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[1]Andin those days cometh John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,
[2]andsaying, `Reform, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens,'
[3]forthis is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, `A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye His paths.'
[4]Andthis John had his clothing of camel's hair, and a girdle of skin round his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and honey of the field.
[5]Thenwere going forth unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about the Jordan,
[6]andthey were baptized in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.
[7]Andhaving seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming about his baptism, he said to them, `Brood of vipers! who did shew you to flee from the coming wrath?
[8]bear,therefore, fruits worthy of the reformation,
[9]anddo not think to say in yourselves, A father we have -- Abraham, for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise children to Abraham,
[10]andnow also, the axe unto the root of the trees is laid, every tree therefore not bearing good fruit is hewn down, and to fire is cast.
[11]`Iindeed do baptize you with water to reformation, but he who after me is coming is mightier than I, of whom I am not worthy to bear the sandals, he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire,
[12]whosefan [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will gather his wheat to the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.'
[13]Thencometh Jesus from Galilee upon the Jordan, unto John to be baptized by him,
[14]butJohn was forbidding him, saying, `I have need by thee to be baptized -- and thou dost come unto me!'
[15]ButJesus answering said to him, `Suffer now, for thus it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness,' then he doth suffer him.
[16]Andhaving been baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water, and lo, opened to him were the heavens, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him,
[17]andlo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, `This is My Son -- the Beloved, in whom I did delight.'
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