John 8
All 59 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.
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- 1Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
- 2Early the next morning, he returned to the temple. The whole crowd gathered around him, so he sat down and began teaching them.
- 3The religious scholars and Pharisees dragged in a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in front of everyone.
- 4They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery.
- 5"Moses commanded in the Law that women like this should be stoned to death. What do you say?"
- 6They were asking this to trap him so they could bring charges against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger, as if he hadn't heard them.
- 7When they kept pressing him for an answer, he straightened up and told them, "Whichever one of you has never sinned — let that person throw the first stone at her."
- 8Then he bent down again and continued writing on the ground.
- 9When they heard this, their own consciences convicted them, and they left one by one, starting with the oldest and ending with the youngest. Eventually only Jesus remained, with the woman still standing there.
- 10Jesus straightened up and, seeing no one else but the woman, asked her, "Where did everyone go? Hasn't a single person condemned you?"
- 11She answered, "No one, Lord." Jesus told her, "I don't condemn you either. Go, and don't sin anymore."
- 12Jesus spoke to the crowd again, saying, "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."
- 13The Pharisees objected, "You're testifying about yourself — your testimony isn't valid."
- 14Jesus replied, "Even though I testify about myself, my testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I'm going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I'm going.
- 15"You judge by human standards. I don't judge anyone.
- 16"But even if I do judge, my judgment is accurate, because I'm not acting alone — the Father who sent me stands with me.
- 17"Your own Law states that the testimony of 2 witnesses is valid.
- 18"I testify about myself, and the Father who sent me also testifies about me."
- 19They asked him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You don't know me or my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father too."
- 20Jesus said all of this while teaching near the treasury in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his time had not yet arrived.
- 21Jesus told them again, "I'm going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sins. Where I'm going, you cannot follow."
- 22The Jewish leaders said, "Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by 'Where I'm going, you cannot follow'?"
- 23He told them, "You belong to what is below; I belong to what is above. You are part of this world; I am not part of this world.
- 24"That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. If you don't believe that I am who I say I am, you will die in your sins."
- 25"Who exactly are you?" they demanded. Jesus answered, "What I have been telling you from the very start.
- 26"I have much I could say to judge you. But the one who sent me is truthful, and I tell the world only what I have heard from him."
- 27They didn't realize he was talking about the Father.
- 28So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will understand that I am who I say I am, and that I do nothing on my own. I only speak what my Father has taught me.
- 29"The one who sent me is always with me. The Father has never left me on my own, because I always do what pleases him."
- 30As he said these things, many people put their faith in him.
- 31Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you hold to my teaching, you are truly my disciples.
- 32"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
- 33They responded, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be set free'?"
- 34Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I tell you: everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
- 35"A slave doesn't have a permanent place in the household, but a son belongs there forever.
- 36"So if the Son sets you free, you will be genuinely free.
- 37"I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me because my message finds no room in your hearts.
- 38"I speak about what I have seen in the presence of my Father, and you carry out what you have learned from your father."
- 39They replied, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were truly Abraham's children, you would act the way Abraham did.
- 40"Instead, you are trying to kill me — a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did anything like that.
- 41"You are doing what your real father does." They shot back, "We are not illegitimate children! We have one Father — God himself."
- 42Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and am here now. I didn't come on my own — he sent me.
- 43"Why can't you understand what I'm saying? It's because you are unable to accept my message.
- 44"Your father is the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He has been a murderer from the very beginning and has never stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the originator of lies.
- 45"Yet because I tell you the truth, you refuse to believe me.
- 46"Can any of you prove that I have sinned? If I'm speaking the truth, why don't you believe me?
- 47"Whoever belongs to God listens to God's words. The reason you don't listen is that you don't belong to God."
- 48The Jewish leaders responded, "Aren't we right when we say you're a Samaritan and possessed by a demon?"
- 49Jesus answered, "I am not possessed by a demon. I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.
- 50"I'm not seeking my own glory. There is one who seeks it and who judges.
- 51"Truly, truly, I tell you: if anyone holds to my word, they will never experience death."
- 52The Jewish leaders said, "Now we're certain you're possessed by a demon! Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet you claim, 'If anyone holds to my word, they will never experience death.'
- 53"Are you greater than our ancestor Abraham, who died? The prophets died too. Who do you think you are?"
- 54Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me — the very one you claim as your God.
- 55"You don't actually know him, but I know him. If I said I didn't know him, I would be a liar just like you. But I do know him, and I obey his word.
- 56"Your ancestor Abraham was overjoyed at the prospect of seeing my day. He saw it and was filled with joy."
- 57The Jewish leaders protested, "You're not even 50 years old, and you've seen Abraham?"
- 58Jesus declared, "Truly, truly, I tell you: before Abraham existed, I am."
- 59At that, they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus concealed himself and left the temple, passing right through the crowd and going on his way.