²As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. ³The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

⁵Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; ⁶And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. ⁸He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. ⁹That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. ¹¹He came unto his own, and his own received him not. ¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

^Lk1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, ^{Lk2 Mk1}Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the Baptist, the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. ^{Mt1 Mk4 Lk3}And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; ^Mt2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ^{Mt3 Mk2 Lk4}For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias. ^{Mt4 Mk6}And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and did eat locusts and wild honey. ^{Mt5 Mk5}And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and all the region round about Jordan, ^{Mt6 Mk5}and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. ^{Mt7 Lk7}But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ^{Mt8 Lk8}Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: ^{Mt9 Lk8}And begin to think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. ^{Mt10 Lk9}And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ^Lk10And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? ^Lk11He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. ^Lk12Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? ^Lk13And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. ^Lk14And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. ^Jn19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? ^Jn20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. ^Jn21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. ^Jn22Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? ^Jn23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. ^Jn24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. ^Jn25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?