Matt.3.1
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Matt.3.1
While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called "the Baptizer," was preaching in the desert country of Judea.
Matt.3.1
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea
Matt.3.1
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
Matt.3.1
In those days John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness. His message was,
Matt.3.2
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matt.3.2
His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: "Change your life. God's kingdom is here."
Matt.3.2
and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matt.3.2
and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
Matt.3.2
"Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near. "
Matt.3.3
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Matt.3.3
John and his message were authorized by Isaiah's prophecy: Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God's arrival! Make the road smooth and straight!
Matt.3.3
This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"
Matt.3.3
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight."'
Matt.3.3
Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, "He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: 'Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming! Make a straight road for him!'"
Matt.3.4
And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
Matt.3.4
John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey.
Matt.3.4
John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Matt.3.4
Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Matt.3.4
John's clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey.
Matt.3.5
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
Matt.3.5
People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action.
Matt.3.5
People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
Matt.3.5
Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
Matt.3.5
People from Jerusalem and from every section of Judea and from all over the Jordan Valley went out to the wilderness to hear him preach.
Matt.3.6
And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Matt.3.6
There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life.
Matt.3.6
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
Matt.3.6
and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
Matt.3.6
And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
Matt.3.7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Matt.3.7
When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference?
Matt.3.7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Matt.3.7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Matt.3.7
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them. "You brood of snakes!" he exclaimed. "Who warned you to flee God's coming judgment?
Matt.3.8
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Matt.3.8
It's your life that must change, not your skin!
Matt.3.8
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
Matt.3.8
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
Matt.3.8
Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God.
Matt.3.9
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.
Matt.3.9
And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen.
Matt.3.9
And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Matt.3.9
and do not think to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Matt.3.9
Don't just say, 'We're safe--we're the descendants of Abraham.' That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into children of Abraham.
Matt.3.10
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Matt.3.10
What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.
Matt.3.10
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matt.3.10
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matt.3.10
Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever your roots. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
Matt.3.11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Matt.3.11
"I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama--compared to him I'm a mere stagehand--will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.
Matt.3.11
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matt.3.11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matt.3.11
"I baptize with water those who turn from their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am--so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matt.3.12
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Matt.3.12
He's going to clean house--make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned." [JC]
Matt.3.12
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Matt.3.12
His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Matt.3.12
He is ready to separate the chaff from the grain with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, storing the grain in his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire."
Matt.3.13
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Matt.3.13
Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him.
Matt.3.13
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
Matt.3.13
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
Matt.3.13
Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.
Matt.3.14
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Matt.3.14
John objected, "I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you!"
Matt.3.14
But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
Matt.3.14
And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
Matt.3.14
But John didn't want to baptize him. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?"
Matt.3.15
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Matt.3.15
But Jesus insisted. "Do it. God's work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism." So John did it.
Matt.3.15
Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
Matt.3.15
But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
Matt.3.15
But Jesus said, "It must be done, because we must do everything that is right. "So then John baptized him.
Matt.3.16
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Matt.3.16
The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit--it looked like a dove--descending and landing on him.
Matt.3.16
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
Matt.3.16
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
Matt.3.16
After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.
Matt.3.17
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matt.3.17
And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life."
Matt.3.17
And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Matt.3.17
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Matt.3.17
And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him."
