Matthew 3
Open in the reader1In those days He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Land-of-the-Praised
2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Salvation-of-He-Who-Is: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
4He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5People went out to him from Foundation-of-Peace and all Land-of-the-Praised and the whole region around the Descender.
6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Descender River.
7But when He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor saw many of the Separated-Ones and Righteous-Ones coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Father-of-a-Multitude as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Father-of-a-Multitude.
10The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Devoted Spirit and with fire.
12His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
13At that time He-Who-Is-Saves came from The-Circuit to the Descender to be baptized by He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor.
14But He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
15“Let it be so now,” He-Who-Is-Saves replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor permitted Him.
16As soon as He-Who-Is-Saves was baptized, He-Who-Is-Saves went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He-Who-Is-Saves saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.
17And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”