John 1:19-28 Now here is John's testimony. When the Jews of Jerusalem despatched priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?"

Moffatt⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁹ Now here is John's testimony. When the Jews of Jerusalem despatched priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?" ²⁰ he frankly confessed — he did not deny it, he frankly confessed, "I am not the Christ." ²¹ They asked him, "Then what are you? Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he answered. ²² "Then who are you?" they said; "tell us, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. What have you to say for yourself?" ²³ He said, "I am the voice of one who cries in the desert, 'level the way for the Lord' — as the prophet Isaiah said." ²⁴ Now it was some of the Pharisees who had been sent to him; ²⁵ so they asked him, saying, "Then why are you baptizing people, if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?" ²⁶ "I am baptizing with water," John replied, "but my successor is among you, One whom you do not recognize, ²⁷ and I am not fit to untie the string of his sandal." ²⁸ This took place at Bethany on the opposite side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.