New to Java

Hey guys,

I have been having problems trying to figure out how to decode MySQL passwords that i have setup on my table using Java so that when a user enters a password on the java application it will decode that password check if it is correctly used and then let them log in. Currently i am using NetBeans and my current checker for password and user name is

String sql = "SELECT * from user where userName LIKE '" + userName + "' and userPass LIKE '" + userPass + "'";

as you can see it has nothing to do with decoding.

I also know that to be able to decode on mysql it has to be done like this.

SELECT DECODE([table_column], 'encoded password') from [table name];

so for example here is where my current passwords are

SELECT DECODE(userPass, 'cross') from user;

also to make this a little easier so that it depicts the actual user

SELECT DECODE(userPass, 'cross') from user where userName = 'ian';

If anyone has any ideas that would be great. I also tried searching the forums and a lot of google but each time i find something it has to do with php or just encrypting anything on actual java.