| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, | 1In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, |
| 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” | 2“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. ” |
| 3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” | 3The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” |
| 4Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. | 4John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. |
| 5Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, | 5People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. |
| 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. | 6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. |
| 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? | 7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? |
| 8Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. | 8Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. |
| 9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. | 9Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. |
| 10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. | 10Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. |
| 11“I baptize you with water for 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 with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. |
| 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” | 12He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” The Baptism of Jesus |
| 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. | 13Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. |
| 14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” | 14But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” |
| 15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. | 15But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. ” So John agreed to baptize him. |
| 16And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; | 16After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. |
| 17and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” | 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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