Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named ^aNicodemus, ^ba ruler of the Jews.

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’

This man came to Jesus ▼

▼Greek him

^dby night and said to him, ^e“Rabbi, ^fwe know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do ^gunless God is with him.”

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.

Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ▼

▼The Greek for again also means from above; also in verse 7.

’

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is ⁱborn ^jagain ▼

▼Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both  again and from above; also verse 7

he cannot ^lsee the kingdom of God.”

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.

‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’

Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

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?

Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born ^mof water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

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.

^wThe wind ▼

▼The same Greek word means both  wind and spirit

blows ^ywhere it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

‘How can this be?’ Nicodemus asked.

Nicodemus said to him, ^z“How can these things be?”

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

‘You are Israel’s teacher,’ said Jesus, ‘and do you not understand these things?

Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel ^aaand yet you do not understand these things?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ▼

▼The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.

that whoever believes ^anin him ^aomay have eternal life. ▼

▼Some interpreters hold that the quotation ends at verse 15

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

But whoever ^bfdoes what is true ^bgcomes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptised.

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and ^bhwas baptizing.

After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

Now John also was baptising at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptised.

John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized

And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

(This was before John was put in prison.)

(for ^biJohn had not yet been put in prison).

For John was not yet cast into prison.

An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.

Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over ^bjpurification.

Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.

They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan – the one you testified about – look, he is baptising, and everyone is going to him.’

And they came to John and said to him, ^bk“Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, ^blto whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and ^bmall are going to him.”

And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

To this John replied, ‘A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.

John answered, ^bn“A person cannot receive even one thing ^bounless it is given him ^bpfrom heaven.

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

You yourselves can testify that I said, “I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.”

You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ^bq‘I am not the Christ, but ^brI have been sent before him.’

Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

^bsThe one who has the bride is the bridegroom. ^btThe friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, ^burejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

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.

He must become greater; I must become less.’ ▼

▼Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 36.

^bwHe must increase, but I must decrease.” ▼

▼Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36

He must increase, but I must decrease.

The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

^byHe who comes from above ^bzis above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and ^caspeaks in an earthly way. ^cbHe who comes from heaven ^ccis above all.

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 testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.

^cdHe bears witness to what he has seen and heard, ^ceyet no one receives his testimony.

And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.

Whoever receives his testimony ^cfsets his seal to this, ^cgthat God is true.

He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God ▼

▼Greek he

gives the Spirit without limit.

For he whom ^ciGod has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit ^cjwithout measure.

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.

^ckThe Father loves the Son and ^clhas given all things into his hand.

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

^cmWhoever believes in the Son has eternal life; ^cnwhoever does not obey the Son shall not ^cosee life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

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.