New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was,
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In those days John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea announcing,
2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. ”
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"Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!"
3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD ’s coming! Clear the road 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 woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate 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 from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.
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People from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, and all around the Jordan River came to him.
6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them 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 Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s 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 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.
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Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives.
9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.
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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 ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped 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 with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with 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 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending 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 went from Galilee to the Jordan River 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 talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming 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 said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. ” So John agreed to baptize him.
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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 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling 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 dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
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A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him."
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible