¹ In those days came John the Immerser, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

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

³ For this is he that was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

⁴ But the same John had his clothing of camel’s hair, and a girdle of leather around his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

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

⁶ and were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them: Generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the coining wrath?

⁸ Bring forth, therefore, fruit worthy of repentance:

⁹ and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

¹⁰ Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees: therefore, every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ I immerse you in water, in order to repentance; but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:

¹² whose winnowing-shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his thrashing-floor, and gather his grain into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

¹³ Then came Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be immersed by him.

¹⁴ But John forbade him, saying: I have need to be immersed by thee, and comest thou to me?

¹⁵ But Jesus answering said to him: Permit it now; for thus it becomes us to perform fully every righteous act. Then he permitted him.

¹⁶ And after Jesus was immersed, he came up immediately from the water; and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and coming upon him.

¹⁷ And lo, a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I delight.