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, *3:3 The word translated "anew" here and in John 3:7 (ἄνωθεν) also means "again" and "from above". 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 all be born anew.’ 8 The wind*3:8 The same Greek word (πνεῦμα) means wind, breath, and spirit. 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*3:16 The phrase "only born" is from the Greek word "μονογενη", which is sometimes translated "only begotten" or "one and only". 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*3:36 The same word can be translated "disobeys" or "disbelieves" in this context. the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."

1 Seal oli variser, mees nimega Nikodeemos, kes oli üks juutide ülemaid. 2 Ta läks öösel Jeesuse juurde ja ütles: „Rabi, me teame, et sina oled Õpetaja, kes on Jumala juurest tulnud. Ükski inimene ei suuda anda selliseid tunnustähti, kui Jumal pole temaga."

3 Jeesus vastas: „Tõesti, tõesti, ma ütlen sulle, kui inimene ei sünni uuesti, ei või ta näha Jumala riiki."

4 „Kuidas saab inimene sündida, kui ta on juba täiskasvanud?" imestas Nikodeemos. „Ta ei saa ju minna tagasi emaüsasse ja teist korda sündida?"

5 „Tõesti, tõesti, ma ütlen sulle," vastas Jeesus, „kui inimene ei sünni veest ja Vaimust, ei pääse ta Jumala riiki! 6 Inimesest sündinu on inimene, Vaimust sündinu on vaim. 7 Ära imesta, et ma ütlesin sulle: „Te peate uuesti sündima!" 8 Tuul puhub, kuhu ta tahab. Sa kuuled ta häält, aga ei tea, kust ta tuleb ja kuhu läheb. Samuti on igaühega, kes on sündinud Vaimust."

9 „Kuidas on see võimalik?" küsis Nikodeemos.

10 „Sina oled õpetaja Iisraelis, aga ei mõista seda?" vastas Jeesus. 11 „Tõesti, tõesti, ma ütlen sulle, me räägime sellest, mida me teame, ja tunnistame avalikult, mida oleme näinud, ja siiski te ei usu meie tunnistust. 12 Kui te ei usu, mida ma olen teile rääkinud maapealsetest asjadest, kuidas te usute siis, kui ma räägin teile taevastest asjadest? 13 Ei ole ju keegi teine olnud ülal taevas kui vaid see, kes on tulnud taevast alla – Inimese Poeg. 14 Nii nagu Mooses tõstis kõrbes üles pronksmao, nõnda peab ka Inimese Poeg kõrgele tõstetama, 15 et igaühel, kes temasse usub, oleks igavene elu.

16 Sest nõnda on Jumal maailma armastanud, et ta andis oma ainusündinud Poja, et ükski, kes temasse usub, ei hukkuks, vaid et tal oleks igavene elu. 17 Jumal ei saatnud ju Poega maailma üle kohut mõistma, vaid et maailm võiks tema läbi pääseda. 18 Kes iganes usub Pojasse, seda ei mõisteta süüdi, aga kes ei usu, on juba süüdi mõistetud, sest ta ei ole uskunud Jumala ainsasse Pojasse. 19 Nende süü seisneb selles: valgus tuli maailma, aga inimesed armastasid pimedust rohkem kui valgust, sest nende teod olid kurjad. 20 Kõik, kes teevad kurja, vihkavad valgust ega tule valguse kätte hirmust, et nende tegusid ei paljastataks. 21 Aga need, kes elavad tões, tulevad valguse kätte, nõnda et oleks selgelt näha, mida nad on teinud, sest see on tehtud Jumala silma all."

22 Pärast seda läks Jeesus oma jüngritega Juudamaale. Ta viibis seal mõnda aega koos nendega ja ristis inimesi. 23 Samal ajal ristis ka Johannes Ainonis Salimi lähedal, kuna seal oli palju vett. Inimesed tulid ta juurde ja lasid end ristida. 24 See oli veel enne Johannese vangistamist. 25 Kord tõusis Johannese jüngritel ühe juudiga vaidlus puhastustalituse üle. 26 Nad läksid Johannese juurde ja ütlesid talle: „Rabi, see mees, kes oli koos sinuga Jordani taga ja kellest sa tunnistasid, temagi ristib nüüd, ja kõik lähevad tema juurde."

27 Johannes vastas: „Inimene ei saa võtta endale midagi, kui see ei ole talle antud taevast. 28 Te võite ise kinnitada, et ma ütlesin: „Mina ei ole Messias, mind on läkitatud tema ees." 29 Pruut kuulub peigmehele. Peiupoiss ootab ja kuulab teda ning on rõõmus, kui ta kuuleb peigmehe häält. See on minu rõõm ja nüüd on see täielikuks saanud. 30 Tema peab kasvama, aga mina pean kahanema.

31 Kes tuleb ülalt, on üle kõikide. Kes pärineb maa pealt, on maine ja räägib maistest asjadest. Kes tuleb taevast, on üle kõikide, 32 ta tunnistab sellest, mida ta on näinud ja kuulnud, kuid tema tunnistust ei usuta. 33 Kes usub tema tunnistust, kinnitab, et Jumalas on tõde. 34 Kelle Jumal on läkitanud, räägib Jumala sõnu, sest Jumal annab talle Vaimu piiramatult. 35 Isa armastab Poega ja on andnud kõik tema kätte. 36 Kes usub Pojasse, sellel on igavene elu. Kes Pojale vastu hakkab, sellele ei anta elu, vaid ta jääb Jumala viha alla."