⁸ Bear fruit ^(A)in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not presume to say to yourselves, ^(B)‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from ^(C)these stones to raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. ^(D)Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

^11 (E)“I baptize you with water ^(F)for repentance, but ^(G)he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you ^(H)with the Holy Spirit and ^(I)fire. ¹² His ^(J)winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and ^(K)gather his wheat into the barn, ^(L)but the chaff he will burn with ^(M)unquenchable fire.”

¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

²¹ For ^(A)it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from ^(B)the holy commandment delivered to them.