| New King James Version | International Standard Version |
| 1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, | 1About this time, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Judean wilderness, |
| 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” | 2"Repent, because the kingdom from heaven is near!" |
| 3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ ” | 3He was the one the prophet Isaiah was referring to when he said, "He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!'" |
| 4Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. | 4John had clothing made of camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of grasshoppers and wild honey. |
| 5Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him | 5Then the people of Jerusalem, all Judea, and the entire region along the Jordan began flocking to him, |
| 6and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. | 6being baptized by him in the Jordan River while they confessed their sins. |
| 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? | 7But when John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he told them, "You children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? |
| 8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, | 8Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance! |
| 9and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. | 9Don't think you can say to yourselves, 'We have father Abraham!' because I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones! |
| 10And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. | 10The ax already lies against the roots of the trees. So every tree that isn't producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. |
| 11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. | 11I am baptizing you with water as evidence of repentance, but the one who is coming after me is stronger than I am, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. It is he who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. |
| 12His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” | 12His winnowing fork is in his hand. He will clean up his threshing floor and gather his grain into the barn, but he will burn the chaff with inextinguishable fire." |
| 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. | 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. |
| 14And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” | 14But John tried to stop him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?" |
| 15But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. | 15But Jesus answered him, "Let it be this way for now, because this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness." At this, he permitted him to be baptized. |
| 16When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. | 16When Jesus had been baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Suddenly, the heavens opened up for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. |
| 17And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” | 17Then a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him!" |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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