but now I am going to him who sent me.(A) None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’(B) Rather, you are filled with grief(C) because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate(D) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.(E) When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin,(F) because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness,(G) because I am going to the Father,(H) where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world(I) now stands condemned.

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.(J) 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth,(K) comes, he will guide you into all the truth.(L) He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine.(M) That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy

16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while(N) you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”(O)

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,’(P) and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”(Q) 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(R) while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.(S) 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain(T) 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,(U) but I will see you again(V) and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.(W) 23 In that day(X) you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.(Y) 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive,(Z) and your joy will be complete.(AA)

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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.

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The Work of the Holy Spirit

“But now I (A)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, (B)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 (C)if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has (D)come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (E)of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 (F)of righteousness, (G)because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 (H)of judgment, because (I)the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, (J)but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, (K)the Spirit of truth, has come, (L)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 (M)He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 (N)All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He [a]will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Sorrow Will Turn to Joy

16 “A (O)little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, (P)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 [b]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 (Q)lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into (R)joy. 21 (S)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 (T)your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. (U)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, (V)that your joy may be (W)full.

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Footnotes

  1. John 16:15 NU, M takes of Mine and will declare
  2. John 16:18 understand