3 And he came into all the surrounding region of the Jordan, proclaiming an immersion of repentance for the removal of sins.
4 As it is written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of Adonai, and make His paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled up and every mountain and hill brought low. The crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways made smooth,
6 and all humanity shall see the salvation of God.’”
7 Therefore John was saying to the crowds that came out to be immersed by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance; and don’t even begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’! For I tell you that from these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
9 Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees, so every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!”