John 10
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't come in through the gate of the sheepfold but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
The one who comes in through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
After bringing them out, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
They won't follow strangers. In fact they run away from a stranger because they don't recognize the voice of strangers.”
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
When Jesus gave this illustration those who were listening to him didn't understand what he meant.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
So Jesus explained again, “I tell you the truth: I am the gate of the sheepfold.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
All those who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
I am the gate. Anyone who comes in through me will be healed. They will be able to come and go, and find the food they need.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.
The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I've come to bring you life, life full to overflowing.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The man paid to look after the sheep is not the shepherd and he runs away when he sees the wolf coming. He abandons the sheep because they're not his, and the wolf attacks and scatters the flock
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
for the man is only working for pay and doesn't care about the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.
I am the good shepherd. I know who are mine, and they know me,
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
just as the Father knows me and I know him. I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.
I have other sheep that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so I may take it up again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
No one takes it from me; I choose to lay it down. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it back. This is the command my Father gave me.”
19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
The Jews were again divided in their opinion about Jesus over these words.
20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
Many of them said, “He's demon-possessed! He's mad! Why are you listening to him?”
21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
Others said, “These aren't the words of someone who's demon-possessed. Besides, a demon can't open eyes that are blind.”
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
It was winter, and the time of the Festival of Dedication in Jerusalem.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
Jesus was walking in the Temple through Solomon's porch. The Jews surrounded him, asking,
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
“How long are you going to keep us hanging in suspense? If you are the Messiah then tell us plainly!”
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
Jesus replied, “I already told you but you refuse to believe it. The miracles I do in my Father's name prove who I am.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
You don't believe me because you are not my sheep.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand.
My Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone else; no one can snatch them from him.
30 I and [my] Father are one.
I and the Father are one.”
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
Jesus said to them, “You've seen many good deeds that I've done from the Father. Which one are you stoning me for?”
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
The Jews replied, “We're not stoning you for a good deed, but for blasphemy because you are just a man but you're claiming to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Jesus answered them, “Isn't it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
He called those people ‘gods,’ the people to whom the word of God came—and Scripture can't be altered.
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
So why are you saying the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said ‘I am the Son of God’?
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
If I'm not doing what my Father does, then don't believe me.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father [is] in me, and I in him.
But if that is what I'm doing, even though you don't believe me, you should believe because of the evidence of what I've done. That way you can know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”
39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
Once again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from them.
40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
He went back across the Jordan River to the place where John had begun baptizing, and he stayed there.
41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
Many people came to him, and they said, “John didn't perform miracles, but everything he said about this man has come true.”
42 And many believed on him there.
Many who were there put their trust in Jesus.
