John 16
EasyEnglish Bible
16 Jesus then said, ‘I have told you all these things, so that you will not turn away from God. 2 People will send you away from their meeting places. There will be a time when people will want to kill you. When they do this, they will even think that they are doing what God wants. 3 They will do these things to you because they have never known either the Father or me. 4 But I have told you this so that you will remember. When they begin to do these things, you will remember that I told you about them already.’
The work of God's Spirit
‘I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I will go to the Father who sent me. But none of you asks me, “Where will you go?” 6 And now you are very sad, because I have told you these things. 7 But what I tell you is true. It will be better for you if I go away. Because, if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I do go away, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will show the people of this world what they are like. He will show clearly that they are wrong. They are wrong about what sin really is. They are wrong about who is right with God. They are wrong about how God judges people. 9 They are wrong about sin, because they do not believe in me. 10 They are wrong about who is right with God, because I will go to the Father. Then you will not see me again. 11 They are wrong about how God judges people, because God has already judged Satan, the ruler of this world.
12 I have many more things to tell you. But you are not strong enough to know them now. 13 But the Spirit will come. He is the one who shows people true things about God. When he comes, he will be a guide to you. He will help you to understand everything that is true. He will not speak on his own authority. He will tell you only what he hears from the Father. He will tell you about things that will happen after this time. 14 He will take my message and he will tell it to you. In that way, he will give me honour. 15 Everything that the Father has is mine. That is why I said, “The Spirit will take what is mine and then he will tell it to you.” ’
The disciples will be sad first but after that they will be happy
16 Jesus then said, ‘After a short time, you will not see me any more. But soon after that, you will see me again.’ 17 Some of his disciples said to each other, ‘What does he mean? He says, “After a short time, you will not see me any more, but soon after that you will see me.” He also says, “It is because I go to the Father.” 18 What does he mean when he says, “a short time”? We do not know what he is talking about!’
19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him about this. So he said to them, ‘I said, “After a short time, you will not see me. But soon after that, you will see me again.” Perhaps you are asking each other about that. 20 I tell you this: You will be sad and you will cry. But the people who belong to this world will be happy. Yes, you will be sad. But soon after that, you will become happy instead. 21 It will be like this. When a woman is soon to give birth to a baby, she is sad. She knows that it will be painful. But after the baby is born, she is happy. She forgets her pain, because now she is so happy. She is happy because her child has been born into the world. 22 It is like that for you. You are sad now. But I will see you again, and then you will be happy. You will be really happy. Nobody will be able to take away your joy.
23 When that day arrives, you will not ask me for anything. I tell you this: The Father will help you with anything that you ask him for in my name. 24 Until now, you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask God, and you will receive what you ask for. Then you will be completely happy.
25 I have spoken to you with words and stories that are like pictures. But there will be a time when I will not speak like that any more. Instead, I will speak clearly to you about the Father. 26 When that day arrives, you yourselves will ask the Father in my name.[a] I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 I will not need to do that, because the Father himself loves you. He loves you because you love me, and you have believed that I came from God. 28 Yes, I came from the Father, and I came into this world. Now I will leave this world and I will return to the Father.’
29 Jesus' disciples said to him, ‘Now you are speaking clearly. You are not speaking with words that are like pictures! 30 Now we are sure that you know everything. You do not even need to ask people what they are thinking. Because of this, we believe that you came from God.’ 31 Jesus answered them, ‘You say that you believe in me now. 32 But it will happen very soon that all of you will run away to your own homes. Yes, that time has already arrived. You will run away and leave me alone. But I will not really be alone, because the Father is always with me. 33 I have told you these things so that you will have peace. You will be like that because you live together with me. In this world, you will have trouble. But be brave! I have destroyed the power of this world.’
Footnotes
- 16:26 ‘In my name’ means ‘because you belong to me’. The disciples will be united with Jesus. They will ask for things that God is happy to give to them.
John 16
American Standard Version
16 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be caused to stumble. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God. 3 And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I spoken unto you, that when their hour is come, ye may remember them, how that I told you. And these things I said not unto you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I go unto him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have spoken these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the [a]Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. 8 And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; 11 of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been 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 shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you. 15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you. 16 A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me. 17 Some of his disciples therefore said one to another, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye behold me not; 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 know not what he saith. 19 Jesus perceived that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, A little while, and ye behold me not, 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: 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 when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye therefore now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you. 23 And in that day ye shall [b]ask me no question. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in [c]dark sayings: the hour cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in dark sayings, but shall tell you plainly of the Father. 26 In that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will [d]pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father. 28 I came out from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go unto the Father. 29 His disciples say, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no [e]dark saying. 30 Now know we that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Footnotes
- John 16:7 Or, Advocate. Or, Helper. Greek Paraclete.
- John 16:23 Or, ask me nothing. Compare verse 26; 14:13, 20.
- John 16:25 Or, parables
- John 16:26 Greek make request of.
- John 16:29 Or, parable
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