John 16:16-22 "A little while; time, and then no longer do you folks continue attentively watching (gazing at) Me, and yet then again a little while while; space of time, and you will continue seeing Me."

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁶ "A little [while; time], and then no longer do you folks continue attentively watching (gazing at) Me, and yet then again a little while [while; space of time], and you will continue seeing Me." ¹⁷ Therefore some of His disciples said to one another, "What is this which He is presently saying to us, 'A little [while], and then you do not continue attentively watching Me, and yet then again a little [while] and you will continue seeing Me'? And, 'Because I am progressively bringing [everything] under control and departing toward the Father'?" ¹⁸ Hence, they went on saying, "What is this (= What does this mean) which He is saying, 'In a little while'? We have not seen nor do we know what He is speaking (= what He is talking about)." ¹⁹ Jesus knew [with other MSS: then came to know] that they were wanting and intending to be questioning (or: asking) Him, so He said to them, "Are you men continuing to seek with one another (among yourselves) about this, because I said, 'A little [while] and you do not continue attentively watching Me, and yet then again a little [while], and you will continue seeing Me'? ²⁰ "Most assuredly (It is certainly true; Amen, amen), I now say to you folks that you yourselves will continue to weep (shed tears and lament) and will be from time to time shrieking out (wailing in mournful funeral songs), yet the world (controlling System of culture, religion and politics; or: religious and secular society) will continue rejoicing. You yourselves will periodically be made sad and distressed with grief, but yet your sadness, grief and distress will repeatedly birth itself into joy. ²¹ "The woman, whenever she may be progressing in giving birth, is continuously having pain and distress (sorrow and grief), because her hour comes (or: came). Yet, whenever she may give birth to the little child (infant), she continues no longer calling to mind (remembering; bearing in mind) the pressure (the squeezing, anguish and tribulation) because of the joy that a human being (a person) is born (or: was given birth) into the world (the system of culture; or: the universe). ²² "And you yourselves, therefore, are now progressively having [other MSS: will be having] sadness, distress and grief. Yet I will repeatedly see you folks again, and your heart will repeatedly rejoice, and no one will continue lifting up and carrying [other MSS: now takes] your joy away from you folks.