4 John's clothes were made of camel's hair; he wore a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 People came to him from Jerusalem, from the whole province of Judea, and from all the country near the River Jordan.
6 They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan.
7 When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, he said to them, “You snakes — who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send?
8 Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins.
9 And don't think you can escape punishment by saying that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these stones and make descendants for Abraham!
10 The axe is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.