| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea proclaiming, | 1In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, |
| 2"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." | 2“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of 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.'" | 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!’” |
| 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’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 people from Jerusalem, as well as all Judea and all the region around the Jordan, were going out to him, | 5People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. |
| 6and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. | 6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. |
| 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 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? |
| 8Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, | 8Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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 Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River. | 13Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River 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 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?” |
| 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 said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. ” So John agreed to baptize him. |
| 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. | 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 a voice from heaven said, "This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight." | 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” |
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