1. And there was a man of the Pharisees, Nicodemus his name, a ruler of the Jews,
2. this one came unto him by night, and said to him, `Rabbi, we have known that from God thou hast come--a teacher, for no one these signs is able to do that thou dost, if God may not be with him.'
3. Jesus answered and said to him, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God;'
4. Nicodemus saith unto him, `How is a man able to be born, being old? is he able into the womb of his mother a second time to enter, and to be born?'
5. Jesus answered, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born of water, and the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the reign of God;
6. that which hath been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which hath been born of the Spirit is spirit.
7. `Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee, It behoveth you to be born from above;
8. the Spirit where he willeth doth blow, and his voice thou dost hear, but thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth; thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit.'
9. Nicodemus answered and said to him, `How are these things able to happen?'
10. Jesus answered and said to him, `Thou art the teacher of Israel--and these things thou dost not know!
11. `Verily, verily, I say to thee--What we have known we speak, and what we have seen we testify, and our testimony ye do not receive;
12. if the earthly things I said to you, and ye do not believe, how, if I shall say to you the heavenly things, will ye believe?