2 The prophet Yeshayah (Isaiah) wrote:

“Look, I’m sending my messenger ahead of you,

the one who’ll be preparing your path.[ref]

3 The voice out in the wilderness shouting,

‘Get the path ready for Yahweh—

≈ make it smooth for him to walk on.’ ”[ref]

4 Yohan (John; Grk. Yoannes) turned up in the wilderness announcing that people should get immersed in water in order to show that their sins have been forgiven, 5 and many from the Yehudah (Judea) region and from Yerushalem (Jerusalem) city went out to hear him, and asked Yohan to immerse them in the Yarden (Jordan) river as they confessed their sins.

6 Yohan was dressed in simple clothes made from camel hair with a leather belt around his waist,[ref] and he lived on locusts and wild honey. 7 He also announced, “There’s a greater man coming soon—in fact I’m not even good enough to bend down and untie his sandal straps. 8 I immersed you all in water, but he’ll immerse you in God’s holy spirit.”