Matthew 3
1 About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea:
In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea;
2 ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
"Repent," said he, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
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.’”
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 John’s clothes were made of camels’ hair, with a leather strap round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
This Johnwore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt around 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 began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan,
6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
and were baptized by him in the river 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 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 Let your life, then, prove your repentance;
Then bring forth 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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.’
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 came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized 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 tried to prevent him. ‘I need to be baptized by you,’ he said, ‘so why have 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 ‘This is the way it should be for now,’ Jesus answered, ‘because we should do everything that God requires.’ So John agreed.
But Jesus answered, "Permit it now, for so it is fitting for us to fulfill every religious duty."
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,
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 from the heavens there came a voice which said, ‘This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy.’
while a voice from heaven said, "This is my son, the beloved, In whom I delight."
