Matthew 3
1 And in those days John the Immerser came, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea
Some time later John the Baptist appeared on the scene, proclaiming in the Judean desert,
2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has arrived!”
3 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.'"
He was the one Isaiah spoke about when he said, “A voice is heard crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord. Make the paths straight for him.’”
4 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.
John had clothes made of camel hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him,
People came to him from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and the entire Jordan region,
6 and they were immersed by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.
and were baptized in the Jordan River, publicly admitting their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his immersion he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You vipers' brood! Who warned you to run away from the coming judgment?
8 Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance,
Show by what you do that you have truly repented,
9 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.
and don't presume to say proudly to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you that God could make children of Abraham from these stones.
10 "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.
In fact the ax is ready to chop down the trees. Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
11 I indeed immerse 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 immerse you in the Ruach ha-Kodesh and with fire.
Yes, I baptize you in water to show repentance, but after me is coming one who is greater than I am. I'm not worthy even to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12 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."
He has his winnowing tool ready in his hand. He will clean up the threshing floor and gather the wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn the chaff with fire that can't be put out.”
13 Then Yeshua came from Galil to the Jordan to John, to be immersed by him.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.
14 But John would have hindered him, saying, "I need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?"
But John tried to change his mind. He told Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me to baptize you?”
15 But Yeshua, 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.
“Please do so, because it's good for us to do what God says is right,” Jesus told him. So John agreed to do it.
16 And Yeshua, when he was immersed, went up directly from the water; and look, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Ruach of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
Immediately after he was baptized, Jesus came out of the water. The heavens were opened, and he saw God's Spirit like a dove descending, landing on him.
17 And look, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
A voice from heaven said, “This is my son whom I love, who pleases me.”
