Matthew 3:1–10

And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea.

²And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

³For 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.

⁴And the same John had his garment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

⁵Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan:

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

⁷And 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?

⁸Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance.

⁹And 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.

¹⁰For 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.