MT-3:1  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the

wilderness of

Judaea,

MT-3:2  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at

hand.

MT-3:3  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias,

saying, The

voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the

Lord, make his

paths straight.

MT-3:4  And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a

leathern

girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

MT-3:5  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all

the region

round about Jordan,

MT-3:6  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their

sins.

MT-3:7  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come

to his

baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath

warned you to flee

from the wrath to come?

MT-3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

MT-3:9  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham

to [our]

father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to

raise up

children unto Abraham.

MT-3:10  And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees:

therefore

every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and

cast into the

fire.

MT-3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he

that cometh

after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:

 he shall

baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:

MT-3:12  Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly

purge his floor,

and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the

chaff with

unquenchable fire.

MT-3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to

be baptized of

him.

MT-3:14  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized

of thee, and

comest thou to me?

MT-3:15  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so]

now: for thus

it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

MT-3:16  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway

out of the water:

and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit

of God

descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

MT-3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved

Son, in whom I

am well pleased.

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