John the Baptist Exalts Christ

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and (A)was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for (B)John had not yet been put in prison).

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over (C)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, (D)“Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, (E)to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and (F)all are going to him.” 27 John answered, (G)“A person cannot receive even one thing (H)unless it is given him (I)from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, (J)‘I am not the Christ, but (K)I have been sent before him.’ 29 (L)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. (M)The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, (N)rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 (O)He must increase, but I must decrease.”[a]

31 (P)He who comes from above (Q)is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and (R)speaks in an earthly way. (S)He who comes from heaven (T)is above all. 32 (U)He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, (V)yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony (W)sets his seal to this, (X)that God is true. 34 For he whom (Y)God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit (Z)without measure. 35 (AA)The Father loves the Son and (AB)has given all things into his hand. 36 (AC)Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; (AD)whoever does not obey the Son shall not (AE)see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. John 3:30 Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36

John Testifies Again About Jesus

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.(A) 23 Now John(B) also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.)(C) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.(D) 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,(E) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified(F) about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’(G) 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom.(H) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.(I) 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[a]

31 The one who comes from above(J) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.(K) The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard,(L) but no one accepts his testimony.(M) 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent(N) speaks the words of God, for God[b] gives the Spirit(O) without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.(P) 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,(Q) but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. John 3:30 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 36.
  2. John 3:34 Greek he

15 In my (A)vain[a] life I have seen everything. There is (B)a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who (C)prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not (D)make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. (E)Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of (F)this, and from (G)that (H)withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

19 (I)Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

20 Surely (J)there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

21 Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear (K)your servant cursing you. 22 Your heart knows that (L)many times you yourself have cursed others.

23 All this I have tested by wisdom. (M)I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24 That which has been is far off, and (N)deep, very deep; (O)who can find it out?

25 (P)I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness. 26 And I find something more (Q)bitter than death: (R)the woman whose heart is (S)snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but (T)the sinner is taken by her. 27 Behold, this is what I found, says (U)the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things— 28 which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. (V)One man among a thousand I found, but (W)a woman among all these I have not found. 29 See, this alone I found, that (X)God made man upright, but (Y)they have sought out many schemes.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:15 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)

15 In this meaningless life(A) of mine I have seen both of these:

the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
    and the wicked living long in their wickedness.(B)
16 Do not be overrighteous,
    neither be overwise—
    why destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overwicked,
    and do not be a fool—
    why die before your time?(C)
18 It is good to grasp the one
    and not let go of the other.
    Whoever fears God(D) will avoid all extremes.[a]

19 Wisdom(E) makes one wise person more powerful(F)
    than ten rulers in a city.

20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,(G)
    no one who does what is right and never sins.(H)

21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,
    or you(I) may hear your servant cursing you—
22 for you know in your heart
    that many times you yourself have cursed others.

23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,

“I am determined to be wise”(J)
    but this was beyond me.
24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
    who can discover it?(K)
25 So I turned my mind to understand,
    to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things(L)
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
    and the madness of folly.(M)

26 I find more bitter than death
    the woman who is a snare,(N)
whose heart is a trap
    and whose hands are chains.
The man who pleases God will escape her,
    but the sinner she will ensnare.(O)

27 “Look,” says the Teacher,[b](P) “this is what I have discovered:

“Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—
28     while I was still searching
    but not finding—
I found one upright man among a thousand,
    but not one upright woman(Q) among them all.
29 This only have I found:
    God created mankind upright,
    but they have gone in search of many schemes.”

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:18 Or will follow them both
  2. Ecclesiastes 7:27 Or the leader of the assembly