New Living Translation NLT
New International Version NIV
19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.
19
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.
20
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. ”
21
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
22 Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people.
22
After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.
23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism.
23
Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized.
24 (This was before John was thrown into prison.)
24
(This was before John was put in prison.)
25 A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing.
25
An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.
26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.”
26
They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.
27
To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’
28
You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’
29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.
29
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
30
He must become greater; I must become less.”
31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.
31
The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!
32
He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
33 Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true.
33
Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.
34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.
34
For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands.
35
The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.