the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Hebrew Names Version
Matthew 3
1 In those days, Yochanan the immerser came, preaching in the wilderness of Yehudah, saying, 2 "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" 3 For this is he who was spoken of by Yesha`yahu the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight." 4 Now Yochanan himself had clothing made of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Yerushalayim, all of Yehudah, and all the region around the Yarden went out to him. 6 They were immersed by him in the Yarden, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Perushim and Tzedukim coming for his immersion, he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance! 9 Don't think to yourselves, 'We have Avraham for our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Avraham from these stones. 10 "Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed immerse you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He shall immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."
13 Then Yeshua came from the Galil to the Yarden to Yochanan, to be immersed by him. 14 But Yochanan would have hindered him, saying, "I need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?" 15 But Yeshua, answering, said to him, "Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him. 16 Yeshua, when he was immersed, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."