Matthew 3
1 About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the Wilderness of Judea:
Katika siku zile Yohana Mbatizaji alikuja akihubiri katika nyika ya Yuda akisema,
2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
“Tubuni kwa maana ufalme wa mbinguni u karibu.”
3 This is he who was spoken of in the Prophet Isaiah, where he says — ‘The voice of one crying aloud in the Wilderness: “Make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”’
Kwa maana huyu ndiye aliyenenwa na nabii Isaya akisema, “sauti ya mtu aitaye kutoka jangwani; 'wekeni tayari njia ya Bwana, yanyoosheni mapito yake.”'
4 John wore clothing made of camels’ hair, with a belt of leather round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Sasa Yohana alivaa manyoya ya ngamia na mkanda wa ngozi kiunoni mwake. Chakula chake kilikuwa nzige na asali ya mwituni.
5 At that time Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him
Kisha Yerusalemu, Yuda yote, na eneo lote linalozunguka mto Yorodani wakaenda kwake.
6 and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Walikuwa wakibatizwa naye katika mto Yorodani huku wakitubu dhambi zao.
7 When, however, John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment?
Lakini alipowaona wengi wa mafarisayo na masadukayo wakija kwake kubatizwa, akawaambia, ''Enyi uzao wa nyoka wenye sumu nani aliye waonya kuikimbia ghadhabu inayokuja?
8 Let your life, then, prove your repentance;
Zaeni matunda yaipasayo toba.
9 and do not think that you can say among yourselves ‘Abraham is our ancestor,’ for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!
Na msifikiri na kusemezana miongoni mwenu, 'Tunaye Ibrahimu kama baba yetu.' Kwa kuwa nawaambieni Mungu anaweza kumwinulia Ibrahimu watoto hata kutoka katika mawe haya.
10 Already the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Tayari shoka limekwisha kuwekwa kwenye mzizi wa miti. Kwahiyo kila mti usiozaa matunda mazuri hukatwa na kutupwa kwenye moto.
11 I, indeed, baptize you with water to teach repentance; but he who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Ninawabatiza kwa maji kwa ajili ya toba. Lakini yeye ajaye baada yangu ni mkuu kuliko mimi nami sistahili hata kubeba viatu vyake. Yeye atawabatiza kwa Roho Mtakatifu na kwa moto.
12 His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, and store his grain in the barn, but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire.”
Na pepeto lake li mkononi mwake kusafisha kabisa uwanda wake na kuikusanya ngano yake ghalani. Lakini atayachoma makapi kwa moto ambao hauwezi kuzimika.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.
Kisha Yesu akaja kutoka Galilaya mpaka mto Yorodani kubatizwa na Yohana.
14 But John tried to prevent him. “It is I,” he said, “who need to be baptized by you; why then do you come to me?”
Lakini Yohana alitaka kumzuia akisema, “Mimi nahitaji kubatizwa na wewe, nawe waja kwangu?''
15 “Let it be so for the present,” Jesus answered, “since it is fitting for us thus to satisfy every claim of religion.” Upon this, John consented.
Yesu akajibu akasema, ''Ruhusu iwe hivi sasa, kwa kuwa ndivyo itupasavyo kuitimiza haki yote.'' Kisha Yohana akamruhusu.
16 After the baptism of Jesus, and just as he came up from the water, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending, like a dove, and alighting upon him,
Baada ya kuwa amebatizwa, mara Yesu alitoka kwenye maji, na tazama, Mbingu zikafunguka kwake. Na alimuona Roho wa Mungu akishuka kwa mfano wa njiwa na kutulia juu yake.
17 and from the heavens there came a voice which said: “This is my son, the Beloved, in whom I delight.”
Tazama, sauti ilitoka mbinguni ikisema, “Huyu ni mwanangu mpendwa. Ninaye pendezwa sana naye.''
