1And in those days Yoḥanan the Immerser came proclaiming in the wilderness of Yehuḏah,

2and saying, “Repent, for the reign of the heavens has come near!”

3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Yeshayahu, saying, “A voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of יהוה, make His paths straight.’ ”a

4And Yoḥanan had a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle around his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey.

5Then Yerushalayim, and all Yehuḏah, and all the country around the Yardĕn went out to him,

6and they were immersed by him in the Yardĕn, confessing their sins.

7And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them, “Brood of adders! Who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

8“Bear, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance,

9and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Aḇraham as father.’a For I say to you that Elohim is able to raise up children to Aḇraham from these stones.

10“And the axe is already laid to the root of the trees. Every tree, then, which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11“I indeed immerse you in water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to bear. He shall immerse you in the Set-apart Spirit and fire.

12“His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He shall thoroughly cleanse His threshing-floor, and gather His wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff He shall burn with unquenchable fire.”

13Then יהושע came from Galil to Yoḥanan at the Yardĕn to be immersed by him.

14But Yoḥanan was hindering Him, saying, “I need to be immersed by You, and You come to me?”

15But יהושע answering, said to him, “Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

16And having been immersed, יהושע went up immediately from the water, and see, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of Elohim descending like a dove and coming upon Him,

17and see, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I did delight.”