< Matthew 3 >
1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,
Now in those days John the Baptizer began preaching in the wilderness of Judea
2 and saying, 'Reform, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens,'
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near!”
3 for this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 'A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye His paths.'
For this is he who was referred to by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “A voice crying-out, ‘Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’”
4 And this John had his clothing of camel's hair, and a girdle of skin round his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and honey of the field.
Now John actually used clothes made from camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; while his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then were going forth unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about the Jordan,
Then Jerusalem, all Judea and all the region of the Jordan went out to him,
6 and they were baptized in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 And having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming about his baptism, he said to them, 'Brood of vipers! who did shew you to flee from the coming wrath?
But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: “Brood of vipers! Who tipped you off to flee from the coming wrath?
8 bear, therefore, fruits worthy of the reformation,
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance,
9 and do not think to say in yourselves, A father we have — Abraham, for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise children to Abraham,
and don't even think to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as father,’ for I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
10 and now also, the axe unto the root of the trees is laid, every tree therefore not bearing good fruit is hewn down, and to fire is cast.
Indeed, already the ax is being laid to the root of the trees. So every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 'I indeed do baptize you with water to reformation, but he who after me is coming is mightier than I, of whom I am not worthy to bear the sandals, he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire,
“I baptize you with water unto repentance, but the One coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with Holy Spirit.
12 whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will gather his wheat to the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.'
His winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee upon the Jordan, unto John to be baptized by him,
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
14 but John was forbidding him, saying, 'I have need by thee to be baptized — and thou dost come unto me!'
But John tried to dissuade Him saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and You are coming to me?”
15 But Jesus answering said to him, 'Suffer now, for thus it is becoming to us to fulfil all righteousness,' then he doth suffer him.
But in answer Jesus said to him, “Permit it now, because thus it is appropriate to us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.
16 And having been baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water, and lo, opened to him were the heavens, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him,
And having been baptized Jesus came up directly from the water, when wow, the heavens were opened to Him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and alighting upon Him.
17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, 'This is My Son — the Beloved, in whom I did delight.'
And wow, a Voice from the heavens saying, “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am always well pleased!”