Luke 3:3-9

English Standard Version

³And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming ^(A)a baptism of repentance ^(B)for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴As it is written in ^(C)the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

^(D)“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
^(E)‘Prepare the way of the Lord,^[a]
    make his paths straight.
⁵^(F)Every valley shall be filled,
    ^(G)and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
^(H)and the crooked shall become straight,
    and the rough places shall become level ways,
⁶^(I)and all flesh shall see ^(J)the salvation of God.’”

⁷He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ^(K)“You brood of ^(L)vipers! Who warned you to flee from ^(M)the wrath to come? ⁸Bear fruits ^(N)in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ^(O)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from ^(P)these stones to raise up children for Abraham. ⁹Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. ^(Q)Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”