John 16

1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

I've told you this so you won't give up your trust in me.

2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

They will expel you from the synagogues—in fact the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a service.

3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

They'll do this because they have never known the Father or me. I've told you this so that when these things happen, you'll remember what I told you.

4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

I didn't need to tell you this right at the beginning because I was going to be with you.

5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

But now I'm going to the one who sent me, and yet not one of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’

6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

Of course, now that I've told you, you're full of grief.

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

But I'm telling you the truth: it's better for you that I go away, for if I don't the Comforter won't come to you. If I go away, I will send him to you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

When he comes, he will convince those in the world that they have wrong ideas regarding sin, about what is right, and about judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Sin, for they don't trust in me.

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

What is right, for I'm going to the Father and you won't see me any longer.

11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Judgment, for the ruler of this world has been condemned.

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

There's much more I want to explain to you, but you couldn't stand it now.

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

However, when the Spirit of truth comes, he will teach you the whole truth. He doesn't speak for himself, but he only says what he hears, and he will tell you what's going to happen.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.

He brings me glory for he teaches you whatever he receives from me.

15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.

All that belongs to the Father is mine. This is why I said that the Spirit teaches you whatever he receives from me.

16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

In a little while you won't see me anymore, but then a little while after that you will see me.”

17 Then said [some] of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean, ‘In a little while you won't see me, but a little while after that you will see me’? and ‘For I'm going to the Father’?”

18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

They were asking, “What does he mean by ‘in a little while’? We don't know what he's talking about.”

19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?

Jesus realized that they wanted to ask him about this. So he asked them, “Are you wondering about my comment, ‘In a little while you won't see me, but a little while after that you will see me’?

20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will turn into joy.

21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

A woman in labor suffers pain because her time has come, but once the baby is born, she forgets the agony because of the joy that a child has been brought into the world.

22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Yes, you're grieving now, but I will see you again; and you will rejoice, and no one can take away your joy.

23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you.

When that time comes you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Until now you haven't asked for anything in my name, so ask and you shall receive, and your happiness will be complete.

25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

I've been talking to you using picture language. But soon I won't use such picture language any more when I speak to you. Instead I'll explain the Father to you very plainly.

26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

At that time you will ask in my name. I'm not saying to you that I will plead with the Father on your behalf,

27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

for the Father himself loves you—because you love me and believe that I came from God.

28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

I left the Father and came into the world; now I leave the world and return to my Father.”

29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

Then the disciples said, “Now you're talking very plainly and not using picture language.

30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

Now we're certain that you know everything, and that in order to know what questions people are thinking you don't need to ask them. This convinces us that you came from God.”

31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?

“Are you really convinced now?” Jesus asked.

32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

“The time is coming—in fact it's just about to happen—when you will be scattered, each of you to your own homes, leaving me all alone. But I'm not really alone, for the Father is with me.

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I've told you all this so that you may have peace because you are one with me. You will suffer in this world, but be brave—I have defeated the world!”