5. Every valley will be filled in. Every mountain and hill will be made level. The crooked roads will become straight. The rough ways will become smooth.
6. And everyone will see God's salvation.' " (Isaiah 40:3-5)
7. John spoke to the crowds coming to be baptized by him. He said, "You are like a nest of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming of God's anger?
8. Produce fruit that shows you have turned away from your sins. And don't start saying to yourselves, 'Abraham is our father.' I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones.
9. The ax is already lying at the roots of the trees. All the trees that don't produce good fruit will be cut down. They will be thrown into the fire."
10. "Then what should we do?" the crowd asked.
11. John answered, "If you have extra clothes, you should share with those who have none. And if you have extra food, you should do the same."
12. Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"