1 There|strong="G1510" was|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" man|strong="G0444" named|strong="G3686" Nicodemus|strong="G3530", one|strong="G0444" of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" Pharisees|strong="G5330". He|strong="G0846" was|strong="G1510" an|strong="G1510" important Jewish|strong="G2453" leader.
2 One|strong="G3762" night|strong="G3571" he|strong="G2532" came|strong="G2064" to|strong="G4314" Jesus|strong="G0846" and|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", “Teacher|strong="G1320", we|strong="G3739" know|strong="G1492" that|strong="G3754" you|strong="G4771" are|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" teacher|strong="G1320" sent from|strong="G0575" God|strong="G2316". No|strong="G3762" one|strong="G3762" can|strong="G1410" do|strong="G4160" these|strong="G3778" miraculous signs|strong="G4592" that|strong="G3754" you|strong="G4771" do|strong="G4160" unless|strong="G1437" they|strong="G0846" have|strong="G1510" God’s|strong="G2316" help.”
3 Jesus|strong="G2424" answered|strong="G0611", “I|strong="G0281" assure you|strong="G4771", everyone|strong="G1437" must|strong="G3588" be|strong="G2532" born|strong="G1080" again|strong="G0509". Anyone|strong="G5100" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G2316" not|strong="G3756" born|strong="G1080" again|strong="G0509" cannot|strong="G3756" be|strong="G2532" in|strong="G2316" God’s|strong="G2316" kingdom|strong="G0932".”
4 Nicodemus|strong="G3530" said|strong="G3004", “How|strong="G4459" can|strong="G1410" a|strong="G1510" man|strong="G0444" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" already old|strong="G1088" be|strong="G1510" born|strong="G1080" again|strong="G2532"? Can|strong="G1410" he|strong="G2532" go|strong="G1525" back|strong="G1519" into|strong="G1519" his|strong="G0846" mother’s|strong="G3384" womb|strong="G2836" and|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1510" born|strong="G1080" a|strong="G1510" second|strong="G1208" time|strong="G1208"?”
5 Jesus|strong="G2424" answered|strong="G0611", “Believe me|strong="G3004" when|strong="G2532" I|strong="G0281" say|strong="G3004" that|strong="G3004" everyone|strong="G1437" must|strong="G1525" be|strong="G2532" born|strong="G1080" from|strong="G1537" water|strong="G5204" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151". Anyone|strong="G5100" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G2316" not|strong="G3756" born|strong="G1080" from|strong="G1537" water|strong="G5204" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151" cannot|strong="G3756" enter|strong="G1525" God’s|strong="G2316" kingdom|strong="G0932".
6 The|strong="G3588" only|strong="G2532" life|strong="G4561" people|strong="G1510" get from|strong="G1537" their|strong="G2532" human|strong="G4561" parents is|strong="G1510" physical|strong="G4561". But|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" new life|strong="G4561" that|strong="G4151" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151" gives|strong="G1080" a|strong="G1510" person is|strong="G1510" spiritual|strong="G4151".
7 Don’t|strong="G3361" be|strong="G1163" surprised|strong="G2296" that|strong="G3754" I|strong="G3754" told|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210", ‘You|strong="G5210" must|strong="G1163" be|strong="G1163" born|strong="G1080" again|strong="G0509".’
8 The|strong="G3956" wind|strong="G4151" blows|strong="G4154" wherever|strong="G3699" it|strong="G0846" wants|strong="G2309" to|strong="G2309". You|strong="G1510" hear|strong="G0191" it|strong="G0846", but|strong="G0235" you|strong="G1510" don’t|strong="G3756" know|strong="G1492" where|strong="G3699" it|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" coming|strong="G2064" from|strong="G1537" or|strong="G2532" where|strong="G3699" it|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" going|strong="G5217". It|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3956" same|strong="G0846" with|strong="G1537" everyone|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" born|strong="G1080" from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3956" Spirit|strong="G4151".”
9 Nicodemus|strong="G3530" asked|strong="G3004", “How|strong="G4459" is|strong="G3778" all this|strong="G3778" possible?”
10 Jesus|strong="G2424" said|strong="G3004", “You|strong="G4771" are|strong="G1510" an|strong="G1510" important teacher|strong="G1320" of|strong="G3004" Israel|strong="G2474", and|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" still don’t|strong="G3756" understand|strong="G1097" these|strong="G3778" things|strong="G3778"?
11 The|strong="G3588" truth is|strong="G3739", we|strong="G2249" talk about|strong="G3588" what|strong="G3739" we|strong="G2249" know|strong="G1492". We|strong="G2249" tell|strong="G3004" about|strong="G3588" what|strong="G3739" we|strong="G2249" have|strong="G2532" seen|strong="G3708". But|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" people|strong="G1492" don’t|strong="G3756" accept|strong="G2983" what|strong="G3739" we|strong="G2249" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G4771".
12 I|strong="G1437" have|strong="G2532" told|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210" about|strong="G3588" things|strong="G2032" here on|strong="G1437" earth|strong="G1919", but|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" do|strong="G4100" not|strong="G3756" believe|strong="G4100" me|strong="G3004". So|strong="G2532" I’m sure you|strong="G5210" will|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3756" believe|strong="G4100" me|strong="G3004" if|strong="G1487" I|strong="G1437" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210" about|strong="G3588" heavenly|strong="G2032" things|strong="G2032"!
13 The|strong="G3588" only|strong="G1487" one|strong="G3762" who|strong="G3588" has|strong="G0444" ever gone|strong="G0305" up|strong="G0305" to|strong="G1519" heaven|strong="G3772" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3762" who|strong="G3588" came|strong="G2597" down|strong="G2597" from|strong="G1537" heaven|strong="G3772"—the|strong="G3588" Son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" Man|strong="G0444".
14 “Moses|strong="G3475" lifted|strong="G5312" up|strong="G1210" the|strong="G3588" snake|strong="G3789" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" desert|strong="G2048". It|strong="G3779" is|strong="G0444" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3779" with|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" Man|strong="G0444". He|strong="G2532" must|strong="G1163" be|strong="G1163" lifted|strong="G5312" up|strong="G1210" too|strong="G2532".
15 Then|strong="G0846" everyone|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" believes|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1722" him|strong="G0846" can have|strong="G2192" eternal|strong="G0166" life|strong="G2222".”
16 Yes|strong="G1063", God|strong="G2316" loved|strong="G0025" the|strong="G3956" world|strong="G2889" so|strong="G2443" much that|strong="G2443" he|strong="G0846" gave|strong="G1325" his|strong="G0846" only|strong="G3439" Son|strong="G5207", so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" everyone|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" believes|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1519" him|strong="G0846" would|strong="G0846" not|strong="G3361" be|strong="G3956" lost|strong="G0622" but|strong="G0235" have|strong="G2192" eternal|strong="G0166" life|strong="G2222".
17 God|strong="G2316" sent|strong="G0649" his|strong="G0846" Son|strong="G5207" into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889". He|strong="G0846" did|strong="G0649" not|strong="G3756" send|strong="G0649" him|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1519" judge|strong="G2919" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889" guilty, but|strong="G0235" to|strong="G1519" save|strong="G4982" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889" through|strong="G1223" him|strong="G0846".
18 People|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" believe|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1519" God’s|strong="G2316" Son|strong="G5207" are|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" judged|strong="G2919" guilty. But|strong="G1161" people|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" do|strong="G2919" not|strong="G3756" believe|strong="G4100" are|strong="G3588" already|strong="G2235" judged|strong="G2919", because|strong="G3754" they|strong="G0846" have|strong="G3748" not|strong="G3756" believed|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1519" God’s|strong="G2316" only|strong="G3439" Son|strong="G5207".
19 They|strong="G0846" are|strong="G1510" judged by|strong="G2228" this|strong="G3778" fact|strong="G3754": The|strong="G3588" light|strong="G5457" has|strong="G0444" come|strong="G2064" into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889". But|strong="G1161" they|strong="G0846" did|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" want light|strong="G5457". They|strong="G0846" wanted darkness|strong="G4655", because|strong="G3754" they|strong="G0846" were|strong="G1510" doing|strong="G2041" evil|strong="G4190" things|strong="G3778".
20 Everyone|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" does|strong="G2064" evil|strong="G5337" hates|strong="G3404" the|strong="G3956" light|strong="G5457". They|strong="G0846" will|strong="G3956" not|strong="G3756" come|strong="G2064" to|strong="G4314" the|strong="G3956" light|strong="G5457", because|strong="G1063" the|strong="G3956" light|strong="G5457" will|strong="G3956" show|strong="G1651" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" bad|strong="G5337" things|strong="G3956" they|strong="G0846" have|strong="G2532" done|strong="G4238".
21 But|strong="G1161" anyone|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" follows the|strong="G3588" true|strong="G0225" way|strong="G1722" comes|strong="G2064" to|strong="G4314" the|strong="G3588" light|strong="G5457". Then|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" light|strong="G5457" will|strong="G2316" show|strong="G5319" that|strong="G3754" whatever|strong="G3748" they|strong="G0846" have|strong="G1510" done|strong="G4160" was|strong="G1510" done|strong="G4160" through|strong="G1722" God|strong="G2316".
22 After|strong="G3326" this|strong="G3778", Jesus|strong="G2424" and|strong="G2532" his|strong="G0846" followers went|strong="G2064" into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" area of|strong="G1093" Judea|strong="G2453". There|strong="G1563" he|strong="G2532" stayed|strong="G1304" with|strong="G3326" his|strong="G0846" followers and|strong="G2532" baptized|strong="G0907" people|strong="G0846".
23 John|strong="G2491" was|strong="G1510" also|strong="G2532" baptizing|strong="G0907" people|strong="G1510" in|strong="G1722" Aenon|strong="G0137", a|strong="G1510" place|strong="G1563" near|strong="G1451" Salim|strong="G4530" with|strong="G1722" plenty of|strong="G1722" water|strong="G5204". People|strong="G1510" were|strong="G1510" going there|strong="G1563" to|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1510" baptized|strong="G0907".
24 This|strong="G3588" was|strong="G1510" before|strong="G1519" John|strong="G2491" was|strong="G1510" put|strong="G0906" in|strong="G1519" prison|strong="G5438".
25 Some|strong="G1537" of|strong="G1537" John’s|strong="G2491" followers had|strong="G3588" an|strong="G1096" argument with|strong="G3326" another Jew|strong="G2453" about|strong="G4012" religious washing.
26 Then|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" came|strong="G2064" to|strong="G4314" John|strong="G2491" and|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", “Teacher, remember the|strong="G3956" man|strong="G3778" who|strong="G3739" was|strong="G1510" with|strong="G3326" you|strong="G4771" on|strong="G0846" the|strong="G3956" other|strong="G4008" side|strong="G4008" of|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" Jordan|strong="G2446" River? He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3956" one|strong="G3739" you|strong="G4771" were|strong="G1510" telling|strong="G3004" everyone|strong="G3956" about|strong="G4314". He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" also|strong="G2532" baptizing|strong="G0907" people|strong="G3956", and|strong="G2532" many are|strong="G1510" going|strong="G2064" to|strong="G4314" him|strong="G0846".”
27 John|strong="G2491" answered|strong="G0611", “A|strong="G2983" person|strong="G0444" can|strong="G1410" receive|strong="G2983" only|strong="G3756" what|strong="G3588" God|strong="G0846" gives|strong="G1325".
28 You|strong="G5210" yourselves|strong="G0846" heard me|strong="G3004" say|strong="G3004", ‘I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" the|strong="G3588" Messiah|strong="G5547". I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" only|strong="G3756" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" God|strong="G0846" sent|strong="G0649" to|strong="G3004" prepare the|strong="G3588" way|strong="G0846" for|strong="G3754" him|strong="G0846".’
29 The|strong="G3588" bride|strong="G3565" always|strong="G1223" belongs|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" bridegroom|strong="G3566". The|strong="G3588" friend|strong="G5384" who|strong="G3588" helps the|strong="G3588" bridegroom|strong="G3566" just|strong="G2532" waits and|strong="G2532" listens|strong="G0191". He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" happy just|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" hear|strong="G0191" the|strong="G3588" bridegroom|strong="G3566" talk. That’s how I|strong="G2532" feel now|strong="G1161". I|strong="G2532" am|strong="G1510" so|strong="G3767" happy that|strong="G0191" he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" here|strong="G1510".
30 He|strong="G1161" must|strong="G1163" become more and|strong="G1161" more important, and|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" must|strong="G1163" become less important.
31 “The|strong="G3956" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" comes|strong="G2064" from|strong="G1537" above|strong="G0509" is|strong="G1510" greater than|strong="G2532" all|strong="G3956" others|strong="G3588". The|strong="G3956" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3956" earth|strong="G1093" belongs|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2064" the|strong="G3956" earth|strong="G1093". He|strong="G2532" talks about|strong="G3588" things|strong="G3956" that|strong="G3956" are|strong="G1510" on|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3956" earth|strong="G1093". But|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" comes|strong="G2064" from|strong="G1537" heaven|strong="G3772" is|strong="G1510" greater than|strong="G2532" all|strong="G3956" others|strong="G3588".
32 He|strong="G2532" tells what|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" has|strong="G3739" seen|strong="G3708" and|strong="G2532" heard|strong="G0191", but|strong="G2532" people|strong="G0846" don’t accept|strong="G2983" what|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" says.
33 Whoever|strong="G3748" accepts|strong="G2983" what|strong="G3588" he|strong="G0846" says has|strong="G2316" given proof that|strong="G3754" God|strong="G2316" speaks the|strong="G3588" truth|strong="G0227".
34 God|strong="G2316" sent|strong="G0649" him|strong="G1325", and|strong="G2316" he|strong="G3739" tells people|strong="G3588" what|strong="G3739" God|strong="G2316" says|strong="G2980". God|strong="G2316" gives|strong="G1325" him|strong="G1325" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151" fully.
35 The|strong="G3956" Father|strong="G3962" loves|strong="G0025" the|strong="G3956" Son|strong="G5207" and|strong="G2532" has|strong="G3962" given|strong="G1325" him|strong="G0846" power|strong="G5495" over|strong="G1722" everything|strong="G3956".
36 Whoever|strong="G3588" believes|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" Son|strong="G5207" has|strong="G2192" eternal|strong="G0166" life|strong="G2222". But|strong="G1161" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" do|strong="G2192" not|strong="G3756" obey|strong="G0544" the|strong="G3588" Son|strong="G5207" will|strong="G2316" never|strong="G3756" have|strong="G2192" that|strong="G4100" life|strong="G2222". They|strong="G0846" cannot|strong="G3756" get|strong="G2192" away from|strong="G3588" God’s|strong="G2316" anger|strong="G3709".”