John 3:23-30
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 3
23Now John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and being baptized— 24for John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.
26And they came to John and said to him, 'Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.'
27John replied, 'A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
28You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’
29He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.
30He must increase, but I must decrease.
King James Version
Chapter 3
23And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24For John was not yet cast into prison. 25Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 3
23John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized, 24since John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification.
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 going to him."
27John responded, "No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven.
28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been 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.
30He must increase, but I must decrease."
New Living Translation
Chapter 3
23At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. 24(This was before John was thrown into prison.) 25A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing. 26So John’s disciples came to him and said, 'Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.'
27John replied, 'No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.
28You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’
29It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.
30He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
English Standard Version
Chapter 3
23John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24(for John had not yet been put in prison).
25Now a discussion arose between some of John 's disciples and a Jew over purification.
26And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness — look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him."
27John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom 's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
30He must increase, but I must decrease."
New International Version
Chapter 3
23Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24(This was before John was put in prison.) 25An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."
27To this John replied, "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’
29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30He must become greater; I must become less."
New King James Version
Chapter 3
23Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.
26And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”
27John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’
29He 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 this joy of mine is fulfilled.
30He must increase, but I must decrease.
