Other translations
American Standard Version
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
It is necessary for him to increase and for me to decrease.
Darby Bible Translation
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Holy Bible: Douay-Rheims Version (Genuine Leather Black)
He must increase, but I must decrease.
ERV 1885 English Revised Version with Strong's Concordance
He must increase, but I must decrease.
English Standard Version Journaling Bible
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
God's Word
He must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
He must increase, but I must decrease."
International Standard Version
He must become more important, but I must become less important."
NET Bible
He must become more important while I become less important."
New American Standard Bible
"He must increase, but I must decrease.
New International Version
He must become greater; I must become less."
New Living Translation
He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
Webster's Bible Translation
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Weymouth New Testament
He must grow greater, but I must grow less.
The World English Bible
He must increase, but I must decrease.
EasyEnglish Bible
Jesus must become greater, but I must become less important.
Young‘s Literal Translation
`Him it behoveth to increase, and me to become less;
New Life Version
He must become more important. I must become less important.
Revised Geneva Translation
“He must increase, but I must decrease.
The Voice Bible
He, the groom, must take center stage; and I, the best man, must step to His side.
Living Bible
He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
New Catholic Bible
He must increase; I must decrease.
Legacy Standard Bible
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Jubilee Bible 2000
It is expedient unto him to increase, but unto me, to decrease.
Christian Standard Bible
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Amplified Bible © 1954
He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]
New Century Version
He must become greater, and I must become less important.
The Message
John answered, “It’s not possible for a person to succeed—I’m talking about eternal success—without heaven’s help. You yourselves were there when I made it public that I was not the Messiah but simply the one sent ahead of him to get things ready. The one who gets the bride is, by definition, the bridegroom. And the bridegroom’s friend, his ‘best man’—that’s me—in place at his side where he can hear every word, is genuinely happy. How could he be jealous when he knows that the wedding is finished and the marriage is off to a good start? “That’s why my cup is running over. This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.
Evangelical Heritage Version ™
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
New Matthew Bible
He must increase in renown, and I must decrease.
Good News Translation®
He must become more important while I become less important.”
Wycliffe Bible
It behooveth him to wax, but me to be made less. [It behooveth him to wax, forsooth me to be diminished, or made less.]
New Testament for Everyone
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Contemporary English Version
Jesus must become more important, while I become less important.
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
J.B. Phillips New Testament
“A man can receive nothing at all,” replied John, “unless it is given him from Heaven. You yourselves can witness that I said, ‘I am not Christ but I have been sent as his forerunner.’ It is the bridegroom who possesses the bride, yet the bridegroom’s friend who merely stands and listens to him can be overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That is why my happiness is now complete. He must grow greater and greater and I less and less.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition
He must increase, but I must decrease.’
Common English Bible © 2011
He must increase and I must decrease.
Amplified Bible © 2015
He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.
English Standard Version Anglicised
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
He must increase; I must decrease.”
New American Standard Bible
He must increase, but I must decrease.
The Expanded Bible
He must ·become greater [increase], and I must ·become less important [decrease].
Tree of Life Version
He must increase, while I must decrease.”
Revised Standard Version
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
New International Reader's Version
He must become more important. I must become less important.
BRG Bible
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Complete Jewish Bible
He must become more important, while I become less important.
Worldwide English (New Testament)
He must become more and more great, but I must become less and less great.
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
He must increase, but I must decrease.’
Orthodox Jewish Bible
It is necessary for that one [Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach] to increase, but for me to decrease.
Names of God Bible
He must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance.
Modern English Version
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Easy-to-Read Version
He must become more and more important, and I must become less important.
International Children’s Bible
He must become greater. And I must become less important.
Lexham English Bible
It is necessary for that one to increase, but for me to decrease.”
New International Version - UK
He must become greater; I must become less.’
Disciples Literal New Testament
It-is-necessary for that One to grow, and for me to diminish.