< Matthew 3 >

1 And in those days John the Immerser comes, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,
About this time John the Baptist made his appearance, preaching in the Desert of Judaea.
2 and saying, “Convert, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near,”
"Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close 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.”
He it is who was spoken of through the Prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying aloud, 'In the desert prepare ye a road for the Lord: make His highway 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.
This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey.
5 Then were going forth to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan,
Then large numbers of people went out to him--people from Jerusalem and from all Judaea, and from the whole of the Jordan valley--
6 and they were immersed in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.
and were baptized by him in the Jordan, making full confession of 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 baptism, he exclaimed, "O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Bear, therefore, fruits worthy of conversion,
Therefore let your lives prove your change of heart;
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 imagine that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for 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.
And already the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which does not produce good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown 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 on a profession of repentance; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I: His sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment; 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-shovel is in His hand, and He will make a thorough clearance of His threshing-floor, gathering His wheat into the storehouse, but burning up the chaff in unquenchable fire."
13 Then Jesus comes from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be immersed by him,
Just at that time Jesus, coming from Galilee to the Jordan, presents Himself 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?”
John protested. "It is I," he said, "who have need to be baptized by you, and do 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.
"Let it be so on this occasion," Jesus replied; "for so we ought to fulfil every religious duty." Then he consented;
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 was baptized, and immediately went up from the water. At that moment 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 came from Heaven, saying, "This is My Son, the dearly loved, in whom is My delight."

< Matthew 3 >