Matthew 3
1 About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea:
And in those days John the immerser comes, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying,
2 ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Repent ye, for the kingdom of the heavens has approached.
3 John was the one who was spoken of in the prophet Isaiah, where he says – “The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: ‘Make ready 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 a man crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.
4 John’s clothes were made of camels’ hair, with a leather strap round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather belt about his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 At that time Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him
Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region of the Jordan went out to him,
6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
and they were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them, ‘You children of snakes! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment?
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them, Ye offspring of vipers, who showed you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Let your life, then, prove your repentance;
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance.
9 and do not think that you can say among yourselves “Abraham is our ancestor,” for I tell you that out of these stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!
And think not to say within yourselves, We have a father, Abraham. For I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
10 Already the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
And even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
11 I, indeed, baptize you with water to teach repentance; but he who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
I indeed immerse you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit.
12 His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, and store his grain in the barn, but the chaff he will burn with a fire that cannot be put out.’
Whose winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. And he will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.
Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be immersed by him.
14 But John tried to prevent him. ‘I need to be baptized by you,’ he said, ‘so why have you come to me?’
But John was preventing him, saying, I have need to be immersed by thee, and thou come to me?
15 ‘This is the way it should be for now,’ Jesus answered, ‘because we should do everything that God requires.’ So John agreed.
But having answered, Jesus said to him, Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allows him.
16 After the baptism of Jesus, and just as he came up from the water, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him,
And when Jesus was immersed, he went up straightaway out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and coming upon him.
17 and from the heavens there came a voice which said, ‘This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy.’
And lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
