1 IN those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wild part of Judaea2 and saying, "Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.3 For this is he who was foretold through Isaiah the prophet when he said: 'The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness, Make ready the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.' "4 This John had his clothing of camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.5 Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judaea and all the neighborhood of the Jordan6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.