< Matthew 3 >

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
Matukũ-inĩ macio Johana ũrĩa Mũbatithania nĩokire, akĩhunjagia kũu Werũ-inĩ wa Judea,
2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
akiugaga atĩrĩ, “Mwĩrirei, nĩgũkorwo ũthamaki wa igũrũ nĩũkuhĩrĩirie.”
3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
Ũyũ nĩwe ũrĩa ũhoro wake waarĩtio nĩ mũnabii Isaia rĩrĩa oigire atĩrĩ: “Kũrĩ na mũgambo wa mũndũ ũkwanĩrĩra werũ-inĩ, akoiga atĩrĩ: ‘Haarĩriai njĩra ya Mwathani, rũngariai njĩra ciake.’”
4 John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Johana eekagĩra Nguo ya guoya wa ngamĩĩra, na nĩeyohaga mũcibi wa rũũa njohero. Irio ciake ciarĩ ngigĩ na ũũkĩ wa gĩthaka.
5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.
Nao andũ nĩmathiiaga kũrĩ we moimĩte Jerusalemu, na mĩena yothe ya Judea, na bũrũri wothe ũrĩa wariganĩtie na Jorodani.
6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
Moimbũraga mehia mao, nake akamabatithĩria Rũũĩ-inĩ rwa Jorodani.
7 But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Na rĩrĩa oonire Afarisai na Asadukai aingĩ magĩũka hau nĩgeetha amabatithie, akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Inyuĩ rũciaro rũrũ rwa nduĩra! Nũũ ũmũheete ũhoro atĩ mũũrĩre marakara marĩa makiriĩ gũũka?
8 Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
Ciarai maciaro maringaine na kwĩrira.
9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Na mũtikeĩĩre na ngoro cianyu atĩrĩ, ‘Ithe witũ nĩ Iburahĩmu.’ Ngũmwĩra atĩrĩ, Ngai no atũme mahiga maya matuĩke ciana cia Iburahĩmu.
10 The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Ithanwa nĩrĩige itina-inĩ cia mĩtĩ, na mũtĩ o wothe ũtaciaraga maciaro mega nĩũgatemwo, ũikio mwaki-inĩ.
11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
“Niĩ ndĩmũbatithagia na maaĩ mwerira. No thuutha wakwa nĩgũgũũka mũndũ ũngĩ ũrĩ na hinya kũrĩ niĩ, na ndiagĩrĩire o na kũmũkuuĩra iraatũ ciake. We akaamũbatithagia na Roho Mũtheru na mwaki.
12 His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Gĩtarũrũ gĩake akĩnyiitĩte na guoko, na nĩagatheria kĩhuhĩro gĩake, na acookanĩrĩrie ngano yake ikũmbĩ, acooke acine mahuti na mwaki ũtangĩhoreka.”
13 At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
Hĩndĩ ĩyo Jesũ akiuma Galili agĩthiĩ Rũũĩ-inĩ rwa Jorodani akabatithio nĩ Johana.
14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
Nowe Johana akĩgeria kũmũgiria, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Niĩ njagĩrĩirwo nĩkũbatithio nĩwe, nawe wagĩũka kũrĩ niĩ atĩa?”
15 “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
Nake Jesũ akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Reke gũtuĩke ũguo rĩu; tondũ nĩtwagĩrĩirwo twĩke ũndũ ũyũ nĩguo tũhingie maũndũ mothe ma ũthingu.” Hĩndĩ ĩyo Johana agĩĩtĩkĩra.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.
Jesũ aarĩkia kũbatithio o ũguo-rĩ, akiumĩra maaĩ-inĩ. Kahinda o kau igũrũ rĩkĩhingũka, nake akĩona Roho wa Ngai agĩikũrũka ta ndutura, akĩũmba igũrũ rĩake.
17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
Naguo mũgambo ũkiuma igũrũ, ũkiuga atĩrĩ, “Ũyũ nĩwe Mũrũ wakwa, ũrĩa nyendete; na nĩngenaga mũno nĩ we.”

< Matthew 3 >