UMathewu 3
1 Ngalesosikhathi kwafika uJohane uMbhaphathizi etshumayela enkangala yaseJudiya
Mu masubayo walesa Yohane Mubatishi kakambauka mu cinyika caku Yudeya,
2 esithi, “Phendukani ngoba umbuso wezulu ususondele.”
kambeti, “Shiyani bwipishi pakwinga Lesa ulipepi kwikalika Bwami bwakendi.”
3 Nguye lo okwakhulunywa ngaye ngumphrofethi u-Isaya kwathiwa: “Ilizwi lomemezayo enkangala lithi, ‘Lungiselani iNkosi indlela, yenzani izindlela zayo ziqonde.’”
Uyu engwalikwamba Mushinshimi Yesaya mpwalambeti, “Liswi lya muntu labilikishinga mucinyika kambeti, ‘Bambani mukwakwa wa kupitamo Mwami,’ ‘Lulamikani nshila njoti akapitemo.’”
4 Izigqoko zikaJohane zazenziwe ngoboya bekamela, elebhanti lesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe. Ukudla kwakhe kwakuzintethe loluju lwenyosi zeganga.
Yohane walikufwala mwinjila wabweya bwa Ngamila, ne mukopo wacipaya mubukome. Cakulya cakendi calikuba bikobo ne bwiki bwamucisuwa.
5 Abantu baphuma baya kuye bevela eJerusalema lakulo lonke elaseJudiya lemangweni wonke waseJodani.
Bantu balafumina mu Yelusalemu ne mu Yudeya kayi ne mubibela byonse bilipepi ne mulonga wa Yolodani, balikwisa kuli Yohane.
6 Bevuma izono zabo, babhaphathizwa nguye emfuleni uJodani.
Abo balikulyambilila bwipishi bwabo, balabatishiwa mu mulonga wa Yolodani.
7 Kodwa wathi ebona abaFarisi labaSadusi abanengi besiza lapho ayebhaphathizela khona wathi kubo, “Lina nzalo yezinyoka! Lilimukiswe ngubani ukuthi libalekele ulaka oluzayo na?
Yohane mpwalabona Bayuda bangi bamulikoto lya Bafalisi, ne Basaduki kabayanda kubatishiwa, nendi Yohane walabambileti, “Bana banjoka amwe, niyani sena walamucenjesheti mufwambe kutina bukalu bwa Lesa bulesanga?
8 Thelani izithelo ezihambelana lokuphenduka.
Neco kamwinsani bintu bilaleshengeti mwashiya bwipishi bwenu.
9 Njalo lingacabangi ukuthi lingazitshela ukuthi, ‘Silo-Abhrahama ongubaba wethu.’ Mina ngilitshela ukuthi kuwonala amatshe uNkulunkulu angamenzela u-Abhrahama abantwana.
Kamutalibepanga mu myoyo yenu kwambeti, ngamucifwamba cisubulo ca Lesa pakwambeti mushali wetu ni Abulahamu. Cakubinga ndamwambilishingeti Lesa ingawasandula awa mabwe kuba banabendi Abulahamu.
10 Ihloka selivele selisezimpandeni zezihlahla njalo zonke izihlahla ezingatheli izithelo ezinhle zizaganyulwa, ziphoselwe emlilweni.
Pacino cindi kembe kalibambila kutimbula citondo pamiyanda, neco citondo ciliconse cilabulunga kusema bisepo byaina, nibakacitimbule ne kuciwala mumulilo.”
11 Mina ngilibhaphathiza ngamanzi okutshengisa ukuphenduka. Kodwa ngemva kwami kuza olamandla kulami njalo kakungilingananga ukuthwala amanyathela akhe. Uzalibhaphathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele langomlilo.
“Ame ndamubatishinga ne menshi kuba cilesho ca kushiya bwipishi bwenu, nomba panyuma pakame palesanga uyo eshakamubatishenga ne Mushimu Uswepa ne mulilo. Nendi wampita ngofu, cakwinseti nkandelela ne kunyamuna nkwabilo shakendi sobwe.
12 Isitsha sakhe sokwela sisesandleni sakhe njalo uzathanyela isiza sakhe, abuthele amabele akhe wonke esiphaleni, kuthi amakhoba awatshise ngomlilo ongacitshekiyo.”
Cakupupulushila cilikendi mu makasa akendi, kwambeti atatike kupupulusha. Nakabike maila apupulushiwa cena mu lyanga, nomba bungu nakabutente pamulilo utapu.”
13 UJesu weza eJodani evela eGalile ukuba abhaphathizwe nguJohane.
Pacindico, Yesu walesa kuli Yohane ku mulonga wa Yolodani, kufuma ku Galileya kwambeti Yohane enga mubatishe.
14 Kodwa uJohane wazama ukwenqaba ngokuthi, “Yimi engidinga ukubhaphathizwa nguwe, kanti pho ungeza njani kimi?”
Yohane pakwelekesha kukana walambeti, “Nte njame ndelela kubatishiwa nenjamwe, nomba amwe kayi mulesanga kuli njame?”
15 UJesu waphendula wathi, “Yekela kube njalo okwakhathesi ngoba kufanele ukuba sikwenze lokhu ukuze sigcwalise konke ukulunga.” Ngakho uJohane wasevuma.
Nomba Yesu walamukumbuleti, “Obe kosuminowa, pakwinga emotwelela kwinshila bintu byonse byabululami mbyalayandanga Lesa.” Neco Yohane walasumina.
16 Masinyane nje uJesu eqeda kubhaphathizwa waphuma emanzini. Khonokho nje izulu lavuleka, wasebona uMoya kaNkulunkulu usehla njengejuba njalo usehlela phezu kwakhe.
Yesu mpwalabatishiwa, walasabuka mu menshi. Popelapo kwilu kwalacaluka, walabona Mushimu wa Lesa kauseluka mbuli nkulimba nekwisa kwikala palyendiye,
17 Ilizwi elavela ezulwini lathi, “Lo yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyathokoza kakhulu ngayo.”
kwilu kwalanyumfwika Liswi lyakwambeti, “Uyu e Mwaname ngondayandishisha, ndakondwa nendi.”
