Matthew 3
1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, saying,
About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea:
2 Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
3 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.
John was the one who was spoken of in the prophet Isaiah, where he says – ‘The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: “Make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”’
4 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.
John’s clothes were made of camels’ hair, with a leather strap around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about the Jordan;
At that time Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him
6 and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
7 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?
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them, “You children of snakes! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment?
8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:
Let your life, then, prove your repentance;
9 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.
and do not think that you can say among yourselves ‘Abraham is our ancestor,’ for I tell you that out of these stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!
10 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.
Already the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 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:
I, indeed, baptize you with water to teach repentance; but he who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12 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.
His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, and store his grain in the barn, but the chaff he will burn with a fire that cannot be put out.”
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.
14 But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
But John tried to prevent him. “I need to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why have you come to me?”
15 But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him.
“This is the way it should be for now,” Jesus answered, “because we should do everything that God requires.” So John agreed.
16 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;
After the baptism of Jesus, and just as he came up from the water, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him,
17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
and from the heavens there came a voice which said, “This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy.”
