John 16:16-33
Christian Standard Bible
Sorrow Turned to Joy
16 “In a little while,(A) you will no longer see me; (B) again in a little while, you will see me.”[a]
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’(C)?” 18 They said, “What is this he is saying,[b] ‘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,(D) but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful,(E) but your sorrow will turn to joy. 21 When a woman is in labor, she has pain(F) because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child,(G) 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[c] now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice,(H) and no one will take away your joy from you.(I)
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.(J) 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in my name.(K) Ask and you will receive,(L) so that your joy may be complete.(M)
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(N) in my name, and(O) 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(P) me and have believed that I came from God.[d](Q) 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”(R)
29 His disciples said, “Look, now you’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language. 30 Now we know that you know everything(S) and don’t need anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”(T)
31 Jesus responded to them, “Do you now believe? 32 Indeed, an hour is coming, and has come,(U) 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.(V) 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.”
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John 16:16-33
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16 “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.”(A) 17 Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me,’ and ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They said, “What does he mean by this ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? 20 Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.(B) 22 So you have pain now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.(C) 23 On that day you will ask nothing of me.[a] Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.[b] 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.(D)
Peace for the Disciples
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but will tell you plainly of the Father. 26 On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.[c](E) 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.”(F)
29 His disciples said, “Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.”(G) 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.(H) 33 I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!”(I)
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.