New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.
1
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He was one of the Jewish rulers.
2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
2
He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. We know that God is with you. If he weren't, you couldn't do the miraculous signs you are doing."
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
3
Jesus replied, "What I'm about to tell you is true. No one can see God's kingdom without being born again."
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
4
"How can I be born when I am old?" Nicodemus asked. "I can't go back inside my mother! I can't be born a second time!"
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
5
Jesus answered, "What I'm about to tell you is true. No one can enter God's kingdom without being born through water and the Holy Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
6
People give birth to people. But the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
7
You should not be surprised when I say, 'You must all be born again.'
8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
8
"The wind blows where it wants to. You hear the sound it makes. But you can't tell where it comes from or where it is going. It is the same with everyone who is born through the Spirit."
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
9
"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?
10
"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus. "Don't you understand these things?
11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
11
"What I'm about to tell you is true. We speak about what we know. We give witness to what we have seen. But still you people do not accept our witness.
12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
12
I have spoken to you about earthly things, and you do not believe. So how will you believe if I speak about heavenly things?
13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
13
"No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven. He is the Son of Man.
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
14
Moses lifted up the snake in the desert. The Son of Man must be lifted up also.
15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
15
Then everyone who believes in him can live with God forever.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
16
"God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
17
"God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world. He sent his Son to save the world through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
18
Anyone who believes in him is not judged. But anyone who does not believe is judged already. He has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
19
"Here is the judgment. Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light. They loved darkness because what they did was evil.
20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
20
"Everyone who does evil things hates the light. They will not come into the light. They are afraid that what they do will be seen.
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.
21
But anyone who lives by the truth comes into the light. He does this so that it will be easy to see that what he has done is with God's help."
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.
22
After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the countryside of Judea. There he spent some time with them. And he baptized people there.
23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized.
23
John was also baptizing. He was at Aenon near Salim, where there was plenty of water. People were coming all the time to be baptized.
24 (This was before John was put in prison.)
24
That was before John was put in prison.
25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.
25
Some of John's disciples and a certain Jew began to argue. They argued about special washings to make people "clean."
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.”
26
They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River is baptizing people. He is the one you gave witness about. Everyone is going to him."
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
27
John replied, "A person can receive only what God gives him from heaven.
28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’
28
You yourselves are witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ. I was sent ahead of him.'
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.
29
The bride belongs to the groom. The friend who helps the groom waits and listens for him. He is full of joy when he hears the groom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
30
He must become more important. I must become less important.
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.
31
"The One who comes from above is above everything. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks like someone from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above everything.
32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
32
He gives witness to what he has seen and heard. But no one accepts what he says.
33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.
33
Anyone who has accepted it has said, 'Yes. God is truthful.'
34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
34
The One whom God has sent speaks God's words. God gives the Holy Spirit without limit.
35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
35
"The Father loves the Son and has put everything into his hands.
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.
36
Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life. Anyone who says no to the Son will not have life. God's anger remains on him."
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.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.