Matthew

施洗約翰傳道

1那時，有施洗的約翰出來，在猶太的曠野傳道，說：

2「天國近了，你們應當悔改！」

3這人就是先知以賽亞所說的。他說：「在曠野有人聲喊着說：預備主的道， 修直他的路！」

4這約翰身穿駱駝毛的衣服，腰束皮帶，吃的是蝗蟲、野蜜。

5那時，耶路撒冷和猶太全地，並約旦河一帶地方的人，都出去到約翰那裏，

6承認他們的罪，在約旦河裏受他的洗。

7約翰看見許多法利賽人和撒都該人也來受洗，就對他們說：「毒蛇的種類！誰指示你們逃避將來的忿怒呢？

8你們要結出果子來，與悔改的心相稱。

9不要自己心裏說：『有亞伯拉罕為我們的祖宗。』我告訴你們，上帝能從這些石頭中給亞伯拉罕興起子孫來。

10現在斧子已經放在樹根上，凡不結好果子的樹就砍下來，丟在火裏。

11我是用水給你們施洗，叫你們悔改。但那在我以後來的，能力比我更大，我就是給他提鞋也不配。他要用聖靈與火給你們施洗。

12他手裏拿着簸箕，要揚淨他的場，把麥子收在倉裏，把糠用不滅的火燒盡了。」

耶穌受洗

13當下，耶穌從加利利來到約旦河，見了約翰，要受他的洗。

14約翰想要攔住他，說：「我當受你的洗，你反倒上我這裏來嗎？」

15耶穌回答說：「你暫且許我，因為我們理當這樣盡諸般的義。」於是約翰許了他。

16耶穌受了洗，隨即從水裏上來。天忽然為他開了，他就看見上帝的靈彷彿鴿子降下，落在他身上。

17從天上有聲音說：「這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的。」

1And in those days cometh John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,

2and saying, 'Reform, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens,'

3for this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 'A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye His paths.'

4And this John had his clothing of camel's hair, and a girdle of skin round his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and honey of the field.

5Then were going forth unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about the Jordan,

6and they were baptized in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.

7And having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming about his baptism, he said to them, 'Brood of vipers! who did shew you to flee from the coming wrath?

8bear, therefore, fruits worthy of the reformation,

9and do not think to say in yourselves, A father we have — Abraham, for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise children to Abraham,

10and now also, the axe unto the root of the trees is laid, every tree therefore not bearing good fruit is hewn down, and to fire is cast.

11'I indeed do baptize you with water to reformation, but he who after me is coming is mightier than I, of whom I am not worthy to bear the sandals, he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire,

12whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will gather his wheat to the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.'

13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee upon the Jordan, unto John to be baptized by him,

14but John was forbidding him, saying, 'I have need by thee to be baptized — and thou dost come unto me!'

15But Jesus answering said to him, 'Suffer now, for thus it is becoming to us to fulfil all righteousness,' then he doth suffer him.

16And having been baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water, and lo, opened to him were the heavens, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him,

17and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, 'This is My Son — the Beloved, in whom I did delight.'