| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, | 1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea |
| 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. | 2and saying, "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!" |
| 3For 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. | 3For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight! |
| 4And 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. | 4John himself had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. |
| 5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, | 5Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were flocking to him, |
| 6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. | 6and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. |
| 7But 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? | 7When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to the place of his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? |
| 8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: | 8Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. |
| 9And 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. | 9And don't presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! |
| 10And 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. | 10Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees! Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." |
| 11I 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: | 11I baptize you with water for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove His sandals. He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. |
| 12Whose 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. | 12His winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn. But the chaff He will burn up with fire that never goes out." |
| 13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. | 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. |
| 14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? | 14But John tried to stop Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?" |
| 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. | 15Jesus answered him, "Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him to be baptized. |
| 16And 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: | 16After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. |
| 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. | 17And there came a voice from heaven: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! |
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