1“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.2They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. (Joh 4:21; Joh 9:22; Joh 12:42; Ac 8:1; Ac 9:1; Ac 26:9)3And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. (Joh 8:19; Joh 8:55; Joh 15:21; Joh 17:25)
The Work of the Holy Spirit
4But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. (Mt 9:15; Lu 22:53; Joh 13:19; Joh 14:29)5But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ (Joh 13:36; Joh 14:5; Joh 14:12)6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. (Joh 14:1; Joh 16:22)7Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (Joh 7:39; Joh 14:2; Joh 14:16; Joh 14:26; Joh 15:26; Ac 2:33)8And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: (Joh 8:28; Joh 8:46)9concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; (Joh 8:24; Ac 2:36; 1Co 12:3)10concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; (Joh 16:16; Joh 16:19; Ac 17:31)11concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (Joh 12:31; Col 2:15; Heb 2:14)12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (Ps 25:5; Joh 1:17; Joh 14:6; Joh 14:17; Joh 14:26; Joh 15:15; Ac 8:31)14He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (Joh 7:39)15All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (Joh 16:14; Joh 17:10)
Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” (Joh 7:33; Joh 16:22)17So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” (Mr 9:10; Mr 9:32; Joh 16:10; Joh 16:16)18So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” (Joh 14:5)19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? (Joh 2:24; Joh 16:30)20Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. (Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; Mt 9:15; Mr 16:10; Lu 23:27; Re 11:10)21When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. (Ps 48:6; Isa 13:8; Isa 26:17; 1Th 5:3; Re 12:2)22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (Ps 33:21; Isa 66:14; Lu 24:52; Joh 16:6; Joh 16:16; Ac 2:46; Ac 8:8; Ac 8:39; Ac 13:52; 2Co 6:10)23In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. (Joh 14:13; Joh 14:20; Joh 15:16; Joh 16:19; Joh 16:26; Joh 16:30; Eph 1:3)24Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (Mt 7:7; Joh 15:11)
I Have Overcome the World
25“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. (Joh 16:2)26In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.[1] (Joh 14:21; Joh 14:23; Joh 16:30; Joh 17:8; Joh 17:23; Joh 21:15; 1Co 16:22)28I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” (Joh 8:14; Joh 13:3; Joh 14:12)29His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! (Joh 16:25)30Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” (Joh 2:24; Joh 3:2; Joh 16:27; Joh 21:17)31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?32Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. (Isa 63:5; Mt 26:31; Mr 14:27; Joh 4:21; Joh 4:23; Joh 8:16; Joh 8:29)33I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (Joh 14:1; Joh 14:27; Joh 15:18; Ac 14:22; Ro 8:37; Col 3:15; 1Jo 4:4; 1Jo 5:4; Re 1:9; Re 3:21; Re 12:11)
John 16
New International Version
1‘All this I have told you so that you will not fall away.2They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.3They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.4I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you,5but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, “Where are you going?”6Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.7But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.8When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:9about sin, because people do not believe in me;10about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;11and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.12‘I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.14He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.’
The disciples’ grief will turn to joy
16Jesus went on to say, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.’17At this, some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What does he mean by saying, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,” and “Because I am going to the Father”?’18They kept asking, ‘What does he mean by “a little while”? We don’t understand what he is saying.’19Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, ‘Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me”?20Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.21A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.22So with you: now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no-one will take away your joy.23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.25‘Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.26In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.27No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.28I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.’29Then Jesus’ disciples said, ‘Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.30Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.’31‘Do you now believe?’ Jesus replied.32‘A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.33‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’
John 16
King James Version
1These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.3And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.4But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.5But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?6But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:9Of sin, because they believe not on me;10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.16A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.17Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?18They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.19Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?20Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.25These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.26At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:27For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.28I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.29His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.30Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.31Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16
New International Reader’s Version
1‘I have told you all this so that you will not turn away from the truth.2You will be thrown out of the synagogue. In fact, the time is coming when someone may kill you. And they will think they are doing God a favour.3They will do things like that because they do not know the Father or me.4Why have I told you this? So that when their time comes, you will remember that I warned you about them. I didn’t tell you this from the beginning because I was with you.5But now I am going to the one who sent me. None of you asks me, “Where are you going?”6Instead, you are filled with sadness because I have said these things.7But what I’m about to tell you is true. It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Friend will not come to help you. But if I go, I will send him to you.8When he comes, he will prove that the world’s people are guilty. He will prove their guilt concerning sin and godliness and judgment.9The world is guilty as far as sin is concerned. That’s because people do not believe in me.10The world is guilty as far as godliness is concerned. That’s because I am going to the Father, where you can’t see me anymore.11The world is guilty as far as judgment is concerned. That’s because the devil, the prince of this world, has already been judged.12‘I have much more to say to you. It is more than you can handle right now.13But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own. He will speak only what he hears. And he will tell you what is still going to happen.14He will bring me glory. That’s because what he receives from me he will show to you.15Everything that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said what the Holy Spirit receives from me he will show to you.’
The disciples’ sadness will turn into joy
16Jesus continued, ‘In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me.’17After they heard this, some of his disciples spoke to one another. They said, ‘What does he mean by saying, “In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me”? And what does he mean by saying, “I am going to the Father”?’18They kept asking, ‘What does he mean by “a little while”? We don’t understand what he is saying.’19Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about these things. So he said to them, ‘Are you asking one another what I meant? Didn’t you understand when I said, “In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me”?20What I’m about to tell you is true. You will weep and mourn while the world is full of joy. You will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy.21A woman giving birth to a baby has pain. That’s because her time to give birth has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a baby has been born into the world.22That’s the way it is with you. Now it’s your time to be sad. But I will see you again. Then you will be full of joy. And no one will take away your joy.23When that day comes, you will no longer ask me for anything. What I’m about to tell you is true. My Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive what you ask for. Then your joy will be complete.25‘I have not been speaking to you plainly. But a time is coming when I will speak clearly. Then I will tell you plainly about my Father.26When that day comes, you will ask for things in my name. I am not saying I will ask the Father instead of you asking him.27No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me. He also loves you because you have believed that I came from God.28I came from the Father and entered the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.’29Then Jesus’ disciples said, ‘Now you are speaking plainly. You are using examples that are clear.30Now we can see that you know everything. You don’t even need anyone to ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.’31‘Do you believe now?’ Jesus replied.32‘A time is coming when you will be scattered and go to your own homes. In fact, that time is already here. You will leave me all alone. But I am not really alone. My Father is with me.33‘I have told you these things, so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you will have trouble. But be encouraged! I have won the battle over the world.’