Living_Oracles(i)
1 In those days appeared John the Immerser, who proclaimed in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
2 Reform, for the Reign of Heaven approaches.
3 For this is he, of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaks in these words, "The voice of one proclaiming in the wilderness, Prepare a way for the Lord, make for him a straight passage."
4 Now John wore raiment of camel's hair with a letter girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the country along the Jordan, resorted to him,
6 and were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But he seeing many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to receive immersion, said to them, Offspring of vipers, who has prompted you to flee from the impending vengeance?
8 Produce, then, the proper fruit of reformation;
9 and presume not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father, for I assure you, that of these stones God can raise children to Abraham.
10 And even now the ax lies at the root of the trees; every tree, therefore, which produces not good fruit, is cut down, and turned into fuel.
11 I, indeed, immerse you in water, into reformation; but he who comes after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit, and in fire.
12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his grain; he will gather his wheat into the granary, and consume the chaff in unquenchable fire.