Matthew 3
1 About this time John the Baptist made his appearance, preaching in the Desert of Judaea.
In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
2 "Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand."
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
3 He it is who was spoken of through the Prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying aloud, 'In the desert prepare ye a road for the Lord: make His highway straight.'"
For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!”
4 This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey.
Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then large numbers of people went out to him--people from Jerusalem and from all Judaea, and from the whole of the Jordan valley--
Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, making full confession of their sins.
They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he exclaimed, "O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore let your lives prove your change of heart;
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
9 and do not imagine that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.
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.
10 And already the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which does not produce good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown 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 am baptizing you in water on a profession of repentance; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I: His sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.
“I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
12 His winnowing-shovel is in His hand, and He will make a thorough clearance of His threshing-floor, gathering His wheat into the storehouse, but burning up the chaff in 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 Just at that time Jesus, coming from Galilee to the Jordan, presents Himself to John to be baptized by him.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
14 John protested. "It is I," he said, "who have need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
15 "Let it be so on this occasion," Jesus replied; "for so we ought to fulfil every religious duty." Then he consented;
But Jesus, 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 was baptized, and immediately went up from the water. At that moment the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him,
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
17 while a voice came from Heaven, saying, "This is My Son, the dearly loved, in whom is My delight."
Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
