Matthew 3
1 Now, in those days, came John the Immerser, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judaea;
About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the Wilderness of Judea:
2 saying, Repent ye, —for the kingdom of the heavens hath drawn near.
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
3 For, this, is he who was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, A voice, of one crying aloud! In the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight, be making his paths.
This is he 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.”’
4 But John, himself, had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, —while, his food, was locusts and wild honey.
John wore clothing made of camels’ hair, with a belt of leather round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then, were going forth unto him—Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the country round about the Jordan:
At that time Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him
6 and were being immersed in the Jordan river, by him, openly confessing their sins.
and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But, seeing, many of the Pharisees and Sadducees, coming unto his immersion, he said to them, —Broods of vipers! who suggested to you, to be fleeing from the coming wrath?
When, however, John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment?
8 Bring forth, therefore, fruit worthy of repentance;
Let your life, then, prove your repentance;
9 and think not to be saying within yourselves, —As our father, we have, Abraham; for, I say unto you, that God is able, out of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham.
and do not think that you can say among yourselves ‘Abraham is our ancestor,’ for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!
10 Already also, the axe, unto the root of the trees, is being laid, —every tree, therefore, not bringing forth good fruit, is to be hewn down, and, into fire, to be cast.
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.
11 I, indeed, am immersing you, in water, unto repentance, —but, he who, after me, cometh is, mightier than I, whose, sandals, I am not worthy to bear, he, will immerse you, in Holy Spirit and fire:
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.
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will clear out his threshing-floor, —and will gather his wheat into the granary, but, the chaff, will he burn up with fire unquenchable.
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 inextinguishable fire.”
13 Then, cometh Jesus, from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, —to be immersed by him.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.
14 But, he, would have hindered him, saying—I, have, need, by thee, to be immersed, —and dost, thou, come unto me?
But John tried to prevent him. “It is I,” he said, “who need to be baptized by you; why then do you come to me?”
15 But Jesus answering, said unto him, Suffer [me] even now, —for, thus, it becometh us, to fulfil, all righteousness; then, he suffered him.
“Let it be so for the present,” Jesus answered, “since it is fitting for us thus to satisfy every claim of religion.” Upon this, John consented.
16 And Jesus, having been immersed, straightway, went up from the water, —and lo! the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God, descending like a dove coming upon him;
After the baptism of Jesus, and just as he came up from the water, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending, like a dove, and alighting upon him,
17 and lo! a voice out of the heavens, —saying, This, is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight.
and from the heavens there came a voice which said: “This is my son, the Beloved, in whom I delight.”
