Matthew 3
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
In those days, Yochanan the Immerser came, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!”
4 John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Now Yochanan himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.
Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
They were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his immersion, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
10 The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
“I indeed immerse you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit.
12 His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
13 At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
Then Yeshua came from Galilee to the Jordan to Yochanan, to be immersed by him.
14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
But Yochanan would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?”
15 “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
But Yeshua, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.
Yeshua, when he was immersed, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
