Aussie Bible logo: gum tree, cross and Uluru at sunset over an open book Aussie BibleFair Dinkum Edition

Matthew 3

John the Baptist in the wilderness: repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. The Pharisees and Sadducees come to be baptised — he calls them a brood of vipers. The axe is already at the root. Jesus comes to be baptised. The Spirit descends like a dove. A voice from heaven: this is my Son, whom I love.

Now reading: Fair Dinkum

You’re in Study Mode. Each verse shows our Fair Dinkum rendering with the King James Version (1611) underneath, so you can compare them. Use the button above to switch back to plain reading.

John the Baptist

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising, he said to them, You brood of vipers. Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

1

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

King James Version, 1611

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2

and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.

King James Version, 1611

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3

This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.

King James Version, 1611

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

4

John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

King James Version, 1611

And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

5

People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.

King James Version, 1611

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

6

Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River.

King James Version, 1611

And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising, he said to them, You brood of vipers. Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

King James Version, 1611

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

King James Version, 1611

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

9

And do not think you can say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

King James Version, 1611

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

10

The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

King James Version, 1611

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11

I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

King James Version, 1611

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12

His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

King James Version, 1611

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Jesus baptised

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me? Jesus replied, Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness. Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.

13

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.

King James Version, 1611

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14

But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?

King James Version, 1611

But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15

Jesus replied, Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness. Then John consented.

King James Version, 1611

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16

As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

King James Version, 1611

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17

And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.

King James Version, 1611

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