John 16:20

¹⁸ They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”

¹⁹ Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?

Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

²¹ A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.

²² So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
KJV: 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.
WEB: Most certainly I tell you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: 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.
BLB: Truly, truly, I say to you⁺ that you⁺ will weep and will lament, but the world will rejoice. You⁺ will be grieved, but your⁺ grief will turn to joy.

ÅB: Sannelig, sannelig sier jeg dere: Dere skal gråte og jamre dere, men verden skal glede segdere skal ha sorg, men deres sorg skal bli til glede.
OTB: Sannelig, sannelig sier jeg dere: Dere skal gråte og klage, mens verden gleder seg. Dere skal sørge, men deres sorg skal bli til glede.
B1930: Sannelig, sannelig sier jeg eder: I skal gråte og jamre eder, men verden skal glede sig; I skal ha sorg, men eders sorg skal bli til glede.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

James 1:2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
Read in context
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
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Revelation 7:14–17
“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Read in context
Psalms 126:5–6
Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
Read in context
Mark 16:10
She went and told those who had been with Him, who were mourning and weeping.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 6:10
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Read in context
Jeremiah 31:25
for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.”
Read in context
1 Peter 1:6–8
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
Read in context