The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.

Plain English · paraphraseSo there was a division among the Jews again because of these words.

And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

Plain English · paraphraseAnd many of them said, "He has a demon and is crazy. Why are you listening to him?"

Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

Plain English · paraphraseOthers said, "These are not the words of someone who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

Plain English · paraphraseIt was in Jerusalem, during the feast of the Dedication, and it was winter.

And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.

Plain English · paraphraseJesus was walking in the temple in the colonnade of Solomon.

Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

Plain English · paraphraseJesus answered them, “I told you, and you did not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness to me.”

But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Plain English · paraphraseBut you don’t believe, because you are not my sheep, as I told you.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I give them eternal life. They will never be destroyed. No one will take them from my hand.

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Plain English · paraphraseMy Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all. No one can take them from my Father’s hand.

I and my Father are one.

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

Plain English · paraphraseJesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works are you stoning me?"

The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Plain English · paraphraseThe Jews answered him, saying, "We are not stoning you for doing good. We are stoning you for blasphemy. You, a man, are claiming to be God."

Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Plain English · paraphraseAre you going to say about him, the one the Father has set apart and sent into the world, "You are speaking blasphemy," just because I said, "I am the Son of God"?

If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

Plain English · paraphraseIf I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe in me.

But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Plain English · paraphraseBut if I do, even if you don't believe me, believe the works. So you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

Plain English · paraphraseTherefore they tried again to take him, but he escaped from their grasp.

And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he went away again across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he stayed.

And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd many came to him, saying, "John did no miracle. But everything John said about this man was true."

And many believed on him there.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

Plain English · paraphraseNow there was a man who was sick. His name was Lazarus, and he was from Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

Plain English · paraphrase(That was Mary, the one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was sick.)

Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

Plain English · paraphraseTherefore his sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, look, the one you love is sick."

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen Jesus heard that, he said, "This sickness is not for death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

Plain English · paraphraseThen he said to his disciples, Let us go back to Judaea.

His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

Plain English · paraphraseHis disciples said to him, "Teacher, the Jews recently tried to stone you. Are you going there again?"

Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

Plain English · paraphraseJesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world."

But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Plain English · paraphraseThese things he said. Then he told them, "Our friend Lazarus is sleeping; but I am going to wake him from his sleep."

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

Plain English · paraphraseThen his disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will be well."

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

Plain English · paraphraseJesus was speaking about his death, but they thought he meant resting as if sleeping.

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Jesus said plainly to them, "Lazarus is dead."

And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.

Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

Plain English · paraphraseThen when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb for four days already.

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

Plain English · paraphraseNow Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs away:

And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went out to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house.

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Plain English · paraphraseMartha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Plain English · paraphraseBut I know that even now, whatever you ask God for, God will give you.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Plain English · paraphraseJesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Plain English · paraphraseMartha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Plain English · paraphraseJesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even if they die, will live again."

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Plain English · paraphraseAnd whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Plain English · paraphraseShe said to him, "Yes, Lord. I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."

And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd when she had said this, she went her way and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, "The Master has come, and is calling for you."

As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

Plain English · paraphraseAs soon as she heard that, she stood up quickly and went to him.

Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

Plain English · paraphraseJesus had not yet arrived in the town. He was at the place where Martha met him.

The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

Plain English · paraphraseThe Jews who were with her in the house and had been comforting her, when they saw Mary get up quickly and go out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there."

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Plain English · paraphraseThen when Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.

Plain English · paraphraseJesus saw her crying and the Jews with her crying too. He groaned in his spirit and was troubled.

And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Jesus wept.

Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

Plain English · paraphraseThen the Jews said, "Look how much he loved him!"

And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

Plain English · paraphraseJesus groaned again inside himself and went to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was on top of it.

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

Plain English · paraphraseJesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the one who was dead, said to him, "Lord, by now he must smell, because he has been dead for four days."

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Plain English · paraphraseJesus said to her, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

Plain English · paraphraseThen they removed the stone from the place where the body was lying. Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me."

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I knew that you always listen to me. But because the people are standing nearby, I said it so that they will believe you sent me.

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd when he had said this, he shouted loudly, "Lazarus, come out."

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the one who had died came out, his hands and feet tied with burial cloths, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Untie him, and let him go."

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

Plain English · paraphraseThen many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw the things Jesus did believed in him.

But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

Plain English · paraphraseThen the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting and said, "What should we do? This man does many miracles."

If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

Plain English · paraphraseAnd one of them, named Caiaphas, who was the high priest that same year, said to them, You know nothing at all,

Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he did not speak from himself. He was the high priest that year, and he prophesied that Jesus would die for that nation.

And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd not for that nation only, but also so that he should gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Plain English · paraphraseFrom that day on, they planned together to kill him.

Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

Plain English · paraphraseJesus went no more openly among the Jews. He went from there to a country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with his disciples.

And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Jewish Passover was near. Many people came from the countryside to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.

Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?

Plain English · paraphraseThen they looked for Jesus, and talked among themselves as they stood in the temple. "What do you think? Will he not come to the feast?"

Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

Plain English · paraphraseNow both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment that, if anyone knew where he was, he should tell them so that they might take him.

Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

Plain English · paraphraseJesus came to Bethany six days before the Passover. Lazarus was there, the one who had been dead and whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Mary took a pound of very expensive spikenard ointment and anointed Jesus' feet. She wiped his feet with her hair, and the whole house filled with the smell of the ointment.

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,

Plain English · paraphraseThen one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray him, said,

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

Plain English · paraphrase"Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred coins and given to the poor?"

This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Plain English · paraphraseHe said this not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the money bag, and carried what was put into it.

Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Jesus said, Let her alone. She kept this for the day of my burial.

For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

Plain English · paraphraseFor the poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.

Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

Plain English · paraphraseMany Jews found out he was there, and they came not only for Jesus’ sake, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

Plain English · paraphraseBut the chief priests discussed how they might also put Lazarus to death;

Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

Plain English · paraphraseBecause many Jews went away because of him and believed in Jesus.

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Plain English · paraphraseThey took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord."

And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

Plain English · paraphraseDo not fear, daughter of Zion: look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey's colt.

These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

Plain English · paraphraseHis disciples did not understand these things at first. But when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things had been written about him, and that they had done them to him.

The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

Plain English · paraphraseFor this reason the people gathered around him, because they had heard that he had done this miracle.

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

Plain English · paraphraseThe Pharisees said to each other, “Look how we’re not succeeding. The world is following him.”