Matthew 3

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 In due course John the Baptist appeared; he proclaimed this message in the desert of Judaea,	1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 'Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.'	2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
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.'	3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
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.	4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem and al Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him,	5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.	6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
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?	7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance,	8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
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.	9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
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.	10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the 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.	11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with 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.'	12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
13 Then Jesus appeared: he came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.	13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 John tried to dissuade him, with the words, 'It is I who need baptism from you, and yet you come tome!'	14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
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.	15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered 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.	16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And suddenly there was a voice from heaven, 'This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.'	17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.