UMathewu 3:1-17
3 Ngalezonsuku uJohane uMbhabhathizi wafika enkangala yaseJudiya watshumayela
2 esithi: “Phendukani, ngoba uMbuso wamazulu ususondele.”
3 Nguye lo okwakhulunywa ngaye kusetshenziswa umphrofethi u-Isaya emazwini athi: “Ilizwi lalowo omemeza esenkangala lithi: ‘Lungisani indlela kaJehova! Yenzani imigwaqo yakhe iqonde.’”
4 UJohane wayegqoke izembatho ezenziwe ngoboya bekamela njalo wayebophe ibhanti lesikhumba ekhalweni lwakhe. Ukudla kwakhe kwakuzintethe kanye loluju lweganga.
5 Abantu baseJerusalema lalabo ababevela kuyo yonke iJudiya lasemangweni wonke oseduze loMfula uJodani babephuma besiya kuye,
6 njalo wayebabhabhathiza* eMfuleni uJodani, bevuma izono zabo phambi kwabantu.
7 Wathi ebona abaFarisi labaSadusi abanengi bezobhabhathizwa, wathi kubo: “Lina nzalo yamabululu, ngubani olixwayisileyo ukuthi libalekele intukuthelo ezayo?
8 Qalani lithele izithelo ezitshengisa ukuthi seliphendukile.
9 Lingaziyengi lisithi, ‘Ubaba wethu ngu-Abrahama,’ ngoba ngilitshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu angavezela u-Abrahama abantwana ematsheni la.
10 Ihloka selibekwe empandeni zesihlahla. Ngakho loba yisiphi isihlahla esingatheli izithelo ezinhle siyaganyulwa siphoselwe emlilweni.
11 Mina ngilibhabhathiza ngamanzi ngenxa yokuthi liphendukile, kodwa lowo ozayo ngemva kwami ulamandla kulami, njalo kakungifanelanga ukukhipha amanyathela akhe. Yena uzalibhabhathiza ngomoya ongcwele langomlilo.
12 Ifotsholo yakhe yokwela amabele isesandleni sakhe njalo uzayihlanza ngokupheleleyo indawo yakhe abhulela kuyo, futhi uzaqoqa ingqoloyi yakhe ayifake esiphaleni, kodwa amakhoba uzawatshisa ngomlilo ongeke ucitshwe.”
13 UJesu wasesiza kuJohane eMfuleni uJodani evela eGalile, ukuze azobhabhathizwa nguye.
14 Kodwa uJohane wazama ukumalisa esithi: “Yimi okumele ngibhabhathizwe nguwe, pho kungani usiza kimi?”
15 UJesu wamphendula wathi: “Yekela kube njalo khathesi, ngoba ngaleyondlela siyabe sisenza konke okulungileyo.” UJohane wasevuma.
16 UJesu esebhabhathiziwe wahle waphuma emanzini, amazulu asevuleka, wabona umoya kaNkulunkulu usehla njengejuba usiza phezu kwakhe.
17 Kanti njalo kwezwakala ilizwi livela emazulwini lisithi: “Le yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo futhi engiyamukelayo.”
Amabala angaphansi
^ Kumbe, “wayebacwilisa.”
