Matthew 3
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[a] 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved,[d] with whom I am well pleased.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 3:2 Or is at hand
- Matthew 3:11 Or in
- Matthew 3:11 Or in
- Matthew 3:17 Or my beloved Son
Matthew 3
Easy-to-Read Version
John Prepares the Way for Jesus(A)
3 When it was the right time, John the Baptizer began telling people a message from God. This was out in the desert area of Judea. 2 John said, “Change your hearts and lives, because God’s kingdom is now very near.[a]” 3 John is the one Isaiah the prophet was talking about when he said,
“There is someone shouting in the desert:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
Make the road straight for him.’” (B)
4 John’s clothes were made from camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey. 5 People came to John from Jerusalem and the rest of Judea and from all the areas along the Jordan River. 6 They confessed the bad things they had done, and John baptized them in the Jordan.
7 Many Pharisees and Sadducees came to where John was baptizing people. When John saw them, he said, “You are all snakes! Who warned you to run from God’s judgment that is coming? 8 Change your hearts! And show by the way you live that you have changed. 9 I know what you are thinking. You want to say, ‘but Abraham is our father!’ That means nothing. I tell you, God could make children for Abraham from these rocks. 10 The ax is now ready to cut down the trees.[b] Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water to show that you have changed your hearts and lives. But there is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can. I am not good enough to be the slave who takes off his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 He will come ready to clean the grain.[c] He will separate the good grain from the straw, and he will put the good part into his barn. Then he will burn the useless part with a fire that cannot be stopped.”
Jesus Is Baptized by John(C)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River. He came to John, wanting John to baptize him. 14 But John tried to stop him. John said, “Why do you come to me to be baptized? I should be baptized by you!”
15 Jesus answered, “Let it be this way for now. We should do whatever God says is right.” Then John agreed.
16 So Jesus was baptized. As soon as he came up out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw God’s Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 17 A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with him.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 3:2 is now very near Or “is coming soon” or “has come.”
- Matthew 3:10 trees The people who don’t obey God. They are like “trees” that will be cut down.
- Matthew 3:12 clean the grain Meaning that Jesus will separate the good people from those who are bad.
馬太福音 3
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
開路先鋒
3 那時，施洗者約翰來到猶太的曠野傳道，說： 2 「悔改吧，因為天國臨近了！」 3 約翰就是以賽亞先知所說的那位，他說：「有人在曠野大聲呼喊，『預備主的道，修直祂的路。』」
4 約翰身穿駱駝毛的衣服，腰束皮帶，吃的是蝗蟲、野蜜。 5 那時，耶路撒冷、猶太各地和約旦河一帶的人都來到約翰那裡， 6 承認他們的罪，在約旦河裡接受他的洗禮。
7 約翰看見很多法利賽人和撒都該人也來受洗，就對他們說：「你們這些毒蛇的後代！誰指示你們逃避那將臨的烈怒呢？ 8 你們要結出與悔改相稱的果子。 9 不要心裡說，『我們是亞伯拉罕的子孫。』我告訴你們，上帝可以從這些石頭中興起亞伯拉罕的子孫。 10 現在斧頭已經放在樹根上了，不結好果子的樹都要被砍下，丟在火裡。 11 我用水為你們施洗，叫你們悔改。但在我之後，有位比我更有能力的要來，我連替祂提鞋都不配。祂要用聖靈和火為你們施洗。 12 祂手拿簸箕，要把穀場清理乾淨，將麥子存入倉裡，用不滅的火把糠秕燒盡。」
耶穌受洗
13 後來，耶穌從加利利來到約旦河要約翰為祂施洗。 14 約翰想要攔住祂，就說：「應該是你為我施洗才對，你反倒來找我？」
15 耶穌回答說：「你就這樣做吧！我們理當這樣遵行上帝一切的要求。」於是約翰答應了。
16 耶穌受了洗，剛從水裡上來，天就開了。祂看見上帝的聖靈像鴿子一樣降到祂身上， 17 又有聲音從天上傳來：「這是我的愛子，我甚喜悅祂。」
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Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International