New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,
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And in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the waste land of Judaea,
2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
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Saying, Let your hearts be turned from sin; for the kingdom of heaven is near.
3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' "
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For this is he of whom Isaiah the prophet said, The voice of one crying in the waste land, Make ready the way of the Lord, make his roads straight.
4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
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Now John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather band about him; and his food was locusts and honey.
5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan,
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Then Jerusalem and all Judaea went out to him, and all the people from near Jordan;
6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
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And they were given baptism by him in the river Jordan, saying openly that they had done wrong.
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
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But when he saw a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in flight from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance.
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Let your change of heart be seen in your works:
9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
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And say not to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; because I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children for Abraham.
10 Even now the ax is lying at 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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And even now the axe is put to the root of the trees; every tree then which does not give good fruit is cut down, and put into the fire.
11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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Truly, I give baptism with water to those of you whose hearts are changed; but he who comes after me is greater than I, whose shoes I am not good enough to take up: he will give you baptism with the Holy Spirit and with fire:
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
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In whose hand is the instrument with which he will make clean his grain; he will put the good grain in his store, but the waste will be burned up in the fire which will never be put out.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.
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Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be given baptism by 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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But John would have kept him back, saying, It is I who have need of baptism from you, and do you come to me?
15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.
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But Jesus made answer, saying to him, Let it be so now: because so it is right for us to make righteousness complete. Then he gave him baptism.
16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
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And Jesus, having been given baptism, straight away went up from the water; and, the heavens opening, he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him as a dove;
17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
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And a voice came out of heaven, saying, This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.