1 About this time John the Baptist made his appearance, preaching in the Desert of Judaea.

2 »Repent,« he said, »for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand.«

3 He it is who was spoken of through the Prophet Isaiah when he said, »The voice of one crying aloud, In the desert prepare ye a road for the Lord: make His highway straight.'«

4 This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey.

5 Then large numbers of people went out to him –people from Jerusalem and from all Judaea, and from the whole of the Jordan valley–

6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, making full confession of their sins.