Matthew

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

1Around that time John the Baptist came and began preaching in the desert country of Judea.

2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

2He said, "Turn away from your sins, because God's kingdom is almost here."

3For 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.

3John is the one the prophet Isaiah wrote about long ago: "Someone is shouting in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord. Make his paths straight.'"

4And 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.

4John wore clothes made of camel hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

5People came out to him from Jerusalem, from all of Judea, and from the whole area around the Jordan River.

6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

6They admitted out loud that they had sinned, and John baptized them in the Jordan River.

7But 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?

7Many Pharisees and Sadducees came to where he was baptizing. John said to them, "You family of snakes! Who told you to run from the punishment that is coming?

8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

8Live in a way that shows you have really turned from your sins.

9And 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.

9Do not tell yourselves, 'Abraham is our father, so we are safe.' I tell you, God could turn these stones into children for Abraham.

10And 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.

10The axe is already lying at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not grow good fruit gets cut down and burned.

11I 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:

11I baptize you with water because you are turning from your sins. But someone stronger than I am is coming after me. I am not good enough to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

NoteCarrying someone's sandals was a job for the lowest servant in a household. John is saying he is not even worthy of that.

12Whose 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.

12He has his winnowing fork in his hand, ready to clean off his threshing floor. He will store his wheat in the barn, but he will burn the husks in a fire that never goes out."

NoteA winnowing fork tossed grain into the air on a flat, hard floor. The wind blew away the light husks, called chaff, and the heavier wheat fell back down.

13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River, to John, so that John would baptize him.

14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

14But John tried to stop him. He said, "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you. Why are you coming to me?"

15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

15Jesus answered, "Allow it for now. This is how we do everything God asks of us." So John agreed.

NoteThe KJV says "suffer it to be so" and "he suffered him." Here "suffer" means allow, not hurt.

16And 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:

16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Right then the sky opened. He saw God's Spirit coming down like a dove and settling on him.

17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love. I am very pleased with him."