John 16
New Matthew Bible
Consolation for trouble. Prayers are heard through Christ.
16 These things I have said to you so that you are not made to stumble. 2 They will excommunicate you; yea, the time shall come that whoever kills you will think that he does God service. 3 And such things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when that hour comes, you may remember them, that I told you so.
I did not say these things to you at the beginning, because I was present with you. 5 But now I go my way to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, Where are you going? 6 But because I have said such things to you, your hearts are full of sorrow. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send him to you. 8 And when he is come, he will rebuke the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe on me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you will see me no more; 11 and of judgment, because the chief ruler of this world is judged already.
12 I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot receive them now. 13 However, when he is come (I mean the Spirit of truth), he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak of himself, but whatever he hears, that he will speak, and he will show you things to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will receive of mine and will show it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore I said to you that he will take of mine and show it to you.
16 After a while you will not see me, and again after a while you will see me, because I go to the Father.
17 Then some of his disciples said between themselves, What is this that he says to us, After a while you will not see me, and again after a while you will see me? and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he says, After a while? We cannot understand what he says.
19 Jesus perceived that they wanted to question him and said to them, You enquire about this between yourselves, that I said, After a while you will not see me, and again after a while you will see me. 20 Truly truly I say to you, you will weep and lament, and the world will rejoice. You will sorrow; but your sorrow will be turned to joy.
21 A woman when she travails has sorrow, because her hour is come. But as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And you now are in sorrow. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 And in that day you will ask me no question. Truly truly 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, so that your joy may be full.
25 These things I have spoken to you in parables. The time will come when I will speak no more to you in figures, but I will show you plainly from my Father. 26 At that day, you will ask in my name. And I say not to you that I will speak to my Father for you. 27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I went out from the Father and came into the world, and I leave the world again and go to the Father.
29 His disciples said to him, Lo, now you speak plainly, and you use no parable. 30 Now we know that you understand all things, and there is no need for anyone to ask you any question. Therefore we believe that you came from God.
31 Jesus answered them, Now you do believe. 32 Behold, the hour draws near, and is already come, that you shall be scattered every man his ways, and will leave me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These words I have spoken to you so that in me you may have peace. For in the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.
John 16
English Standard Version
16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 (A)They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, (B)the hour is coming when (C)whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things (D)because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But (E)I have said these things to you, that when (F)their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, (G)because I was with you. 5 But now (H)I am going to him who sent me, and (I)none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, (J)sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for (K)if I do not go away, (L)the Helper will not come to you. But (M)if (N)I go, (O)I will send him to you. 8 (P)And when he comes, he will (Q)convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, (R)because they do not believe in me; 10 (S)concerning righteousness, (T)because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 (U)concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world (V)is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When (W)the Spirit of truth comes, (X)he will (Y)guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but (Z)whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will (AA)glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 (AB)All that the Father has is mine; (AC)therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16 (AD)“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and (AE)again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So (AF)some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, (AG)‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, (AH)‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? (AI)We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 (AJ)Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, (AK)you will weep and lament, but (AL)the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but (AM)your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 (AN)When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 (AO)So also you have sorrow now, but (AP)I will see you again, and (AQ)your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 (AR)In that day you will (AS)ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, (AT)whatever you ask of the Father in my name, (AU)he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. (AV)Ask, and you will receive, (AW)that your joy may be full.
I Have Overcome the World
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. (AX)The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 (AY)for the Father himself loves you, because (AZ)you have loved me and (BA)have believed that I came from God.[a] 28 (BB)I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now (BC)I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not (BD)using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that (BE)you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that (BF)you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, (BG)the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when (BH)you will be scattered, each to his own home, and (BI)will leave me alone. (BJ)Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that (BK)in me you may have peace. (BL)In the world you will have (BM)tribulation. But (BN)take heart; (BO)I have overcome the world.”
Footnotes
- John 16:27 Some manuscripts from the Father
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
