1 Now in those days comes John the baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,2 and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.3 For this is he who has been spoken of through Esaias the prophet, saying, Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of {the} Lord, make straight his paths.4 And John himself had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and wild honey.5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the country round the Jordan,6 and were baptised by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.7 But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath?8 Produce therefore fruit worthy of repentance.9 And do not think to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for {our} father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.10 And already the axe is applied to the root of the trees; every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.11 *I* indeed baptise you with water to repentance, but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not fit to bear; *he* shall baptise you with {the} Holy Spirit and fire;12 whose winnowing fan {is} in his hand, and he shall thoroughly purge his threshing-floor, and shall gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.13 Then comes Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised of him;14 but John urgently forbad him, saying, *I* have need to be baptised of thee; and comest *thou* to me?15 But Jesus answering said to him, Suffer {it} now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffers him.16 And Jesus, having been baptised, went up straightway from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him:17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight.

1 In daardie dae het Johannes die Doper opgetree en in die woestyn van Judea2 gepreek en gesê: Bekeer julle, want die koninkryk van die hemele het naby gekom.3 Want dit is hy van wie deur die profeet Jesaja gespreek is toe hy gesê het: Die stem van een wat roep in die woestyn: Berei die weg van die Here, maak sy paaie reguit!4 En hy, Johannes, het 'n kleed gedra van kameelhare en 'n leergord om sy heupe, en sy voedsel was sprinkane en wilde heuning.5 En Jerusalem en die hele Judia en die hele omtrek van die Jordaan het uitgegaan na hom toe.6 En hulle is deur hom in die Jordaan gedoop met belydenis van hulle sondes.7 Maar toe hy baie van die Fariseërs en Sadduseërs na sy doop sien kom, sê hy vir hulle: Addergeslag, wie het julle aangewys om te vlug vir die toorn wat aan kom is?8 Dra dan vrugte wat by die bekering pas.9 En moenie dink om by julleself te sê: ons het Abraham as vader nie; want ek sê vir julle dat God mag het om uit hierdie klippe kinders vir Abraham op te wek.10 Maar die byl lê ook al teen die wortel van die bome. Elke boom wat geen goeie vrugte dra nie, word uitgekap en in die vuur gegooi.11 Ek doop julle wel met water tot bekering, maar Hy wat n my kom, is sterker as ek, wie se skoene ek nie waardig is om aan te dra nie. Hy sal julle doop met die Heilige Gees en met vuur.12 Sy skop is in sy hand, en Hy sal sy dorsvloer deur en deur skoonmaak en sy koring in die skuur saambring, maar die kaf sal Hy met onuitbluslike vuur verbrand.13 Toe het Jesus van Galilea na die Jordaan, na Johannes gekom om deur hom gedoop te word.14 Maar Johannes het Hom ernstig teëgegaan en gesê: Ek het nodig om deur U gedoop te word, en kom U na my toe?15 Maar Jesus het geantwoord en vir hom gesê: Laat dit nou toe, want so pas dit ons om alle geregtigheid te vervul. Daarna het hy Hom toegelaat.16 En nadat Jesus gedoop was, het Hy dadelik uit die water opgeklim, en meteens gaan die hemele vir Hom oop, en Hy sien die Gees van God soos 'n duif neerdaal en op Hom kom.17 En daar kom 'n stem uit die hemele wat sê: Dit is my geliefde Seun in wie Ek 'n welbehae het.