| King James Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, | 1In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, |
| 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. | 2“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. ” |
| 3For 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. | 3The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” |
| 4And 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. | 4John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. |
| 5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, | 5People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. |
| 6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. | 6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. |
| 7But 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? | 7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? |
| 8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: | 8Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. |
| 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 just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. |
| 10And 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. | 10Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. |
| 11I 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: | 11“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. |
| 12Whose 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. | 12He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” The Baptism of Jesus |
| 13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. | 13Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. |
| 14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? | 14But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” |
| 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. | 15But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. ” So John agreed to baptize him. |
| 16And 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: | 16After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. |
| 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. | 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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