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

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

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

and saying, 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 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 J ohn wore clothes made of hair from camels. He had a leather belt around him. 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 the people of Jerusalem and of all the country of Judea and those from near the Jordan River went to him.

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

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

and were baptized of him in the 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 come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who taught you to flee from the wrath to come?

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

Bring forth therefore fruits 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 as our father, for I say unto you that God is able to raise up children unto Abraham of these stones.

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

¶ Then Jesus came from Galilee to 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 resisted him much, 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.

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

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