Matayo 3
1 Na tango wana, Yoane Mobatisi ayaki mpe akomaki koteya kati na esobe ya Yuda:
About this time John the Baptist made his appearance, preaching in the Desert of Judaea.
2 « Bobongola mitema na bino, pamba te Bokonzi ya Likolo ekomi pene! »
"Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand."
3 Yoane azali ye oyo mosakoli Ezayi alobaki: « Mongongo ya moto moko ezali kobelela kati na esobe: ‹ Bobongisa nzela mpo na Nkolo, bosembolela Ye banzela ya mike! › »
He it is who was spoken of through the Prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying aloud, 'In the desert prepare ye a road for the Lord: make His highway straight.'"
4 Yoane azalaki kolata elamba oyo basala na bapwale ya shamo mpe mokaba oyo basala na poso ya nyama; azalaki kolia mankoko mpe mafuta ya nzoyi.
This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey.
5 Bato bazalaki kokende epai na ye longwa na Yelusalemi, na Yuda mobimba mpe na etuka mobimba ya Yordani;
Then large numbers of people went out to him--people from Jerusalem and from all Judaea, and from the whole of the Jordan valley--
6 bazalaki kotubela masumu na bango, mpe ye, azalaki kobatisa bango na ebale Yordani.
and were baptized by him in the Jordan, making full confession of their sins.
7 Kasi lokola azalaki komona Bafarizeo mpe Basaduseo koya ebele mpo na kozwa libatisi, alobaki na bango: « Bana ya banyoka, nani ateyi bino kokima kanda oyo ezali koya?
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he exclaimed, "O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Bolakisa na nzela ya bizaleli ete bobongoli mitema.
Therefore let your lives prove your change of heart;
9 Bokanisa kutu te komilobela na se ya mitema: ‹ Abrayami azali koko na biso! › Nazali koloba na bino penza ya solo ete Nzambe azali na makoki ya kobimisa, wuta na mabanga oyo, bakitani mpo na Abrayami.
and do not imagine that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.
10 Epasola esili kobongisama mpo na kokata banzete wuta na misisa: nzete nyonso oyo ebotaka bambuma ya malamu te ekokatama mpe ekobwakama na moto.
And already the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which does not produce good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire.
11 Ngai nazali kobatisa bino na mayi mpo na kolakisa ete bobongoli mitema. Kasi sima na ngai, Moto moko azali koya, aleki ngai na nguya; ngai nabongi kutu te mpo na kofungola ata basinga ya basandale na Ye; ezali Ye nde akobatisa bino kati na Molimo Mosantu mpe kati na moto.
I indeed am baptizing you in water on a profession of repentance; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I: His sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.
12 Asimbi kiyungulu na loboko na Ye, akopetola etando na Ye mpo na koyamba ble kati na ebombelo na Ye; kasi akotumba kati na moto oyo ekufaka te, matiti oyo ekotikala. »
His winnowing-shovel is in His hand, and He will make a thorough clearance of His threshing-floor, gathering His wheat into the storehouse, but burning up the chaff in unquenchable fire."
13 Yesu alongwaki na Galile mpe akendeki na Yordani mpo ete Yoane abatisa Ye.
Just at that time Jesus, coming from Galilee to the Jordan, presents Himself to John to be baptized by him.
14 Kasi Yoane aboyaki kobatisa Ye. Alobaki: — Ezali ngai nde nazali na posa ete Yo obatisa ngai; kasi ndenge nini Yo oyei epai na ngai?
John protested. "It is I," he said, "who have need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15 Yesu azongiselaki ye: — Tika ete esalema bongo sik’oyo! Ezali malamu mpo na biso kosala bongo mpo na kokokisa bosembo nyonso.
"Let it be so on this occasion," Jesus replied; "for so we ought to fulfil every religious duty." Then he consented;
16 Tango kaka Yesu azwaki libatisi mpe abimaki na mayi, Likolo efungwamaki; mpe Yesu amonaki Molimo ya Nzambe kokitela Ye lokola ebenga.
and Jesus was baptized, and immediately went up from the water. At that moment the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him,
17 Bongo, mongongo moko eyokanaki wuta na Likolo mpe elobaki: « Oyo azali Mwana na Ngai ya bolingo, nasepelaka na Ye mingi. »
while a voice came from Heaven, saying, "This is My Son, the dearly loved, in whom is My delight."
