1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius [as god-river] Caesar [venerable], Pontius Pilate [armed with a spear] being governor of Y’hudah [praised], and Herod [heroic] being tetrarch of Galil [circuit, district], and his brother Philip [friend of horses] tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis [a rugged region], and Lysanias [that drives away sorrow] the tetrarch of Abilene [grassy meadow],
2 ‘Anan [humble] and Kayafa [depression] being the high priests, the word of God-Theos came unto Yochanan [Yehovah has graced] the son of Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah] in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the country about Yarden [descender], preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness (pardon) of sins;
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Yesha’yahu [Yah is salvation] the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you2f the way of the Lord - Kurios, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways [shall be] made smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God-Theos.
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Avraham [Exalted Father] to [our] father: for I say unto you, That God-Theos is able of these stones to raise up children unto Avraham [Exalted Father].
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
11 He answer and says unto them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise.
12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse [any] falsely; and be content with your wages.
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of Yochanan [Yehovah has graced], whether he were the Moshiach [Messiah], or not;
16 Yochanan [Yehovah has graced] answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the sandal lace of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit [Ruach HaKodesh] and with fire:
17 Whose fan (a fork-shaped tool to throw grain in the air, to let he wind separate the wheat from the chaff) [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
18 And many other things in his Exhortation (encouragement; counsel) preached he unto the people.