As John was finishing his ministry he asked,‘ Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon— and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’

约翰将行尽他的程途说：‘你们以为我是谁？我不是基督；只是有一位在我以后来的，我解他脚上的鞋带也是不配的。’

约翰快走完他的人生路程时，说：‘你们以为我是谁？我不是；但是有一位在我以后来的，我就是解他脚上的鞋带也不配。’

约翰快走完他的人生路程时，说：‘你们以为我是谁？我不是；但是有一位在我以后来的，我就是解他脚上的鞋带也不配。’

约翰在工作快要完成的时候说，‘你们以为我是谁？我不是基督。在我之后来的那位，我连给祂解鞋带也不配。’

约翰快要跑完他的路程的时候，说：‘你们以为我是谁？我不是基督。他是在我以后来的，我就是给他解脚上的鞋带也不配。’

当约翰快要跑尽该跑的路程时，说：‘你们认为我是谁？我不是那一位。看哪，他要在我以后来，我就是为他解脚上的鞋带也不配。’

約翰將行盡他的程途說：『你們以為我是誰？我不是基督；只是有一位在我以後來的，我解他腳上的鞋帶也是不配的。』

約翰快走完他的人生路程時，說：『你們以為我是誰？我不是；但是有一位在我以後來的，我就是解他腳上的鞋帶也不配。』

約翰快走完他的人生路程時，說：『你們以為我是誰？我不是；但是有一位在我以後來的，我就是解他腳上的鞋帶也不配。』

約翰在工作快要完成的時候說，『你們以為我是誰？我不是基督。在我之後來的那位，我連給祂解鞋帶也不配。』

約翰快要跑完他的路程的時候，說：‘你們以為我是誰？我不是基督。他是在我以後來的，我就是給他解腳上的鞋帶也不配。’

約翰將要完盡他的跑程時、曾經說了：「你們所猜想我的、我並不是。不，有一位在我以後來的、他腳上的鞋我並不配脫。」

當約翰快要跑盡該跑的路程時，說：『你們認為我是誰？我不是那一位。看哪，他要在我以後來，我就是為他解腳上的鞋帶也不配。』

迨畢其職、曰、爾意我為誰、我非其人也、有後我來者、即解其履、我亦弗堪、

約翰將卒事、曰、爾以我為誰、我非基督、有後我來者、其履我不堪解、

約翰職事將竣、曰、爾曹意我為誰、我非基督、彼後我而來、其足之履、我亦不堪解、

迨其使命將畢、如望恆曰：「爾等以吾為誰？實非基督；惟有後我來者、吾雖為之解履、猶愧未稱、」

As John was completing his work, he said:‘ Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

John was coming to the end of his work.‘ Who do you suppose I am?’ he said.‘ I am not the one you are looking for. But there is someone coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.’

And as John was finishing his course, he said,‘ What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

Now as John was completing his mission, he said,‘ Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’

And while John was completing his course, he kept saying,‘ What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

And as John was finishing his course, he said,‘ Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’

And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, What suppose ye that I am? I am not he. But behold, there cometh one after me the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to unloose.

Then as John was completing his life’s work, he said,‘ Who do you think I am? I am not the One. But look! Someone is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on His feet.’

And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not[ he]. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of[ his] feet I am not worthy to loose.

But while John was completing his mission, he said repeatedly,‘ What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!’

As John was fulfilling his course, he said,‘ What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

“ I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am— so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

John announced:“ Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am— so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus— the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

John told them,“ I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”

He came right out and said,“ I am not the Messiah.”“ Well then, who are you?” they asked.“ Are you Elijah?”“ No,” he replied.“ Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”“ No.”“ Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:“ I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,‘ Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”

Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.John answered their questions by saying,“ I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am— so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Then Jesus explained:“ My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.

You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,“ Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared,“ Look! There is the Lamb of God!”

When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them.

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said,“ I am thirsty.”A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips.When Jesus had tasted it, he said,“ It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Paul said,“ John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

John replied,“ No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.You yourselves know how plainly I told you,‘ I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.

I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”

When Herod heard about Jesus, he said,“ John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.”For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her.John had been telling Herod,“ It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.”So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless,for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee.Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests.“ Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl,“ and I will give it to you.”He even vowed,“ I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”She went out and asked her mother,“ What should I ask for?” Her mother told her,“ Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”So the girl hurried back to the king and told him,“ I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her.So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison,brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother.

Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.

This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed.