圣灵的工作

16 “我把这些事告诉你们,以免你们失去信心。 人们将把你们赶出会堂,时候将到,杀害你们的人还以为是在事奉上帝。 他们这样做,是因为他们根本不认识父,也不认识我。 我把这些事提前告诉你们,是要叫你们到时候可以想起我曾跟你们讲过这些事。我以前没有告诉你们,那是因为我还跟你们在一起。

“现在我要去差我来的父那里,你们没有人问我去哪里。 因为我把这些事告诉了你们,你们心里充满了忧愁。 然而,我把实情告诉你们,我去对你们是有益的,因为如果我不去,护慰者就不会来,我去了就会派祂到你们这里来。 祂来了,就要在罪、义、审判方面责备世人。 在罪方面责备他们,是因为他们不信我; 10 在义方面责备他们,是因为我要去父那里,你们再也看不到我了; 11 在审判方面责备他们,是因为这世界的王受了审判。

12 “我还有许多事情要告诉你们,可是你们现在不能明白。 13 等到真理之灵来了,祂会引导你们,让你们明白一切的真理。祂不凭自己说话,而是把祂所听见的和有关将来的事告诉你们。 14 祂也要把从我那里领受的指示你们,使我得荣耀。 15 因为父的一切都是我的,所以我才说祂要把从我那里领受的指示你们。

转忧为喜

16 “不久,你们就见不到我了,再过不久,你们还会看见我。”

17 几个门徒彼此议论说:“祂说,‘不久,你们就见不到我了,再过不久,你们还会看见我’,祂又说,‘因为我要去父那里’,这到底是什么意思呢? 18 祂说‘不久’是什么意思呢?我们真不明白!”

19 耶稣知道他们想问祂,就说:“你们在议论我刚才说的话是什么意思吗? 20 我实实在在地告诉你们,你们将痛哭、哀号,世人却要欢喜;你们将忧愁,然而你们的忧愁将变为喜乐。 21 妇人分娩时都会痛苦不已,但孩子生下来后,她就会因为这世界添了一个新生命而充满欢乐,忘掉了生产的痛苦。 22 同样,现在你们有忧愁,但到我再见你们的时候,你们的心必欢喜,而且这份喜乐是谁也夺不去的。

23 “到那一天,你们就什么也不用问我了。我实实在在地告诉你们,你们奉我的名无论向父求什么,祂都会赐给你们。 24 你们从来没有奉我的名求过什么,你们现在求,就必得到,好使你们的喜乐满溢。

胜过世界

25 “我一直用比喻跟你们讲这些事,不久,我就不再用比喻了,而是清楚地把父的事告诉你们。 26 到那天,你们将要奉我的名祈求,我不是说我要为你们向父祈求。 27 父爱你们,因为你们一直爱我,并且相信我来自上帝。 28 我从父那里来到这个世界,现在我要离开这个世界回到父那里。”

29 门徒说:“如今你直截了当地告诉我们,不再用比喻了。 30 现在我们知道你无所不知,无需人向你发问,因此我们相信你来自上帝。”

31 耶稣说:“你们现在相信吗? 32 看啊!时候快到了,现在就是,你们将要分散,各自回家,只留下我一人。不过,我并非一人,因为父与我在一起。 33 我把这些事告诉你们,是要叫你们在我里面有平安。你们在世上会有苦难,但你们要放心,我已经胜过这个世界。”

16 “我把這些事告訴了你們,使你們不致後退。 人要把你們趕出會堂;並且時候要到,所有要殺害你們的人,以為這樣就是事奉 神。 他們要作這些事,因為他們不認識父,也不認識我。 我把這些事告訴了你們,讓你們到了那個時候,可以想起我告訴過你們了。

聖靈的工作

“我起初沒有把這些事告訴你們,因為我跟你們在一起。 現在我要到那差我來的那裡去,你們中間並沒有人問:‘你到哪裡去?’ 然而因為我把這些事告訴了你們,你們心裡就充滿憂愁。 但我要把實情告訴你們,我去是對你們有益的。如果我不去,保惠師就不會到你們這裡來;我若去了,就會差他到你們這裡來。 他來了,就要在罪、在義、在審判各方面指證世人的罪。 在罪方面,是因為他們不信我; 10 在義方面,是因為我到父那裡去,你們就再看不見我; 11 在審判方面,是因為這世界的統治者已經受了審判。

12 “我還有許多事要告訴你們,可是你們現在擔當不了; 13 只等真理的靈來了,他要引導你們進入一切真理。他不是憑著自己說話,而是把他聽見的都說出來,並且要把將來的事告訴你們。 14 他要榮耀我,因為他要把從我那裡所領受的告訴你們。 15 父所有的一切,都是我的;所以我說,他要把從我那裡所領受的告訴你們。

你們的憂愁要變為喜樂

16 “不久,你們不會再看見我;再過不久,你們還要看見我。” 17 於是他的門徒中有幾個彼此說:“他對我們說:‘不久,你們不會看見我;再過不久,你們還要看見我。’又說:‘因為我到父那裡去。’這是甚麼意思呢?” 18 他們又說:“他所說的‘不久’,是甚麼意思呢?我們不曉得他在講甚麼。” 19 耶穌知道他們想問他,就說:“我所說的‘不久,你們不會看見我;再過不久,你們還要看見我’,你們為了這話彼此議論嗎? 20 我實實在在告訴你們,你們要痛哭哀號,世人卻要歡喜;你們要憂愁,但你們的憂愁要變為喜樂。 21 婦人生產的時候會有憂愁,因為她的時候到了;但生了孩子以後,就不再記住那痛苦了,因為歡喜有一個人生到世上來。 22 現在你們也有憂愁;但我要再見你們,你們的心就會喜樂,你們的喜樂是沒有人能夠奪去的。 23 到了那天,你們甚麼也不會問我了。我實實在在告訴你們,你們奉我的名無論向父求甚麼,他必定賜給你們。 24 你們向來沒有奉我的名求甚麼;現在你們祈求,就必定得著,讓你們的喜樂滿溢。

耶穌已經勝過世界

25 “我用譬喻對你們說了這些事,時候要到,我不再用譬喻對你們說了,而是把關於父的事明明白白告訴你們。 26 到了那天,你們要奉我的名祈求,我不是說我要為你們請求父; 27 父自己愛你們,因為你們已經愛我,並且信我是從 神那裡來的。 28 我從父那裡來,到了這世界;我又離開這世界,到父那裡去。” 29 門徒說:“你看,現在你是明說,不是用譬喻說了。 30 現在我們知道你是無所不知的,不需要人向你發問。因此,我們信你是從 神那裡來的。” 31 耶穌對他們說:“現在你們信嗎? 32 看哪,時候要到,而且已經到了,你們要分散,各人到自己的地方去,只留下我獨自一個人。其實我不是獨自一個人,因為有父與我同在。 33 我把這些事告訴你們,是要使你們在我裡面有平安。在世上你們有患難,但你們放心,我已經勝了這世界。”

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

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

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

But 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.

But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

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

Nevertheless 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.

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

Of sin, because they believe not on me;

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

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

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit 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.

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

15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

17 Then 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?

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

19 Now 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?

20 Verily, 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.

21 A 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.

22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

23 And 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.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

25 These 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.

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

27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

30 Now 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.

31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?

32 Behold, 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.

33 These 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.

Jesus Warns and Comforts His Disciples

16 “These things I have spoken to you, that you (A)should not be made to stumble. (B)They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming (C)that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And (D)these things they will do [a]to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when [b]the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

“And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

“But now I (E)go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, (F)sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but (G)if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has (H)come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (I)of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 (J)of righteousness, (K)because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 (L)of judgment, because (M)the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, (N)but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, (O)the Spirit of truth, has come, (P)He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 (Q)He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 (R)All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He [c]will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Sorrow Will Turn to Joy

16 “A (S)little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, (T)because I go to the Father.”

17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not [d]know what He is saying.”

19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and (U)lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into (V)joy. 21 (W)A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and (X)your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. (Y)Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, (Z)that your joy may be (AA)full.

Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World

25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you (AB)plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 (AC)for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and (AD)have believed that I came forth from God. 28 (AE)I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that (AF)You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this (AG)we believe that You came forth from God.”

31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 (AH)Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, (AI)each to his [e]own, and will leave Me alone. And (AJ)yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that (AK)in Me you may have peace. (AL)In the world you [f]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, (AM)I have overcome the world.”

Footnotes

  1. John 16:3 NU, M omit to you
  2. John 16:4 NU their
  3. John 16:15 NU, M takes of Mine and will declare
  4. John 16:18 understand
  5. John 16:32 own things or place
  6. John 16:33 NU, M omit will