^{1 Ref} And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying,

^{2 Ref} Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

^{3 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan;

^{6 Ref} and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

^{7 Ref} 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 Ref} Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:

^{9 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

^{14 Ref} But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

^{15 Ref} But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer `it' now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him.

^{16 Ref} 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 Ref} and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

^{1 Ref} In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

^{2 Ref} "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"

^{3 Ref} For 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."

^{4 Ref} Now John himself wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

^{5 Ref} Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.

^{6 Ref} They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

^{7 Ref} But 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?

^{8 Ref} Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance!

^{9 Ref} Don'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.

^{10 Ref} "Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.

^{11 Ref} 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.{TR and NU add "and with fire"}

^{12 Ref} His 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."

^{13 Ref} Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

^{14 Ref} But John would have hindered him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?"

^{15 Ref} But Jesus, answering, said to him, "Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him.

^{16 Ref} Jesus, 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.

^{17 Ref} Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

^{1 Ref} And in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the waste land of Judaea,

^{2 Ref} Saying, Let your hearts be turned from sin; for the kingdom of heaven is near.

^{3 Ref} For this is he of whom Isaiah the prophet said, The voice of one crying in the waste land, Make ready the way of the Lord, make his roads straight.

^{4 Ref} Now John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather band about him; and his food was locusts and honey.

^{5 Ref} Then Jerusalem and all Judaea went out to him, and all the people from near Jordan;

^{6 Ref} And they were given baptism by him in the river Jordan, saying openly that they had done wrong.

^{7 Ref} But when he saw a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in flight from the wrath to come?

^{8 Ref} Let your change of heart be seen in your works:

^{9 Ref} And say not to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; because I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children for Abraham.

^{10 Ref} And even now the axe is put to the root of the trees; every tree then which does not give good fruit is cut down, and put into the fire.

^{11 Ref} Truly, I give baptism with water to those of you whose hearts are changed; but he who comes after me is greater than I, whose shoes I am not good enough to take up: he will give you baptism with the Holy Spirit and with fire:

^{12 Ref} In whose hand is the instrument with which he will make clean his grain; he will put the good grain in his store, but the waste will be burned up in the fire which will never be put out.

^{13 Ref} Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be given baptism by him.

^{14 Ref} But John would have kept him back, saying, It is I who have need of baptism from you, and do you come to me?

^{15 Ref} But Jesus made answer, saying to him, Let it be so now: because so it is right for us to make righteousness complete. Then he gave him baptism.

^{16 Ref} And Jesus, having been given baptism, straight away went up from the water; and, the heavens opening, he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him as a dove;

^{17 Ref} And a voice came out of heaven, saying, This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well pleased.