John 8
International Children’s Bible
The Woman Caught in Adultery
8 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 But early in the morning he went back to the Temple. All the people came to Jesus, and he sat and taught them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought a woman there. She had been caught in adultery. They forced the woman to stand before the people. 4 They said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught having physical relations with a man who is not her husband. 5 The law of Moses commands that we kill with stones every woman who does this. What do you say we should do?” 6 They were asking this to trick Jesus so that they could have some charge against him.
But Jesus knelt down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 They continued to ask Jesus their question. So he stood up and said, “Is there anyone here who has never sinned? The person without sin can throw the first stone at this woman.” 8 Then Jesus knelt down again and wrote on the ground.
9 Those who heard Jesus began to leave one by one. The older men left first, and then the others. Jesus was left there alone with the woman. She was standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up again and asked her, “Woman, all of those people have gone. Has no one judged you guilty?”
11 She answered, “No one has judged me, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “So I also don’t judge you. You may go now, but don’t sin again.”
Jesus Is the Light of the World
12 Later, Jesus talked to the people again. He said, “I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness. He will have the light that gives life.”
13 But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “When you talk about yourself, you are the only one to say these things are true. We cannot accept these things you say.”
14 Jesus answered, “Yes, I am saying these things about myself, but they are true. I know where I came from. And I know where I am going. You don’t know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You judge me the way you would judge any man. I don’t judge anyone. 16 But if I judge, I judge truthfully. When I judge, I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that when two witnesses say the same thing, then you must accept what they say. 18 I am one of the witnesses who speaks about myself. And the Father who sent me is my other witness.”
19 They asked, “Where is your father?”
Jesus answered, “You don’t know me or my Father. But if you knew me, then you would know my Father, too.” 20 Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the Temple. He was near the place where the money that the people give is kept. But no one arrested him. The right time for Jesus had not yet come.
The People Misunderstand Jesus
21 Again, Jesus said to the people, “I will leave you. You will look for me, but you will die in your sins. You cannot come where I am going.”
22 So the Jews asked, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he said, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”
23 But Jesus said, “You people are from here below. But I am from above. You belong to this world, but I don’t belong to this world. 24 So I told you that you would die in your sins. Yes, you will die in your sins if you don’t believe that I am he.”
25 They asked, “Then who are you?”
Jesus answered, “I am what I have told you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say about you and to judge you for. But I tell people only the things I have heard from the One who sent me. And he speaks the truth.”
27 The people did not understand that Jesus was talking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “You will lift up the Son of Man. Then you will know that I am he. You will know that these things I do are not by my own authority. You will know that I say only what the Father has taught me. 29 The One who sent me is with me. I always do what is pleasing to him. So he has not left me alone.” 30 While Jesus was saying these things, many people believed in him.
Freedom from Sin
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “If you continue to obey my teaching, you are truly my followers. 32 Then you will know the truth. And the truth will make you free.”
33 They answered, “We are Abraham’s children. And we have never been slaves. So why do you say that we will be free?”
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth. Everyone who lives in sin is a slave to sin. 35 A slave does not stay with a family forever, but a son belongs to the family forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, then you will be truly free. 37 I know you are Abraham’s children. But you want to kill me because you don’t accept my teaching. 38 I am telling you what my Father has shown me. But you do what your father has told you.”
39 They answered, “Our father is Abraham.”
Jesus said, “If you were really Abraham’s children, you would do[a] the things that Abraham did. 40 I am a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. But you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that. 41 So you are doing the things that your own father did.”
But they said, “We are not like children who never knew who their father was. God is our Father. He is the only Father we have.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were really your Father, you would love me. I came from God and now I am here. I did not come by my own authority. God sent me. 43 You don’t understand what I say because you cannot accept my teaching. 44 Your father is the devil. You belong to him and want to do what he wants. He was a murderer from the beginning. He was against the truth, for there is no truth in him. He is a liar, and he is like the lies he tells. He is the father of lies. 45 But I speak the truth. That is why you don’t believe me. 46 Can any of you prove that I am guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God accepts what God says. But you don’t accept what God says, because you don’t belong to God.”
Jesus and Abraham
48 The Jews answered, “We say you are a Samaritan! We say a demon has come into you. Are we not right?”
49 Jesus answered, “I have no demon in me. I give honor to my Father, but you dishonor me. 50 I am not trying to get honor for myself. There is One who wants this honor for me, and he is the judge. 51 I tell you the truth. If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never die.”
52 The Jews said to Jesus, “Now we know that you have a demon in you! Even Abraham and the prophets died. But you say, ‘Whoever obeys my teaching will never die.’ 53 Do you think that you are greater than our father Abraham? Abraham died. And the prophets died, too. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I give honor to myself, that honor is worth nothing. The One who gives me honor is my Father. And you say that he is your God. 55 But you don’t really know him. I know him. If I said I did not know him, then I would be a liar as you are liars. But I do know him, and I obey what he says. 56 Your father Abraham was very happy that he would see my day. He saw that day and was glad.”
57 The Jews said to him, “What? You have never seen Abraham! You are not even 50 years old!”
58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth. Before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 When Jesus said this, the people picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus hid himself, and then he left the Temple.
Footnotes
- 8:39 If . . . do Some Greek copies read “If you are really Abraham’s children, you will do.”
Jean 8
La Bible du Semeur
« Va et ne pèche plus »
8 Quant à Jésus, il partit pour le mont des Oliviers. 2 Mais le lendemain, il revint de bonne heure dans la cour du Temple et tout le peuple se pressa autour de lui ; alors il s’assit et se mit à enseigner.
3 Tout à coup, les spécialistes de la Loi et les pharisiens traînèrent devant lui une femme qui avait été prise en flagrant délit d’adultère. Ils la firent avancer dans la foule et la placèrent, bien en vue, devant Jésus.
4 – Maître, lui dirent-ils, cette femme a commis un adultère ; elle a été prise sur le fait. 5 Or, dans la Loi, Moïse nous a ordonné de lapider les femmes de ce genre. Toi, quel est ton jugement sur ce cas ?
6 En lui posant cette question, ils voulaient lui tendre un piège, dans l’espoir de trouver quelque prétexte pour l’accuser.
Mais Jésus se baissa et se mit à écrire du doigt sur le sol. 7 Eux, ils insistaient, répétant leur question. Alors il se releva et leur dit : Que celui d’entre vous qui n’a jamais péché lui jette la première pierre !
8 Puis il se baissa de nouveau et se remit à écrire sur le sol. 9 Après avoir entendu ces paroles, ils s’esquivèrent l’un après l’autre, à commencer par les plus âgés, laissant finalement Jésus seul avec la femme, qui était restée au milieu de la cour du Temple. 10 Alors Jésus leva la tête et lui dit : Eh bien, où sont donc passés tes accusateurs ? Personne ne t’a condamnée ?
11 – Personne, Seigneur, lui répondit-elle.
Alors Jésus reprit : Je ne te condamne pas non plus. Va, mais désormais, ne pèche plus[a].]
La lumière du monde
12 Jésus parla de nouveau en public : Moi, je suis la lumière du monde, dit-il. Celui qui me suit ne marchera pas dans les ténèbres : il aura la lumière de la vie.
13 Là-dessus les pharisiens lui répondirent : Tu te rends témoignage à toi-même : ton témoignage n’est pas vrai.
14 Jésus leur répondit : Oui, je me rends témoignage à moi-même : mais mon témoignage est vrai, car je sais d’où je suis venu et où je vais ; quant à vous, vous ne savez pas d’où je viens ni où je vais. 15 Vous jugez selon des critères purement humains, moi, je ne juge personne. 16 Et à supposer que je porte un jugement, ce jugement est vrai, car je ne suis pas seul pour juger, mais avec moi, il y a aussi le Père qui m’a envoyé. 17 Le témoignage commun de deux personnes n’est-il pas vrai ? C’est ce qui est écrit dans votre Loi ! 18 Eh bien, moi, je suis mon propre témoin ; et le Père qui m’a envoyé me rend aussi témoignage.
19 – Mais, où est-il, ton père ? s’exclamèrent-ils.
– Vous ne connaissez ni moi, ni mon Père, répliqua Jésus ; si vous m’aviez connu, vous connaîtriez aussi mon Père.
20 Jésus parla ainsi pendant qu’il enseignait dans la cour du Temple près des troncs à offrandes, et personne n’essaya de l’arrêter, parce que son heure n’était pas encore venue.
Celui qui est
21 Jésus leur dit encore : Je vais m’en aller et vous me chercherez ; mais vous mourrez dans votre péché. Vous ne pouvez pas aller là où je vais.
22 Sur quoi ils se demandèrent entre eux : Aurait-il l’intention de se suicider ? Est-ce là ce qu’il veut dire par ces paroles : « Vous ne pouvez pas aller là où je vais ? »
23 – Vous, leur dit-il alors, vous êtes d’ici-bas ; moi, je suis d’en haut. Vous appartenez à ce monde-ci ; moi, je ne lui appartiens pas. 24 C’est pourquoi je vous ai dit : « Vous mourrez dans vos péchés. » En effet, si vous ne croyez pas que moi, je suis[b], vous mourrez dans vos péchés.
25 – Qui es-tu donc ? lui demandèrent-ils alors.
– Je ne cesse de vous le dire depuis le début[c] ! leur répondit Jésus. 26 En ce qui vous concerne, j’aurais beaucoup à dire, beaucoup à juger. Mais celui qui m’a envoyé est véridique, et je proclame au monde ce que j’ai appris de lui.
27 Comme ils ne comprenaient pas que Jésus leur parlait du Père, il ajouta : 28 Quand vous aurez élevé le Fils de l’homme, alors vous comprendrez que moi, je suis[d]. Vous reconnaîtrez que je ne fais rien de ma propre initiative, mais que je transmets ce que le Père m’a enseigné. 29 Oui, celui qui m’a envoyé est avec moi ; il ne m’a pas laissé seul, car je fais toujours ce qui lui est agréable.
30 Pendant qu’il parlait ainsi, beaucoup crurent en lui.
Les vrais fils d’Abraham
31 Alors Jésus dit aux Juifs qui avaient mis leur foi en lui : Si vous vous attachez à la Parole que je vous ai annoncée, vous êtes vraiment mes disciples. 32 Vous connaîtrez la vérité, et la vérité fera de vous des hommes libres.
33 – Nous, lui répondirent-ils, nous sommes la postérité d’Abraham[e], nous n’avons jamais été esclaves de personne. Comment peux-tu dire : « Vous serez des hommes libres ? »
34 – Vraiment, je vous l’assure, leur répondit Jésus, tout homme qui commet le péché est esclave du péché. 35 Or, un esclave ne fait pas partie de la famille, un fils, lui, en fait partie pour toujours.
36 Si donc c’est le Fils qui vous donne la liberté, alors vous serez vraiment libres. 37 Je sais que vous êtes les descendants d’Abraham. Pourtant, vous cherchez à me faire mourir parce que ma parole ne trouve aucun accès dans votre cœur. 38 Moi, je parle de ce que j’ai vu chez mon Père. Quant à vous, vous faites ce que vous avez appris de votre père.
39 – Notre père à nous, répondirent-ils, c’est Abraham.
– Eh bien, leur répliqua Jésus, si vous étiez vraiment des enfants d’Abraham, vous agiriez comme lui[f]. 40 Au lieu de cela, vous cherchez à me faire mourir. Pourquoi ? Parce que je vous dis la vérité telle que je l’ai apprise de Dieu. Jamais Abraham n’a agi comme vous. 41 Vous agissez exactement comme votre père à vous !
– Mais, répondirent-ils, nous ne sommes pas des enfants illégitimes. Nous n’avons qu’un seul Père : Dieu !
42 – Si vraiment Dieu était votre Père, leur dit Jésus, vous m’aimeriez, car c’est de Dieu que je proviens, c’est de Dieu que je suis venu. Je ne suis pas venu de ma propre initiative, c’est lui qui m’a envoyé. 43 Pourquoi ne comprenez-vous pas ce que je vous dis ? Parce que vous êtes incapables de recevoir mes paroles.
44 Votre père, c’est le diable, et vous voulez vous conformer à ses désirs. Depuis le commencement, c’est un meurtrier : il ne se tient pas dans la vérité, parce qu’il n’y a pas de vérité en lui. Lorsqu’il ment, il parle de son propre fond, puisqu’il est menteur, lui le père du mensonge. 45 Mais moi, je dis la vérité. C’est précisément pour cela que vous ne me croyez pas. 46 Qui d’entre vous peut produire la preuve que j’ai commis une seule faute ? Si je dis vrai, pourquoi ne me croyez-vous pas ? 47 Celui qui appartient à Dieu écoute les paroles de Dieu. Si vous ne les écoutez pas, c’est parce que vous ne lui appartenez pas.
48 Ils répliquèrent : Nous avions bien raison de le dire : tu n’es qu’un Samaritain, tu as un démon en toi.
49 – Non, répondit Jésus, je n’ai pas de démon en moi. Au contraire, j’honore mon Père ; mais vous, vous me méprisez. 50 Non, je ne recherche pas la gloire pour moi-même : c’est un autre qui s’en préoccupe et il me rendra justice.
51 Vraiment, je vous l’assure : celui qui observe mon enseignement ne verra jamais la mort.
Le Fils et Abraham
52 Sur quoi les Juifs reprirent : Cette fois, nous sommes sûrs que tu as un démon en toi. Abraham est mort, les prophètes aussi, et toi tu viens nous dire : Celui qui observe mon enseignement ne mourra jamais. 53 Serais-tu plus grand que notre père Abraham, qui est mort – ou que les prophètes, qui sont tous morts ? Pour qui te prends-tu donc ?
54 Jésus répondit : Si je m’attribuais moi-même ma gloire, cela n’aurait aucune valeur. Celui qui me glorifie, c’est mon Père, celui-là même que vous appelez votre Dieu. 55 En fait, vous ne le connaissez pas, alors que moi, je le connais. Si je disais ne pas le connaître, je serais menteur, comme vous. Mais le fait est que je le connais et que j’obéis à sa Parole. 56 Abraham votre père a exulté de joie à la pensée de voir mon jour. Il l’a vu et en a été transporté de joie.
57 – Quoi, lui dirent-ils alors, tu n’as même pas cinquante ans et tu prétends avoir vu Abraham[g] !
58 – Vraiment, je vous l’assure, leur répondit Jésus, avant qu’Abraham soit venu à l’existence, moi, je suis[h].
59 A ces mots, ils se mirent à ramasser des pierres pour les lui jeter, mais Jésus disparut dans la foule et sortit de l’enceinte du Temple.
Footnotes
- 8.11 Les versets 7.53 à 8.11 sont absents de nombreux manuscrits, parmi lesquels les plus anciens et les meilleurs. Ce passage figure cependant à cet endroit dans un certain nombre de manuscrits. Quelques manuscrits l’incorporent ailleurs dans l’évangile de Jean (après 7.36 ou après 21.25), ou encore dans l’évangile de Luc (après Lc 21.38 ou après 24.53). Au témoignage concluant des manuscrits, on peut ajouter que ce passage paraît rompre le fil du récit, alors que celui-ci passe naturellement du verset 7.52 à 8.12. Le passage reprend sans doute une tradition ancienne et l’épisode relaté peut fort bien être authentique, mais ces versets ne faisaient vraisemblablement pas partie de l’évangile de Jean à l’origine.
- 8.24 Allusion à l’épisode du buisson ardent (Ex 3.14) où Dieu s’est défini en disant : je suis celui qui est, ou : je suis : Je suis. Voir v. 28, 58.
- 8.25 Autres traductions : d’abord, pourquoi vous parlerai-je ? ou précisément ce que je vous dis.
- 8.28 Voir note v. 24.
- 8.33 Le premier des patriarches, dont descendent tous les Israélites.
- 8.39 Certains manuscrits ont : si vous êtes vraiment des fils d’Abraham, agissez comme lui.
- 8.57 Certains manuscrits ont : et Abraham t’a vu.
- 8.58 Voir note v. 24.
John 8
King James Version
8 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
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