Matthew 3

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea.	1 In due course John the Baptist appeared; he proclaimed this message in the desert of Judaea,
2 And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.	2 'Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.'
3 For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.	3 This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said: A voice of one that cries in the desert,'Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.'
4 And the same John had his garment of camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.	4 This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather loin-cloth round his waist, and hisfood was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan:	5 Then Jerusalem and al Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him,
6 And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.	6 and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.
7 And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come?	7 But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, 'Brood ofvipers, who warned you to flee from the coming retribution?
8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance.	8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance,
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.	9 and do not presume to tell yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father," because, I tel you, God canraise children for Abraham from these stones.
10 For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.	10 Even now the axe is being laid to the root of the trees, so that any tree failing to produce good fruit wilbe cut down and thrown on the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you in the water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire.	11 I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is more powerful than I, and Iam not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.	12 His winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into his barn;but the chaff he will burn in a fire that wil never go out.'
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him.	13 Then Jesus appeared: he came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.
14 But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?	14 John tried to dissuade him, with the words, 'It is I who need baptism from you, and yet you come tome!'
15 And Jesus answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfill all justice. Then he suffered him.	15 But Jesus replied, 'Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do al thatuprightness demands.' Then John gave in to him.
16 And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him.	16 And when Jesus had been baptised he at once came up from the water, and suddenly the heavensopened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.
17 And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.	17 And suddenly there was a voice from heaven, 'This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.'