NgokukaMathewu
3 Ngalezo zinsuku uJohane + uMbhapathizi wafika eshumayela + ehlane laseJudiya, 2 ethi: “Phendukani ngoba uMbuso wamazulu ususondele.” + 3 Eqinisweni, lona nguye okwakhulunywa ngaye ngo-Isaya umprofethi + ngala mazwi: “Kukhona omemeza ehlane ethi, ‘Lungisani indlela kaJehova!* Yenzani izindlela zakhe ziqonde.’ ” + 4 UJohane wayegqoke izembatho zoboya bekamela efake nebhande lesikhumba okhalweni. + Ukudla kwakhe kwakuyizintethe noju lwezinyosi zasendle. + 5 Abantu baseJerusalema nakulo lonke iJudiya nezwe lonke elizungeze iJordani babephuma baye kuye, + 6 wayebabhapathiza* eMfuleni iJordani, + bevuma izono zabo obala.
7 Lapho ebona abaningi kubaFarisi nakubaSadusi + bezobhapathizwa, wathi kubo: “Nzalo yezinyoka, + ubani onixwayise ukuba nibalekele ulaka oluzayo? + 8 Ngakho-ke thelani izithelo ezibonisa ukuphenduka. 9 Ningazitsheli ukuthi, ‘Ubaba wethu ngu-Abrahama.’ + Ngoba ngithi kini uNkulunkulu uyakwazi ukuvezela u-Abrahama abantwana kula matshe. 10 Imbazo isibekiwe empandeni yezihlahla. Ngakho zonke izihlahla ezingatheli izithelo ezinhle zizogawulwa ziphonswe emlilweni. + 11 Mina nginibhapathiza ngamanzi ngenxa yokuphenduka kwenu + kodwa lowo oza emva kwami, engingakufanelekeli ukukhumula izimbadada zakhe, + unamandla kunami. Yena uzonibhapathiza ngomoya ongcwele + nangomlilo. + 12 Uphethe ifosholo lokuhlunga, uyosihlanza sonke isibuya* sakhe, abuthele ukolweni wakhe enqolobaneni kodwa amakhoba uyowashisa ngomlilo + ongacimeki.”
13 Khona-ke uJesu wasuka eGalile waya kuJohane eJordani, ukuze abhapathizwe nguye. + 14 Kodwa uJohane wazama ukumenqabela, ethi: “Yimi odinga ukubhapathizwa nguwe kodwa wena uza kimi?” 15 UJesu wamphendula wathi: “Ungangenqabeli ngoba kufanelekile ngathi ukuba sifeze konke okulungile ngale ndlela.” Wabe eseyeka ukumenqabela. 16 Ngemva kokubhapathizwa, uJesu wakhuphuka ngokushesha emanzini; bheka! amazulu avuleka + wabona umoya kaNkulunkulu wehla njengejuba uza phezu kwakhe. + 17 Bheka! Izwi elivela emazulwini + lathi: “Lo yiNdodana yami + ethandekayo, engiyamukele.” +