3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

² and saying, “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

³ For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’”

⁴ And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

⁵ Then there went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about the Jordan.

⁶ And they were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance,

¹⁷ His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable.”