< UMathewu 3 >
1 Ngalesosikhathi kwafika uJohane uMbhaphathizi etshumayela enkangala yaseJudiya
2 esithi, “Phendukani ngoba umbuso wezulu ususondele.”
3 Nguye lo okwakhulunywa ngaye ngumphrofethi u-Isaya kwathiwa: “Ilizwi lomemezayo enkangala lithi, ‘Lungiselani iNkosi indlela, yenzani izindlela zayo ziqonde.’”
4 Izigqoko zikaJohane zazenziwe ngoboya bekamela, elebhanti lesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe. Ukudla kwakhe kwakuzintethe loluju lwenyosi zeganga.
5 Abantu baphuma baya kuye bevela eJerusalema lakulo lonke elaseJudiya lemangweni wonke waseJodani.
6 Bevuma izono zabo, babhaphathizwa nguye emfuleni uJodani.
7 Kodwa wathi ebona abaFarisi labaSadusi abanengi besiza lapho ayebhaphathizela khona wathi kubo, “Lina nzalo yezinyoka! Lilimukiswe ngubani ukuthi libalekele ulaka oluzayo na?
8 Thelani izithelo ezihambelana lokuphenduka.
9 Njalo lingacabangi ukuthi lingazitshela ukuthi, ‘Silo-Abhrahama ongubaba wethu.’ Mina ngilitshela ukuthi kuwonala amatshe uNkulunkulu angamenzela u-Abhrahama abantwana.
10 Ihloka selivele selisezimpandeni zezihlahla njalo zonke izihlahla ezingatheli izithelo ezinhle zizaganyulwa, ziphoselwe emlilweni.
11 Mina ngilibhaphathiza ngamanzi okutshengisa ukuphenduka. Kodwa ngemva kwami kuza olamandla kulami njalo kakungilingananga ukuthwala amanyathela akhe. Uzalibhaphathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele langomlilo.
12 Isitsha sakhe sokwela sisesandleni sakhe njalo uzathanyela isiza sakhe, abuthele amabele akhe wonke esiphaleni, kuthi amakhoba awatshise ngomlilo ongacitshekiyo.”
13 UJesu weza eJodani evela eGalile ukuba abhaphathizwe nguJohane.
14 Kodwa uJohane wazama ukwenqaba ngokuthi, “Yimi engidinga ukubhaphathizwa nguwe, kanti pho ungeza njani kimi?”
15 UJesu waphendula wathi, “Yekela kube njalo okwakhathesi ngoba kufanele ukuba sikwenze lokhu ukuze sigcwalise konke ukulunga.” Ngakho uJohane wasevuma.
16 Masinyane nje uJesu eqeda kubhaphathizwa waphuma emanzini. Khonokho nje izulu lavuleka, wasebona uMoya kaNkulunkulu usehla njengejuba njalo usehlela phezu kwakhe.
17 Ilizwi elavela ezulwini lathi, “Lo yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyathokoza kakhulu ngayo.”
