7. He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be immersed by him, “Brood of adders, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8. “Therefore bear fruit worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Aḇraham as our father.’ For I say to you that Elohim is able to raise up children to Aḇraham from these stones.
9. “And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10. And the crowds asked him, saying, “What, then, shall we do?”
11. And answering He said to them, “Let him who has two undergarments share with him who has none, and let him who has food do likewise.”
12. And tax collectors also came to be immersed, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13. And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
14. And soldiers also asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be satisfied with your pay.”
15. But as the people were in expectation, and all were reasoning in their hearts about Yoḥanan, whether he was the Messiah or not,
16. Yoḥanan answered, saying to them all, “I indeed immerse you in water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to loosen. He shall immerse you in the Set-apart Spirit and fire.