King James Version KJV
New International Version NIV
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
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The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,
2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
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as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” —
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
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“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
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And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
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The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
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John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
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And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
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I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The King James Version is in the public domain.
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.