IVangeli Elabhalwa NguMathewu 3:1-17
3 Ngalezonsuku uJohane+ uMbhabhathizi wafika enkangala yaseJudiya watshumayela+
2 esithi: “Phendukani ngoba uMbuso wezulu ususondele.”+
3 Nguye lo umphrofethi u-Isaya+ akhuluma ngaye esithi: “Ilizwi lalowo omemeza esenkangala lithi: ‘Lungisani indlela kaJehova!* Yenzani imigwaqo yakhe iqonde.’”+
4 UJohane wayegqoka izigqoko ezenziwe ngoboya bekamela, ebopha lebhanti lesikhumba ekhalweni lwakhe.+ Ukudla kwakhe kwakuzintethe loluju lweganga.+
5 Abantu beJerusalema lalabo ababevela kuyo yonke iJudiya lasemangweni wonke oseduze lomfula uJodani babesiya kuye.+
6 Wayebabhabhathiza* emfuleni uJodani,+ bevuma izono zabo phambi kwabantu.
7 Wathi ebona abaFarisi labaSadusi+ abanengi besiza lapho ayebhabhathizela khona wathi kubo: “Lina bantwana bamabululu,+ ngubani olixwayisileyo ukuthi libalekele intukuthelo ezayo?+
8 Thelani izithelo ezitshengisa ukuthi seliphendukile.
9 Lingaziyengi lisithi, ‘Ubaba wethu ngu-Abrahama,’+ ngoba ngilitshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu angenza ukuthi amatshe la abe ngabantwana baka-Abrahama.
10 Ihloka selibekwe empandeni zesihlahla. Loba yisiphi isihlahla esingatheli izithelo ezinhle sizaganyulwa siphoselwe emlilweni.+
11 Mina ngilibhabhathiza ngamanzi ngenxa yokuthi liphendukile,+ kodwa lowo oza ngemva kwami ulamandla kulami njalo akungifanelanga ukumkhipha amanyathela.+ Yena uzalibhabhathiza ngomoya ongcwele+ langomlilo.+
12 Ifotsholo yakhe yokwela isesandleni sakhe. Uzayenza ihlanzeke ngokupheleleyo indawo abhulela kuyo, abuthe ingqoloyi yakhe ayifake esiphaleni kodwa amakhoba awatshise ngomlilo+ ongacitshekiyo.”
13 UJesu wabuya 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 wathi eqeda nje ukubhabhathizwa wahle waphuma emanzini. Amazulu avuleka+ wabona umoya kaNkulunkulu usehla njengejuba usiza phezu kwakhe.+
17 Kwezwakala ilizwi livela emazulwini+ lisithi: “Le yiNdodana yami+ engiyithandayo futhi engiyamukelayo.”+
