¹ And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea.

² And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

³ For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

⁴ And the same John had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

⁵ Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan:

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

⁷ And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come?

⁸ Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance.

⁹ And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

¹⁰ For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.

¹¹ I indeed baptize you in water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire.

¹² Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

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

¹⁴ But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?

¹⁵ And Jesus answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfil all justice. Then he suffered him.

¹⁶ And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him.

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