Matthew 3
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
And in those days John the Immerser comes, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,
2 And saying, Repent you: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
and saying, “Convert, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near,”
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
for this is he having been spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD, Make His paths straight.”
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
And this John had his clothing of camel’s hair, and a girdle of skin around his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and honey of the field.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
Then were going forth to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
and they were immersed in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
And having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming about his immersion, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who showed you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Bear, therefore, fruits worthy of conversion,
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
and do not think to say in yourselves, We have a father—Abraham, for I say to you that God is able to raise children to Abraham out of these stones,
10 And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
and now also, the axe is laid to the root of the trees, therefore, every tree not bearing good fruit is cut down, and is cast into fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
I indeed immerse you in water for conversion, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, of whom I am not worthy to carry the sandals, He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire,
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
whose fan [is] in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His floor, and will gather His wheat into the storehouse, but He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
13 Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to John, to be baptized of him.
Then Jesus comes from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be immersed by him,
14 But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of you, and come you to me?
but John was forbidding Him, saying, “I have need to be immersed by You—and You come to me?”
15 And Jesus answering said to him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit [it] now, for thus it is fitting to us to fulfill all righteousness,” then he permits Him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on him:
And having been immersed, Jesus immediately went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on Him,
17 And see a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I delighted.”
