7
So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, "1You brood of vipers, whowarned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8
"Thereforebearfruits in keeping with repentance, and 2do not begin to say to yourselves, '3We haveAbraham for our father,' for I say to you that from thesestonesGod is able to raise up children to Abraham.
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"Indeed the axe is alreadylaid at the root of the trees; so4everytree that does not beargoodfruit is cutdown and thrown into the fire."
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And the crowds were questioning him, saying, "5Thenwhat shall we do?"
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And he would answer and say to them, "The man who hastwotunics is to 6share with him who hasnone; and he who hasfood is to dolikewise."
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And some 7taxcollectorsalsocame to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
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And he said to them, "Collectnomorethan what you have been ordered to."
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Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not takemoney from anyone by force, or8accuse anyone falsely, and 9be content with your wages."
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Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their heartsaboutJohn, 10as to whether he was the Christ,
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11Johnanswered and said to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the HolySpirit and fire.
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"His 12winnowingfork is in His hand to thoroughlyclear His threshingfloor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with 13unquenchablefire."