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John 16:16-33
New King James Version
John 16:16-33
New King James Version
Sorrow Will Turn to Joy
16 “A (A)little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, (B)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 [a]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 (C)lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into (D)joy. 21 (E)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 (F)your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. (G)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, (H)that your joy may be (I)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 (J)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 (K)for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and (L)have believed that I came forth from God. 28 (M)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 (N)You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this (O)we believe that You came forth from God.”
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 (P)Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, (Q)each to his [b]own, and will leave Me alone. And (R)yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that (S)in Me you may have peace. (T)In the world you [c]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, (U)I have overcome the world.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 16:18 understand
- John 16:32 own things or place
- John 16:33 NU, M omit will
John 16:16-33
New International Version
John 16:16-33
New International Version
The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy
16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while(A) you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”(B)
17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’(C) and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”(D) 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn(E) while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.(F) 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain(G) because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief,(H) but I will see you again(I) and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.(J) 23 In that day(K) you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.(L) 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive,(M) and your joy will be complete.(N)
25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively,(O) a time is coming(P) when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name.(Q) I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me(R) and have believed that I came from God.(S) 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”(T)
29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.(U) 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe(V) that you came from God.”(W)
31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming(X) and in fact has come when you will be scattered,(Y) each to your own home. You will leave me all alone.(Z) Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.(AA)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.(AB) In this world you will have trouble.(AC) But take heart! I have overcome(AD) the world.”
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.