| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Caesar Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, 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, |
| 2and Annas and Caiaphas high priests, a message from 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. |
| 3John went throughout the entire Jordan region, proclaiming a baptism about 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 the prophet Isaiah, "He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way for 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 will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled. The crooked ways will be made straight, and the rough roads will be made smooth. | 5Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, |
| 6Everyone will see the salvation that God has provided.'" | 6and everyone will see the salvation of God. |
| 7John would say to the crowds that were coming out to be baptized by him, "You children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? | 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? |
| 8Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance! Don't begin to say to yourselves, 'We have father Abraham!' because I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones! | 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! |
| 9The ax already lies against the roots of the trees. So every tree not producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a 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."" |
| 10The crowds kept asking him, "What, then, should we do?" | 10What then should we do?" the crowds were asking him. |
| 11He answered them, "The person who has two coats must share with the one who doesn't have any, and the person who has food must do the same." | 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." |
| 12Even some tax collectors came to be baptized. They asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" | 12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" |
| 13He told them, "Stop collecting more money than the amount you are told to collect." | 13He told them, "Don't collect any more than what you have been authorized." |
| 14Even some soldiers were asking him, "And what should we do?" He told them, "Never extort money from anyone by threats or blackmail, and be satisfied with your pay." | 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." |
| 15Now the people were filled with expectation, and all of them were wondering if John was perhaps the Messiah. | 15Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were debating in their minds whether John might be the Messiah. |
| 16John replied to all of them, "I'm baptizing you with water, but one is coming who is more powerful than I, and I'm not worthy to untie his sandal straps. It is he who 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 clean up his threshing floor. He'll gather the grain into his barn, but he'll burn the chaff with inextinguishable 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." |
| 18With many other exhortations John continued to proclaim the good news to the people. | 18Then, along with many other exhortations, he proclaimed good news to the people. |
| 19Now Herod the tetrarch had been rebuked by John because he had married his brother's wife Herodias and because of all of the other evil things 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 to all this, Herod locked John up in prison. | 20added this to everything else--he locked John up in prison. |
| 21When all the people had been baptized, Jesus, too, was baptized. While he was praying, heaven opened, | 21When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As He was praying, heaven opened, |
| 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him, appearing in the form of a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you!" | 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 himself was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. He was (as legally calculated) the son 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 Salmon, 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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