¹⁰ The ax ·is now ready to cut down [already lies at the root of] the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire [^Ca metaphor for judgment].

John Preaches About the Christ^(A)

¹¹ “I baptize you with water ·to show that your hearts and lives have changed [for repentence]. But there is one coming after me who is ·greater [mightier; more powerful] than I am, whose sandals I am not ·good enough [fit; qualified] to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² ·He will come ready [^LThe winnowing fork is in his hand] to clean the grain, ·separating the good grain from the chaff [^Lto clear his threshing floor]. He will put ·the good part of the grain [^Lthe grain/wheat] into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with ·a fire that cannot be put out [never-ending/unquenchable fire; ^Ca metaphor for judgment, when Jesus will separate the righteous from the wicked].”