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¹ IN those days came John the Baptist; and he was preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,² Saying, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is near.³ For it was he of whom it was said by the prophet Isaiah, The voice which cries in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, and straighten his highways.⁴ Now the same John''s clothes were made of camel''s hair, and he had leathern belts around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.⁵ Then there went out to him, Jerusalem and all of Judaea, and the whole country around Jordan.⁶ And they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, as they confessed their sins.

⁷ But when he saw a great many of the Pharisees and Sadducees who were coming to be baptized, he said to them, O offspring of scorpions, who has warned you to escape from the anger which is to come?⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits which are worthy of repentance;⁹ And do not think and say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father; for I say to you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones.¹⁰ Behold, the axe is already placed at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree which bears not good fruits shall be cut down and dropped in the fire.¹¹ I am just baptizing you with water for repentance; but he who is coming after me is greater than I, the one even whose shoes I am not worthy to remove; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.¹² Whose shovel is in his hand, and he purifies his threshings; the wheat he gathers into his barns, and the straw he burns up in the unquenchable fire.

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.¹⁴ But John tried to stop him, and said, I need to be baptized by you, and yet have you come to me?¹⁵ But Jesus answered and said to him, Permit now, for this is necessary for us so that all righteousness may be fulfilled; and then he permitted him.¹⁶ When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came out of the water; and the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and coming upon him;¹⁷ And behold, a voice from heaven, which said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am pleased.