Matthew 3
1 And in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the waste land of Judaea,
In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea;
2 Saying, Let your hearts be turned from sin; for the kingdom of heaven is near.
"Repent," said he, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
3 For this is he of whom Isaiah the prophet said, The voice of one crying in the waste land, Make ready the way of the Lord, make his roads straight.
This Johnit was of whom it was said through Isaiah, the prophet, The voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, "Prepare a way for the Lord, Make the paths straight for him."
4 Now John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather band about him; and his food was locusts and honey.
This Johnwore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem and all Judaea went out to him, and all the people from near Jordan;
Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan,
6 And they were given baptism by him in the river Jordan, saying openly that they had done wrong.
and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in flight from the wrath to come?
But when Johnsaw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said. "O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Let your change of heart be seen in your works:
Then bring forth fruit worthy of repentance.
9 And say not to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; because I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children for Abraham.
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’-I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham.
10 And even now the axe is put to the root of the trees; every tree then which does not give good fruit is cut down, and put into the fire.
And already the axe is lying at the roots of the trees. Any tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
11 Truly, I give baptism with water to those of you whose hearts are changed; but he who comes after me is greater than I, whose shoes I am not good enough to take up: he will give you baptism with the Holy Spirit and with fire:
I indeed am baptizing you in water, unto repentance; but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.
12 In whose hand is the instrument with which he will make clean his grain; he will put the good grain in his store, but the waste will be burned up in the fire which will never be put out.
His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse the threshing-floor. He will store his wheat in the granary, but will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire."
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be given baptism by him.
At that very time Jesus was on his way from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.
14 But John would have kept him back, saying, It is I who have need of baptism from you, and do you come to me?
But he tried to prevent him. "It is I," he said, "who need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?"
15 But Jesus made answer, saying to him, Let it be so now: because so it is right for us to make righteousness complete. Then he gave him baptism.
But Jesus answered, "Permit it now, for so it is fitting for us to fulfill every religious duty."
16 And Jesus, having been given baptism, straight away went up from the water; and, the heavens opening, he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him as a dove;
Then he consented. And after Jesus was baptized, as soon as he rose out of the water, lo! the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon him,
17 And a voice came out of heaven, saying, This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
while a voice from heaven said, "This is my son, the beloved, In whom I delight."
