  2. John 14:7 Some manuscripts If you really knew me, you would know
  3. John 14:17 Some early manuscripts and is