Matthew 3
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
In those days, John [Yah is gracious] the Immerser came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea [Praise], saying,
2 And saying, Repent all of you: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
“Teshuvah ·Turn repent·, for the Kingdom of Heaven (God) is at hand!”
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare all of you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah [Salvation of Yah] the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of MarYah [Master Yahweh]. Make his paths straight.”
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Now John [Yah is gracious] himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
Then people from Jerusalem [City of peace], all of Judea [Praise], and all the region around the Jordan [Descender] went out to him.
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
They were immersed by him in the Jordan [Descender], confessing their abstract sins ·miss the marks·.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
But when he saw many of the Pharisees [Separated] and Sadducees [Morally-upright] coming for his mikvah ·ritual washing baptism·, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Therefore produce fruit worthy of teshuvah ·complete repentance·!
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham [Father of a multitude] Avinu ·our Father·,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham [Father of a multitude] from these stones.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
“Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto 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 Spirit, (pneuma) and with fire:
I indeed mikvah ·mikvah ·baptise· you in water for teshuvah ·complete repentance·, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will mikvah ·baptise· you in Ruach haKodesh [Spirit, Breath of the Holiness].
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.
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 Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Then Yeshua [Salvation] came from Galilee [District, Circuit] to the Jordan [Descender] to John [Yah is gracious], to be immersed by him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of you, and come you to me?
But John [Yah is gracious] would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?”
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
But Yeshua [Salvation], answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up immediately out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit (pneuma) of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Yeshua [Salvation], when he was immersed, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw haRuach [the Spirit, Breath] of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my agapetos ·beloved, esteemed· Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
