English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

The Preaching of John the Baptist

Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

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“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”a

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“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

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For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepareb the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”

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For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said,
“THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’”

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Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

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Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

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Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,

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Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;

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and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

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and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

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But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his 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 many of the 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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Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

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“Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;

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And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

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and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.

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Even now the axe is laid to 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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“The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

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“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

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“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

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His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

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“His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

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The Baptism of Jesus

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

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The Baptism of Jesus

Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.

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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 tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

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But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

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But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

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And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,c and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;

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After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,

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and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,d with whom I am well pleased.”

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and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

Parallel

English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible

Matthew 3

Matthew 3