² But ·early in the morning [at dawn] he went back to the Temple [courts; 2:14], and all the people came to him, and he sat and taught them. ³ The ·teachers of the law [scribes; ^Cexperts in the law of Moses] and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They forced her to stand ·before [or in the midst of] the people. ⁴ They said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught ·having sexual relations with a man who is not her husband [in the very act of committing adultery]. ⁵ The law of Moses commands that we stone to death every woman who does this [compare Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22–24]. What do you say we should do?” ⁶ They were asking this to ·trick [trap; test] Jesus so that they could have some ·charge [accusation] against him.

But Jesus ·bent over [stooped down] and started writing on the ground with his finger [^Cwe do not know what he is writing though there has been much speculation]. ⁷ When they continued to ask Jesus their question, he ·raised up [straightened] and said, “Anyone here who ·has never sinned [is guiltless; ^Tis without sin] can throw the first stone at her [Deut. 13:9; 17:7; comp. Lev. 24:14].” ⁸ Then Jesus ·bent over [stooped down] again and wrote on the ground.

⁹ Those who heard Jesus began to leave one by one, first the ·older men [elders] and then the others. Jesus was left there alone with the woman standing before him. ¹⁰ Jesus ·raised up [straightened] again and asked her, “Woman [^Ca respectful term of address in Greek; see 2:4], where are they? Has no one ·judged you guilty [condemned you]?”

¹¹ She answered, “No one, sir.”

Then Jesus said, “I also don’t ·judge you guilty [condemn you]. ·You may go now, but don’t sin anymore [^TGo, and sin no more].”|