John 4
EasyEnglish Bible
Jesus talks to a woman from Samaria
4 The Pharisees heard the news that many people were joining Jesus' group of disciples. They heard that Jesus was baptizing more disciples than John was baptizing. 2 But really Jesus himself did not baptize anyone. It was only Jesus' disciples who baptized people. 3 Jesus discovered what the Pharisees were thinking, so he left Judea. He returned to Galilee. 4 On his way, he had to go through Samaria.
5 He came to a town in Samaria called Sychar. It was near to the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son, Joseph, many years earlier. 6-8 Jacob's well was there. Jesus was tired after his journey and he sat down by the well. It was about midday. His disciples had gone to buy food in the town. A woman from Samaria came to the well to get some water. Jesus said to her, ‘Please give a drink to me.’ 9 The woman from Samaria said to him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a woman from Samaria. Why would you ask me to give you a drink?’ (The Jews usually do not talk to people who come from Samaria.)[a]
10 Jesus answered the woman, ‘You do not know what God could give to you. I asked you to give a drink to me. But you do not know who I am. If you did know, you would have asked me to give a drink to you. Then I would have given to you water that gives life.’ 11 The woman said, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where can you get this water that gives life? 12 Jacob, our ancestor, gave this well to us. He, his sons and his sheep, goats and cows all drank its water. Are you saying that you are greater than Jacob?’ 13 Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks water from this well will get thirsty again. 14 But I can give people a different kind of water. Everyone who drinks that kind of water will never get thirsty again. The water that I give them will become like a well inside them. That well will continue to provide water that gives them life for ever with God.’ 15 The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give this water to me. Then I will never get thirsty again. And I will not have to continue to come here so that I can get water.’
16 Jesus said to her, ‘Go and fetch your husband. Then return here.’ 17 The woman replied, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say, “I have no husband.” 18 It is true that you have had five husbands. And now you live with a man who is not your husband. What you have said is completely true.’ 19 The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshipped God on this mountain. But you Jews say that Jerusalem is the right place to worship.’[b]
21 Jesus said to her, ‘Believe me, woman. Soon you will not worship the Father either on this mountain or at Jerusalem. 22 You people from Samaria do not know the one that you worship. But we Jews do know him, because God's salvation comes from among the Jewish people. 23 But people will soon have a new way to worship the Father. Yes, that time has already come. Those people who really want to worship the Father will worship him in their spirits, in a true way. The Father looks for people who will worship him like that. 24 God is spirit. People who worship him must worship from their spirits in a true way.’
25 The woman said to Jesus, ‘I know that the Messiah will come. He is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’ 26 Jesus said to her, ‘I, who am speaking to you, am he.’
The disciples return
27 At this moment, Jesus' disciples returned. They were surprised to see that Jesus was talking to a woman. But none of them asked him, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you talking to her?’ 28 Then the woman left her water pot and she returned to the town. She said to the people there, 29 ‘Come and see a man who has told me everything about myself. He told me all the things that I have ever done! He must be the Messiah!’ 30 So they left the town and they went to find Jesus.
31 While that was happening, the disciples said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, eat something.’ 32 But he said to them, ‘I have food that I can eat. But you do not know about it.’ 33 So the disciples asked each other, ‘Could someone have brought food to him?’ 34 Jesus said to them, ‘My Father has sent me. I must do the things he wants me to do. I must finish the work that he has given to me to do. That is my food. 35 You often say, “It is still four more months until the plants in the farmers' fields will be ready for the harvest.” But I say that you should open your eyes. Look at the fields. The plants are ready for the harvest now. 36 The workers are already bringing in the fruit and their master is paying them. As a result, people are receiving life for ever with God. So the person who plants the seeds will be very happy. And the person who brings in the fruit will also be very happy. Both of them will be happy together. 37 You also say, “One person plants the seeds and another person brings in the fruit.” Now you can see that this is true. 38 I have sent you to bring people to me like a harvest of fruit. You did not do the work to prepare that fruit. Other people did that hard work. Now you have brought in the fruit that they worked for. That makes you happy.’
39 Many of the people who lived in that town in Samaria heard the woman's story. She had said to them, ‘He told me all the things that I have ever done!’ Because of this, they believed in Jesus. 40 So when these people came to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them. So he stayed there for two days. 41 Many more people believed in Jesus when they listened to his own words. 42 The people said to the woman, ‘Now we believe in him because we ourselves have heard him. We do not believe only because of what you told us. He really is the man that God has sent to save the world. We know that now.’
Jesus makes an officer's son well
43 After those two days in Samaria, Jesus left there and he went to Galilee. 44 Jesus himself had said earlier, ‘When a prophet of God visits his own town, the people there will not accept him.’ 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the people there were happy to see him. They had been in Jerusalem at the Passover festival too. They had seen all the things that Jesus had done there.
46 Jesus visited Cana again. This was the town in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. A certain man who was one of the king's officers was there. This officer had a son who was at his home in Capernaum. His son was very ill. 47 The officer had heard the news that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea. So he went to Jesus and asked him to go to Capernaum. His son was dying. So he asked Jesus strongly to make his son well again.
48 Jesus said to him, ‘You people want me to do great miracles that will surprise you. Unless you see these great miracles, none of you will ever believe my message.’ 49 The king's officer said to Jesus, ‘Sir, come with me now before my child dies.’ 50 Jesus replied, ‘Go home. Your son will live.’ The man believed what Jesus had said. He started to go home. 51 While he was on the way, his servants met him. They told him, ‘Your child is now well. He will live.’ 52 He asked them, ‘At what time did he start to get well?’ They told him, ‘It was yesterday afternoon, at one o'clock. Then his body was no longer hot.’ 53 Then the father remembered. He knew it was the time when Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So the man and all his family believed in Jesus.
54 This was the second miracle that Jesus did after he returned from Judea to Galilee.
Footnotes
- 4:9 Samaria was the part of Israel between Judah (in the south) and Galilee (in the north). The people in Samaria did worship the Lord God of Israel. But they worshipped him in a different way from how Israel's people worshipped him. They believed only some of the Old Testament and they refused to worship at Jerusalem. As a result of these differences, Israel's people were not friendly to the people from Samaria.
- 4:20 ‘This mountain’ means a mountain in Samaria called Gerizim. That was where the people from Samaria worshipped God.
約 翰 福 音 4
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
耶稣与撒玛利亚女子交谈
4
5 耶稣来到撒玛利亚的一座叫叙加的城镇，它靠近雅各给他儿子约瑟的那片土地。 6 雅各井就在这里。大约中午时分，耶稣走累了，便坐在井边。 7 一位撒玛利亚 [a]女子来到井边打水，耶稣说∶“给我点水喝吧。” 8 （门徒们都到城里买吃的去了。）
9 那女子对他说∶“你是犹太人，我是撒玛利亚人，你怎么向我要水喝？”（因为犹太人不和撒玛利亚人来往。 [b]）
10 耶稣回答说∶“假如你知道上帝的恩赐是什么，知道向你要水喝的人是谁，你早就会求他了，那么他早就会给你活水了。”
11 女子说∶“先生，你连打水的器具都没有，井又那么深，你到哪儿去打活水呢？你比我们的祖先雅各更伟大吗？ 12 他给了我们这口井，他本人、他的孩子和牲畜都喝过这口井的水。”
13 耶稣答道∶“喝这个井里水的人，还会口渴的， 14 但是，喝了我的水的人，就永远不会再渴了。而且，我给他的水，在他的身体里，将变成泉源，汩汩地涌出来，给人以永生。”
15 女子对耶稣说∶“先生，请给我一些那种水吧，让我永远不再渴，也不用再来这儿打水了。”
16 耶稣说∶“去把你丈夫叫来。”
17 女子对耶稣说∶“我没有丈夫。”
耶稣说∶“你说得不错，你是没有丈夫。 18 你有过五个丈夫，而你现在的那个男人并不是你的丈夫。你说的是实话。”
19 女子说∶“先生，我看出您是先知！ 20 我们祖先在这座山上崇拜，你们犹太人却说，耶路撒冷才应该是人们崇拜的地方。”
21 耶稣说∶“女人，相信我！你们既不在这山上，也不在耶路撒冷崇拜父的时候，那时刻就要来临了。 22 你们撒玛利亚人崇拜什么，你们并不知道，我们犹太人却知道我们崇拜的是什么，因为拯救来自犹太人。 23 不过，真正崇拜父的时刻就要到来，并且已经到来，真正崇拜父的人以心灵和真诚崇拜他，这些人才是父所希望的那种崇拜者。 24 上帝是灵，崇拜他的人要用心灵和真诚崇拜他。”
25 女子对他说∶“我知道弥赛亚就要来临，就是被称为基督的那位。他到来后，会向我们说明一切的。”
26 耶稣对她说∶“正在对你说话的便是他。”
27 此时，耶稣的门徒回来了，他们看到他正和一个女子说话，都很惊讶，不过谁也没问“您想从她那里要什么”或是“您为什么和她说话？”
28 那女子放下水罐回城去了。她对人们说： 29 “你们来看呀，有人把我所做过的一切，都说出来了，他有可能是基督吗？” 30 城里的人们倾城而出，到耶稣这里来了。
31 同时，门徒们正督促他∶“拉比（老师），您吃点东西吧。”
32 耶稣对他们说∶“我有食物吃，你们对我吃的食物一无所知。”
33 门徒们互相询问∶“难道有人给他送过吃的东西了吗？”
34 耶稣说∶“我的食物就是执行派我来的那位的旨意，并完成他交给我的任务。 35 你们在播种的时候，常说∶‘再有四个月就收庄稼了。’好吧，我告诉你们，睁开眼睛，朝地里看看吧，庄稼已经成熟，该收割了。 36 即便是现在，收获的人得到报酬，他在为永生收获庄稼。所以，现在播种的人和收获的人一同快乐。 37 俗话说∶‘一人播种，另一个人收获。’此话不假。 38 我派你们去收获，你们是不劳而获，别人辛劳一场，而你们却坐享其成。”
39 许多来自那个城镇的撒玛利亚人都信了耶稣，因为那女子作证∶“我以往所做过的一切，都被他说中了。” 40 因此，撒玛利亚人来到耶稣那里，都请求他住下，耶稣就在那里住了两天， 41 因为耶稣所说的话，相信他的人就更多了。
42 他们对那女子说∶“我们刚开始信仰耶稣，是因为你告诉我们的事。但是，我们现在信，是因为我们亲耳听到了他的话，知道这个人的确是救世主。”
耶稣治愈官员的儿子
43 两天后，耶稣离开那里，返回加利利。 44 因为耶稣说过，先知在自己的故乡受不到尊敬。 45 耶稣来到加利利时，加利利人接受了他，因为在耶路撒冷过逾越节时，他们看到了他所做的一切。（因为加利利人也去过节了。）
46 耶稣又去了加利利的迦拿，他以前在那里把水变成了酒。迦百农有一个国王的大臣，他的儿子病了。 47 当他听说耶稣从犹太来到加利利时，便去见他，求耶稣去给儿子治病，因为，他的儿子快要死了。 48 耶稣对他说∶“你们不看到神迹和奇迹就不会相信。”
49 大臣说∶“先生，请您在我孩子没死之前，去一趟吧。”
50 耶稣说∶“回去吧，你的儿子会活的。”
那人相信了耶稣的话，走了。 51 当他还在回家的路上时，碰到了仆人，仆人告诉他孩子活过来了。
52 他问他们孩子是什么时候开始好转的，他们说∶“昨天下午一点钟退烧的。”
53 孩子的父亲意识到，那正是耶稣对他说∶“你的儿子会活的。”时刻。他和全家人都信仰了耶稣。
54 这是耶稣从犹太回到加利利后行的第二个奇迹。
Footnotes
- 約 翰 福 音 4:7 撒玛利亚： 撒玛利亚人有部分犹太人的血统，但犹太人却不接受他们为纯犹太人。
- 約 翰 福 音 4:9 或犹太人不用撒玛利亚人用过的东西。
John 4
King James Version
4 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
4 And he must needs go through Samaria.
5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
43 Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.
44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.
45 Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
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