1. In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
2. and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’
3. This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness,“Prepare the way for the Lord,make straight paths for him.”’
4. John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt round his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
6. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the River Jordan.
7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising, he said to them: ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?