Mathewu
3:1 Ngalezo zinsuku kwafika uJohane uMbhapathizi, eshumayela ehlane lase
EJudiya,
3:2 Wathi, Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele.
3:3 Ngoba nguye owakhulunywa ngaye umprofethi u-Isaya, wathi: "The
izwi lomemezayo ehlane, lithi: Lungisani indlela yeNkosi,
nenze izindlela zakhe ziqonde.
3:4 UJohane lowo wayenesembatho sakhe soboya bekamela, enobhande lwesikhumba.
okhalweni lwakhe; ukudla kwakhe kwakuyizintethe nezinyosi zasendle.
3:5 Khona kwaphumela kuye iJerusalema, neJudiya lonke, nesifunda sonke
mayelana neJordani,
3:6 Futhi wabhapathizwa nguye eJordani, bevuma izono zabo.
3:7 Kodwa kwathi ebona abanengi babaFarisi labaSadusi beza ekubhabhathizeni kwakhe.
wathi kubo: Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani olixwayise ukuba nibaleke
olakeni oluzayo?
3:8 Ngakho vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka.
3:9 Futhi ningacabangi ukuthi phakathi kwenu, Sino-Abrahama ubaba wethu.
ngokuba ngithi kini: UNkulunkulu unamandla okuvusa kulawa matshe
abantwana kuAbrahama.
3:10 Futhi manje imbazo isibekiwe empandeni yemithi, ngakho zonke
umuthi ongatheli izithelo ezinhle uyagawulwa, uphonswe kuwo
umlilo.
3:11 Mina nginibhapathiza ngamanzi, kube ngukuphenduka, kepha ozayo
emva kwami unamandla kunami, engingafanele ukuthwala izicathulo zakhe;
uyakunibhapathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele nangomlilo;
3:12 ophephelo lwakhe lusesandleni sakhe, futhi uyohlanza ngokuphelele isibuya sakhe, futhi
ubuthele ukolweni wakhe enqolobaneni; kepha amakhoba uyakuwashisa ngawo
umlilo ongacimekiyo.
3:13 Khona uJesu weza evela eGalile waya eJordani kuJohane, ukuze abhapathizwe nguye
yena.
3:14 Kodwa uJohane wamalela, esithi: Mina ngiswela ukubhabhathizwa nguwe, njalo
uza kimi na?
3:15 UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: Vuma kalokhu, ngokuba kube njalo
kusifanele ukugcwalisa konke ukulunga. Wase emvumela.
3:16 UJesu esebhapathiziwe wakhuphuka masinyane emanzini.
bheka, amazulu amvulela, wabona uMoya kaNkulunkulu
ehla njengejuba, amehlela phezu kwakhe;
3:17 Futhi bheka, izwi livela ezulwini, wathi: Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engikuyo
ngijabule.