John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 In those days, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ² “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near!” ³ Yes, this is he of whom this was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

⁴ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him. ⁶ They were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. ⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Therefore produce fruit in keeping with repentance! ⁹ Do not think of saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰ Already the ax is ready to strike^[b] the root of the trees. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹ I baptize you with water for repentance. But the one who comes after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”