Mathewu Chapter 3

1. Ngaleyo mihla kwavela uJohane uMbhapathizi eshumayela ehlane laseJudiya, ethi:

2. “Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele!”

3. Ngokuba nguye akhuluma ngaye umprofethi u-Isaya, ethi: “Izwi lomemezayo ehlane, lithi: ‘Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde.’ ”

4. Yena uJohane wayenengubo yoboya bekamela noqhotho lwesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe; ukudla kwakhe kwakuyizinkumbi nezinyosi zasendle.

5. Khona kwaphumela kuye iJerusalema, neJudiya lonke, nezwe lonke laseJordani,

6. babhapathizwa nguye emfuleni iJordani bevuma izono zabo.

7. Kepha kwathi ebona abaningi kubaFarisi nabaSadusi beza embhapathizweni, wathi kubo: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani onibonise ukubalekela intukuthelo ezayo na?

8. Ngakho vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka.

9. Ningacabangi ukuba ningasho phakathi kwenu ukuthi: ‘Sinobaba u-Abrahama;’ ngokuba ngithi kini: UNkulunkulu angamvusela u-Abrahama abantwana kulawa matshe.

10. Izembe selibekiwe empandeni yemithi; ngakho yonke imithi engatheli izithelo ezinhle iyanqunywa, iphonswe emlilweni.

11. “Mina nginibhapathiza ngamanzi, kube ngukuphenduka; kepha yena oza emva kwami unamandla kunami engingafanele ukuthwala izicathulo zakhe; yena uzakunibhapathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele nangomlilo,

12. ombenge yakhe yokwela isesandleni sakhe; uzakushanelisisa isibuya sakhe, abuthele amabele enqolobaneni yakhe; kepha amakhoba uzakuwashisa ngomlilo ongacimekiyo.”

13. Khona uJesu evela eGalile wafika kuJohane eJordani ukuba azobhapathizwa nguye.

14. Kepha uJohane wamalela wathi: “Yimi engiswela ukubhapathizwa nguwe; wena uza kimi na?”

15. UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Vuma kalokhu, ngokuba kusifanele ukugcwalisa kanjalo ukulunga konke.” Khona wayesemvumela.

16. UJesu esebhapathiziwe wakhuphuka masinyane emanzini; bheka, izulu lavuleka, wabona uMoya kaNkulunkulu ehla njengejuba, eza phezu kwakhe.

17. Bheka, kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: “Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo engithokozile ngayo.”