Matiu 3
1 Nʼoge ahụ, Jọn omee baptizim bịara na-ezisa ozi nʼọzara Judịa. Isi okwu ya bụ,
Now in those days John the Baptizer began preaching in the wilderness of Judea
2 “Chegharịanụ, nʼihi na alaeze eluigwe dị nso.”
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near!”
3 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.’”
For this is he who was referred to by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “A voice crying-out, ‘Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’”
4 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.
Now John actually used clothes made from camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; while his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Nʼoge ahụ, ndị mmadụ sitere Jerusalem, na Judịa niile, nʼala niile dị Jọdan gburugburu, na-apụkwuru ya.
Then Jerusalem, all Judea and all the region of the Jordan went out to him,
6 Mgbe ha na-ekwupụta mmehie ha, o mere ha baptizim nʼosimiri Jọdan.
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 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?
But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: “Brood of vipers! Who tipped you off to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Mịanụ mkpụrụ na-egosipụta nchegharị unu.
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance,
9 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.
and don't even think to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as father,’ for I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
10 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.
Indeed, already the ax is being laid to the root of the trees. So every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “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.
“I baptize you with water unto repentance, but the One coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with Holy Spirit.
12 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.”
His winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
13 Mgbe ahụ, Jisọs sitere na Galili bịa nʼosimiri Jọdan ka Jọn mee ya baptizim.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
14 Ma Jọn chọrọ igbochi ya, sị, “Ọ bụ m kwesiri ịbịakwute gị ka ị mee m baptizim. Gịnị mere i ji abịakwute m?”
But John tried to dissuade Him saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and You are coming to me?”
15 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.
But in answer Jesus said to him, “Permit it now, because thus it is appropriate to us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.
16 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.
And having been baptized Jesus came up directly from the water, when wow, the heavens were opened to Him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and alighting upon Him.
17 Otu olu sitere nʼeluigwe kwuo okwu sị, “Onye a bụ Ọkpara m, onye m hụrụ nʼanya. Ihe ya dị m ezi mma.”
And wow, a Voice from the heavens saying, “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am always well pleased!”
