Matthew 3
1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
In those days appeared John the Immerser, who proclaimed in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
Reform, for the Reign of Heaven approaches.
3 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!”
For this is he, of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaks in these words, "The voice of one proclaiming in the wilderness, Prepare a way for the Lord, make for him a straight passage."
4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Now John wore raiment of camel's hair with a letter girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the country along the Jordan, resorted to him,
6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
and were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 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?
But he seeing many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to receive immersion, said to them, Offspring of vipers, who has prompted you to flee from the impending vengeance?
8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
Produce, then, the proper fruit of reformation;
9 Don’t 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.
and presume not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father, for I assure you, that of these stones God can raise children to Abraham.
10 Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
And even now the ax lies at the root of the trees; every tree, therefore, which produces not good fruit, is cut down, and turned into fuel.
11 “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.
I, indeed, immerse you in water, into reformation; but he who comes after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit, and in fire.
12 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.”
His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his grain; he will gather his wheat into the granary, and consume the chaff in unquenchable fire.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
Then came Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, to be immersed by John.
14 But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
But John excused himself, saying, It is I who need to be immersed by you; and you come to me!
15 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.
Jesus answering, said to him, Permit this at present; for thus ought we to ratify every institution. Then John acquiesced.
16 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.
Jesus being immersed, no sooner arose out of the water, than heaven was opened to him; and the Spirit of God appeared, descending like a dove, and lighting upon him;
17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
while a voice from heaven proclaimed, This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I delight.
