English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;

2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

2this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

3Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

4Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

6"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

7"Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

8"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

9Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?"

10Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

10Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?

11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

11"Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.

12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

12"If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

13"No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.

14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

14"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;

15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

17"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

18"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

19"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

20For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

20"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

21"But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

22After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.

22After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.

23John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized

23John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized--

24(for John had not yet been put in prison).

24for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.

25Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification.

26And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”

26And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him."

27John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

27John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.

28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’

28"You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent ahead of Him.'

29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

29"He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.

30He must increase, but I must decrease.”

30"He must increase, but I must decrease.

31He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.

31"He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

32He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.

32"What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.

33Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.

33"He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.

34For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

34"For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.

35The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

35"The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

36"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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