New International Version NIV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—
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In the fifteenth year of Emperor Tiberius' rule; when Pontius Pilate was governor of Y'hudah, Herod ruler of the Galil, his brother Philip ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,
2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
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with `Anan and Kayafa being the cohanim g'dolim; the word of God came to Yochanan Ben-Z'kharyah in the desert.
3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
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He went all through the Yarden region proclaiming an immersion involving turning to God from sin in order to be forgiven.
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
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It was just as had been written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Yesha`yahu, "The voice of someone crying out: `In the desert prepare the way for ADONAI! Make straight paths for him!
5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
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Every valley must be filled in, every mountain and hill leveled off; the winding roads must be straightened and the rough ways made smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’ ”
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Then all humanity will see God's deliverance.'"
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
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Therefore, Yochanan said to the crowds who came out to be immersed by him, "You snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming punishment?
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
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If you have really turned from your sins, produce fruit that will prove it! And don't start saying to yourselves, `Avraham is our father'! For I tell you that God can raise up for Avraham sons from these stones!
9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
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Already the axe is at the root of the trees, ready to strike; every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown in the fire!"
10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
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The crowds asked Yochanan, "So then, what should we do?"
11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
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He answered, "Whoever has two coats should share with somebody who has none, and whoever has food should do the same."
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
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Tax-collectors also came to be immersed; and they asked him, "Rabbi, what should we do?"
13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
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"Collect no more than the government assesses," he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
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Some soldiers asked him, "What about us? What should we do?" To them he said, "Don't intimidate anyone, don't accuse people falsely, and be satisfied with your pay."
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.
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The people were in a state of great expectancy, and everyone was wondering whether perhaps Yochanan himself might be the Messiah;
16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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so Yochanan answered them all, "I am immersing you in water, but he who is coming is more powerful than I -- I'm not worthy to untie his sandals! He will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh and in fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
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He has with him his winnowing fork to clear out his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the straw with unquenchable fire!"
18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.
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And with many other warnings besides these he announced the Good News to the people.
19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done,
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But Yochanan also denounced Herod the regional governor for taking as his own wife Herodias, the wife of his brother, and for all the other wicked things Herod had done;
20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
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whereupon Herod added this to the rest: he locked up Yochanan in prison.
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
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While all the people were being immersed, Yeshua too was immersed. As he was praying, 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 Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
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the Ruach HaKodesh came down on him in physical form like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, whom I love; I am well pleased with you."
23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
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Yeshua was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. It was supposed that he was a son of Yosef who was of Eli,
24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
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of Mattat, of Levi, of Malki, of Yannai, of Yosef,
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 Mattityahu, of Amotz, of Nachum, of Hesli, of Naggai,
26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josek, the son of Joda,
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of Machat, of Mattityahu, of Shim`i, of Yosef, of Yodah,
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 Yochanan, of Reisha, of Z'rubavel, of Sh'altiel, of Neri,
28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
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of Malki, of Addi, of Kosam, of Elmadan, 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 Yeshua, of Eli`ezer, of Yoram, of Mattat, 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 Shim`on, of Y'hudah, of Yosef, of Yonam, of Elyakim,
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 Mal'ah, of Manah, of Mattatah, of Natan, of David,
32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
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of Yishai, of `Oved, of Bo`az, of Salmon, of Nachshon,
33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram,the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
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of Amminadav, of Admin, of Arni, of Hetzron, of Peretz, of Y'hudah,
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 Ya`akov, of Yitz'chak, of Avraham, of Terach, 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 S'rug, of Re`u, of Peleg, of `Ever, of Shelah,
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 Keinan, of Arpakhshad, of Shem, of Noach, of Lemekh,
37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,
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of Metushelach, of Hanokh, of Yered, of Mahalal'el, of Keinan,
38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
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of Enosh, of Shet, of Adam, of God.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.