1 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other quarter) is a thief and a robber.

I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other quarter) is a thief and a robber.

2 B ut he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 T he watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out.

The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out.

4 W hen he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

5 T hey will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.

They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.

6 J esus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.

Jesus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.

7 S o Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep.

So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep.

8 A ll others who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to and obey them.

All others who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to and obey them.

9 I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out, and will find pasture.

I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out, and will find pasture.

10 T he thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His life for the sheep.

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His life for the sheep.

12 B ut the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters.

But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters.

13 N ow the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep.

Now the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep.

14 I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me—

I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me—

15 E ven as the Father knows Me and I also know the Father—and I am giving My life and laying it down on behalf of the sheep.

Even as the Father knows Me and I also know the Father—and I am giving My life and laying it down on behalf of the sheep.

16 A nd I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring and impel those also; and they will listen to My voice and heed My call, and so there will be one flock under one Shepherd.

And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring and impel those also; and they will listen to My voice and heed My call, and so there will be one flock under one Shepherd.

17 F or this the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life—to take it back again.

For this the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life—to take it back again.

18 N o one takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the instructions (orders) which I have received from My Father.

No one takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the instructions (orders) which I have received from My Father.

19 T hen a fresh division of opinion arose among the Jews because of His saying these things.

Then a fresh division of opinion arose among the Jews because of His saying these things.

20 A nd many of them said, He has a demon and He is mad (insane—He raves, He rambles). Why do you listen to Him?

And many of them said, He has a demon and He is mad (insane—He raves, He rambles). Why do you listen to Him?

21 O thers argued, These are not the thoughts and the language of one possessed. Can a demon-possessed person open blind eyes?

Others argued, These are not the thoughts and the language of one possessed. Can a demon-possessed person open blind eyes?

22 A fter this the Feast of Dedication was taking place at Jerusalem. It was winter,

After this the Feast of Dedication was taking place at Jerusalem. It was winter,

23 A nd Jesus was walking in Solomon’s Porch in the temple area.

And Jesus was walking in Solomon’s Porch in the temple area.

24 S o the Jews surrounded Him and began asking Him, How long are You going to keep us in doubt and suspense? If You are really the Christ (the Messiah), tell us so plainly and openly.

So the Jews surrounded Him and began asking Him, How long are You going to keep us in doubt and suspense? If You are really the Christ (the Messiah), tell us so plainly and openly.

25 J esus answered them, I have told you so, yet you do not believe Me. The very works that I do by the power of My Father and in My Father’s name bear witness concerning Me.

Jesus answered them, I have told you so, yet you do not believe Me. The very works that I do by the power of My Father and in My Father’s name bear witness concerning Me.

26 B ut you do not believe and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My fold.

But you do not believe and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My fold.

27 T he sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

28 A nd I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.

29 M y Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch out of the Father’s hand.

My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch out of the Father’s hand.

30 I and the Father are One.

I and the Father are One.

31 A gain the Jews brought up stones to stone Him.

Again the Jews brought up stones to stone Him.

32 J esus said to them, My Father has enabled Me to do many good deeds. For which of these do you mean to stone Me?

Jesus said to them, My Father has enabled Me to do many good deeds. For which of these do you mean to stone Me?

33 T he Jews replied, We are not going to stone You for a good act, but for blasphemy, because You, a mere Man, make Yourself God.

The Jews replied, We are not going to stone You for a good act, but for blasphemy, because You, a mere Man, make Yourself God.

34 J esus answered, Is it not written in your Law, I said, You are gods?

Jesus answered, Is it not written in your Law, I said, You are gods?

35 S o men are called gods, men to whom God’s message came—and the Scripture cannot be set aside or cancelled or broken or annulled—

So men are called gods, men to whom God’s message came—and the Scripture cannot be set aside or cancelled or broken or annulled—

36 d o you say of the One Whom the Father consecrated and dedicated and set apart for Himself and sent into the world, You are blaspheming, because I said, I am the Son of God?

do you say of the One Whom the Father consecrated and dedicated and set apart for Himself and sent into the world, You are blaspheming, because I said, I am the Son of God?

37 I f I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.

If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.

38 B ut if I do them, even though you do not believe Me or have faith in Me, believe the works and have faith in what I do, in order that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.

But if I do them, even though you do not believe Me or have faith in Me, believe the works and have faith in what I do, in order that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.

39 T hey sought again to arrest Him, but He escaped from their hands.

They sought again to arrest Him, but He escaped from their hands.

40 H e went back again across the Jordan to the locality where John was when he first baptized, and there He remained.

He went back again across the Jordan to the locality where John was when he first baptized, and there He remained.

41 A nd many came to Him, and they kept saying, John did not perform a sign or miracle, but everything John said about this Man was true.

And many came to Him, and they kept saying, John did not perform a sign or miracle, but everything John said about this Man was true.

42 A nd many there became believers in Him.

And many there became believers in Him.