3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode'mus, a ruler of the Jews.
3:1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.

3:2 This man 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."
3:2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God."

3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
3:3 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."

3:4 Nicode'mus 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?"
3:4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?"

3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
3:5 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.

3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
3:6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.'
3:7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.'

3:8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."
3:8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

3:9 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can this be?"
3:9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

3:10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this?
3:10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

3:11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony.
3:11 "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony.

3:12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
3:12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

3:13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.
3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up,
3:14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

3:15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
3:15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

3:17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
3:17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

3:18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
3:18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

3:19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
3:19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.

3:20 For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
3:20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.

3:21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.
3:21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."

3:22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized.
3:22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized.

3:23 John also was baptizing at Ae'non near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were baptized.
3:23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized

3:24 For John had not yet been put in prison.
3:24 --John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.

3:25 Now a discussion arose between John's disciples and a Jew over purifying.
3:25 Now a discussion about purification arose between John's disciples and a Jew.

3:26 And they came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is, baptizing, and all are going to him."
3:26 They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him."

3:27 John answered, "No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven.
3:27 John answered, "No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.

3:28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.
3:28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.'

3:29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full.
3:29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled.

3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease."
3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease."

3:31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all.
3:31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

3:32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony;
3:32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony.

3:33 he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
3:33 Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true.

3:34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit;
3:34 He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

3:35 the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.

3:36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.
3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God's wrath.