| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, | 1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene-- |
| 2while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. | 2during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. |
| 3And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, | 3He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. |
| 4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight. | 4As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. |
| 5Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; | 5Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. |
| 6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ” | 6And all people will see God's salvation.'" |
| 7Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? | 7John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? |
| 8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin 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. | 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. |
| 9And 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.” | 9The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." |
| 10So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” | 10"What should we do then?" the crowd asked. |
| 11He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” | 11John answered, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same." |
| 12Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” | 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" |
| 13And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” | 13"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. |
| 14Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” | 14Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay." |
| 15Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, | 15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. |
| 16John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. | 16John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. |
| 17His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” | 17His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." |
| 18And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. | 18And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. |
| 19But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, | 19But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done, |
| 20also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison. | 20Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison. |
| 21When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. | 21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened |
| 22And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” | 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." |
| 23Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, | 23Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, |
| 24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, | 24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, |
| 25the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, | 25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, |
| 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, | 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josek, the son of Joda, |
| 27the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, | 27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, |
| 28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, | 28the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, |
| 29the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, | 29the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, |
| 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, | 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, |
| 31the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, | 31the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, |
| 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, | 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, |
| 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, | 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, |
| 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, | 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, |
| 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, | 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, |
| 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, | 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, |
| 37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, | 37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, |
| 38the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. | 38the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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