Luke 3:2-9

2while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

3And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,

4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.

5Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth;

6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

7Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

9And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”