| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, | 1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. |
| 2but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. | 2Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them. |
| 3As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. | 3The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them |
| 4“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. | 4and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. |
| 5The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” | 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” |
| 6They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. | 6They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger. |
| 7They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” | 7When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” |
| 8Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. | 8And again He bent down and wrote on the ground. |
| 9When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. | 9When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there. |
| 10Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” | 10Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” |
| 11“No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” ---------- Jesus, the Light of the World | 11“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.” |
| 12Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” | 12Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” |
| 13The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.” | 13So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not valid.” |
| 14Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. | 14Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going. |
| 15 You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. | 15You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. |
| 16 And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. | 16But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone; I am with the Father who sent Me. |
| 17 Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. | 17Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. |
| 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.” | 18I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.” |
| 19“Where is your father?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” | 19“Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.” |
| 20Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come. The Unbelieving People Warned | 20He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts, near the treasury. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come. |
| 21Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.” | 21Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” |
| 22The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?” | 22So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” |
| 23Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. | 23Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. |
| 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.” | 24That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” |
| 25“Who are you?” they demanded. Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be. | 25“Who are You?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. |
| 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” | 26“I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world.” |
| 27But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father. | 27They did not understand that He was telling them about the Father. |
| 28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. | 28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me. |
| 29 And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” | 29He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.” |
| 30Then many who heard him say these things believed in him. Jesus and Abraham | 30As Jesus spoke these things, many believed in Him. |
| 31Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. | 31So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. |
| 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” | 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” |
| 33“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” | 33“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?” |
| 34Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. | 34Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. |
| 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. | 35A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever. |
| 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. | 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. |
| 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. | 37I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you. |
| 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.” | 38I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” |
| 39“Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. | 39“Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham. |
| 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. | 40But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. |
| 41 No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.” | 41You are doing the works of your father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.” |
| 42Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. | 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me. |
| 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! | 43Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. |
| 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. | 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. |
| 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! | 45But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me! |
| 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? | 46Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me? |
| 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.” | 47Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” |
| 48The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?” | 48The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?” |
| 49 “No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. | 49“I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. |
| 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. | 50I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge. |
| 51 I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!” | 51Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.” |
| 52The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ | 52“Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death. |
| 53Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” | 53Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?” |
| 54Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ | 54Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say ‘He is our God.’ |
| 55 but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. | 55You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word. |
| 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.” | 56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.” |
| 57The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham? ” | 57Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” |
| 58Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am ! ” | 58“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!” |
| 59At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple. | 59At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area. |
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