1 I n those days John the Baptist came preaching in the desert in the country of Judea.

And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying,

2 H e said, “Be sorry for your sins and turn from them! The holy nation of heaven is near.”

Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3 T he early preacher Isaiah spoke of this man. He said, “Listen! His voice calls out in the desert! ‘Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for Him!’”

For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.

4 J ohn wore clothes made of hair from camels. He had a leather belt around him. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Now John himself 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 the people of Jerusalem and of all the country of Judea and those from near the Jordan River went to him.

Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan;

6 T hose who told of their sins were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

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

7 H e saw many proud religious law-keepers and other people of the religious group who believe no one will be raised from the dead. They were coming to him to be baptized. He said to them, “You family of snakes! Who told you how to keep from God’s anger that is coming?

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 D o something to show me that your hearts are changed.

Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:

9 D o not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can make children for Abraham out of these stones.

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

10 “ Even now the ax is on the root of the trees. Every tree that does not give good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11 F or sure, I baptize with water those who are sorry for their sins and turn from them. The One Who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is greater than I. I am not good enough to take off His shoes.

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

12 H e comes ready to clean the grain. He will gather the grain in and clean it all. The clean grain He will put into a building. He will burn that which is no good with a fire that cannot be put out.” The Baptism of Jesus

whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.

13 J esus came from Galilee. He went to John at the Jordan River to be baptized by him.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 J ohn tried to stop Him. He said, “I need to be baptized by You. Do You come to me?”

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

15 J esus said to him, “Let it be done now. We should do what is right.” John agreed and baptized Jesus.

But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him.

16 W hen Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened. He saw the Spirit of God coming down and resting on Jesus like a dove.

And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him;

17 A voice was heard from heaven. It said, “This is My much-loved Son. I am very happy with Him.”

and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.