₁At that time John the Baptist came to the desert of Judah and started preaching. ₂“Turn away from your sins,” he said, “because the Kingdom of heaven is near!” ₃John was the man the prophet Isaiah was talking about when he said:

₄John's clothes were made of camel's hair; he wore a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ₅People came to him from Jerusalem, from the whole province of Judea, and from all the country near the River Jordan. ₆They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan.

₇When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, he said to them, “You snakes — who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? ₈Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. ₉And don't think you can escape punishment by saying that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these stones and make descendants for Abraham! ₁₀The axe is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire. ₁₁I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. ₁₂He has his winnowing shovel with him to thresh out all the grain. He will gather his wheat into his barn, but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out.”