Matthew 3:9-11

Contemporary English Version

⁹^(A) And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family. I tell you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. ¹⁰^(B) An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire.

¹¹I baptize you with water so you will give up your sins.^[a] But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.^[b] He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

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Footnotes

3.11 so you will give up your sins: Or “because you have given up your sins.”
3.11 carry his sandals: This was one of the duties of a slave.

Matthew 3:9-11

New International Version

⁹And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’^(A) I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.^(B)

¹¹“I baptize you with^[a] water for repentance.^(C) But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit^(D) and fire.^(E)