John 7
1 AND Jesus after these things travelled about in Galilee: for he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.
After this, Jesus went about in Galilee, for he would not do so in Judea, because the religious authorities (in Jerusalem) were eager to put him to death.
2 And a feast of the Jews was nigh, the feast of tabernacles.
When the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near,
3 Then said his disciples to him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples also may see thy works which thou doest.
his brothers said to him, ‘Leave this part of the country, and go into Judea, so that your disciples, as well as we, may see the work that you are doing.
4 For no man doeth any thing in secret, yet seeketh himself to appear publicly: if thou doest these things, exhibit thyself to the world.
For no one does a thing privately, if they are seeking to be widely known. Since you do these things, you should show yourself publicly to the world.’
5 For even his own brethren did not believe on him.
For even his brothers did not believe in him.
6 Jesus therefore saith to them, My proper time is not yet come: but your time is always ready.
‘My time,’ answered Jesus, ‘is not come yet, but your time is always here.
7 The world cannot hate you, but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.
The world cannot hate you, but it does hate me, because I testify that its ways are evil.
8 Go ye up to this feast: for I am not yet going up to this feast, because my fixed time is not yet arrived.
Go yourselves up to the Festival; I am not going to this Festival yet, because my time has not yet come.’
9 Thus speaking to them then, he continued in Galilee.
After telling them this, he stayed on in Galilee.
10 But as soon as his disciples were gone up, then went he also himself up to the feast: not in public, but as in concealment.
But, when his brothers had gone up to the Festival, Jesus also went up – not publicly, but privately.
11 The Jews then sought for him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
The authorities were looking for him at the Festival and asking “Where is he?”;
12 And there was a great murmur concerning him among the multitude: some said, Surely he is a good man: others said, No; he only deceiveth the people.
and there were many whispers about him among the people, some saying “He is a good man;” others, “No! He is leading the people astray.”
13 Yet no person spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
No one, however, spoke freely about him, because they were afraid of the authorities.
14 But now at the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
About the middle of the Festival week, Jesus went up into the Temple Courts, and began teaching.
15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man the scriptures, not being a scholar?
The authorities were astonished. ‘How has this man got his learning,’ they asked, ‘when he has never studied?’
16 Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
So, in reply, Jesus said, ‘My teaching is not my own; it is his who sent me.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know respecting the doctrine, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself.
If anyone has the will to do God’s will, they will find out whether my teaching is from God, or whether I speak on my own authority.
18 He that speaketh from himself, seeks his own individual honour: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, he is true, and iniquity in him there is none.
The person who speaks on their own authority seeks honour for themselves; but the one who seeks the honour of him who sent him is sincere, and there is nothing false in him.
19 Hath not Moses given you the law, yet none of you practises the law? Why do ye seek to kill me?
Was not it Moses who gave you the Law? Yet not one of you obeys it! Why are you seeking to put me to death?’
20 The multitude answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who is seeking to kill thee?
‘You must be possessed by a demon!’ the people exclaimed. ‘Who is seeking to put you to death?’
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have performed one work, and ye all marvel.
‘There was one thing I did,’ replied Jesus, ‘at which you are all still wondering.
22 Because Moses ordered you circumcision; (not that it comes from Moses, but from our ancestors; ) so ye circumcise a man on the sabbath-day.
But that is why Moses has instituted circumcision among you – not, indeed, that it began with him, but with our ancestors – and that is why you circumcise even on a Sabbath.
23 If a man receive circumcision on the sabbath-day, that the law of Moses should not be violated; are ye incensed against me, because I have made a man whole on the sabbath-day?
When a man receives circumcision on a Sabbath to prevent the Law of Moses from being broken, how can you be angry with me for making a man sound and well on a Sabbath?
24 Judge not by appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Do not judge by appearances; judge justly.’
25 Then said some of the people of Jerusalem, is not this the man whom they are seeking to kill?
At this some of the people of Jerusalem exclaimed, ‘Is not this the man who they are seeking to put to death?
26 And, lo! he speaketh openly, and they say not a word to him. Do the rulers certainly know that this man is really the Messiah?
Yet here he is, speaking out boldly, and they say nothing to him! Is it possible that our leading men have really discovered that he is the Christ?
27 But we know this man whence he is: but when the Messiah cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
Yet we know where this man is from; but, when the Christ comes, no one will be able to tell where he is from.’
28 Then spake Jesus aloud as he was teaching in the temple, and said, Ye both know me, and ye know from whence I am: and I came not of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
Therefore, Jesus, as he was teaching in the Temple Courts, raised his voice and said, ‘Yes; you know me and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on my own authority, but he who sent me may be trusted; and him you do not know.
29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
I do know him, for it is from him that I have come, and he sent me as his messenger.’
30 Then they sought to apprehend him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
So they sought to arrest him; but no one touched him, for his time was not come yet.
31 But many of the multitude believed on him, and said, When the Messiah cometh, will he do greater miracles than those which this man doth?
Many of the people, however, believed in him. ‘When the Christ comes,’ they said, ‘will he give more signs of his mission than this man has given?’
32 The Pharisees heard the people muttering these things respecting him; and the Pharisees and chief priests sent officers to apprehend him.
The Pharisees heard the people whispering about him in this way, and so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him;
33 Then said Jesus unto them, A little while longer I am with you, and I am going to him that sent me.
at which Jesus said, ‘I will be with you but a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me.
34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, ye cannot come.
You will look for me, and you will not find me; and you will not be able to come where I will be.’
35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will this man go, that we shall not find him? will he go to the dispersed among the Grecians, and teach the Greeks?
‘Where is this man going,’ the people asked one another, ‘that we would not find him? Will he go to our countrymen abroad, and teach foreigners?
36 What is this saying which he hath spoken, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, ye cannot come?
What does he mean by saying “You will look for me, and you will not find me; and you will not be able to come where I will be”?’
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood up and spake aloud, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
On the last and greatest day of the Festival, Jesus, who was standing by, exclaimed, ‘If anyone is thirsty, they should come to me and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from his belly shall rivers flow of living water.
From the heart of those who believe in me will flow, as is said in scripture, rivers of living water.’
39 (Now he spake this in reference to the Spirit, which they who believe on him should afterwards receive: for as yet the Holy Ghost was not given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
(By this he meant the Spirit, which those who had believed in him were to receive; for the Spirit had not yet come, because Jesus had not yet been exalted.)
40 Many then of the multitude, when they heard this declaration, said, This man is certainly a prophet.
Some of the people, when they heard these words, said, ‘This is certainly the Prophet!’;
41 Others said, He is the Messiah. But others said, No: for cometh the Messiah out of Galilee?
others said, ‘the Christ!’; but some asked, ‘What! Does the Christ come from Galilee?
42 Doth not the scripture say, That the Messiah cometh of the seed of David, and from the town of Bethlehem, whence David originally was?
Is not it said in scripture that it is of the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village to which David belonged, that the Christ is to come?’
43 There was a division therefore among the multitude on account of him.
So there was a sharp division among the people because of Jesus.
44 Now some of them were desirous to apprehend him; but no one laid hands upon him.
Some of them wanted to arrest him, and yet no one touched him.
45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisee; and they said to them, Why have ye not brought him?
When the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, they were asked, ‘Why have you not brought him?’
46 The officers answered, Never did man before speak in such a manner as this man.
‘No one ever spoke as he speaks!’ they answered.
47 The Pharisees then replied to them, Are ye also deluded?
‘What! Have you been led astray too?’ the Pharisees replied.
48 Hath any one of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
‘Have any of our leading men believed in him, or any of the Pharisees?
49 But this rabble, which knoweth not the law, is accursed.
As for these people who do not know the Law – they are cursed!’
50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (the same person who came to him by night, being one of their body, )
But one of their number, Nicodemus, who before this had been to see Jesus, said to them,
51 Doth our law condemn a man, without first hearing his defence, and knowing what he hath done?
‘Does our Law pass judgment on a person without first giving them a hearing, and finding out what they have been doing?’
52 They answered and said to him, Art thou not from Galilee too? Search and see: for a prophet, out of Galilee, never was raised up.
‘Are you also from Galilee?’ they retorted. ‘Search, and you will find that no prophet is to arise in Galilee!’
53 So each went to his own home.
And everyone went home
