| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. | 1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. |
| 2This man came to Him at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him." | 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.” |
| 3Jesus replied, "I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."" | 3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” |
| 4But how can anyone be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked Him. "Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?" | 4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” |
| 5Jesus answered, "I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. | 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. |
| 6Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. | 6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. |
| 7Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. | 7Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ |
| 8The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."" | 8The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” |
| 9How can these things be?" asked Nicodemus. | 9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. |
| 10"Are you a teacher of Israel and don't know these things?" Jesus replied. | 10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things? |
| 11"I assure you: We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you do not accept Our testimony. | 11Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony. |
| 12If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven? | 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? |
| 13No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven--the Son of Man. | 13No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. |
| 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, | 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, |
| 15so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. | 15that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. |
| 16"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. | 16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. |
| 17For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. | 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. |
| 18Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. | 18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. |
| 19"This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. | 19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. |
| 20For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. | 20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. |
| 21But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God." | 21But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.” |
| 22After this, Jesus and His disciples went to the Judean countryside, where He spent time with them and baptized. | 22After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized. |
| 23John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized, | 23Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized. |
| 24since John had not yet been thrown into prison. | 24(For John had not yet been thrown into prison.) |
| 25Then a dispute arose between John's disciples and a Jew about purification. | 25Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing. |
| 26So they came to John and told him, "Rabbi, the One you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing--and everyone is flocking to Him." | 26So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.” |
| 27John responded, "No one can receive a single thing unless it's given to him from heaven. | 27John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. |
| 28You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I've been sent ahead of Him.' | 28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’ |
| 29He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom's friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom's voice. So this joy of mine is complete. | 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. |
| 30He must increase, but I must decrease." | 30He must increase; I must decrease. |
| 31The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The One who comes from heaven is above all. | 31The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all. |
| 32He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. | 32He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. |
| 33The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true. | 33Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful. |
| 34For God sent Him, and He speaks God's words, since He gives the Spirit without measure. | 34For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. |
| 35The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands. | 35The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands. |
| 36The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him. | 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.” |
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