1 But in those days John the Baptist {ioannes ho baptistes: herald of repentance} came forward, proclaiming in the wilderness {eremo: deserted region} of Judea.
2 And he was saying, “Repent {metanoeite: change your ways: be repenting! keep on repenting}, for the kingdom of the heavens {ouranon: divine realms} has drawn near.”
3 For this is the one spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “A voice of one crying in the wilderness {eremos: desolate place}, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord {Kyrios, Covenant Lord}, make His paths straight.’”
4 But this John had his garment made from camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food {trophe: regular nourishment} was locusts {akrides: permitted insects} and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem {Hierosolyma: central holy city} and all Judea {Ioudaia: wider Judean territory} and the entire region around the Jordan were coming out to him.
6 And they were being baptized by him in the Jordan {Iordanes: boundary river}, confessing their sins {hamartias: moral offenses}.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism {baptisma: repentance immersion sign}, he said to them, “Offspring of vipers, who showed you to flee from the coming wrath {orge: judging anger}?”
8 Therefore, produce {poieo: perform actions} fruit worthy of repentance {metanoia: deep inner change}.
9 And do not think to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I say to you that God {theos, Sovereign Creator} is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham {Abraam: covenant ancestor}.
10 Already now the axe is laid to the root {rhiza: underlying source} of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and is thrown into the fire {pyr: destructive judgment}.
11 I indeed baptize you in water toward repentance, but the One {ho opisō mou erchomenos: Coming One} coming after me is stronger than I am; I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He Himself will baptize you in the Holy Spirit {pneumati hagio: Sanctifying Gift} and fire.
12 The winnowing fork{ptyon: separating tool} is in His{Iesous Christos, Messianic Judge} hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the storehouse; but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire.
13 Then Jesus {Iesous, Obedient Messiah} comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John, in order to be baptized {baptisthenai: immerse in water} by him.
14 But John {Ioannes: Humble Prophet} was preventing Him {Iesous, Greater Righteous One}, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
15 But Jesus {Iesous, Obedient Son} answered him, “Leave this for now, for it is fitting for us to bring all righteousness {dikaiosynen: Covenant Faithfulness} to completion.” Then he let Him proceed.
16 After Jesus {Iesous, Obedient Son} was baptized, He rose at once from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God {Pneuma Theou, Anointing Presence} descending like a dove and coming upon Him.
17 And look, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My {mou: Speaker's Own} Son, the One I love dearly, and I am deeply pleased {eudokesa: Fully Delighted} with Him.”