In the fifteenth year of the rule of the emperor Tiberius,
Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea,
and Herod, the ruler of Galilee,
and Annas and Caiaphas the high priests,
The word of God came to John in the desert,
and he came into all the country near the Jordan river,
preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Turn away from your sins! And be baptized!
And God will forgive your sins!
As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah;
Someone is shouting in the desert;
Get the road ready for the Lord!
Make a straight path for Him to travel.
Every valley must be filled up.
Every hill and mountain leveled off!
The winding roads must be made straight.
And the rough paths made smooth,
and all mankind will see God's salvation!
What shall we do?
You brood of vipers!
What do you want us to do?
Whoever has two shirts,
must give one to the man who has none.
And whoever has food must share it!
Teacher,
we are tax collectors.
What shall we do?
Don't collect more than is legal.
And what about us? What are we to do?
Don't take money from anyone by force.
And don't accuse anyone falsely.
Be content with your pay.
Tell us. Are you the Christ?
I baptize you with water.
But Someone is coming who is much greater than I am.
I'm not good enough even to untie His sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
He has His grain shovel with Him,
to thresh out all the grain and gather the wheat into His barn.
And the Holy Spirit came down on Jesus in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice from Heaven said;
You are My beloved Son,
in You I am well pleased.