Matthew 3:7-12

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his^[a] baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{(A) 8} Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance,^{(B) 9} and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.^{(C) 10} Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.^(D)

¹¹ “I baptize you with^[b] water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with^[c] the Holy Spirit and fire.^{(E) 12} His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”^(F)