English Standard Version ESV
The Darby Translation DBY
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
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Now in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
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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.
3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
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And he came into all the district round the Jordan, preaching [the] baptism of repentance for [the] remission of sins,
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
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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.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways,
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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,
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. ’”
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and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
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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?
8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father. ’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
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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.
9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ”
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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.
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do? ”
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And the crowds asked him saying, What should we do then?
11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise. ”
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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.
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do? ”
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And tax-gatherers came also to be baptised, and they said to him, Teacher, what should we do?
13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do. ”
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And he said to them, Take no more [money] than what is appointed to you.
14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do? ” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages. ”
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And persons engaged in military service also asked him saying, And we, what should we do? And he said to them, Oppress no one, nor accuse falsely, and be satisfied with your pay.
15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,
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But as the people were in expectation, and all were reasoning in their hearts concerning John whether *he* might be the Christ,
16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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John answered all, saying, *I* indeed baptise you with water, but the mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not fit to unloose; *he* shall baptise you with [the] Holy Spirit and fire;
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. ”
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whose winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his threshing-floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.
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Exhorting then many other things also he announced [his] glad tidings to the people.
19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done,
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But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him as to Herodias, the wife of his brother, and as to all the wicked things which Herod had done,
20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
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added this also to all [the rest], that he shut up John in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,
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And it came to pass, all the people having been baptised, and Jesus having been baptised and praying, that the heaven was opened,
22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. ”
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and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove upon him; and a voice came out of heaven, *Thou* art my beloved Son, in thee I have found my delight.
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
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And Jesus himself was beginning to be about thirty years old; being as was supposed son of Joseph; of Eli,
24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
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of Matthat, of Levi, of Melchi, of Janna, of Joseph,
25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
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of Mattathias, of Amos, of Naoum, of Esli, of Naggai,
26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
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of Maath, of Mattathias, of Semei, of Joseph, of Juda,
27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
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of Joannes, of Resa, of Zorobabel, of Salathiel, of Neri,
28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
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of Melchi, of Addi, of Cosam, of Elmodam, of Er,
29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
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of Joses, of Eliezer, of Joreim, of Matthat, of Levi,
30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
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of Simeon, of Juda, of Joseph, of Jonan, of Eliakim,
31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
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of Meleas, of Menan, of Mattatha, of Nathan, of David,
32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
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of Jesse, of Obed, of Booz, of Salmon, of Naasson,
33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
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of Aminadab, of Aram, of Esrom, of Phares, of Juda,
34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
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of Jacob, of Isaac, of Abraham, of Terah, of Nachor,
35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
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of Seruch, of Ragau, of Phalek, of Eber, of Sala,
36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
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of Cainan, of Arphaxad, of Sem, of Noe, of Lamech,
37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
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of Methusala, of Enoch, of Jared, of Maleleel, of Cainan,
38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
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of Enos, of Seth, of Adam, of God.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.