Matthew 3
1 And in those days John the immerser comes, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying,
About this time John the Baptist made his appearance, preaching in the Desert of Judaea.
2 Repent ye, for the kingdom of the heavens has approached.
"Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand."
3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of a man crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.
He it is who was spoken of through the Prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying aloud, 'In the desert prepare ye a road for the Lord: make His highway straight.'"
4 Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather belt about his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey.
This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region of the Jordan went out to him,
Then large numbers of people went out to him--people from Jerusalem and from all Judaea, and from the whole of the Jordan valley--
6 and they were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
and were baptized by him in the Jordan, making full confession of their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them, Ye offspring of vipers, who showed you to flee from the coming wrath?
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he exclaimed, "O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance.
Therefore let your lives prove your change of heart;
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have a father, Abraham. For I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
and do not imagine that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.
10 And even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
And already the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which does not produce good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire.
11 I indeed immerse you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit.
I indeed am baptizing you in water on a profession of repentance; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I: His sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.
12 Whose winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. And he will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.
His winnowing-shovel is in His hand, and He will make a thorough clearance of His threshing-floor, gathering His wheat into the storehouse, but burning up the chaff in unquenchable fire."
13 Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be immersed by him.
Just at that time Jesus, coming from Galilee to the Jordan, presents Himself to John to be baptized by him.
14 But John was preventing him, saying, I have need to be immersed by thee, and thou come to me?
John protested. "It is I," he said, "who have need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15 But having answered, Jesus said to him, Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allows him.
"Let it be so on this occasion," Jesus replied; "for so we ought to fulfil every religious duty." Then he consented;
16 And when Jesus was immersed, he went up straightaway out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and coming upon him.
and Jesus was baptized, and immediately went up from the water. At that moment the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him,
17 And lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
while a voice came from Heaven, saying, "This is My Son, the dearly loved, in whom is My delight."
