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And he came into all1the districtaround the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;
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as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "2THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKEREADY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHSSTRAIGHT.
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'3EVERYRAVINE WILL BE FILLED, AND EVERYMOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHTLOW; THE CROOKED WILL BECOME*STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGHROADSSMOOTH;
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4AND ALLFLESH WILL 5SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.' "
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So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, "6You brood of vipers, whowarned you to flee from the wrath to come?
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"Thereforebearfruits in keeping with repentance, and 7do not begin to say to yourselves, '8We 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; so9everytree that does not beargoodfruit is cutdown and thrown into the fire."
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And the crowds were questioning him, saying, "10Thenwhat shall we do?"