New International Version NIV
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 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
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"Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!"
3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”
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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 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. 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 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
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People from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, and all around the Jordan River came to him.
6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
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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 where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
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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 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
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Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives.
9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can 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 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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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 after me comes one who is more powerful 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, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff 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 be baptized by John.
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At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River so that John would baptize him.
14 But John tried to deter 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 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John 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 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting 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 a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him 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."
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible