Matthew 3

Modern

Literal

The Mission of John the Baptist

¹In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

¹Now in those days John the Baptist comes, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

²and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

²and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”

³This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for Him.’”^a

³For this is the one having been spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “A voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight His paths.’”

⁴John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

⁴And John himself had his clothing of camel’s hair and a belt of leather around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

⁵People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.

⁵At that time they were going out to him—Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan.

⁶Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

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

⁷But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

⁷But having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

⁸Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.

⁸Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance.

⁹And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

⁹And do not think to say in yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as father.’ For I say to you that out of these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.

¹⁰The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹⁰And already the ax is laid to the root of the trees; therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and is thrown into fire.

¹¹I baptize you with water^a for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.^b

¹¹I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance, but the One coming after me is mightier than I, of whom I am not sufficient to carry the sandals. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire,

¹²His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

¹²whose winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing floor and will gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

¹³At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

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

¹⁴But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

¹⁴But John was preventing Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and You come to me?”

¹⁵“Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.

¹⁵But answering, Jesus said to him, “Permit it presently; for thus it is fitting to us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permits Him.

¹⁶As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened,^a and He saw^b the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.

¹⁶And having been baptized, Jesus immediately went up from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon Him.

¹⁷And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”

¹⁷And behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I was well pleased.”