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InthosedayscameJohn the Baptist,preachingin the wilderness of Judaea,
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Andsaying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
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Forthis is he that was spoken of by the prophetEsaias,saying, The voice of one cryingin the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,makehispathsstraight.
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And the sameJohnhadhisraimentofcamel'shair,and a leatherngirdleabouthisloins;andhismeatwaslocustsandwildhoney.
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Then went outtohimJerusalem,andallJudaea,andall the region round aboutJordan,
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And were baptizedofhiminJordan,confessingtheirsins.
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But when he sawmany of the PhariseesandSadduceescometohisbaptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers,who hath warnedyou to fleefrom the wrath to come?
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Bring forththereforefruitsmeet[a] for repentance:
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Andthinknot to saywithinyourselves, We haveAbraham to our father:for I say unto you,thatGod is ableofthesestones to raise upchildren unto Abraham.