John

The Gospel according to Saint John, chapter 8, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 8 New English Translation

A Woman Caught in Adultery

   1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came to the temple courts again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The experts in the law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of them 4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone to death such women. What then do you say?" 6 (Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against him. ) Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight and replied, "Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Then he bent over again and wrote on the ground.
   9 Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up straight and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She replied, "No one, LORD." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more."

Jesus as the Light of the World

   12 Then Jesus spoke out again, "I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 13 So the Pharisees objected, "You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true!" 14 Jesus answered, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people do not know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You people judge by outward appearances; I do not judge anyone. 16 But if I judge, my evaluation is accurate, because I am not alone when I judge, but I and the Father who sent me do so together. 17 It is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I testify about myself and the Father who sent me testifies about me."
   19 Then they began asking him, "Who is your father?" Jesus answered, "You do not know either me or my Father. If you knew me you would know my Father too." 20 (Jesus spoke these words near the offering box while he was teaching in the temple courts. No one seized him because his time had not yet come. )

Where Jesus Came From and Where He is Going

   21 Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will look for me but will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come." 22 So the Jewish leaders began to say, "Perhaps he is going to kill himself, because he says, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'" 23 Jesus replied, "You people are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world. 24 Thus I told you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins."
   25 So they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus replied, "What I have told you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the Father who sent me is truthful, and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world." 27 (They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. )
   28 Then Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak just what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do those things that please him." 30 While he was saying these things, many people believed in him.

Abraham's Children and the Devil's Children

   31 Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, "If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 "We are descendants of Abraham, " they replied, "and have never been anyone's slaves! How can you say, 'You will become free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the family forever, but the son remains forever. 36 So if the son sets you free, you will be really free. 37 I know that you are Abraham's descendants. But you want to kill me, because my teaching makes no progress among you. 38 I am telling you the things I have seen while with the Father; as for you, practice the things you have heard from the Father!"
   39 They answered him, "Abraham is our father!" Jesus replied, "If you are Abraham's children, you would be doing the deeds of Abraham. 40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! 41 You people are doing the deeds of your father." Then they said to Jesus, "We were not born as a result of immorality! We have only one Father, God himself." 42 Jesus replied, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God and am now here. I have not come on my own initiative, but he sent me. 43 Why don't you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot accept my teaching. 44 You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I am telling you the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Who among you can prove me guilty of any sin? If I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God's words. You don't listen and respond, because you don't belong to God."
   48 The Judeans replied, "Aren't we correct in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I am not possessed by a demon, but I honor my Father - and yet you dishonor me. 50 I am not trying to get praise for myself. There is one who demands it, and he also judges. 51 I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death."
   52 Then the Judeans responded, "Now we know you're possessed by a demon! Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet you say, 'If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never experience death.' 53 You aren't greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?" 54 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people say, 'He is our God.' 55 Yet you do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his teaching. 56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it and was glad."
   57 Then the Judeans replied, "You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!" 59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out from the temple area.

King James Version

   1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
   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.
   3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
   4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
   5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
   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.
   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.
   8 And again he stooped down, 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.
   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?
   11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
   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.
   13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is 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.
   15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
   16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
   17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
   18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of 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.
   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.
   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.
   22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   27 They understood not that he spake to them of 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.
   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.
   30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
   31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
   32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make 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?
   34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
   35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
   36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
   37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
   38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen 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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
   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.
   45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
   46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
   47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
   48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
   49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
   50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
   51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see 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.
   53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
   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:
   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.
   56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
   57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
   58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
   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.