| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. | 1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. |
| 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him." | 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.” |
| 3Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." | 3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” |
| 4"How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!" | 4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” |
| 5Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. | 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. |
| 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. | 6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. |
| 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' | 7Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ |
| 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." | 8The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” |
| 9"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. | 9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. |
| 10"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? | 10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things? |
| 11Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. | 11Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony. |
| 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? | 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? |
| 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. | 13No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. |
| 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, | 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, |
| 15that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him." | 15that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. |
| 16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. | 16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who 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 to save the world through him. | 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. |
| 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. | 18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. |
| 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. | 19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. |
| 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. | 20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. |
| 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. | 21But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.” |
| 22After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. | 22After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized. |
| 23Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. | 23Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized. |
| 24(This was before John was put in prison.) | 24(For John had not yet been thrown into prison.) |
| 25An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. | 25Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing. |
| 26They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan--the one you testified about--look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." | 26So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.” |
| 27To this John replied, "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. | 27John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. |
| 28You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.' | 28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’ |
| 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. | 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. |
| 30He must become greater; I must become less." | 30He must increase; I must decrease. |
| 31The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. | 31The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all. |
| 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. | 32He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. |
| 33Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. | 33Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful. |
| 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. | 34For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. |
| 35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. | 35The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands. |
| 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them. | 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.” |
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