< Matthew 3 >

1 And 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 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one who calls out in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his roads straight.'"
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 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and 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 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him,
Nao andũ nĩmathiiaga kũrĩ we moimĩte Jerusalemu, na mĩena yothe ya Judea, na bũrũri wothe ũrĩa wariganĩtie na Jorodani.
6 and they were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.
Moimbũraga mehia mao, nake akamabatithĩria Rũũĩ-inĩ rwa Jorodani.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
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 Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance,
Ciarai maciaro maringaine na kwĩrira.
9 and do not think to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Na mũtikeĩĩre na ngoro cianyu atĩrĩ, ‘Ithe witũ nĩ Iburahĩmu.’ Ngũmwĩra atĩrĩ, Ngai no atũme mahiga maya matuĩke ciana cia Iburahĩmu.
10 "Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
Ithanwa nĩrĩige itina-inĩ cia mĩtĩ, na mũtĩ o wothe ũtaciaraga maciaro mega nĩũgatemwo, ũikio mwaki-inĩ.
11 I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in 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, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."
Gĩtarũrũ gĩake akĩnyiitĩte na guoko, na nĩagatheria kĩhuhĩro gĩake, na acookanĩrĩrie ngano yake ikũmbĩ, acooke acine mahuti na mwaki ũtangĩhoreka.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
Hĩndĩ ĩyo Jesũ akiuma Galili agĩthiĩ Rũũĩ-inĩ rwa Jorodani akabatithio nĩ Johana.
14 But John would have hindered him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?"
Nowe Johana akĩgeria kũmũgiria, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Niĩ njagĩrĩirwo nĩkũbatithio nĩwe, nawe wagĩũka kũrĩ niĩ atĩa?”
15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, "Allow it to happen now, for this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed 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 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water; and look, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming 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 look, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Naguo mũgambo ũkiuma igũrũ, ũkiuga atĩrĩ, “Ũyũ nĩwe Mũrũ wakwa, ũrĩa nyendete; na nĩngenaga mũno nĩ we.”

< Matthew 3 >