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 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 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,
5 At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;
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 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 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 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.
11 “As for me, I baptize you (h)with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with (i)fire (judgment).(D)
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."
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?"
14 But John tried to prevent Him [vigorously protesting], saying, “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
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 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.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.
International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.
King James Version Public Domain
New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org