Matthew 3
1 And in those days John the Immerser comes, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,
And in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
2 and saying, “Convert, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near,”
and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
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.”
For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one who calls out in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his roads straight.'"
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.
Now John himself wore clothing made of camel's hair and with 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 people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him,
6 and they were immersed in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.
and they were baptized by him in the Jordan river, 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 he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear, therefore, fruits worthy of conversion,
Therefore 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 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 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.
"Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not bring forth 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 baptize you in water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with 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 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 Jesus comes from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be immersed by him,
Then Jesus came 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 John would have hindered him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come 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, answering, said to him, "Allow it to happen now, for this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him.
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,
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water; and look, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I delighted.”
And look, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
