John 16
International Children’s Bible
16 “I have told you these things to keep you from giving up. 2 People will put you out of their synagogues. Yes, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God. 3 They will do this because they have not known the Father and they have not known me. 4 I have told you these things now. So when the time comes, you will remember that I warned you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
“I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you then. 5 Now I am going back to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Your hearts are filled with sadness because I have told you these things. 7 But I tell you the truth. It is better for you that I go away. When I go away I will send the Helper[a] to you. If I do not go away, then the Helper will not come. 8 When the Helper comes, he will prove to the people of the world the truth about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. 9 He will prove to them about sin, because they don’t believe in me. 10 He will prove to them that I am right with God, because I am going to the Father. You will not see me anymore. 11 And the Helper will prove to them the truth about judgment, because the ruler of this world is already judged.
12 “I have many more things to say to you, but they are too much for you now. 13 But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak his own words. He will speak only what he hears and will tell you what is to come. 14 The Spirit of truth will bring glory to me. He will take what I have to say and tell it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take what I have to say and tell it to you.
Sadness Will Become Happiness
16 “After a little while you will not see me. And then after a little while you will see me again.”
17 Some of the followers said to each other, “What does Jesus mean when he says, ‘After a little while you will not see me, and then after a little while you will see me again’? And what does he mean when he says, ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They also asked, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus saw that the followers wanted to ask him about this. So Jesus said to the followers, “Are you asking each other what I meant when I said, ‘After a little while you will not see me. And then after a little while you will see me again’? 20 I tell you the truth. You will cry and be sad, but the world will be happy. You will be sad, but your sadness will become joy. 21 When a woman gives birth to a baby, she has pain, because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a child has been born into the world. 22 It is the same with you. Now you are sad. But I will see you again and you will be happy. And no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will not ask me for anything. I tell you the truth. My Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. 24 You have never asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive. And your joy will be the fullest joy.
Victory over the World
25 “I have told you these things, using words that hide the meaning. But the time will come when I will not use words like that to tell you things. I will speak to you in plain words about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask the Father for things in my name. I am saying that I will not need to ask the Father for you. 27 No! The Father himself loves you. He loves you because you have loved me. And he loves you because you have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29 Then the followers of Jesus said, “You are speaking clearly to us now. You are not using words that are hard to understand. 30 We can see now that you know all things. You can answer a person’s question even before he asks it. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31 Jesus answered, “So now you believe? 32 Listen to me. A time is coming when you will be scattered. Each of you will be scattered to your own home. That time is now here. You will leave me. I will be alone. But I am never really alone. Why? Because the Father is with me.
33 “I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”
Footnotes
- 15:26; 16:7 Helper “Counselor,” or “Comforter.” Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit.
John 16
English Standard Version
16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 (A)They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, (B)the hour is coming when (C)whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things (D)because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But (E)I have said these things to you, that when (F)their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, (G)because I was with you. 5 But now (H)I am going to him who sent me, and (I)none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, (J)sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for (K)if I do not go away, (L)the Helper will not come to you. But (M)if (N)I go, (O)I will send him to you. 8 (P)And when he comes, he will (Q)convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, (R)because they do not believe in me; 10 (S)concerning righteousness, (T)because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 (U)concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world (V)is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When (W)the Spirit of truth comes, (X)he will (Y)guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but (Z)whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will (AA)glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 (AB)All that the Father has is mine; (AC)therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16 (AD)“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and (AE)again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So (AF)some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, (AG)‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, (AH)‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? (AI)We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 (AJ)Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, (AK)you will weep and lament, but (AL)the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but (AM)your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 (AN)When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 (AO)So also you have sorrow now, but (AP)I will see you again, and (AQ)your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 (AR)In that day you will (AS)ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, (AT)whatever you ask of the Father in my name, (AU)he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. (AV)Ask, and you will receive, (AW)that your joy may be full.
I Have Overcome the World
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. (AX)The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 (AY)for the Father himself loves you, because (AZ)you have loved me and (BA)have believed that I came from God.[a] 28 (BB)I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now (BC)I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not (BD)using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that (BE)you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that (BF)you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, (BG)the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when (BH)you will be scattered, each to his own home, and (BI)will leave me alone. (BJ)Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that (BK)in me you may have peace. (BL)In the world you will have (BM)tribulation. But (BN)take heart; (BO)I have overcome the world.”
Footnotes
- John 16:27 Some manuscripts from the Father
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
