| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, | 1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, |
| 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. | 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God's word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. |
| 3And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. | 3He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, |
| 4As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. | 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight! |
| 5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, | 5Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, |
| 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” | 6and everyone will see the salvation of God. |
| 7He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? | 7He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? |
| 8Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. | 8Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don't start saying to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! |
| 9Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” | 9Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees! Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."" |
| 10And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” | 10What then should we do?" the crowds were asking him. |
| 11And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” | 11He replied to them, "The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same." |
| 12Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” | 12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" |
| 13And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” | 13He told them, "Don't collect any more than what you have been authorized." |
| 14Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” | 14Some soldiers also questioned him: "What should we do?" He said to them, "Don't take money from anyone by force or false accusation; be satisfied with your wages." |
| 15As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, | 15Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were debating in their minds whether John might be the Messiah. |
| 16John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. | 16John answered them all, "I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. |
| 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” | 17His winnowing shovel is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with a fire that never goes out." |
| 18So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. | 18Then, along with many other exhortations, he proclaimed good news to the people. |
| 19But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, | 19But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him about Herodias, his brother's wife, and about all the evil things Herod had done, |
| 20added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison. | 20added this to everything else--he locked John up in prison. |
| 21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, | 21When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As He was praying, heaven opened, |
| 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” | 22and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son. I take delight in You! |
| 23Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, | 23As He began His ministry, Jesus was about 30 years old and was thought to be the son of Joseph, son of Heli, |
| 24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, | 24son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, |
| 25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, | 25son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, |
| 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, | 26son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, |
| 27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, | 27son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri, |
| 28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, | 28son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, |
| 29the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, | 29son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, |
| 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, | 30son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, |
| 31the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, | 31son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, |
| 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, | 32son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon, |
| 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, | 33son of Amminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, |
| 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, | 34son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, |
| 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, | 35son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, |
| 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, | 36son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, |
| 37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, | 37son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, |
| 38the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. | 38son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God. |
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