³ The voice of one ^[a]that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of Jehovah; make level in the desert a highway for our God. ⁴ Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain: ⁵ and the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.

⁷ He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of ^[a]repentance, and begin 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. ⁹ And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ¹⁰ And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do? ¹¹ And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise. ¹² And there came also ^[b]publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do? ¹³ And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. ¹⁴ And ^[c]soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages.

¹⁵ And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; ¹⁶ John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not ^[d]worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you ^[e]in the Holy Spirit and in fire: ¹⁷ whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.

¹⁸ With many other exhortations therefore preached he ^[f]good tidings unto the people;