| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, | 1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, |
| 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” | 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” |
| 3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ ” | 3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” |
| 4Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. | 4Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. |
| 5Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him | 5Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, |
| 6and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. | 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. |
| 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? | 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? |
| 8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, | 8Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. |
| 9and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. | 9And do not presume 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. |
| 10And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. | 10Even 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. |
| 11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. | 11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. |
| 12His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” | 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” |
| 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. | 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. |
| 14And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” | 14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” |
| 15But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. | 15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. |
| 16When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. | 16And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; |
| 17And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” | 17and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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