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John 5:31-47
New International Version
John 5:31-47
New International Version
Testimonies About Jesus
31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.(A) 32 There is another who testifies in my favor,(B) and I know that his testimony about me is true.
33 “You have sent to John and he has testified(C) to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony;(D) but I mention it that you may be saved.(E) 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light,(F) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John.(G) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing(H)—testify that the Father has sent me.(I) 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.(J) You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,(K) 38 nor does his word dwell in you,(L) for you do not believe(M) the one he sent.(N) 39 You study[a] the Scriptures(O) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.(P) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,(Q) 40 yet you refuse to come to me(R) to have life.
41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,(S) 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God[b]?(T)
45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses,(U) on whom your hopes are set.(V) 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.(W) 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”(X)
John 5:31-47
English Standard Version
John 5:31-47
English Standard Version
31 (A)If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is (B)another who bears witness about me, and (C)I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 (D)You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that (E)the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and (F)shining lamp, and (G)you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But (H)the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For (I)the works that the Father has given me (J)to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, (K)bear witness about me that (L)the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me (M)has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, (N)his form you have never seen, 38 and (O)you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 (P)You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and (Q)it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet (R)you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 (S)I do not receive glory from people. 42 But (T)I know that you do not have (U)the love of God within you. 43 I have come (V)in my Father's name, and (W)you do not receive me. (X)If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and (Y)do not seek the glory that comes from (Z)the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, (AA)on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for (AB)he wrote of me. 47 But (AC)if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
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John 5:31-47
King James Version
John 5:31-47
King James Version
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41 I receive not honour from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
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John 5:31-47
The Message
John 5:31-47
The Message
30-33 “I can’t do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide. You can trust my decision because I’m not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders. If I were simply speaking on my own account, it would be an empty, self-serving witness. But an independent witness confirms me, the most reliable Witness of all. Furthermore, you all saw and heard John, and he gave expert and reliable testimony about me, didn’t he?
34-38 “But my purpose is not to get your vote, and not to appeal to mere human testimony. I’m speaking to you this way so that you will be saved. John was a torch, blazing and bright, and you were glad enough to dance for an hour or so in his bright light. But the witness that really confirms me far exceeds John’s witness. It’s the work the Father gave me to complete. These very tasks, as I go about completing them, confirm that the Father, in fact, sent me. The Father who sent me, confirmed me. And you missed it. You never heard his voice, you never saw his appearance. There is nothing left in your memory of his Message because you do not take his Messenger seriously.
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39-40 “You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want.
41-44 “I’m not interested in crowd approval. And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God’s love, is not on your working agenda. I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God?
45-47 “But don’t think I’m going to accuse you before my Father. Moses, in whom you put so much stock, is your accuser. If you believed, really believed, what Moses said, you would believe me. He wrote of me. If you won’t take seriously what he wrote, how can I expect you to take seriously what I speak?”
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson