< Matthew 3 >
1 Now in those days comes John the baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Nʼoge ahụ, Jọn omee baptizim bịara na-ezisa ozi nʼọzara Judịa. Isi okwu ya bụ,
2 and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.
“Chegharịanụ, nʼihi na alaeze eluigwe dị nso.”
3 For this is he who has been spoken of through Esaias the prophet, saying, Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of [the] Lord, make straight his paths.
Nʼihi na nwoke a bụ onye e kwuru okwu banyere ya site nʼọnụ onye amụma Aịzaya sị, “Otu onye na-eti mkpu nʼọzara, na-asị, ‘Dozienụ ụzọ maka Onyenwe anyị, meenụ ka okporoụzọ ya guzozie.’”
4 And John himself had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and wild honey.
Jọn yi uwe e ji ajị ịnyịnya kamel mee. O kekwara ihe okike ukwu nke akpụkpọ anụ nʼukwu ya. Nri ya bụ igurube na mmanụ aṅụ.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the country round the Jordan,
Nʼoge ahụ, ndị mmadụ sitere Jerusalem, na Judịa niile, nʼala niile dị Jọdan gburugburu, na-apụkwuru ya.
6 and were baptised by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mgbe ha na-ekwupụta mmehie ha, o mere ha baptizim nʼosimiri Jọdan.
7 But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Ma mgbe ọhụrụ ọtụtụ ndị Farisii na ndị Sadusii ka ha na-abịa ka e mee ha baptizim, ọ sịrị ha, “Unu ụmụ ajụala, onye dọrọ unu aka na ntị sị unu gbanarị ọnụma nke na-abịa?
8 Produce therefore fruit worthy of repentance.
Mịanụ mkpụrụ na-egosipụta nchegharị unu.
9 And do not think to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for [our] father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Unu echekwala na unu pụrụ ị sị nʼime onwe unu, ‘Anyị nwere Ebraham dịka nna,’ nʼihi na Chineke pụrụ isite na nkume ndị a mepụtara Ebraham ụmụ.
10 And already the axe is applied to the root of the trees; every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
Ma ugbu a atụkwasịla anyụike na mgbọrọgwụ osisi niile. Osisi ọbụla nke na-adịghị amị ezi mkpụrụ ka a ga-egbutu, tụba ya nʼime ọkụ.
11 I indeed baptise you with water to repentance, but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not fit to bear; he shall baptise you with [the] Holy Spirit and fire;
“Mụ onwe m ji mmiri eme unu baptizim nʼihi nchegharị, ma onye dị ike karịa m na-abịa. Onye m na-erughị ịchịta akpụkpọụkwụ ya. Ọ ga-eji Mmụọ Nsọ na ọkụ were mee unu baptizim.
12 whose winnowing fan [is] in his hand, and he shall thoroughly purge his threshing-floor, and shall gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Ihe ịfụcha ọka ya dị ya nʼaka, ọ ga-azacha ebe ịzọcha ọka ya nke ọma, chịkọta mkpụrụ ọka wiiti tinye ha nʼọba, ma jiri ọkụ a na-apụghị imenyụ emenyụ rechapụ igbugbo ọka.”
13 Then comes Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised of him;
Mgbe ahụ, Jisọs sitere na Galili bịa nʼosimiri Jọdan ka Jọn mee ya baptizim.
14 but John urgently forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptised of thee; and comest thou to me?
Ma Jọn chọrọ igbochi ya, sị, “Ọ bụ m kwesiri ịbịakwute gị ka ị mee m baptizim. Gịnị mere i ji abịakwute m?”
15 But Jesus answering said to him, Suffer [it] now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffers him.
Ma Jisọs zara ya sị, “Kwere ka ọ dịrị otu a ugbu a, o kwesiri ka anyị mezuo ezi omume niile.” Mgbe ahụ Jọn kwenyere.
16 And Jesus, having been baptised, went up straightway from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him:
Ngwangwa e mechara Jisọs baptizim, o sitere na mmiri ahụ rịpụta. Nʼotu oge ahụ, eluigwe meghere, Jọn hụrụ Mmụọ nke Chineke ka o si nʼelu fedata dị ka nduru na-ebekwasị Jisọs nʼisi.
17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight.
Otu olu sitere nʼeluigwe kwuo okwu sị, “Onye a bụ Ọkpara m, onye m hụrụ nʼanya. Ihe ya dị m ezi mma.”