1<\/sup>AND in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea.<\/span> <\/p>\n 2<\/sup>And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.<\/span> <\/p>\n 3<\/sup>For this is he that 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.<\/span> <\/p>\n 4<\/sup>And the same John had his garment of camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.<\/span> <\/p>\n 5<\/sup>Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan:<\/span> <\/p>\n 6<\/sup>And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.<\/span> <\/p>\n 7<\/sup>And 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?<\/span> <\/p>\n 8<\/sup>Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance.<\/span> <\/p>\n 9<\/sup>And 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.<\/span> <\/p>\n 10<\/sup>For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.<\/span> <\/p>\n 11<\/sup>I indeed baptize you in the water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire.<\/span> <\/p>\n 12<\/sup>Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.<\/span> <\/p>\n 13<\/sup>Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him.<\/span> <\/p>\n 14<\/sup>But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?<\/span> <\/p>\n 15<\/sup>And Jesus answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfill all justice. Then he suffered him.<\/span> <\/p>\n 16<\/sup>And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him.<\/span> <\/p>\n 17<\/sup>And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.<\/span> <\/p>\n