Matthew 3:2-4

Contemporary English Version

²^(A) He said, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven^[a] will soon be here.”^[b]

³^(B) John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said,

“In the desert someone
    is shouting,
‘Get the road ready
    for the Lord!
Make a straight path
    for him.’ ”

⁴^(C) John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.

3.2 kingdom of heaven: In the Gospel of Matthew “kingdom of heaven” is used with the same meaning as “God's kingdom” in Mark and Luke.
3.2 will soon be here: Or “is already here.”

Matthew 3:2-4

New International Version

²and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven^(A) has come near.” ³This 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.’”^[a]^(B)

⁴John’s^(C) clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.^(D) His food was locusts^(E) and wild honey.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

New International Version (NIV)