Matthew 3:8

Simplified Cowboy Version

You gotta change the way you live your life if you want what God is offerin' folks here!

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance.

King James Version (1611)
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.

King James Version
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

English Standard Version
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

New American Standard Bible
"Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance;

New Century Version
Do the things that show you really have changed your hearts and lives.

Amplified Bible
"So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin];

Geneva Bible (1587)
Bring foorth therefore fruite worthy amendement of life.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;

Berean Standard Bible
Produce fruit worthy of repentance.

Contemporary English Version
Do something to show that you have really given up your sins.

Complete Jewish Bible
If you have really turned from your sins to God, produce fruit that will prove it!

Darby Translation
Produce therefore fruit worthy of repentance.

Easy-to-Read Version
Change your hearts! And show by the way you live that you have changed.

George Lamsa Translation
Bring forth therefore fruits which are worthy of repentance;

Good News Translation
Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins.

Lexham English Bible
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!

Literal Translation
Therefore, bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.

American Standard Version
Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:

Bible in Basic English
Let your change of heart be seen in your works:

Hebrew Names Version
Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance!

International Standard Version
Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance!

Etheridge Translation
Work, therefore, fruits which are suitable to repentance.

Murdock Translation
Bring forth the fruits therefore, that accord with repentance.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Bryng foorth therefore fruites meete for repentaunce.

English Revised Version
Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:

World English Bible
Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance!

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:

Weymouth's New Testament
Therefore let your lives prove your change of heart;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor do ye worthi fruyte of penaunce,

Update Bible Version
Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:

Webster's Bible Translation
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

New English Translation
Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance,

New King James Version
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

New Living Translation
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

New Life Bible
Do something to show me that your hearts are changed.

New Revised Standard
Bear fruit worthy of repentance.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Bring forth, therefore, fruit worthy of repentance;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance.

Revised Standard Version
Bear fruit that befits repentance,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Brynge forth therfore the frutes belongynge to repentauce.

Young's Literal Translation
bear, therefore, fruits worthy of the reformation,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Bewarre, brynge forth due frutes of pennaunce.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Let your actions then show your repentance:

Contextual Overview

⁷When John saw the real religious folks ride over the hill followed by a bunch of no-account politicians, he hollered at them, "You den of rattlesnakes! Who told you to ride as fast as you could from the comin' anger? ⁸You gotta change the way you live your life if you want what God is offerin' folks here! ⁹Don't even try to make the excuse that Abraham was your father. God can make these rocks become Abraham's children if that's what he wants to do. It don't mean nothin'. ¹⁰God's axe is already at the bottom of your tree. If you don't change the way you live your lives, your tree will end up in the BBQ pit. ¹¹"I dunk folks in water as a symbol that they want to change the way they think and live. But there's a cowboy comin' whose boots I ain't fit for carrying. He's gonna dunk you with the Holy Ghost and flame. ¹²His pitchfork is in his hand and he's gonna separate the good stuff from the moldy. This useless trash will be thrown in the fire that can't go out."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

forth: Matthew 21:28-30, Matthew 21:32, Isaiah 1:16, Isaiah 1:17, Luke 3:8, Luke 3:10-14, Acts 26:20, Romans 2:4-7, 2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 Corinthians 7:11, 2 Peter 1:4-8

fruits: Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23, Ephesians 5:9, Philippians 1:11

meet: etc. or, answerable to amendment of life, Jeremiah 7:3-7, Jeremiah 26:13, Jeremiah 36:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:26 - And he knew 2 Chronicles 33:15 - he took Job 36:10 - commandeth Isaiah 5:7 - he looked Ezekiel 14:6 - Repent Ezekiel 18:30 - Repent Daniel 4:27 - break Jonah 3:2 - preach Jonah 3:8 - let Micah 2:7 - named Micah 6:8 - to do Haggai 1:8 - and build Zechariah 1:4 - Turn Matthew 7:13 - at Matthew 9:13 - but Matthew 12:33 - and his fruit good Matthew 13:23 - beareth Matthew 15:22 - a woman Matthew 16:1 - Sadducees Mark 6:12 - preached Acts 2:38 - Repent Acts 16:30 - brought Titus 2:12 - denying

Cross-References

Romans 2:15
This proves they're being guided by something deep down inside 'em that is good. There's also something deep down that urges them to do wrong. Whichever one the cowboy decides to follow will show whether they are forgiven or condemned.

Hebrews 4:13
Nothing can hide from God. Everything is naked and exposed. We will all answer to him one day and give account of the ride we made.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Bring forth therefore fruits,.... That is, if you are truly penitent, if you have a proper sense of sin, and true repentance for it, do such works as are suitable to it, and will show the genuineness of it; for

fruits meet for repentance are the same as "works meet for repentance", Acts 26:20 and as a tree is known by its fruit, so repentance is known by good works; these are the fruits and effects of repentance, and which are proofs with men of the sincerity of it. Those which follow upon evangelical repentance are such as are mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7:11. Now let it be observed, that John insisted upon repentance, and a good conversation, attesting the truth of it as necessary prerequisites to the ordinance of baptism; and so Peter first urged repentance; and then proposed baptism, Acts 2:38 from whence one should think it may be rationally and strongly concluded, that none but truly repenting sinners, and such who have given proofs that they are so, are to be admitted to this ordinance.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Bring forth therefore fruits ... - That is, the proper fruits of reformation; the proper evidence that you are sincere. Do not bring your cunning and dissimulation to this work; do not carry your hypocrisy into your professed repentance, but evince your sincerity by forsaking sin, and thus give evidence that this coming to Jordan to be baptized is not an act of dissimulation. No discourse could have been more appropriate or more cutting.

Fruits - Conduct. See Matthew 7:16-19.

Meet for repentance - Fit for repentance; appropriate to it the proper expression of repentance.