John

Focuses on the divinity of Jesus, presenting Him as the Word made flesh and emphasizing His miraculous signs.

Chapter 8

2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

*In the morning, he returned to the temple, and many people came to him. He sat down and taught them.

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

*The writers and religious leaders brought a woman caught committing adultery to Jesus; after placing her in the center.

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

*They tell him, Teacher, this woman was caught committing adultery.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

*Now, Moses taught us in the rules to do this punishment; but what do you think we should do?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

*They said this to test him, so they could accuse him. But Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger, like he didn't hear them.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

*So when they kept questioning him, he stood up and told them, Anyone without sin, let them throw the first stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

*And once more, he bent over and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

*Those who heard the message felt guilty, so starting with the oldest, they left one by one. Jesus was then alone with the woman in the middle.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

*When Jesus stood up and only saw the woman, he asked her, "Woman, where are the people who accused you? Has nobody found you guilty?"

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

*She said, "No man, Lord." Jesus replied, "I don't condemn you either. Now go and don't sin again."

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

*Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the world's light. Anyone who follows me won't experience darkness, but will have the light of life."

13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

*The Pharisees told Jesus, "You're bragging about yourself and it's not true."

14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

*Jesus replied, "Even though I testify about myself, my testimony is accurate. I know where I came from and where I'm going. But you don't know where I come from or where I'm going."

15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

*You decide based on physical appearance; I don't judge anyone.

16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

*Even though I make a decision, it's correct: because I'm not by myself, but with the Father who sent me.

17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

*Your law says that when two people testify about something, their statement is considered true.

18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

*I testify about myself, and the Father who sent me also testifies about me.

19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

*They asked Jesus, "Where's your Dad?" Jesus replied, "You don't know me or my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father too."

20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

*Jesus spoke these words at the temple's treasury while teaching. No one touched him because it wasn't yet time for that to happen.

21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

*Then Jesus told them again, "I'm going away, and you will search for me, but you will pass away while still trapped in your wrongdoings; you can't follow where I am going."

22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

*Then the Jews asked, "Will he commit suicide?" because he said, "Where I am going, you cannot follow."

23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

*He told them, "You're from below, I'm from above; you're part of this world, but I'm not."

24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

*I told you, if you don't believe I am the one, you will die with your sins.

25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

*Then they asked him, "Who are you?" And Jesus replied, "I am the one I told you about from the start."

26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

*I have lots to tell and judge about you, but the one who sent me is honest. I'm sharing with the world what I heard from him.

27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

*They didn't realize he was talking about the Father.

28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

*Then Jesus told them, "When you raise the Son of man, you'll know I am the one, and that I don't act on my own. Instead, I say these things because my Father has taught me."

29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

*My sender stays with me; God hasn't left me alone, as I constantly do what pleases Him.

30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.

*As he said these words, many started to believe in him.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

*Then Jesus told the Jews who trusted him, "If you keep following my teachings, then you are truly my students."

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

*You will understand the truth, and the truth will set you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

*They said, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say we will be set free?"

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

*Jesus replied, Truly, truly, I tell you, anyone who sins is a slave to sin.

35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

*The servant doesn't stay in the house forever, but the Son stays forever.

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

*If the Son sets you free, then you will truly be free.

37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

*I understand you're from Abraham's family, but you want to harm me since my message isn't welcomed by you.

38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

*I say what I saw with my Father, and you do what you saw with your father.

39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

*They replied, "Abraham is our father." Jesus told them, "If you were truly Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did."

40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

*But now you want to kill me, a person who has told you the truth from God. This didn't happen to Abraham.

41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

*You do the actions of your father. They told him, "We are not from out-of-wedlock births; we have one Father, who is God."

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

*Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me. Because I come from God and didn't just appear on my own. God sent me."

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

*Why don't you understand my words? It's because you can't hear my message.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

*You are like your evil father, and you will do his desires. He was a murderer from the start and didn't tell the truth because there's no truth in him. When he speaks lies, he talks about himself because he is a liar and the source of lies.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

*Because I'm telling you the truth, you don't believe me.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

*Which of you proves that I've done something wrong? And if I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?

47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

*If you're from God, you'll listen to God's teachings. But you don't listen, so you're not from God.

48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

*Then, the Jews replied, "Don't we say correctly that you are a Samaritan and possessed by a demon?"

49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

*Jesus replied, "I don't have a demon; instead, I respect my Father, while you disrespect me."

50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

*I don't want praise for myself; there's someone else who looks and judges.

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

*Absolutely, truly, I tell you: If someone follows my teachings, they will never experience death.

52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

*Then the Jews told him, "We know now you have a demon because you claim that if someone follows your teachings, they won't experience death. But Abraham and the prophets are dead."

53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

*Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead, and the prophets are also dead? Who do you think you are making yourself out to be?

54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

*Jesus said, "If I boast about myself, it's not important. It's really my Father who praises me. You call him your God."

55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

*Even though you don't know him, I know him. If I said I didn't know him, I would be lying like the rest of you. But I truly know him and follow his teachings.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

*Abraham, your dad, was happy to witness the fulfillment of God's promise. He saw it happen and felt joyful.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

*Then, the Jews asked him, "You're not even 50 years old. How could you have seen Abraham?"

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

*Jesus told them, "Absolutely, absolutely, I tell you, I existed before Abraham was born."

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

*Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid and left the temple, walking right through the middle of them, and he got away safely.

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