1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. 4And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather belt {leathern girdle} about his waist {loins}; and his food {meat} was locusts and wild honey. 5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan, 6And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 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? 8Bring forth, therefore, fruits befitting repentance; 9And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father; for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 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. 11I, indeed, baptize you with water unto repentance; but He Who cometh after me is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire; 12Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the granary {garner}; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14But John forbade Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Permit it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented to {permitted {suffered}} 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; 17And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.