Matthew 3

Revised Geneva Translation

3 And in those days, John the Baptist came and preached in the wilderness of Judea,

² and said, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

³ For this is he of whom it is spoken by the Prophet Isaiah, saying, “The voice of him who cries in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord! Make His paths straight!’”

⁴ And this John had his garment of camel’s hair, and a girdle of a skin around his loins. Also, his food was locusts and wild honey.

⁵ Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around Jordan went out to him.

⁶ And they were baptized by him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ Now, when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, “O, generation of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the anger to come?

⁸ “Bring forth, therefore, fruit worthy of repentance!

⁹ “And do not think to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham even from these stones!

¹⁰ “And now, also, the axe is put to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bring forth good fruit, is cut down, and cast into the fire.

¹¹ “Indeed, I baptize you with water to repentance! But He Who comes after me is mightier than me! I am not worthy to bear His shoes! He Who has His winnowing fork in His hand will baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire,

¹² “and will make His floor clean and gather His wheat into His garner; but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.

¹⁴ But John earnestly hindered Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You! And You come to me?”

¹⁵ Then Jesus, answering, said to him, “Let it be for now. For it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.” So, he permitted Him.

¹⁶ And Jesus, when He was baptized, came straight out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened to Him. And the Spirit of God was seen, descending like a Dove, and lighting upon Him.

¹⁷ And lo, a voice came from Heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased.”