| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea proclaiming, | 1About this time, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Judean wilderness, |
| 2"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." | 2"Repent, because the kingdom from heaven is near!" |
| 3For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken: "The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.'" | 3He was the one the prophet Isaiah was referring to when he said, "He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!'" |
| 4Now John wore clothing made from camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey. | 4John had clothing made of camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of grasshoppers and wild honey. |
| 5Then people from Jerusalem, as well as all Judea and all the region around the Jordan, were going out to him, | 5Then the people of Jerusalem, all Judea, and the entire region along the Jordan began flocking to him, |
| 6and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. | 6being baptized by him in the Jordan River while they confessed their sins. |
| 7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? | 7But when John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he told them, "You children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? |
| 8Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, | 8Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance! |
| 9and don't think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! | 9Don't think you can say to yourselves, 'We have father Abraham!' because I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones! |
| 10Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. | 10The ax already lies against the roots of the trees. So every tree that isn't producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. |
| 11"I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am--I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. | 11I am baptizing you with water as evidence of repentance, but the one who is coming after me is stronger than I am, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. It is he who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. |
| 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire." | 12His winnowing fork is in his hand. He will clean up his threshing floor and gather his grain into the barn, but he will burn the chaff with inextinguishable fire." |
| 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River. | 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. |
| 14But John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?" | 14But John tried to stop him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?" |
| 15So Jesus replied to him, "Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then John yielded to him. | 15But Jesus answered him, "Let it be this way for now, because this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness." At this, he permitted him to be baptized. |
| 16After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming on him. | 16When Jesus had been baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Suddenly, the heavens opened up for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. |
| 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight." | 17Then a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him!" |
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