7
He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be immersed by him, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and don't begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Avraham for our father;' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Avraham from these stones!
9
Even now the ax also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire."
10
The multitudes asked him, "What then must we do?"
11
He answered them, "He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise."
12
Tax collectors also came to be immersed, and they said to him, "Teacher, what must we do?"
13
He said to them, "Collect no more than that which is appointed to you."
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Soldiers also asked him, saying, "What about us? What must we do?" He said to them, "Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages."
15
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning Yochanan, whether perhaps he was the Messiah,
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Yochanan answered them all, "I indeed immerse you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh and fire,
17
whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."