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

Later on there was a Jewish festival (feast) for which Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

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

Now there is in Jerusalem a pool near the Sheep Gate. This pool in the Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porches (alcoves, colonnades, doorways).

3 I n these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water;

In these lay a great number of sick folk—some blind, some crippled, and some paralyzed (shriveled up)— waiting for the bubbling up of the water.

4 f or an angel went down at certain times into the pool, and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.

For an angel of the Lord went down at appointed seasons into the pool and moved and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was cured of whatever disease with which he was afflicted.

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

There was a certain man there who had suffered with a deep-seated and lingering disorder for thirty-eight years.

6 W hen Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be made well?”

When Jesus noticed him lying there, knowing that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, Do you want to become well?

7 T he sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, another steps down before me.”

The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me.

8 J esus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.”

Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your bed (sleeping pad) and walk!

9 I mmediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.

Instantly the man became well and recovered his strength and picked up his bed and walked. But that happened on the Sabbath.

10 S o the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.”

So the Jews kept saying to the man who had been healed, It is the Sabbath, and you have no right to pick up your bed.

11 H e answered them, “He who made me well, the same said to me, ‘Take up your mat, and walk.’ ”

He answered them, The Man Who healed me and gave me back my strength, He Himself said to me, Pick up your bed and walk!

12 T hen they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your mat, and walk’ ?”

They asked him, Who is the Man Who told you, Pick up your bed and walk?

13 B ut he who was healed didn’t know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.

Now the invalid who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had quietly gone away, since there was a crowd in the place.

14 A fterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.”

Afterward, when Jesus found him in the temple, He said to him, See, you are well! Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.

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

The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus Who had made him well.

16 F or this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.

For this reason the Jews began to persecute (annoy, torment) Jesus and sought to kill Him, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

17 B ut Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.”

But Jesus answered them, My Father has worked until now, and I, too, must be at work.

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

This made the Jews more determined than ever to kill Him; because He not only was breaking (weakening, violating) the Sabbath, but He actually was speaking of God as being His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

19 J esus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.

So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way.

20 F or the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

The Father dearly loves the Son and discloses to (shows) Him everything that He Himself does. And He will disclose to Him (let Him see) greater things yet than these, so that you may marvel and be full of wonder and astonishment.

21 F or as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.

Just as the Father raises up the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whomever He wills and is pleased to give it.

22 F or the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,

Even the Father judges no one, for He has given all judgment (the last judgment and the whole business of judging) entirely into the hands of the Son,

23 t hat all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.

So that all men may give honor (reverence, homage) to the Son just as they give honor to the Father. whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, Who has sent Him.

24 “ Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment, but he has already passed over out of death into life.

25 M ost certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live.

Believe Me when I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the time is coming and is here now when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear it shall live.

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

For even as the Father has life in Himself and is self-existent, so He has given to the Son to have life in Himself and be self-existent.

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

And He has given Him authority and granted Him power to execute (exercise, practice) judgment because He is a Son of man.

28 D on’t marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice,

Do not be surprised and wonder at this, for the time is coming when all those who are in the tombs shall hear His voice,

29 a nd will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

And they shall come out—those who have practiced doing good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil will be raised for judgment.

30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.

I am able to do nothing from Myself. Even as I hear, I judge, and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me.

31 “ If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.

If I alone testify in My behalf, My testimony is not valid and cannot be worth anything.

32 I t is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.

There is Another Who testifies concerning Me, and I know and am certain that His evidence on My behalf is true and valid.

33 Y ou have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.

You yourselves have sent to John and he has been a witness to the truth.

34 B ut the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.

But I do not receive human witness; but I simply mention all these things in order that you may be saved (made and kept safe and sound).

35 H e was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

John was the lamp that kept on burning and shining, and you were willing for a while to delight (sun) yourselves in his light.

36 B ut the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

But I have as My witness something greater (weightier, higher, better) than that of John; for the works that the Father has appointed Me to accomplish and finish, the very same works that I am now doing, are a witness and proof that the Father has sent Me.

37 T he Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.

And the Father Who sent Me has Himself testified concerning Me. Not one of you has ever given ear to His voice or seen His form (His face—what He is like).

38 Y ou don’t have his word living in you; because you don’t believe him whom he sent.

And you have not His word (His thought) living in your hearts, because you do not believe and adhere to and trust in and rely on Him Whom He has sent.

39 “ You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.

You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these testify about Me!

40 Y et you will not come to me, that you may have life.

And still you are not willing to come to Me, so that you might have life.

41 I don’t receive glory from men.

I receive not glory from men,

42 B ut I know you, that you don’t have God’s love in yourselves.

But I know you and recognize and understand that you have not the love of God in you.

43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you don’t receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

I have come in My Father’s name and with His power, and you do not receive Me; but if another comes in his own name and his own power and with no other authority but himself, you will receive him and give him your approval.

44 H ow can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?

How is it possible for you to believe, you who receive praise and honor and glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise and honor and glory which come from Him Who alone is God?

45 “ Don’t think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope.

Put out of your minds the thought and do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. There is one who accuses you—it is Moses, the very one on whom you have built your hopes.

46 F or if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.

For if you believed and relied on Moses, you would believe and rely on Me, for he wrote about Me.

47 B ut if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

But if you do not believe and trust his writings, how then will you believe and trust My teachings?