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John 16:16–20

Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

16 aA little while, and you will see me no longer; and bagain a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So csome of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, dA little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ebecause I am going to the Father?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by a little while? fWe do not know what he is talking about.” 19 gJesus 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, hyou will weep and lament, but ithe world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but jyour sorrow will turn into joy.

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John 16:16–20 — The New International Version (NIV)

16 Jesus went on to say, In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and Because I am going to the Father?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by a little while? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

John 16:16–20 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

John 16:16–20 — New Living Translation (NLT)

16 In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”

17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.

John 16:16–20 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

16 A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”

17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me; and, because I go to the Father?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, A little while? We do not know what He is saying.”

19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said,A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

John 16:16–20 — New Century Version (NCV)

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 he said to them, 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.

John 16:16–20 — American Standard Version (ASV)

16 A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me. 17 Some of his disciples therefore said one to another, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith. 19 Jesus perceived that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, A little while, and ye behold me not, and again a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

John 16:16–20 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

16 A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me, because I go away to the Father. 17 Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, What is this he says to us, A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me, and, Because I go away to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this which he says of the little while? We do not know of what he speaks. 19 Jesus knew therefore that they desired to demand of him, and said to them, Do ye inquire of this among yourselves that I said, A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say to you, that ye shall weep and lament, ye, but the world shall rejoice; and ye will be grieved, but your grief shall be turned to joy.

John 16:16–20 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. Then in a little while you will see me again.” 

17 Some of his disciples said to each other, “What does he mean? He tells us that in a little while we won’t see him. Then he tells us that in a little while we will see him again and that he’s going to the Father.” 18 So they were asking each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while’? We don’t understand what he’s talking about.” 

19 Jesus knew they wanted to ask him something. So he said to them, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, and in a little while you will see me again’? 20 I can guarantee this truth: You will cry because you are sad, but the world will be happy. You will feel pain, but your pain will turn to happiness.

John 16:16–20 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

16 A little while and you will no longer see Me; again a little while and you will see Me.”

17 Therefore some of His disciples said to one another, “What is this He tells us: A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me; and, because I am going to the Father?” 18 They said, “What is this He is saying, A little while? We don’t know what He’s talking about!”

19 Jesus knew they wanted to question Him, so He said to them, Are you asking one another about what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’?

20 I assure you: You will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.

John 16:16–20 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

16 A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us, A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me; and Because I am going to the Father?” 18 They said, “What does he mean by this a little while? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? 20 Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.

John 16:16–20 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

16 “A little while and you will see me no more, and again a little while and you will see me. 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going away to the Father’?” 18 So they kept on saying, “What is this that he is saying, ‘A little while’? We do not understand what he is speaking about!”

19 Jesus knew that they were wanting to ask him, and he said to them, “Are you deliberating with one another about this—that I said, ‘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, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will change to joy.

John 16:16–20 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

16 “In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me.”

17 Some of his disciples spoke to one another. They said, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me’? And what does he mean by saying, ‘I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about those things. So he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant? Didn’t you understand when I said, ‘In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me’? 20 What I’m about to tell you is true. You will cry and be full of sorrow while the world is full of joy. You will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy.

John 16:16–20 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

16 A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

17 Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, because I go to the Father’?”

18 So they were saying, “What is this that He says, A little while? We do not know what He is talking about.”

19 Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘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, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.


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