LO - John - 3

3:1  Now there was a Pharisee called Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews,

3:2  who came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles which you do, unless God be with him.

3:3  Jesus answering, said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a man be born again, he can not discern the Reign of God.

3:4  Nicodemus replied, How can a grown man be born? Can he enter his mother's womb anew, and be born?

3:5  Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a man be born of water and Spirit, he can not enter the kingdom of God.

3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.

3:7  Wonder not, then, that I have said to you, You must be born again.

3:8  The Spirit breathes where he pleases, and you hear the report of him, but know not whence he comes, or whither he goes; so is every one who is born of the spirit.

3:9  Nicodemus answered, How can these things be?

3:10  Jesus replied, Are you the teacher of Israel, and know not these things?

3:11  Most assuredly, I say to you, we speak what we know, and testify what we have seen; yet you receive not our testimony.

3:12  If you understood not, when I told you earthly things, how will you understand when I tell you heavenly things?

3:13  For none has ascended into heaven, but he who descended from heaven; the Son of Man, whose abode is heaven.

3:14  As Moses placed on high the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be placed on high;

3:15  that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but obtain eternal life:

3:16  for God has so loved the world, as to give his own begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him, may not perish, but obtain eternal life.

3:17  For God has sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world may be saved by him.

3:18  He who believes on him shall not be condemned; he who believes not, is already condemned, because he has not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.

3:19  Now this is the ground of condemnation; that light has come into the world, and men have preferred the darkness to the light, because their deeds were evil.

3:20  For whosoever does evil, hates the light, and shuns it, lest his deeds should be detected.

3:21  But he who obeys the truth, comes to the light, that it may be manifest that his actions are agreeable to God.

3:22  After this, Jesus went, with his disciples, into the territory of Judea, where he remained with them, and immersed.

3:23  John also was immersing in Enon, near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came thither, and were immersed.

3:24  For John was not yet cast into prison.

3:25  Now John's disciples had a dispute with a Jew, about purification.

3:26  Then they went to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with you near the Jordan, of whom you gave so great a character; he, too, immerses, and the people flock to him.

3:27  John answered, A man can have no power but what he derives from heaven.

3:28  You yourselves are witness for me, that I said, I am not the Messiah; but am sent before him.

3:29  The bridegroom is he who has the bride; but the friend of the bridegroom, who assists him, rejoices to hear the bridegroom's voice: this, my joy, therefore, is complete.

3:30  He must increase, while I decrease.

3:31  He who comes from above, is above all. He who is from the earth is earthly, and speaks as being from the earth. He who comes from heaven, is above all.

3:32  What he testifies, is what he has seen and heard; yet his testimony is not received.

3:33  He who receives his testimony, vouches the veracity of God.

3:34  for he whom God has commissioned, relates God's own words; for to him God gives not the Spirit by measure.

3:35  The Father loves the Son, and has subjected all things to him.

3:36  He who believes on the Son, has life eternal; he who rejects the Son, shall not see life: but the vengeance of God awaits him.