The people were waiting. They were expecting something. They were all wondering in their hearts if John might be the Messiah.

百姓指望基督来的时候，人都心里猜疑，或者约翰是基督。

百姓期待基督的来临；他们心里猜测，或许约翰是基督。

百姓期待基督的来临；他们心里猜测，或许约翰是基督。

当时的百姓正期待着基督的来临，大家心里都在猜想，也许约翰就是基督。

那时众人正在期待，人人心里都在猜想会不会约翰就是基督。

当时，民众都在心里对约翰有期待并猜想，或许他就是基督。

百姓指望基督來的時候，人都心裏猜疑，或者約翰是基督。

百姓期待基督的來臨；他們心裏猜測，或許約翰是基督。

百姓期待基督的來臨；他們心裏猜測，或許約翰是基督。

當時的百姓正期待著基督的來臨，大家心裡都在猜想，也許約翰就是基督。

那時眾人正在期待，人人心裡都在猜想會不會約翰就是基督。

人民正期待着、眾人心裏正議論着約翰的事、以為他或者是基督、

當時，民眾都在心裡對約翰有期待並猜想，或許他就是基督。

民方冀望、人皆心議約翰或即基督、

民望基督、疑約翰即是否、

民適望基督、心疑約翰、即基督否、

民眾私心揣測、疑如望即為期待中之基督。

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.

As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,

Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.

Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.

Now while the people were in a state of expectation and they all were thinking carefully in their hearts about John, whether he himself perhaps was the Christ,

Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,

And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ;

Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were debating in their minds whether John might be the Messiah.

And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

While the people were filled with anticipation and they all wondered whether perhaps John could be the Christ,

As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ,

The Jews who were gathered there around Jesus spoke to him. They said,“ How long will you keep us waiting? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

You yourselves are witnesses that I said,‘ I am not the Messiah. I was sent ahead of him.’The bride belongs to the groom. The friend who helps the groom waits and listens for him. He is full of joy when he hears the groom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was. John spoke the truth to them.He did not try to hide the truth. He spoke to them openly. He said,“ I am not the Messiah.”They asked him,“ Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said,“ I am not.”“ Are you the Prophet we’ve been expecting?” they asked.“ No,” he answered.They asked one last time,“ Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”John replied, using the words of Isaiah the prophet. John said,“ I’m the messenger who is calling out in the desert,‘ Make the way for the Lord straight.’ ”( Isaiah 40:3)The Pharisees who had been sentasked him,“ If you are not the Messiah, why are you baptizing people? Why are you doing that if you aren’t Elijah or the Prophet we’ve been expecting?”“ I baptize people with water,” John replied.“ But someone is standing among you whom you do not know.He is the one who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.”This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River. That was where John was baptizing.