John 3, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

Classic

1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

Modern

2The same came to him 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.”

Classic

2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Modern

3Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”

Classic

3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Modern

4Nicodemus 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?”

Classic

4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Modern

5Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.

Classic

5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Modern

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Classic

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Modern

7Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’

Classic

7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Modern

8The wind 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.”

Classic

8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Modern

9Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”

Classic

9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

Modern

10Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things?

Classic

10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Modern

11Most 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.

Classic

11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

Modern

12If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Classic

12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Modern

13No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.

Classic

13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Modern

14As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

Classic

14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Modern

15that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Classic

15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Modern

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Classic

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Modern

17For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

Classic

17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Modern

18He 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 one and only Son of God.

Classic

18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Modern

19This 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.

Classic

19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Modern

20For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.

Classic

20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Modern

21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

Classic

21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Modern

22After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them and baptized.

Classic

22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

Modern

23John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized;

Classic

23And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

Modern

24for John was not yet thrown into prison.

Classic

24For John was not yet cast into prison.

Modern

25Therefore a dispute arose on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.

Classic

25Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.

Modern

26They 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.”

Classic

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.

Modern

27John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.

Classic

27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

Modern

28You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’

Classic

28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

Modern

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. This, my joy, therefore is made full.

Classic

29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

Modern

30He must increase, but I must decrease.

Classic

30He must increase, but I must decrease.

Modern

31He 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.

Classic

31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

Modern

32What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.

Classic

32And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

Modern

33He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.

Classic

33He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

Modern

34For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.

Classic

34For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

Modern

35The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

Classic

35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Modern

36One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Classic

36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Your pair of translations is remembered on this device for other chapters.