1 A fter these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Some time later, there was a religious gathering of the Jews. Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 N ow there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches.

In Jerusalem there is a pool with five porches called Bethesda near the sheep gate.

3 I n these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

Inside these porches lay many sick people. Some were blind. Some could not walk. Some could not move their bodies.

4 f or an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the waters stepped in was made whole, with whatsoever disease he was holden.

(An angel of the Lord came at certain times and made the water move. All of them were waiting for it to move. Whoever got in the water first after it was moving was healed of whatever sickness he had.)

5 A nd a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity.

A man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years.

6 W hen Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole?

Jesus saw him lying there and knew the man had been sick a long time. Jesus said to him, “Would you like to be healed?”

7 T he sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

The sick man said, “Sir, I have no one to put me in the pool when the water is moving. While I am coming, another one gets in first.”

8 J esus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your bed and walk.”

9 A nd straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the sabbath on that day.

At once the man was healed and picked up his bed and walked. This happened on the Day of Rest.

10 S o the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.

The Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Day of Rest. It is against the Law for you to carry your bed.”

11 B ut he answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

He said to them, “The Man Who healed me said to me, ‘Pick up your bed and walk.’

12 T hey asked him, Who is the man that said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

Then the Jews asked him, “What man said to you, ‘Pick up your bed and walk’ ?”

13 B ut he that was healed knew not who it was; for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in the place.

The man who had been healed did not know Who He was. Jesus had gone away while many people were there.

14 A fterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee.

Later Jesus found the man who had been healed in the house of God. He said to him, “Listen! You have been healed. Stop sinning or something worse will come to you.”

15 T he man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole.

The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus Who had healed him. The Jews Want to Kill Jesus

16 A nd for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.

Because Jesus did these things on the Day of Rest, the Jews made it very hard for Him.

17 B ut Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work.

Jesus said to them, “My Father is still working all the time so I am working also.”

18 F or this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

The Jews tried all the more to kill Him, not only because He had worked on the Day of Rest, but because He had also called God His Own Father. This made Him the same as God. Jesus Tells How He Works

19 J esus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner.

Then Jesus said to them, “For sure, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son does also.

20 F or the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel.

The Father loves the Son and shows the Son everything He does. The Father will show Him greater works than these. They will surprise you.

21 F or as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.

The Father raises up the dead and makes them live. The Son also gives life to anyone He chooses.

22 F or neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;

The Father does not say who is guilty. He gives this to the Son to do.

23 t hat all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.

He does this so that all people will honor the Son as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him.

24 V erily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.

“For sure, I tell you, anyone who hears My Word and puts his trust in Him Who sent Me has life that lasts forever. He will not be guilty. He has already passed from death into life. The Good People and the Sinful People Are Raised from the Dead

25 V erily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.

“For sure, I tell you, the time is coming. Yes, the time is here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. Those who hear will live.

26 F or as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:

The Father has life in Himself. He has given power to the Son to have life in Himself.

27 a nd he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.

God has given Him the right and the power to say if people are guilty, because He is the Son of Man.

28 M arvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice,

Do not be surprised at this. The time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice.

29 a nd shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.

They will come out. Those who have done good will be raised again and will have new life. Those who have been sinful will be raised again and will be told they are guilty and will be punished. Jesus Tells of John and of Himself

30 I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

“I can do nothing by Myself. I say who is guilty only as My Father tells Me. That way, what I say is right, because I am not trying to do what I want to do. I am doing what the Father, Who sent Me, wants Me to do.

31 I f I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

If I tell about Myself, My words are worth nothing.

32 I t is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

There is another One Who tells about Me. I know the words He says about Me are true.

33 Y e have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth.

“You sent to John the Baptist and he told you the truth.

34 B ut the witness which I receive is not from man: howbeit I say these things, that ye may be saved.

I do not need words from men to say I am right. I say this that you might be saved from the punishment of sin.

35 H e was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light.

John the Baptist was a burning and shining light. You were willing for awhile to be glad in his light.

36 B ut the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

I have something greater than John which tells of Me. I am doing works the Father has given Me to do and they are proving that the Father has sent Me.

37 A nd the Father that sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.

The Father has told of Me and has sent Me. You have never heard His voice. You have never seen Him.

38 A nd ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he sent, him ye believe not.

You do not have His Word living in your hearts because you do not put your trust in the One He sent.

39 Y e search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me;

“You do read the Holy Writings. You think you have life that lasts forever just because you read them. They do tell of Me.

40 a nd ye will not come to me, that ye may have life.

But you do not want to come to Me so you might have life.

41 I receive not glory from men.

I do not take any honor from men.

42 B ut I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves.

I know you and you do not have the love of God in your hearts.

43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

I have come in the name of My Father. You do not receive Me. If another person comes in his own name, you will receive him.

44 H ow can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and the glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not?

How can you believe when you are always wanting honor from each other? And yet you do not look for the honor that comes from the only God.

45 T hink not that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, on whom ye have set your hope.

“Do not think that I will tell the Father you are guilty. The one who says you are guilty is Moses. You trust him.

46 F or if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me; for he wrote of me.

If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me. For Moses wrote about Me.

47 B ut if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

If you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe My Words?”