| New King James Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, | 1Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, |
| 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 the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY 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 himself had 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 was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; |
| 6and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. | 6and they were being baptized by him 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 of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for 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, | 8"Therefore bear 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 suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to 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. | 10"The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree 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"As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove 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.” | 12"His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." |
| 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. | 13Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming 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?” | 14But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have 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 answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted 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 being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting 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 out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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