1 I n those days there appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the Wilderness (Desert) of Judea

And in those days cometh John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,

2 A nd saying, Repent ( think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

and saying, `Reform, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens,'

3 T his is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness (shouting in the desert), Prepare the road for the Lord, make His highways straight (level, direct).

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.'

4 T his same John’s garments were made of camel’s hair, and he wore a leather girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

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.

5 T hen Jerusalem and all Judea and all the country round about the Jordan went out to him;

Then were going forth unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about the Jordan,

6 A nd they were baptized in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.

and they were baptized in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.

7 B ut when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and indignation that is coming?

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?

8 B ring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance;

bear, therefore, fruits worthy of the reformation,

9 A nd do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our forefather; for I tell you, God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!

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,

10 A nd already the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

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.

11 I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance '> changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

`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,

12 H is winnowing fan (shovel, fork) is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out and clean His threshing floor and gather and store His wheat in His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with fire that cannot be put out.

whose fan 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.'

13 T hen Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee upon the Jordan, unto John to be baptized by him,

14 B ut John protested strenuously, having in mind to prevent Him, saying, It is I who have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?

but John was forbidding him, saying, `I have need by thee to be baptized -- and thou dost come unto me!'

15 B ut Jesus replied to him, Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness '> perform completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him.

But Jesus answering said to him, `Suffer now, for thus it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness,' then he doth suffer him.

16 A nd when Jesus was baptized, He went up at once out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him.

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,

17 A nd behold, a voice from heaven said, This is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I delight!

and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, `This is My Son -- the Beloved, in whom I did delight.'