⁷ John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!^(A) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{(B) 8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’^(C) For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”^(D)

¹⁰ “What should we do then?”^(E) the crowd asked.

¹¹ John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”^(F)

¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized.^(G) “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

¹³ “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,”^(H) he told them.

¹⁴ Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely^(I)—be content with your pay.”

¹⁵ The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John^(J) might possibly be the Messiah.^{(K) 16} John answered them all, “I baptize you with^[a] water.^(L) 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.^{(M) 17} His winnowing fork^(N) 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.”^{(O) 18} And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.