John the Baptist

1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

In those days a man named John the Baptist came. He preached in the wilderness of Judea. That means he told people God's message in a dry, empty land.

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

He said, "Turn away from the wrong things you do. 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.

Long ago, Isaiah spoke about John. Isaiah was a prophet, someone who told people what God said. He said, "A voice is calling out in the wilderness. 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.

John's clothes were made from camel hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

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

People came out to him from Jerusalem, from all of Judea, and from all the land near the Jordan River.

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

They told God the wrong things they had done. Then John baptized them in the Jordan River. That means he dipped them under the water.

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?

Many Pharisees and Sadducees came to where John was baptizing. Those were two groups of Jewish leaders. John said to them, "You are a nest of snakes! Who told you to run from the anger that is coming?"

8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

"So live in a way that shows you really have 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.

"Do not say to yourselves, 'Abraham is our father, so we are safe.' I tell you, God can make children for Abraham out of these stones."

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.

"The axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree that does not grow good fruit gets cut down. Then it is thrown into the fire."

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:

"I baptize you with water to show you have turned from your sins. But someone is coming after me who is stronger than I am. I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

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.

"His winnowing fork is in his hand. He will clean off his threshing floor completely. He will gather his wheat into the barn. But he will burn up the chaff in a fire that never goes out."

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

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River. He came to John so John would baptize him.

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

But John tried to stop him. John said, "I am the one who needs you to baptize me. So 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.

Jesus answered him, "Let it be this way for now. This is how we do everything that is right." So John let him do it.

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:

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

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

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

14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

Then the followers of John came to Jesus. They asked, "We and the Pharisees often go without food to pray. Why do your followers not do that?"

15And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Jesus answered, "Guests at a wedding are not sad while the groom is with them. But a day is coming when the groom will be taken away. Then they will go without food.

16No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old coat. The new piece pulls away from the old cloth. Then the hole is even worse.

17Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

People do not pour new wine into old skin bags. The old bags would burst. The wine would spill out, and the bags would be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new bags. Then both are kept safe."

2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

John the Baptist was locked up in prison. There he heard about the things Jesus was doing. So John sent two of his own followers to Jesus.

3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

They asked Jesus, "Are you the one who was coming? Or should we wait for someone else?"

4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

Jesus answered them, "Go back to John. Tell him what you hear and see."

5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

"Blind people can see. People who could not walk now walk. People with a bad skin sickness are made well and clean. Deaf people can hear. Dead people are raised to life. And poor people hear the good news."

6And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

"God blesses everyone who does not turn away from me."

7And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

John's followers left. Then Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. He asked, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A tall plant bending in the wind?"

8But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

"So what did you go out to see? A man in soft, fine clothes? Look, people who wear fine clothes live in kings' houses."

9But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

"Then what did you go out to see? A prophet, someone who tells people what God says? Yes, and John is even more than a prophet."

10For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

"John is the one God's book wrote about long ago. It says, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will get the road ready for you.'"

11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

"I am telling you the truth. Of all people ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptist. But the smallest person in God's kingdom is greater than he is."

12And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

"From the days of John until now, people have attacked God's kingdom. Violent people try to grab it by force."

13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

"All the prophets and the law of God told what was coming. They did this until John came."

14And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

"If you are willing to believe it, John is the Elijah who was coming."

15He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

"If you have ears, then listen."

16But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

"What are the people of today like? They are like children sitting in the market. They call out to the other children."

17And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

"They say, 'We played happy music, but you did not dance. We sang a sad song, but you did not cry.'"

18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

"John came, and he did not eat or drink like other people. And they say, 'An evil spirit is in him!'"

19The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking. That is Jesus' own name for himself. And they say, 'Look, he eats too much and drinks too much wine. He is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But what wisdom does shows that wisdom is right."

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

Around that time, Herod heard people talking about Jesus. Herod was a ruler over part of the land.

2And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

He said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist. He has come back to life. That is why he can do such powerful things."

3For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

Earlier, Herod had arrested John. He tied him up and put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias, who had been the wife of his brother Philip.

4For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

John kept telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to have her as your wife."

5And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people. They believed John was a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

6But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests. Herod was very pleased with her.

7Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

So he made a strong promise. He said he would give her anything she asked for.

8And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.

Her mother had already told her what to say. She said, "Bring me John the Baptist's head here on a plate."

9And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

The king was sad. But he had made his promise in front of his dinner guests. So he gave the order.

10And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

He sent men to the prison, and they cut off John's head.

11And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

His head was carried in on a plate and given to the girl. She took it to her mother.

12And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

John's followers came and took his body away and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

10And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

His followers asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Scribes were teachers who studied and copied God's laws.

11And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

Jesus answered, "It is true. Elijah does come first, and he puts everything right again."

12But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

"But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People did not know who he was. They did to him whatever they wanted. They will hurt the Son of Man in the same way."

13Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Then his followers understood. Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.

23And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

Jesus went into the temple and started teaching. The chief priests and the leaders of the people came to him. They asked, "What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you this right?"

24And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

Jesus answered, "I will ask you one question too. If you answer me, I will tell you what right I have."

25The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

"John baptized people. Did that come from God in heaven, or from people?" They talked it over. They said, "If we say it came from heaven, he will ask why we did not believe John."

26But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

"But if we say it came from people, the crowd will be angry with us. Everyone believes John was a prophet."

27And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

So they said to Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus said, "Then I will not tell you what right I have to do these things."

28But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

"What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first son and said, 'Son, go work in my grape field today.'"

29He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

"The son said, 'I will not.' But later he changed his mind and went."

30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

"The father went to the second son and said the same thing. That son said, 'Yes, sir, I will go.' But he did not go."

31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

"Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?" They said, "The first one." Jesus said, "I am telling you the truth. Tax collectors and prostitutes are going into God's kingdom ahead of you."

32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

"John came to you and showed you the right way to live. You did not believe him. But tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him. You saw that happen. Still you did not change your mind and believe him."

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

This is the start of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Long ago a prophet wrote this down. A prophet is someone who told people what God said. God said, "I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will get your road ready."

3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

The prophet also wrote, "Someone is calling out in the wilderness, the empty land where almost nobody lives. He says, 'Get the road ready for the Lord. Make his paths straight.'"

4John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

John came to that empty land. He baptized people in water. He told them to turn away from doing wrong so their sins would be forgiven.

5And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

People came out to him from Jerusalem and from all over the land of Judea. They told God the wrong things they had done. John baptized them in the Jordan River.

6And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

John wore clothes made from camel hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and honey from wild bees.

7And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

John told the people, "Someone stronger than me is coming after me. I am not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals."

8I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

"I baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

9And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

Around that time Jesus came from Nazareth, a town in Galilee. John baptized him in the Jordan River.

10And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens open. God's Spirit came down on him like a dove.

11And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

A voice came from heaven. It said, "You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you."