JMNT(i)
3 Now the scribes (specialists in the written Scriptures; theologians; scholars) and the Pharisees are progressively bringing a woman (or: a wife) – a woman being one having been taken down (grasped down with force; overpowered by hand, seized and forced) upon in an act of adultery – and then, standing (setting; placing) her within the midst,
4 they proceeded to be saying to Him, "Teacher, this woman (or: this, the wife) has been taken down, grasped, overpowered by hand and forced, upon the very act: being a woman having repeatedly been adulterated (or: having the act of adultery habitually performed upon her).
5 "Now within the Law, Moses implanted a goal for (imparted the end in view with; gave an inward directive to) us to repeatedly stone this sort of woman. Therefore, what are you yourself now saying?"
6 – Now they were saying this, continuing in putting Him to the proof (examining so as to test Him; = to trap Him) to the end that they should continue holding (or: having) [something] to be constantly accusing (or: progressively bringing charges) pertaining to Him –So Jesus, stooping (or: bowing [His] head and bending) down, began writing down into the dirt (earth; soil; ground) with the finger.
7 Now as they were persisting, remaining upon [the subject], continuing to question Him, He unbends back up (or: straightens up) and says to them, "Let the sinless one (the one without failure or a miss of the target) of (or: among) you folks [be] first [to] cast (or: throw) a stone upon her."
8 And again, bending (or: stooping) down, He was continuing to write into the dirt (or: earth).
9 So those hearing [Him] also being progressively convinced, then convicted by the conscience, began going out, one by one, beginning from the elders (or: the older ones) until the last ones. Then Jesus was left behind, alone, and also the woman (or: the wife) continuing being [other MSS: standing] in the midst [of the court].
10 Now Jesus, unbending, straightening up and seeing no one but the woman, says to her, "O woman (or: = Dear lady), where are those, your accusers? Does no one condemn you?"
11 Then she says, "No one, sir (or: O lord; or: Master)." So Jesus says to her, "Neither am I Myself bringing a corresponding decision upon you (or: proceeding to condemn you according to the pattern). Be going on your way, and from this moment no longer make it a habit to miss the target (or: from now on be failing no more; from the present moment no longer practice error or sin)."
12 Jesus therefore again spoke to them [i.e., to those whom He had just been teaching, in vs. 2, or at a later time], saying, "I Myself am (or: continuously exist being) the Light of the world (or: of the cosmos; of the ordered system; of the dominant cultural, political, economic and religious arrangements; of the universe; of ‘the theater of history’ – Walter Wink). The one habitually and progressively following Me can by no means walk around (= under no circumstances live his or her life) within the darkness (or: the dim and shaded areas; the gloom and obscurity due to the lack of the Light of the Day; the [realm] of the shadows; [note: = ignorance; = that situation which existed before the Light came; or, could also refer to the dim condition within the holy place of the Temple, or to the darkness of death, blindness or the womb]), but, to the contrary, he will progressively possess (constantly have and hold) the Light of 'the Life!' (or: the light which is life.)"
13 Therefore the Pharisees said to Him, "You yourself are continuing to bear witness (or: are now giving testimony) about yourself! Your witness (testimony) is not true!"
14 Jesus considers a reply, and then says to them, "Even if I Myself continue bearing witness (or: am now giving testimony) about Myself, My witness (testimony) is, and continues being, true (valid; real; genuine) because I have seen and thus know where (or: what place) I came from, as well as under where I progressively lead the way (or: to where I am going). Yet you folks, yourselves, have not seen and do not know from where (or: what place) I am progressively coming, nor under where I progressively lead the way (or: to where I am departing and continuing to go).
15 "You people, yourselves, continue making decisions based on the flesh (or: constantly separate, evaluate and judge down from, on the level of, and in accord with [the realm and system of] the flesh). I Myself am habitually judging (sifting, separating, evaluating and deciding about) no one.
16 "And yet, if I Myself ever proceed to be judging (or: if I am Myself separating and deciding), My deciding (separating, evaluating and judging) is, and continues being, true (valid; real; genuine), because I am not (or: I do not exist being) alone, but to the contrary, [it is] I Myself and the One sending Me: the Father.
17 "Yet even within your own Law it has been written that the witness (testimony; evidence) of two people (humans; men) is true (or: exists being valid, genuine and real).
18 "I Myself am the man now bearing witness (or: habitually testifying; progressively giving evidence) about Myself, and the Father – the One sending Me – is continuously bearing witness (constantly testifying and giving evidence) about Me."
19 Therefore they went on saying to Him, " [So] where is your father?" Jesus decidedly answered, "You folks have neither seen or known Me, nor My Father. If you had seen and knew (or: were acquainted with) Me, you would also have seen and know (or: be acquainted with) My Father."
20 These declarations from the gush (or: sayings which resulted from the flow) He spoke within the treasury area, while teaching within the Temple courts (or: grounds; porches), and still no one caught hold of or apprehended Him, because His hour had not yet come, so as to be present.