King James Version KJV
New Century Version NCV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
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In the beginning there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
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He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
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All things were made by him, and nothing was made without him.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
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In him there was life, and that life was the light of all people.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
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The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
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There was a man named Johnn who was sent by God.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
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He came to tell people the truth about the Light so that through him all people could hear about the Light and believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
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John was not the Light, but he came to tell people the truth about the Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
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The true Light that gives light to all was coming into the world!
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
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The Word was in the world, and the world was made by him, but the world did not know him.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
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He came to the world that was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
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But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God.
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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They did not become his children in any human way -- by any human parents or human desire. They were born of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
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The Word became a human and lived among us. We saw his glory -- the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father -- and he was full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
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John tells the truth about him and cries out, saying, "This is the One I told you about: 'The One who comes after me is greater than I am, because he was living before me.'"
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
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Because he was full of grace and truth, from him we all received one gift after another.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
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The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
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No one has ever seen God. But God the only Son is very close to the Father, and he has shown us what God is like.
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
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Here is the truth Johnn told when the Jews in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?"
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
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John spoke freely and did not refuse to answer. He said, "I am not the Christ."
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
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So they asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He answered, "No, I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" they asked. He answered, "No."
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
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Then they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to tell those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
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John told them in the words of the prophet Isaiah: "I am the voice of one calling out in the desert: 'Make the road straight for the Lord.'"
24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
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Some Pharisees who had been sent asked John:
25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
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"If you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet, why do you baptize people?"
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
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John answered, "I baptize with water, but there is one here with you that you don't know about.
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
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He is the One who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie the strings of his sandals."
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
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This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing people.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
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The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
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This is the One I was talking about when I said, 'A man will come after me, but he is greater than I am, because he was living before me.'
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
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Even I did not know who he was, although I came baptizing with water so that the people of Israel would know who he is."
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
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33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
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Then John said, "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven in the form of a dove and rest on him. Until then I did not know who the Christ was. But the God who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'You will see the Spirit come down and rest on a man; he is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
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I have seen this happen, and I tell you the truth: This man is the Son of God."
35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
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The next day Johnn was there again with two of his followers.
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
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When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
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The two followers heard John say this, so they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them,What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
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When Jesus turned and saw them following him, he asked, "What are you looking for?" They said, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" ("Rabbi" means "Teacher.")
39 He saith unto them,Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
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He answered, "Come and see." So the two men went with Jesus and saw where he was staying and stayed there with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.
40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
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One of the two men who followed Jesus after they heard John speak about him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
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The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and say to him, "We have found the Messiah." ("Messiah" means "Christ.")
42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said,Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
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Then Andrew took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas." ("Cephas" means "Peter."n)
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him,Follow me.
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The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."
44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
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Philip was from the town of Bethsaida, where Andrew and Peter lived.
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
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Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the man that Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about him. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
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But Nathanael said to Philip, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip answered, "Come and see."
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him,Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
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As Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said, "Here is truly an Israelite. There is nothing false in him."
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him,Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
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Nathanael asked, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you when you were under the fig tree, before Philip told you about me."
49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
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Then Nathanael said to Jesus, "Teacher, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
50 Jesus answered and said unto him,Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
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Jesus said to Nathanael, "Do you believe simply because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that."
51 And he saith unto him,Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
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And Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and 'angels of God going up and coming down' on the Son of Man."