1 N ow in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

¶ In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea

2 “ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

and saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3 F or this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “ The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘ Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’”

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, who said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.

4 N ow John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

5 T hen Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;

Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and all the region round about Jordan went out to him

6 a nd they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

and were baptized of him in the Jordan, 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 from the wrath to come?

¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who taught you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 T herefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance

9 a nd do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘ We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.

and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father, for I say unto you that God is able to raise up children unto Abraham of these stones.

10 T he axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

And now the axe is also laid unto the root of the trees; therefore, every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

11 “ As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance, but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire,

12 H is winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” The Baptism of Jesus

whose fan is in his hand; and he will thoroughly purge his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn up the chaff with fire that shall never be quenched.

13 T hen Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.

¶ Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him.

14 B ut John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

But John resisted him much, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 B ut Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now, for thus it is expedient for us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 A fter being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,

And Jesus, after he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, behold, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him;

17 a nd behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “ This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

and, behold, a voice from the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.