Matthew 3
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
1Now, in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the desert of Judea, 2And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3For this is he, who was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 4And John himself had his garment of camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about the Jordan: 6And they were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7And seeing many of the Pharisees, and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bring forth, therefore, fruit worthy of penance. 9And think not to say within yourselves: We have Abraham for our father: for I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that yieldeth not good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire. 11I indeed baptize you with water unto penance: but he who is to come after me, is stronger than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. 12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly cleanse his floor: and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. 13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him. 14But John stayed him, saying, I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said to him: Suffer it now: for so it becometh us to fulfil all justice. Then he suffered him. 16And Jesus being baptized, went up presently out of the water: and behold the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him, 17And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.