1 In those days ^aJohn the Baptist came preaching ^bin the wilderness of Judea,  ‡

2 and saying, “Repent, for ^athe kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  ‡

3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
^a“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
^b‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”  ‡

4 Now ^aJohn himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was ^blocusts and ^cwild honey.  ‡

5 ^aThen Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him  ‡

6 ^aand were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.  ‡