I did not know him. But God wants to make it clear to Israel who this person is. That’s the reason I came baptizing with water.”

我先前不认识他，如今我来用水施洗，为要叫他显明给以色列人。”

我先前不认识他，如今我来用水施洗，为要使他显明给以色列人。”

我先前不认识他，如今我来用水施洗，为要使他显明给以色列人。”

我以前并不认识祂，现在我用水给人施洗，是要把祂显明给以色列人。”

我本来不认识他，但为了要把他显明给以色列人，因此我来用水施洗。”

我以前也不认识他，但为了让他向以色列显明，所以我来用水施洗。”

我先前不認識他，如今我來用水施洗，為要叫他顯明給以色列人。」

我先前不認識他，如今我來用水施洗，為要使他顯明給以色列人。」

我先前不認識他，如今我來用水施洗，為要使他顯明給以色列人。」

我以前並不認識祂，現在我用水給人施洗，是要把祂顯明給以色列人。」

我本來不認識他，但為了要把他顯明給以色列人，因此我來用水施洗。”

我從前也不認識他；但是為要使他向以色列顯明出來；故此我來用水施洗。』

我以前也不認識他，但為了讓他向以色列顯明，所以我來用水施洗。」

我素弗識之、但為使之顯於以色列故來以水施洗耳、

我素不識之、我至以水施洗、欲顯之於以色列民耳、○

我素不識之、我來以水施洗、特欲使之顯於以色列民、

渠非予所素識、惟予之來茲授洗、正為顯揚斯人於義塞之民耳。』

I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

I didn’t know him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

And I did not recognize Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”

I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”

And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing in water.

I didn’t know Him, but I came baptizing with water so He might be revealed to Israel.”

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”

I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”

The Lord who rules over all says,“ I will send my messenger. He will prepare my way for me. Then suddenly the Lord you are looking for will come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant will come. He is the one you long for.”

And he will prepare the way for the Lord. He will have the same spirit and power that Elijah had. He will bring peace between parents and their children. He will teach people who don’t obey to be wise and do what is right. In this way, he will prepare a people who are ready for the Lord.”

He came to be a witness about that light. He was a witness so that all people might believe.

Paul said,“ John baptized people, calling them to turn away from their sins. He told them to believe in the one who was coming after him. Jesus is that one.”

“ A messenger is calling out in the desert,‘ Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.’ ”( Isaiah 40:3)And so John the Baptist appeared in the desert. He preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.All the people from the countryside of Judea went out to him. All the people from Jerusalem went too. When they admitted they had sinned, John baptized them in the Jordan River.

When they confessed their sins, John baptized them in the Jordan.

But here is what will happen for you who have respect for me. The sun that brings life will rise. Its rays will bring healing to my people. You will go out and leap for joy like calves that have just been fed.Then you will stomp on sinful people. They will be like ashes under your feet. That will happen on the day I judge,” says the Lord.“ Remember the law my servant Moses gave you. Remember the rules and laws I gave him at Mount Horeb. They were for the whole nation of Israel.“ I will send the prophet Elijah to you. He will come before the day of the Lord arrives. It will be a great and terrifying day.

I myself did not know him. But the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,‘ You will see the Spirit come down and remain on someone. He is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

He went into all the countryside around the Jordan River. There he preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.Here is what is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet. It says,“ A messenger is calling out in the desert,‘ Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.

A messenger is calling out,“ In the desert prepare the way for the Lord. Make a straight road through it for our God.Every valley will be filled in. Every mountain and hill will be made level. The rough ground will be smoothed out. The rocky places will be made flat.Then the glory of the Lord will appear. And everyone will see it together. The Lord has spoken.”

Joseph and Mary did everything the Law of the Lord required. Then they returned to Galilee. They went to their own town of Nazareth.And the child grew and became strong. He was very wise. He was blessed by God’s grace.Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.When Jesus was 12 years old, they went up to the feast as usual.

“ And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him.You will tell his people how they can be saved. You will tell them that their sins can be forgiven.All of that will happen because our God is tender and caring. His kindness will bring the rising sun to us from heaven.It will shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death. It will guide our feet on the path of peace.”The child grew up, and his spirit became strong. He lived in the desert until he appeared openly to Israel.