Matthew 3:10-12

Contemporary English Version

¹⁰^(A) 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. ¹²^(B) His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks.^[c] He will store the wheat in a barn and burn the husks in a fire that never goes out.

Read full chapter

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.
3.12 His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks: After Jewish farmers had trampled out the grain, they used a large fork to pitch the grain and the husks into the air. Wind would blow away the light husks, and the grain would fall back to the ground, where it could be gathered up.

Matthew 3:10-12

New International Version

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.^(A)

¹¹“I baptize you with^[a] water for repentance.^(B) 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^(C) and fire.^(D) ¹²His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”^(E)