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Matthew 3
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1And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, saying,
1In those days, John the Baptist began preaching in the desert of Judea.
2Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
2He said, 'Turn away from your sins, because the kingdom of heaven is near.'
3For 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.
3John is the person the prophet Isaiah was talking about when he said: 'A voice shouts in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord; make a straight path for him.'
4Now John himself had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
4John wore clothes made of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about the Jordan;
5People from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan River went out to see him.
6and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6They admitted their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.
7But 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?
7But when John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: 'You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run away from the coming anger of God?'
8Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:
8Live in a way that shows you have truly turned from your sins.
9and 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.
9Don't think you can say to yourselves, 'Abraham is our father.' I tell you that God can make children for Abraham out of these stones.
10And 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.
10The axe is already ready to cut the roots of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11I 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:
11I baptize you with water to show you have repented. But someone is coming after me who is much greater than I am. I am not even worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12whose 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.
12He has his winnowing tool in his hand to clean up the threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but he will burn the useless husks with a fire that never goes out.
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River so that John could baptize him.
14But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
14But John tried to stop him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, so why are you coming to me?'
15But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him.
15Jesus answered him, 'Let it be this way for now. It is right for us to do this to fulfill all that God requires.' Then John agreed to baptize him.
16And 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;
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Suddenly, heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and lighting on him.