John 3
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New International VersionHolman Christian Standard Bible
1Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.1There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler 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."2This man came to Him at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him."
3Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."3Jesus replied, "I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.""
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!"4But how can anyone be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked Him. "Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and 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, "I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.6Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'7Do not be amazed that I told you that 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 pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't 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.9How can these things be?" asked Nicodemus.
10"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?10"Are you a teacher of Israel and don't know these things?" Jesus replied.
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.11"I assure you: We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you 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 things that happen on earth and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven?
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."15so that everyone who believes in Him will 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.16"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will 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 that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved 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.18Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.
19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.19"This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved 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.20For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not 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 anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by 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 to the Judean countryside, where He spent 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.23John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized,
24(This was before John was put in prison.)24since 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 Jew about purification.
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 they came to John and told him, "Rabbi, the One you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing--and everyone is flocking to Him."
27To this John replied, "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.27John responded, "No one can receive a single thing unless it's given to 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 Messiah, but I've been 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.29He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom's friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom's voice. So this joy of mine is complete.
30He must become greater; I must become less."30He must increase, but 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 is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. 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.33The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true.
34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.34For God sent Him, and He speaks God's words, since He gives the Spirit without measure.
35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.35The Father loves the Son and has given all things into 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.36The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
New International Version (NIV)

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Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
John 2
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