< Matthew 3 >

1 In those days, Yochanan the Immerser came, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
Now in those days comes John the baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.
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 who has been spoken of through Esaias the prophet, saying, Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of [the] Lord, make straight his paths.
4 Now Yochanan himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
And John himself had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his nourishment 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 went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the country round the Jordan,
6 They were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
and were baptised by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his immersion, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
Produce therefore fruit worthy of repentance.
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 within yourselves, We have Abraham for [our] father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up 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 already the axe is applied to the root of the trees; every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
11 “I indeed immerse 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 immerse you in the Holy Spirit.
I indeed baptise you with water to repentance, but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not fit to bear; he shall baptise you with [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 winnowing fan [is] in his hand, and he shall thoroughly purge his threshing-floor, and shall gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
13 Then Yeshua came from Galilee to the Jordan to Yochanan, to be immersed by him.
Then comes Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised of him;
14 But Yochanan would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?”
but John urgently forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptised of thee; and comest thou to me?
15 But Yeshua, 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, Suffer [it] now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffers him.
16 Yeshua, when he was immersed, 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 Jesus, having been baptised, went up straightway from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon 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 beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight.

< Matthew 3 >