John 3

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, comes to Jesus by night, and Jesus tells him that a man must be born again to see the kingdom of God. Jesus declares that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:	There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2	The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.	He came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with Him."
3	Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.	Jesus answered Him, "Truly, truly, I say to You, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4	Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?	Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?"
5	Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.	Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to You, unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, He cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6	That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.	What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7	Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.	Do not be amazed that I said to You, 'You must be born again.'
8	The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.	The wind blows where it will. You hear its sound, but You do not know where it comes from or where it goes. That is how it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
9	Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?	Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"
10	Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?	Jesus answered, "You are a teacher of Israel and You do not understand these things?
11	Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.	Truly, truly, I say to You, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, but You do not receive our testimony.
12	If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?	If I have told You earthly things and You do not believe, how will You believe if I tell You heavenly things?
13	And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.	No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven — the Son of Man Who is in heaven.
14	And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:	Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15	That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.	so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life.
16	For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.	For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17	For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.	For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.
18	He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.	Whoever believes in him is not condemned. But whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19	And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.	This is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.
20	For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.	Everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, for fear that His deeds will be exposed.
21	But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.	But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that His deeds have been done in God.
22	After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.	After this Jesus and His disciples went into the land of Judaea. He stayed there with them and baptized.
23	And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.	John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there. People came and were baptized.
24	For John was not yet cast into prison.	For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25	Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.	A dispute arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew about purification.
26	And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, he baptizeth, and all men come to him.	They came to John and said, "Rabbi, the one who was with you beyond the Jordan — the one You testified about — He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him."
27	John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.	John answered, "A man can receive nothing unless it is given to him from heaven.
28	Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.	You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but that I have been sent before Him.
29	He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.	The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, greatly rejoices at the bridegroom's voice. This joy of mine is now complete.
30	He must increase, but I must decrease.	He must increase, but I must decrease.
31	He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.	He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. He who comes from heaven is above all.
32	And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.	He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.
33	He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.	Whoever receives his testimony has certified that God is true.
34	For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.	He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure to Him.
35	The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.	The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.
36	He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.	Whoever believes in the Son has everlasting life. Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on Him.