Matthew 3
1 And in those days John the Immerser comes, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,
In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea;
2 and saying, “Convert, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near,”
"Repent," said he, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
3 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.”
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 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.
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 were going forth to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan,
Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan,
6 and they were immersed in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.
and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 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?
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 Bear, therefore, fruits worthy of conversion,
Then bring forth fruit worthy of repentance.
9 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,
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 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.
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 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,
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 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.”
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 comes from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be immersed 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 was forbidding Him, saying, “I have need to be immersed by You—and 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 answering said to him, “Permit [it] now, for thus it is fitting to us to fulfill all righteousness,” then he permits Him.
But Jesus answered, "Permit it now, for so it is fitting for us to fulfill every religious duty."
16 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,
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 behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I delighted.”
while a voice from heaven said, "This is my son, the beloved, In whom I delight."
