Matthew 3
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
In those days, John [Yah is gracious] the Immerser came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea [Praise], saying,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
“Teshuvah ·Turn repent·, for the Kingdom of Heaven (God) is at hand!”
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah [Salvation of Yah] the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of MarYah [Master Yahweh]. Make his paths straight.”
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Now John [Yah is gracious] himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region about Jordan,
Then people from Jerusalem [City of peace], all of Judea [Praise], and all the region around the Jordan [Descender] went out to him.
6 And were baptized by him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
They were immersed by him in the Jordan [Descender], confessing their abstract sins ·miss the marks·.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
But when he saw many of the Pharisees [Separated] and Sadducees [Morally-upright] coming for his mikvah ·ritual washing baptism·, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Therefore produce fruit worthy of teshuvah ·complete repentance·!
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for [our] father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham [Father of a multitude] Avinu ·our Father·,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham [Father of a multitude] from these stones.
10 And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
“Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water to repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and [with] fire:
I indeed mikvah ·mikvah ·baptise· you in water for teshuvah ·complete repentance·, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will mikvah ·baptise· you in Ruach haKodesh [Spirit, Breath of the Holiness].
12 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and gather his wheat into the granary; but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.
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.”
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
Then Yeshua [Salvation] came from Galilee [District, Circuit] to the Jordan [Descender] to John [Yah is gracious], to be immersed by him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?
But John [Yah is gracious] would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?”
15 And Jesus answering said to him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
But Yeshua [Salvation], answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up immediately out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Yeshua [Salvation], when he was immersed, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw haRuach [the Spirit, Breath] of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
17 And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my agapetos ·beloved, esteemed· Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
