1InthosedayscameJohn the Baptist, preachingin the wilderness of Judaea,
2Andsaying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3Forthis is he that was spoken of by the prophetEsaias, saying, The voice of one cryingin the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, makehispathsstraight.
4And the sameJohnhadhisraimentof camel's hair, and a leatherngirdleabouthisloins; andhismeatwaslocustsandwildhoney.
5Then went outtohimJerusalem, andallJudaea, andall the region round aboutJordan,
6And were baptizedofhiminJordan, confessingtheirsins.
7But when he sawmany of the PhariseesandSadduceescometohisbaptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warnedyoutofleefrom the wrathtocome?
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Bring forththereforefruitsmeet for repentance:
9Andthinknot to saywithinyourselves, We haveAbraham to our father: for I say unto you, thatGod is ableofthesestones to raise upchildren unto Abraham.
10Andnowalso the axe is laidunto the root of the trees: thereforeeverytree which bringethnotforthgoodfruit is hewn down, andcastinto the fire.
11Iindeedbaptizeyouwithwateruntorepentance: buthe that comethaftermeis mightier thanI, whoseshoesIamnotworthy to bear: he shall baptizeyouwith the HolyGhost, andwithfire:
12Whosefan is inhishand, and he will throughly purgehisfloor, andgatherhiswheatinto the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchablefire.
13ThencomethJesusfromGalileetoJordanuntoJohn, to be baptizedofhim.
14ButJohnforbad him, saying, Ihaveneedto be baptizedofthee, andcomestthoutome?
15AndJesusansweringsaiduntohim, Suffer it to be so now: forthus it becomethus to fulfilallrighteousness. Then he sufferedhim.
16AndJesus, when he was baptized, went upstraightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the SpiritofGoddescendinglike a dove, andlightinguponhim:
17Andlo a voicefromheaven, saying, ThisismybelovedSon, inwhom I am well pleased.