| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. | 1There was a man from 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 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 answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” | 3Jesus replied, "I assure you: Unless someone 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?” | 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, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. | 5Jesus answered, "I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. |
| 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. | 6Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. |
| 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ | 7Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. |
| 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is 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."" |
| 9Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” | 9How can these things be?" asked Nicodemus. |
| 10Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? | 10"Are you a teacher of Israel and don't know these things?" Jesus replied. |
| 11Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. | 11"I assure you: We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you do not accept Our testimony. |
| 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you 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 ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. | 13No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven--the Son of Man. |
| 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, | 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, |
| 15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. | 15so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. |
| 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting 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 that the world through Him might be saved. | 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. |
| 18“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. | 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. |
| 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than 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. |
| 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. | 20For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. |
| 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in 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 these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained 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 in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. | 23John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized, |
| 24For John had not yet been thrown into prison. | 24since John had not yet been thrown into prison. |
| 25Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. | 25Then a dispute arose between John's disciples and a Jew about purification. |
| 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!” | 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." |
| 27John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. | 27John responded, "No one can receive a single thing unless it's given to him from heaven. |
| 28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ | 28You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I've been sent ahead of Him.' |
| 29He 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. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. | 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 increase, but I must decrease. | 30He must increase, but I must decrease." |
| 31He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He 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. |
| 32And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. | 32He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. |
| 33He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. | 33The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true. |
| 34For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. | 34For God sent Him, and He speaks God's words, since He gives the Spirit without measure. |
| 35The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. | 35The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands. |
| 36He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” | 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. |
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