¹⁵ Since the people were ·hoping [waiting expectantly] for the ·Christ [Messiah] to come, they [^Lall] wondered if John might be the ·one [^LChrist; Messiah].

¹⁶ John answered everyone, “I baptize you with water, but there is one coming who is ·greater [more powerful; mightier] than I am. I am not ·good enough [fit; qualified] to untie [^Lthe thong/strap of] his sandals [^Ca task of a servant or slave]. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ ·He will come ready [^LThe winnowing fork is in his hand] to ·clean the grain, separating the good grain from the chaff [^Lclear his threshing floor]. He will put ·the good part of the grain [^Lthe grain/wheat] into his ·barn [storehouse], but he will burn the chaff with ·a fire that cannot be put out [never-ending/unquenchable fire; ^Ca metaphor for judgment, when Jesus will separate the righteous from the wicked].”