make ready the way of MarYah [Master Yahweh].

Make his paths [b] straight.”

4 Now John [Yah is gracious] himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem [City of peace], all of Judea [Praise], and all the region around the Jordan [Descender] went out to him. 6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan [Descender], confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees [Separated] and Sadducees [Morally-upright] coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of teshuvah ·complete repentance·! 9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham [Father of a multitude] Avinu ·our Father·,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham [Father of a multitude] from these stones.

10 “Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you in water for teshuvah ·complete repentance·, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in Ruach haKodesh [Spirit of the Holiness]. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

13 Then Yeshua [Salvation] came from Galilee [District, Circuit] to the Jordan [Descender] to John [Yah is gracious], to be baptized by him. 14 But John [Yah is gracious] would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”

15 But Yeshua [Salvation], answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. 16 [c] [d] [e] Yeshua [Salvation], when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. [f] He saw haRuach [the Spirit] of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my agapetos ·beloved, esteemed· Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

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