3
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus , a ruler of the Jews . 2 He 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 Jesus answered him , “Most certainly I tell you , unless one is born anew, † he can ’t see God ’s Kingdom.”
4 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 ?”
5 Jesus answered , “Most certainly I tell you , unless one is born of water and Spirit , he can ’t enter into God ’s Kingdom. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh . That which is born of the Spirit is spirit . 7 Don’t marvel that I said to you , ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 The wind ‡ blows where it wants to , and you hear its sound , but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going . So is everyone who is born of the Spirit .”
9 Nicodemus answered him , “How can these things be ?”
10 Jesus answered him , “Are you the teacher of Israel , and don’t understand these things ? 11 Most certainly I tell you , we speak that which we know and testify of that which we have seen , and you don’t receive our witness . 12 If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe , how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things ? 13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven , the Son of Man , who is in heaven . 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness , even so must the Son of Man be lifted up , 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life . 16 For God so loved the world , that he gave his only born§ Son , that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life . 17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world , but that the world should be saved through him . 18 He who believes in him is not judged . He who doesn’t believe has been judged already , because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God . 19 This is the judgment , that the light has come into the world , and men loved the darkness rather than the light , for their works were evil . 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light , lest his works would be exposed . 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light , that his works may be revealed , that they have been done in God .”
22 After these things , Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea . He stayed there with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim , because there was much water there . They came and were baptized; 24 for John was not yet thrown into prison . 25 Therefore a dispute arose on the part of John ’s disciples with some Jews about purification . 26 They came to John and said to him , “Rabbi , he who was with you beyond the Jordan , to whom you have testified , behold , he baptizes, and everyone is coming to him .”
27 John answered , “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven . 28 You yourselves testify that I said , ‘I am not the Christ ,’ but , ‘I have been sent before him .’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom ; but the friend of the bridegroom , who stands and hears him , rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom ’s voice . Therefore my joy is made full . 30 He must increase, but I must decrease .
31 “He who comes from above is above all . He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth . He who comes from heaven is above all . 32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies ; and no one receives his witness . 33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this , that God is true . 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God ; for God gives the Spirit without measure . 35 The Father loves the Son , and has given all things into his hand . 36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life , but one who disobeys† the Son won’t see life , but the wrath of God remains on him .”
—John 3 (World English Bible)