| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, | 1In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea proclaiming, |
| 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” | 2"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." |
| 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 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.'" |
| 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 clothing made from camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey. |
| 5Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him | 5Then people from Jerusalem, as well as all Judea and all the region around the Jordan, were going out to him, |
| 6and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. | 6and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed 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 Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? |
| 8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, | 8Therefore produce fruit that proves your 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 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! |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire." |
| 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. | 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River. |
| 14And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” | 14But John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet 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. | 15So Jesus replied to him, "Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then John yielded to him. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 17And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” | 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight." |
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