English Standard Version ESV
Common English Bible CEB
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
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In those days John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea announcing,
2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ”
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"Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!"
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. ’”
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He was the one of whom Isaiah the prophet spoke when he said: The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, "Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight."
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
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John wore clothes made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,
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People from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, and all around the Jordan River came to him.
6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
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As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
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Many Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized by John. He said to them, "You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon?
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
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Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives.
9 And do not presume 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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And don't even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham's children from these stones.
10 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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The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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I baptize with water those of you who have changed your hearts and lives. The one who is coming after me is stronger than I am. I'm not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. ”
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The shovel he uses to sift the wheat from the husks is in his hands. He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can't be put out."
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
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At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River so that John would baptize him.
14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? ”
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John tried to stop him and said, "I need to be baptized by you, yet you come to me?"
15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. ”Then he consented.
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Jesus answered, "Allow me to be baptized now. This is necessary to fulfill all righteousness." So John agreed to baptize Jesus.
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
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When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him.
17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. ”
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A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him."
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible