15:1  I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

15:2  Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses {and} repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more {and} richer {and} more excellent fruit.

15:3  You are cleansed {and} pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].

15:4  Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

15:5  I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

15:6  If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.

15:7  If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you {and} continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

15:8  When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored {and} glorified, and you show {and} prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

15:9  I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me].

15:10  If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love {and} live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father's commandments and live on in His love.

15:11  I have told you these things, that My joy {and} delight may be in you, and that your joy {and} gladness may be of full measure {and} complete {and} overflowing.

15:12  This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you.

15:13  No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.

15:14  You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do.

15:15  I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]

15:16  You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit {and} keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.

15:17  This is what I command you: that you love one another.

15:18  If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.

15:19  If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection {and} would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you.

15:20  Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word {and} obeyed My teachings, they will also keep {and} obey yours.

15:21  But they will do all this to you [inflict all this suffering on you] because of [your bearing] My name {and} on My account, for they do not know {or} understand the One Who sent Me.

15:22  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin [would be blameless]; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

15:23  Whoever hates Me also hates My Father.

15:24  If I had not done (accomplished) among them the works which no one else ever did, they would not be guilty of sin. But [the fact is] now they have both seen [these works] and have hated both Me and My Father.

15:25  But [this is so] that the word written in their Law might be fulfilled, They hated Me without a cause.

15:26  But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me.

15:27  But you also will testify {and} be My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning.