Matthew 3
1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
And in those days John the Immerser comes, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,
2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
and saying, “Convert, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near,”
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 having been spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD, Make His paths straight.”
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.
And this John had his clothing of camel’s hair, and a girdle of skin around his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and honey of the field.
5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
Then were going forth to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan,
6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
and they were immersed in the Jordan by him, 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?
And having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming about his immersion, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who showed you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
Bear, therefore, fruits worthy of conversion,
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 do not think to say in yourselves, We have a father—Abraham, for I say to you that God is able to raise children to Abraham out of these stones,
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 now also, the axe is laid to the root of the trees, therefore, every tree not bearing good fruit is cut down, and is cast into fire.
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 for conversion, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, of whom I am not worthy to carry the sandals, He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and 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.”
whose fan [is] in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His floor, and will gather His wheat into the storehouse, but He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
Then Jesus comes from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be immersed by him,
14 But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
but John was forbidding Him, saying, “I have 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.
But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit [it] now, for thus it is fitting to us to fulfill all righteousness,” then he permits Him.
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.
And having been immersed, Jesus immediately went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on Him,
17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I delighted.”
