²⁰ He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”^(A)

⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.^{(A) 8} I baptize you with^[a] water, but he will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit.”^(B)

²⁸ You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’^{(A) 29} The bride belongs to the bridegroom.^(B) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.^{(C) 30} He must become greater; I must become less.”^[a]

³¹ The one who comes from above^(D) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.^(E) The one who comes from heaven is above all. ³² He testifies to what he has seen and heard,^(F) but no one accepts his testimony.^{(G) 33} Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. ³⁴ For the one whom God has sent^(H) speaks the words of God, for God^[b] gives the Spirit^(I) without limit. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.^{(J) 36} Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,^(K) but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

¹⁵ The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John^(A) might possibly be the Messiah.^{(B) 16} John answered them all, “I baptize you with^[a] water.^(C) But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.^{(D) 17} His winnowing fork^(E) is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”^(F)

¹¹ “I baptize you with^[a] water for repentance.^(A) But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit^(B) and fire.^{(C) 12} His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”^(D)