³⁰ “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent!^(A) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.^(B)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)

3 In those days John the Baptist^(B) came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven^(C) has come near.”

¹⁵ “The time has come,”^(A) he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe^(B) the good news!”^(C)

¹² They went out and preached that people should repent.^(A)

⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent,^(A) you too will all perish.”