3 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, ² Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ³ For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

⁴ Now John himself had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan; ⁶ and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming ^[b]to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of ^[c]repentance: ⁹ and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. ¹⁰ And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ¹¹ I indeed baptize you ^[d]in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not ^[e]worthy to bear: he shall baptize you ^[f]in the Holy Spirit and in fire: ¹² whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.