³ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,^[a](A) he cannot see the kingdom of God.”^(B)

⁴ “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born^(C) of water and the Spirit,^(D) he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ Whatever is born of the flesh^(E) is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit^(F) is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born^(G) again. ⁸ The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.^(H) So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^(I)

⁵ he saved us^(A)—not by works of righteousness that we had done,^(B) but according to his mercy^(C)—through the washing of regeneration^(D) and renewal by the Holy Spirit.^(E)