⁷ So he was saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “^(A)You ^[a]offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Therefore produce fruits that are consistent with repentance, and ^(B)do not start saying ^[b]to yourselves, ‘^(C)We have Abraham as our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ But indeed the axe is already being laid at the root of the trees; so ^(D)every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”