John 16:7-24

New International Version

⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate^(A) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.^{(B) 8} When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin,^(C) because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness,^(D) because I am going to the Father,^(E) where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world^(F) now stands condemned.

¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.^{(G) 13} But when he, the Spirit of truth,^(H) comes, he will guide you into all the truth.^(I) He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine.^(J) That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy

¹⁶ Jesus went on to say, “In a little while^(K) you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”^(L)

¹⁷ At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’^(M) and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”^{(N) 18} They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

¹⁹ Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? ²⁰ Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn^(O) while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.^{(P) 21} A woman giving birth to a child has pain^(Q) because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. ²² So with you: Now is your time of grief,^(R) but I will see you again^(S) and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.^{(T) 23} In that day^(U) you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.^{(V) 24} Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive,^(W) and your joy will be complete.^(X)