16 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. They will ban you from the synagogues.(A) In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service(B) to God. They will do these things because they haven’t known(C) the Father or me. But I have told you these things so that when their time[a] comes you will remember(D) I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going away(E) to him who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’(F) Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth.(G) It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.(H) When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father(I) and you will no longer see me; 11 and about judgment,(J) because the ruler of this world(K) has been judged.(L)

12 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.(M) 13 When the Spirit of truth(N) comes, he will guide you into all the truth.(O) For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. 15 Everything the Father(P) has is mine.(Q) This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.(R)

Sorrow Turned to Joy

16 “In a little while,(S) you will no longer see me; (T) again in a little while, you will see me.”[b]

17 Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this he’s telling us: ‘In a little while, you will not see me; again in a little while, you will see me,’ and, ‘Because I am going to the Father’(U)?” 18 They said, “What is this he is saying,[c] ‘In a little while’? We don’t know what he’s talking about.”

19 Jesus knew they wanted to ask him, and so he said to them, “Are you asking one another about what I said, ‘In a little while, you will not see me; again in a little while, you will see me’? 20 Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn,(V) but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful,(W) but your sorrow will turn to joy. 21 When a woman is in labor, she has pain(X) because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child,(Y) she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. 22 So you also have sorrow[d] now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice,(Z) and no one will take away your joy from you.(AA)

23 “In that day you will not ask me anything. Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.(AB) 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in my name.(AC) Ask and you will receive,(AD) so that your joy may be complete.(AE)

Jesus the Victor

25 “I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 On that day you will ask(AF) in my name, and(AG) I am not telling you that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved(AH) me and have believed that I came from God.[e](AI) 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”(AJ)

29 His disciples said, “Look, now you’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language. 30 Now we know that you know everything(AK) and don’t need anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”(AL)

31 Jesus responded to them, “Do you now believe? 32 Indeed, an hour is coming, and has come,(AM) when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.(AN) 33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Footnotes

  1. 16:4 Other mss read when the time
  2. 16:16 Other mss add because I am going to the Father
  3. 16:18 Other mss omit he is saying
  4. 16:22 Other mss read will have sorrow
  5. 16:27 Other mss read from the Father

Jesus’ Warning

16 (A)These things I have spoken to you so that you will not [a]be (B)led into sin. They will [b](C)ban you from the synagogue, yet (D)an hour is coming for everyone (E)who kills you to think that he is offering a [c]service to God. These things they will do (F)because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have spoken to you, (G)so that when their hour comes, you [d]may remember that I told you of them. However, I did not say these things to you (H)at the beginning, because I was with you.

The Holy Spirit Promised

“But now (I)I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘(J)Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, (K)grief has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the [e](L)Helper will not come to you; but if I go, (M)I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: regarding sin, (N)because they do not believe in Me; 10 and regarding (O)righteousness, because (P)I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me; 11 (Q)and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them at the present time. 13 But when He, (R)the Spirit of truth, comes, He will (S)guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will (T)glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 (U)All things that the Father has are Mine; this is why I said that He takes from Mine and will disclose it to you.

Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Foretold

16 (V)A little while, and (W)you no longer are going to see Me; and again a little while, and (X)you will see Me.” 17 So some of His disciples said to one another, “What is this that He is telling us, (Y)A little while, and you are not going to see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because (Z)I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” 19 (AA)Jesus knew that they wanted to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you are not going to see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Truly, truly I say to you that (AB)you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but (AC)your grief will be turned into joy! 21 (AD)Whenever a woman is in labor she has [f]pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a [g]child has been born into the world. 22 Therefore (AE)you too have grief now; but (AF)I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one is going to take your joy away from you.

Prayer Promises

23 And (AG)on that day (AH)you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly I say to you, (AI)if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24 (AJ)Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your (AK)joy may be made full.

25 “These things I have spoken to you in (AL)figures of speech; (AM)an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 (AN)On that day (AO)you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; 27 for (AP)the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and (AQ)have believed that (AR)I came forth from the Father. 28 (AS)I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and (AT)going to the Father.”

29 His disciples *said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and are not [h]using any (AU)figure of speech. 30 Now we know that You know all things, and that You have no need for anyone to question You; this is why we (AV)believe that You (AW)came forth from God.” 31 Jesus replied to them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, (AX)an hour is coming, and has already come, for (AY)you to be scattered, each to (AZ)his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet (BA)I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you so that (BB)in Me you may have peace. (BC)In the world you have tribulation, but (BD)take courage; (BE)I have overcome the world.”

Footnotes

  1. John 16:1 Or let yourselves be led; or fall away (in apostasy)
  2. John 16:2 Or excommunicate
  3. John 16:2 I.e., as an act of worship
  4. John 16:4 Or will remember them, that I told you
  5. John 16:7 Or Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor
  6. John 16:21 Lit grief
  7. John 16:21 Lit human being
  8. John 16:29 Lit saying