< John 8 >

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down and taught them.
At break of day however He returned to the Temple, and there the people came to Him in crowds. He seated Himself;
3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the middle,
and was teaching them when the Scribes and the Pharisees brought to Him a woman who had been found committing adultery. They made her stand in the centre of the court, and they put the case to Him.
4 they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act.
"Rabbi," they said, "this woman has been found in the very act of committing adultery.
5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?”
Now, in the Law, Moses has ordered us to stone such women to death. But what do you say?"
6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger.
They asked this in order to put Him to the test, so that they might have some charge to bring against Him. But Jesus leant forward and began to write with His finger on the ground.
7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.”
When however they persisted with their question, He raised His head and said to them, "Let the sinless man among you be the first to throw a stone at her."
8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger.
Then He leant forward again, and again began to write on the ground.
9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.
They listened to Him, and then, beginning with the eldest, took their departure, one by one, till all were gone. And Jesus was left behind alone--and the woman in the centre of the court.
10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”
Then, raising His head, Jesus said to her, "Where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11 She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”
"No one, Sir," she replied. "And I do not condemn you either," said Jesus; "go, and from this time do not sin any more."]
12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Once more Jesus addressed them. "I am the Light of the world," He said; "the man who follows me shall certainly not walk in the dark, but shall have the light of Life."
13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, “You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”
"You are giving testimony about yourself," said the Pharisees; "your testimony is not true."
14 Jesus answered them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going.
"Even if I am giving testimony about myself," replied Jesus, "my testimony is true; for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you know neither of these two things.
15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.
You judge according to appearances: I am judging no one.
16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.
And even if I do judge, my judgement is just; for I am not alone, but the Father who sent me is with me.
17 It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.
In your own Law, too, it is written that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”
I am one giving testimony about myself, and the Father who sent me gives testimony about me."
19 They said therefore to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
"Where is your Father?" they asked. "You know my Father as little as you know me." He replied; "if you knew me, you would know my Father also."
20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
These sayings He uttered in the Treasury, while teaching in the Temple; yet no one arrested Him, because His time had not yet come.
21 Jesus said therefore again to them, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come.”
Again He said to them, "I am going away. Then you will try to find me, but you will die in your sins. Where I am going, it is impossible for you to come."
22 The Jews therefore said, “Will he kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come’?”
The Jews began to ask one another, "Is he going to kill himself, do you think, that he says, 'Where I am going, it is impossible for you to come'?"
23 He said to them, “You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.
"You," He continued, "are from below, I am from above: you are of this present world, I am not of this present world.
24 I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”
That is why I told you that you will die in your sins; for, unless you believe that I am He, that is what will happen."
25 They said therefore to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
"You--who are you?" they asked. "How is it that I am speaking to you at all?" replied Jesus.
26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However, he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world.”
"Many things I have to speak and to judge concerning you. But He who sent me is true, and the things which I have heard from Him are those which I have come into the world to speak."
27 They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father.
They did not perceive that He was speaking to them of the Father.
28 Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.
So Jesus added, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He. Of myself I do nothing; but as the Father has taught me, so I speak.
29 He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
And He who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone: for I do always what is pleasing to Him."
30 As he spoke these things, many believed in him.
As He thus spoke, many became believers in Him.
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.
Jesus therefore said to those of the Jews who had now believed in Him, "As for you, if you hold fast to my teaching, then you are truly my disciples;
32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free."
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?”
"We are descendants of Abraham," they answered, "and have never at any time been in slavery to any one. What do those words of yours mean, 'You shall become free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.
"In most solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that every one who commits sin is the slave of sin.
35 A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. (aiōn g165)
Now a slave does not remain permanently in his master's house, but a son does. (aiōn g165)
36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
If then the Son shall make you free, you will be free indeed.
37 I know that you are Abraham’s offspring, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
You are descendants of Abraham, I know; but you want to kill me, because my teaching gains no ground within you.
38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.”
The words I speak are those I have learnt in the presence of the Father. Therefore you also should do what you have heard from your father."
39 They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.
"Our father is Abraham," they said. "If you were Abraham's children," replied Jesus, "it is Abraham's deeds that you would be doing.
40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this.
But, in fact, you are longing to kill me, a man who has spoken to you the truth which I have heard from God. Abraham did not do that.
41 You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.”
You are doing the deeds of your father." "We," they replied, "are not illegitimate children. We have one Father, namely God."
42 Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me.
"If God were your Father," said Jesus, "you would love me; for it is from God that I came and I am now here. I have not come of myself, but He sent me.
43 Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word.
How is it you do not understand me when I speak? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my words.
44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
The father whose sons you are is the Devil; and you desire to do what gives him pleasure. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth--for there is no truth in him. Whenever he utters his lie, he utters it out of his own store; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.
But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me.
46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
Which of you convicts me of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe me?
47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”
He who is a child of God listens to God's words. You do not listen to them: and why? It is because you are not God's children."
48 Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”
"Are we not right," answered the Jews, "in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?"
49 Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
"I am not possessed by a demon," replied Jesus. "On the contrary I honour my Father, and you dishonour me.
50 But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.
I, however, am not aiming at glory for myself: there is One who aims at glory for me--and who judges.
51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.” (aiōn g165)
In most solemn truth I tell you that if any one shall have obeyed my teaching he shall in no case ever see death." (aiōn g165)
52 Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ (aiōn g165)
"Now," exclaimed the Jews, "we know that you are possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the Prophets, and yet you say, 'If any one shall have obeyed my teaching, he shall in no case ever taste death.' (aiōn g165)
53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?”
Are you really greater than our forefather Abraham? For he died. And the prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?"
54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.
"Were I to glorify myself," answered Jesus, "I should have no real glory. There is One who glorifies me--namely my Father, who you say is your God.
55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him and keep his word.
You do not know Him, but I know Him perfectly; and were I to deny my knowledge of Him, I should resemble you, and be a liar. On the contrary I do know Him, and I obey His commands.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
Abraham your forefather exulted in the hope of seeing my day: and he saw it, and was glad."
57 The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?”
"You are not yet fifty years old," cried the Jews, "and have you seen Abraham?"
58 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”
"In most solemn truth," answered Jesus, "I tell you that before Abraham came into existence, I am."
59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.
Thereupon they took up stones with which to stone Him, but He hid Himself and went away out of the Temple.

< John 8 >