John The Baptist Begins His Ministry
1 In those days, John the Immerser went into the desert of Judea preaching [to Jews], saying,
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
1 Now (A)in those days (B)John the Baptist *(a)came, (b)preaching in the (C)wilderness of Judea, saying,
1 About this time, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Judean wilderness,
3 For this is the man who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, who said, [Isa. 40:3], "[It is] the voice of a man who speaks out in the desert, [urging people to] make the road for the Lord ready [for Him to travel]; to make a straight pathway for Him [to walk on]."
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.
3 For this is the (F)one referred to (d)by Isaiah the prophet when he said,“(G)The voice of one (e)crying in the wilderness,‘(H)Make ready the way of the Lord,Make His paths straight!’”
3 For 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!(D)(a)
3 He 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!'"
4 Now John dressed in clothing made of camel's hair and he wore a leather belt around his waist; he ate grasshoppers and wild honey [i.e., for his regular diet].
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.
4 Now John himself had (f)(I)a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was (J)locusts and wild honey.
4 John himself had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
4 John had clothing made of camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of grasshoppers and wild honey.
5 [People from] Jerusalem and all over Judea and the region around the Jordan River all went out [to the desert] to [hear] him,
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
5 Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were flocking to him,
5 Then the people of Jerusalem, all Judea, and the entire region along the Jordan began flocking to him,
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be immersed, John said to them, "You children of snakes, who warned you to run away from the coming wrath [of God]?
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?
7 But when he saw many of the (N)Pharisees and (O)Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You (P)brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from (Q)the wrath to come?
7 When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees(F) coming to the place of his baptism,(b) he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(G)
7 But 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?
9 and quit thinking to yourselves, we claim Abraham as our forefather, because I tell you, God is able to make Abraham's children out of 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.
9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘(T)We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
9 And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’(I) For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!
9 Don'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!
10 And even now the axe is ready to chop down the trees [i.e., you Jewish people]. Every tree [i.e., person] that does not produce wholesome fruit [i.e., godly, repentant lives] will be cut down and thrown into the fire [i.e., the final punishment of the wicked].
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.
10 The (U)axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore (V)every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
10 Even 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.(J)
10 The 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.
11 and 12].
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:
11 “As for me, (W)I baptize you (g)with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; (X)He will baptize you (h)with the Holy Spirit and fire.
11 “I baptize you with(d) water for repentance,(e)(K) but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove(f) His sandals. He Himself will baptize you with(g) the Holy Spirit and fire.(L)
11 I 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.
12 "I certainly am immersing you in water following [your] repentance, but the One who follows my [ministry], whose sandals I do not deserve to remove [as His slave], will immerse you people with the Holy Spirit and with fire [i.e., the punishment in hell. See verses
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.
12 His (Y)winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will (Z)gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the (AA)chaff with (AB)unquenchable fire.”
12 His winnowing shovel(h) 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.”(M)
12 His 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."
13 His winnowing shovel [Note: This was a process whereby grain was tossed into the air so that the wind could blow the husks away, leaving only good grain on the ground] is in His hand and He will completely clear off His threshing floor [by removing all of the husks]. And He will gather His wheat into the barn, but will burn up the husks with a fire that will never go out."
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
The Baptism Of Jesus
14 Jesus then came from [the province of] Galilee to be immersed by John in the Jordan River.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
14 But John tried to stop Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?”
14 But John tried to stop him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?"
15 But John tried to discourage Him [from being immersed], saying, "I should be immersed by you, and you are coming to me [for immersion]?"
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.
15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us (AE)to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *permitted Him.
15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him to be baptized.
15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be this way for now, because this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness."
16 But Jesus answered him, "Allow it [to be done], for it is proper for us to complete everything that is right [before God]." So, John agreed to it.
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:
16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and (i)(AF)he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and (j)lighting on Him,
16 After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens(O) suddenly opened for Him,(i) and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him.(P)
16 At this, he permitted him to be baptized. When 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.
17 After Jesus was immersed [by John], He came up out of the water and heaven was opened up before Him and He saw the Holy Spirit from God descending, as a dove, and landing upon Him.
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “(AG)This is (k)My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
17 Then a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him!"