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in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, [the] word of God came upon John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
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And he came into all the district round the Jordan, preaching [the] baptism of repentance for [the] remission of sins,
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as it is written in [the] book of [the] words of Esaias the prophet: Voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of [the] Lord, make straight his paths.
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Every gorge shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked [places] shall become a straight [path], and the rough places smooth ways,
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and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
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He said therefore to the crowds which went out to be baptised by him, Offspring of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath?
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Produce therefore fruits worthy of repentance; and begin not to say in yourselves, We have Abraham for [our] father, for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
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And already also the axe is applied to the root of the trees; every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into [the] fire.
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And the crowds asked him saying, What should we do then?
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And he answering says to them, He that has two body-coats, let him give to him that has none; and he that has food, let him do likewise.
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And tax-gatherers came also to be baptised, and they said to him, Teacher, what should we do?