1 I n those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

2 “ Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

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

3 F or this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.”

For 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!’”

4 N ow John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

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

5 T hen people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.

Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;

6 T hey were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

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

7 B ut when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

But 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?

8 T herefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!

Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;

9 D on’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

and 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.

10 “ Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.

The 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.

11 I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

“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.

12 H is winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

His 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

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

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

14 B ut John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”

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

15 B ut Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.

But 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.

16 J esus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.

After 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,

17 B ehold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

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