New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
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Now before the feast of the Passover, it was clear to Jesus that the time had come for him to go away from this world to the Father. Having once had love for those in the world who were his, his love for them went on to the end.
2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper
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So while a meal was going on, the Evil One having now put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to be false to him,
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,
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Jesus, being conscious that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he came from God and was going to God,
4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.
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Got up from table, put off his robe and took a cloth and put it round him.
5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.
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Then he put water into a basin and was washing the feet of the disciples and drying them with the cloth which was round him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
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So he came to Simon Peter. Peter said, Lord, are my feet to be washed by you?
7 Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
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And Jesus, answering, said to him, What I do is not clear to you now, but it will be clear to you in time to come.
8 Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me."
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Peter said, I will never let my feet be washed by you, never. Jesus said in answer, If I do not make you clean you have no part with me.
9 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"
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Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but my hands and my head.
10 Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you."
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Jesus said to him, He who is bathed has need only to have his feet washed and then he is clean all over: and you, my disciples, are clean, but not all of you.
11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."
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(He had knowledge who was false to him; that is why he said, You are not all clean.)
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?
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Then, after washing their feet and putting on his robe again, he took his seat and said to them, Do you see what I have done to you?
13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.
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You give me the name of Master and Lord: and you are right; that is what I am.
14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
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If then I, the Lord and the Master, have made your feet clean, it is right for you to make one another's feet clean.
15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
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I have given you an example, so that you may do what I have done to you.
16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.
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Truly I say to you, A servant is not greater than his lord; and he who is sent is not greater than the one who sent him.
17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
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If these things are clear to you, happy are you if you do them.
18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, "The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'
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I am not talking of you all: I have knowledge of my true disciples, but things are as they are, so that the Writings may come true, The foot of him who takes bread with me is lifted up against me.
19 I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he.
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From this time forward, I give you knowledge of things before they come about, so that when they come about you may have belief that I am he.
20 Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me."
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Truly I say to you, He who takes to his heart anyone whom I send, takes me to his heart; and he who so takes me, takes him who sent me.
21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, "Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me."
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When Jesus had said this he was troubled in spirit, and gave witness, saying, Truly I say to you, that one of you will be false to me.
22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking.
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Then the eyes of the disciples were turned on one another, in doubt as to whom he had in mind.
23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him;
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There was at table one of his disciples, the one dear to Jesus, resting his head on Jesus' breast.
24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.
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Making a sign to him, Simon Peter said, Who is it he is talking about?
25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
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He, then, resting his head on Jesus' breast, said to him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.
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This was the answer Jesus gave: It is the one to whom I will give this bit of bread after I have put it in the vessel. Then he took the bit of bread, put it into the vessel, and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "Do quickly what you are going to do."
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And when Judas took the bread Satan went into him. Then Jesus said to him, Do quickly what you have to do.
28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.
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Now it was not clear to anyone at table why he said this to him.
29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the festival"; or, that he should give something to the poor.
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Some were of the opinion that because Judas kept the money-bag Jesus said to him, Get the things we have need of for the feast; or, that he was to give something to the poor.
30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
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So Judas, having taken the bit of bread, straight away went out: and it was night.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.
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Then when he had gone out, Jesus said, Now is glory given to the Son of man, and God is given glory in him.
32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.
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If God is given glory in him, God will give him glory in himself, and will give him glory even now.
33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, "Where I am going, you cannot come.'
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My dear children, I am only to be with you a little longer. Then you will be looking for me: and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you, Where I am going you may not come.
34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
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I give you a new law: Have love one for another; even as I have had love for you, so are you to have love one for another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
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By this it will be clear to all men that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.
36 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward."
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Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus said in answer, Where I am going you may not come with me now, but you will come later.
37 Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
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Peter said to him, Why may I not come with you even now? I will give up my life for you.
38 Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.
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Jesus said in answer, Will you give up your life for me? Truly I say to you, Before the cry of the cock you will have said three times that you are not my disciple.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.