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¹ Now in those days comes John the baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

² and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.

³ For this is he who has been spoken of through Esaias the prophet, saying, Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of [the] Lord, make straight his paths.

⁴ And John himself had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and wild honey.

⁵ Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the country round the Jordan,

⁶ and were baptised by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath?

⁸ Produce therefore fruit worthy of repentance.

⁹ And do not think to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for [our] father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

¹⁰ And already the axe is applied to the root of the trees; every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

¹¹ *I* indeed baptise you with water to repentance, but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not fit to bear; *he* shall baptise you with [the] Holy Spirit and fire;

¹² whose winnowing fan [is] in his hand, and he shall thoroughly purge his threshing-floor, and shall gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

¹³ Then comes Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised of him;

¹⁴ but John urgently forbad him, saying, *I* have need to be baptised of thee; and comest *thou* to me?

¹⁵ But Jesus answering said to him, Suffer [it] now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffers him.

¹⁶ And Jesus, having been baptised, went up straightway from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him:

¹⁷ and behold, a voice out of the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight.