1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 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. 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. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

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? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for 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 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. 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: 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.

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 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. 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: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

1 In daardie dae het Johannes die Doper opgetree en in die woestyn van Judea

2 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.