John 8

Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

With a heart full of serenity, Jesus journeyed to the tranquil Mount of Olives.

And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

As dawn broke, he returned to the sacred temple. The crowd, drawn to his wisdom, gathered around him. Settling down, he began to share his teachings with them.

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

The religious leaders dragged a woman, caught in the act of adultery, before Jesus. They placed her in the center of the crowd, her shame on full display.

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

They told him, "Teacher, we caught this woman in the very act of adultery."

Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

Moses' law tells us to stone such people. What's your opinion on this?

This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

They tried to trick him, hoping to find a reason to blame him. But Jesus, ignoring their ploy, calmly bent down and began to write on the earth with his finger.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

As they kept questioning him, he finally stood tall and declared, "If any of you is completely free of sin, you be the first to throw a stone at her."

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

Once more, he bent down, passionately etching words into the earth.

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Those who heard Jesus' words felt a deep sting of guilt in their hearts. One by one, they left, from the oldest to the youngest, leaving only Jesus and the woman standing alone in the center.

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

As Jesus rose and saw only the woman, he gently asked her, "Where are those who accused you? Has no one judged you guilty?"

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

She replied, "No one, Master." Jesus, with a gentle voice, reassured her, "I too, do not judge you. Now, go and leave your past mistakes behind."

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the world's beacon of hope. Those who choose to follow me will never be lost in darkness, but will be guided by the light of life."

The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

The Pharisees challenged him, saying, "You only testify about yourself; your testimony can't be trusted."

Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

Jesus replied, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true. I know where I came from and where I'm going. But you, you don't understand my origin or destiny."

Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

You judge others based on their physical appearance; I, however, do not judge anyone.

And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

Even if I pass judgment, it's trustworthy, because it's not just me, but also the divine guidance of the Father who sent me.

It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

Your own rules say that if two people agree, their word is truth.

I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

I stand as proof of my own existence, and the Father who sent me confirms my truth.

Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

They asked him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus replied, "You don't truly know me or my Father. If you really knew me, you would know my Father too."

These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

Jesus spoke these words with passion in the temple's treasury, teaching with conviction. No one dared to touch him, for it wasn't his time yet.

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

Jesus spoke to them again, "I'm leaving, and you'll search for me. But you'll die in your sins. You can't follow where I'm going."

Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

The Jews asked in confusion, "Is he planning to take his own life? He says we can't follow where he's going."

And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

He told them, "You belong to the earthly realm; I belong to the heavenly. You are part of this world; I am not."

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

I warned you, if you don't accept me as your savior, you'll be lost in your sins.

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

They asked him, "Who are you?" Jesus replied, "I am who I've always told you I am from the start."

I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

I have so much to share and evaluate about you. But remember, the one who sent me is truthful. I only convey to the world the messages I received from him.

They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

They didn't realize he was talking about the Father.

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

Jesus told them, "Once you've acknowledged me, the Son of Man, you'll realize that I am who I say I am. I don't act on my own, I only do what my Father has taught me."

And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

The one who sent me, my Father, is always by my side. He never abandons me because I always do what makes Him happy.

As he spake these words, many believed on him.

As he passionately expressed his words, numerous hearts were touched and believed in him.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Jesus, speaking to the Jewish believers, said, "If you remain faithful to my teachings, you are truly my followers."

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

When you discover the truth, it will liberate your heart.

They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

They responded, "We are descendants of Abraham, never enslaved by anyone. How can you say, 'You will be set free'?"

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Jesus responded with deep sincerity, "Truly, I tell you, anyone who sins becomes a slave to sin."

And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

A servant doesn't stay in the home forever, but a Son is always part of the family.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

When the Son sets you free, you'll truly experience freedom.

I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

I understand you're descendants of Abraham. But you want to harm me because my teachings don't resonate with you.

I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

I share the truths I've witnessed from my Heavenly Father, while you act on the teachings from your earthly father.

They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

They responded, "Abraham is our ancestor." Jesus replied, "If you were truly Abraham's descendants, you would follow his actions."

But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

Now, you're trying to end my life, even though I've only shared God's truth with you. Abraham never did such a thing.

Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

You follow your father's actions. They replied, "We are not born out of sin; we have one Father, God himself."

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Jesus told them, "If God was truly your Father, you'd love me, because I am His messenger. I didn't come here on my own, but He sent me."

Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Why can't you grasp what I'm saying? It's because you're not truly listening to me.

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

You belong to the devil, your father, and you're eager to carry out his desires. He's been a killer from the start, not rooted in truth because there's no truth in him. When he lies, it's consistent with his character; for he's a liar and the originator of lies.

And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Despite me sharing the truth with you, you still refuse to trust me.

Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

Who among you can prove me guilty of sin? If I'm speaking the truth, why don't you trust me?

He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Those who truly belong to God will understand His words. If you can't comprehend them, it's because you're not truly connected with God.

Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

The Jews retorted, "Aren't we right in saying you're a Samaritan possessed by a demon?"

Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

Jesus responded, "I am not possessed by a demon. I respect my Father, yet you disrespect me."

And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

I'm not chasing my own praise; there's someone else who seeks and decides.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Truly, I promise you, if someone follows my teachings, they will never experience the end of life.

Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

The Jews confronted him, now convinced he was possessed. "Abraham and the prophets are dead," they said, "yet you claim that anyone who follows your teachings will never experience death."

Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

Are you claiming to be more significant than our forefather Abraham and the prophets, all of whom are no longer alive? Who exactly do you think you are?

Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

Jesus responded, "If I praise myself, it means nothing. It's my Father, who you claim as your God, who truly honors me."

Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

You may not recognize Him, but I do. If I denied knowing Him, I'd be lying just like you. But I do know Him, and I honor His words.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Abraham, your forefather, was overjoyed to witness my time; he saw it and his heart was filled with happiness.

Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

The Jews questioned him skeptically, "You're not even fifty yet, how could you possibly have seen Abraham?"

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Jesus assured them, "Truly, I tell you, even before Abraham existed, I was there."

Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

They picked up stones to harm him, but Jesus, filled with wisdom, quietly slipped away from the temple, moving unnoticed through the crowd.