Luke 3:4-18

English Standard Version

⁴ As it is written in ^(A)the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

⁷ He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ^(I)“You brood of ^(J)vipers! Who warned you to flee from ^(K)the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruits ^(L)in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ^(M)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from ^(N)these stones to raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. ^(O)Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

¹⁰ And the crowds asked him, ^(P)“What then shall we do?” ¹¹ And he answered them, ^(Q)“Whoever has two tunics^[b] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” ^12 (R)Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, ^(S)what shall we do?” ¹³ And he said to them, ^(T)“Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” ¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him, “And we, ^(U)what shall we do?” And he said to them, ^(V)“Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your ^(W)wages.”

¹⁵ As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, ^(X)whether he might be ^(Y)the Christ, ^16 (Z)John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but ^(AA)he who is mightier than I is coming, ^(AB)the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you ^(AC)with the Holy Spirit and ^(AD)fire. ¹⁷ His ^(AE)winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to ^(AF)gather the wheat into his barn, ^(AG)but the chaff he will burn with ^(AH)unquenchable fire.”

¹⁸ So ^(AI)with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.