1 那时， 施洗的约翰出来， 在犹太的旷野传道，

2 说： "天国近了， 你们应当悔改。"

3 以赛亚先知所说： "在旷野有呼喊者的声音： ‘预备主的道， 修直他的路！ ’"就是指着这约翰说的。

4 约翰身穿骆驼毛的衣服， 腰束皮带， 吃的是蝗虫和野蜜。

5 耶路撒冷、犹太全地和约旦河一带的人都出来到他那里去，

6 承认自己的罪， 在约旦河里受了他的洗。

7 约翰看见许多法利赛人和撒都该人也来受他的洗， 就对他们说： "毒蛇所生的啊， 谁指示你们逃避那将要来的忿怒呢？

8 应当结出果子来， 与悔改的心相称。

9 你们心里不要以为： ‘我们有亚伯拉罕作我们的祖宗。’我告诉你们， 神能从这些石头中给亚伯拉罕兴起后裔来。

10 现在斧头已经放在树根上， 所有不结好果子的树， 就砍下来， 丢在火里。

11 我用水给你们施洗， 表示你们悔改； 但在我以后要来的那一位， 能力比我更大， 我就是替他提鞋也没有资格。他要用圣灵与火给你们施洗。

12 他手里拿着簸箕， 要扬净麦场， 把麦子收进仓里， 却用不灭的火把糠秕烧尽。"

13 那时， 耶稣从加利利来到约旦河约翰那里， 要受他的洗。

14 约翰想要阻止他， 说： "我应该受你的洗， 你却到我这里来吗？"

15 耶稣回答： "暂且这样作吧。我们理当这样履行全部的义。"于是约翰答应了他。

16 耶稣受了洗， 立刻从水中上来； 忽然， 天为他开了， 他看见 神的灵， 好像鸽子降下来， 落在他身上；

17 又有声音从天上来， 说： "这是我的爱子， 我所喜悦的。"

1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, 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,

The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

Make ye ready the way of the Lord,

Make his paths straight.

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 Judæa, 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 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 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 in 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 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.

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; 17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.