Matthew 3
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Some time later John the Baptist appeared on the scene, proclaiming in the Judean desert,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has arrived!”
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
He was the one Isaiah spoke about when he said, “A voice is heard crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord. Make the paths straight for him.’”
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
John had clothes made of camel hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
People came to him from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and the entire Jordan region,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
and were baptized in the Jordan River, publicly admitting their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You vipers' brood! Who warned you to run away from the coming judgment?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Show by what you do that you have truly repented,
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 don't presume to say proudly to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you that God could make children of Abraham from these stones.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
In fact the ax is ready to chop down the trees. Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with 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 with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:
Yes, I baptize you in water to show repentance, but after me is coming one who is greater than I am. I'm not worthy even to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
He has his winnowing tool ready in his hand. He will clean up the threshing floor and gather the wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn the chaff with fire that can't be put out.”
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
But John tried to change his mind. He told Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me to baptize you?”
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [ it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
“Please do so, because it's good for us to do what God says is right,” Jesus told him. So John agreed to do it.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Immediately after he was baptized, Jesus came out of the water. The heavens were opened, and he saw God's Spirit like a dove descending, landing on him.
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
A voice from heaven said, “This is my son whom I love, who pleases me.”
