3. And he came into all the surrounding region of the Jordan, proclaiming an immersion of repentance for the removal of sins.
4. As it is written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of Adonai, and make His paths straight.
5. Every valley shall be filled up and every mountain and hill brought low. The crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways made smooth,
6. and all humanity shall see the salvation of God.’”
7. Therefore John was saying to the crowds that came out to be immersed by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8. Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance; and don’t even begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’! For I tell you that from these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
9. Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees, so every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!”
10. The crowds were asking him, “What should we do?”
11. He answered them, saying, “Whoever has two coats, let him give to the one who has none; and whoever has food, let him do the same.”
12. Tax collectors also came to him to be immersed. “Teacher,” they said to him, “what should we do?”