Ruka 3
1 Mugore regumi nemashanu rokutonga kwaTibheriasi Kesari, Pondio Pirato paakanga ari mubati weJudhea, Herodhi ari mubati weGarirea, mununʼuna wake Firipi ari mubati weIturea neTirakoniti, uye Risania ari mubati weAbhurini,
When the Emperor Tiberius had been ruling [the Roman Empire] for 15 years, and while Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea [district], and Herod [Antipas] was ruling Galilee [district], and his brother Philip was ruling Iturea and Trachonitis [districts], and Lysanius was ruling Abilene [district],
2 panguva youprista hwaAnasi naKefasi, shoko raMwari rakasvika kuna Johani mwanakomana waZekaria mugwenga.
and while Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests [in Jerusalem], God gave messages to Zechariah’s son John while he was living in the desolate region.
3 Akaenda munyika yose yakapoteredza Jorodhani, achiparidza rubhabhatidzo rwokutendeuka kuti vanhu varegererwe zvivi.
[So] John went all over the area close to the Jordan [River]. He kept telling people, “If you want [God] to forgive you for your sins, you must (repent/turn away from your sinful behavior) [before you ask me] to baptize [you]!”
4 Sezvazvakanyorwa mubhuku ramashoko aIsaya muprofita zvichinzi: “Inzwi rounodana murenje richiti, ‘Gadzirai nzira yaShe, ruramisai migwagwa yake.
John was the one who [fulfilled] these words that had [been written] by the prophet Isaiah {that the prophet Isaiah had written} on a scroll [long ago]: In a desolate area, someone [SYN] will be heard shouting [to the people who pass by], “Prepare yourselves [to receive] the Lord when he comes! [Make yourselves ready so that you will be prepared when he comes], [just like people] straighten out the road [MET] [for an important official] [MET, DOU]!
5 Mipata yose ichafushirwa, makomo ose nezvikomo zvichaderedzwa. Migwagwa yakakombama ichatwasanudzwa, pasakaenzana pachaenzaniswa.
[Just like people] level off all the places where the land rises and [just like they] fill all the ravines, and [just like people] make the road straight wherever it is crooked, and [just like people] make smooth the bumps in the road, [similarly you need to remove all the obstacles which prevent God from blessing you]!
6 Uye marudzi ose avanhu achaona ruponeso rwaMwari.’”
Then people [SYN] everywhere will understand how God can save [MTY] [people].”
7 Johani akati kuvanhu vazhinji vaiuya kuzobhabhatidzwa naye, “Imi vana venyoka! Ndianiko akuyambirai kuti mutize kutsamwa kuchauya?
Although large groups of people came to John to be baptized {in order that he would baptize them}, [he knew that many of them were not sincere]. So he kept saying to them, “You [people are evil] [MET] [like] poisonous snakes! [I] warn you that [God] will some day punish [MTY] [everyone] who sins. And (do not think that you can escape [from his punishing] [MTY] [you if you do not turn from your sinful behavior!/did someone tell you] that you can escape [from his punishing] [MTY] [you if you do not turn from your sinful behavior]?) [RHQ] (OR, Who told you that you could escape [God’s punishment?])
8 Chiberekai zvibereko zvinoenderana nokutendeuka. Uye musatanga kuti mumwoyo menyu, ‘Abhurahama ndiye baba vedu.’ Nokuti ndinoti kwamuri Mwari anogona kumutsira Abhurahama vana pamabwe aya.
Do what is appropriate for people who have truly turned from their sinful behavior! [God promised to give Abraham many] descendants. In order to fulfill that promise, God does not need you! I tell you that he can change these stones to make them descendants of Abraham! So do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We [(exc)] are descendants of Abraham, [so God will not punish us, even though we have] sinned!’
9 Demo ratoiswa pamidzi yemiti, uye muti mumwe nomumwe usingabereki zvibereko zvakanaka uchatemwa ugokandwa mumoto.”
[God is ready to punish you if you do not turn away from your sinful behavior, just like a man] [MET] lays his axe at the roots [of a fruit] tree [to chop it down and throw it into the fire if it does not produce good fruit] [MET].”
10 Vanhu vazhinji vakati, “Zvino toita seiko?”
[Then] various ones in the crowd asked John, “What shall we [(exc)] do [to escape God punishing us] (OR), [to show that we have repented]?”
11 Johani akapindura akati, “Munhu ane nguo mbiri ngaagovane neasina, uye ane zvokudya ngaaitewo saizvozvo.”
He answered them, “If any of you has two shirts, you should give one of them to someone who has no shirt. If any of you has [plenty of] food, you should give some to those who have no food.”
12 Vateresi vakauyawo kuzobhabhatidzwa. Vakamubvunza vakati, “Mudzidzisi, toita seiko?”
[Some] tax collectors came [and asked] to be baptized ([asked him] to baptize them}. They asked him, “Teacher, what shall we [(exc)] do [to please God]?”
13 Akati kwavari, “Musatora mari inopfuura mwero wamunofanira kutora.”
He said to them, “Do not take from the people any more money than [the Roman government] tells you to take!”
14 Ipapo vamwe varwi vakamubvunza vakati, “Tinofanira kuita seiko?” Iye akati, “Musatorera vanhu mari nechisimba uye musapomera vanhu nhema, mugutsikane nomubayiro wenyu.”
Some soldiers asked him, “What about us? What should we [(exc)] do [to please God]?” He said to them, “Do not [say to anyone], ‘[If you(sg) do not give me] some money, I will hurt you,’ and do not take [people to court and] falsely accuse them of doing something wrong! And be content with your wages.”
15 Vanhu vakanga vakamirira vakatarisira, uye vose vakanga vachikahadzika mumwoyo mavo kuti zvimwe Johani akanga ari iye Kristu.
People were expecting [that the Messiah would come soon]. Because of that, many of them wondered about John. [Some of them asked him] if he was the Messiah.
16 Johani akavapindura vose achiti, “Ini ndinokubhabhatidzai nemvura. Asi shure kwangu kunouya mumwe ane simba kundipfuura zvokuti ini handina kukodzera kuti ndisunungure rukanda rweshangu dzake. Achakubhabhatidzai noMweya Mutsvene nomoto.
John replied to them all, “No, [I am not]. I used [only] water when I baptized you. But [the Messiah] will soon come! He is far greater than I am. [He is so great that] I am not worthy to [be like his slave and] untie his sandals [MET] [like] a slave would do! He will put [his] Holy Spirit within [MTY] you [to truly change your lives], and [he will judge others of you and punish you in] the fire [MET] [in hell]. (questioned)
17 Rusero rwake rwuri muruoko rwake kuti apepete paburiro rake uye agounganidza gorosi mudura, asi hundi achaipisa nomoto usingadzimwi.”
He [is like a man] [MET] [who wants to] clear away the grain on the ground where it has been threshed {they have threshed it}. That man [uses] a huge fork [to throw the grain into the air] to separate the wheat from the chaff [MET], and then he cleans up the threshing area. [Similarly, God] will [separate righteous people from the evil people, like a man who] gathers the wheat into his storage area, and then he will burn [those who are like] chaff with a fire (that will never be put out/that will burn forever).”
18 Uye namamwe mashoko mazhinji, Johani akakurudzira vanhu akaparidza vhangeri kwavari.
John kept telling people many things to urge them [to turn to God], as he told them the good message [from God].
19 Asi Johani akati atsiura Herodhi mutongi nokuda kwaHerodhiasi, mukadzi womununʼuna wake, uye nezvimwe zvinhu zvose zvakaipa zvaakanga aita,
He also rebuked [the ruler of the district], Herod [Antipas. He rebuked him] for [marrying] Herodias, his brother’s wife, [while his brother was still alive], and for doing many other evil things.
20 Herodhi akawedzera pazviri zvose nokuita izvi: Akapfigira Johani mutorongo.
But Herod [had his soldiers] put John in prison. That was another evil thing he did.
21 Vanhu vose vakati vachiri kubhabhatidzwa, Jesu akabhabhatidzwawo. Uye akati achinyengetera, denga rakazaruka,
[But before John was put in prison], when many people were being baptized {when he was baptizing many people}, after Jesus was baptized {he baptized Jesus} and Jesus was praying, the sky opened.
22 Mweya Mutsvene akauya pamusoro pake nomufananidzo wenjiva. Uye inzwi rakabva kudenga richiti, “Ndiwe mwanakomana wangu, wandinoda; ndiwe wandinofarira kwazvo.”
Then the Holy Spirit, resembling a dove, descended upon [Jesus]. And [God] [SYN/EUP] spoke to Jesus from heaven, saying, “You [(sg)] are my Son, whom I love dearly. I am very pleased with you!”
23 Zvino Jesu pachake akanga ava namakore anenge makumi matatu paakatanga ushumiri hwake. Sokuonekwa kwazvo, akanga ari mwanakomana, mwanakomana waHeri,
When Jesus began [his work for God], he was about 30 years old. It was {[People]} thought that he was [the son of] Joseph. [Joseph was the son] of Heli.
24 mwanakomana waMatati, mwanakomana waRevhi, mwanakomana waMereki, mwanakomana waJani, mwanakomana waJosefa,
[Heli was the son] of Matthat. [Matthat was the son] of Levi. [Levi was the son] of Melchi. [Melchi was the son] of Jannai. [Jannai was the son] of Joseph.
25 mwanakomana waMatatiasi, mwanakomana waAmosi, mwanakomana waNahumi, mwanakomana waEsiri, mwanakomana waNagai,
[Joseph was the son] of Mattathias. [Mattathias was the son] of Amos. [Amos was the son] of Nahum. [Nahum was the son] of Esli. [Esli was the son] of Naggai.
26 mwanakomana waMaati, mwanakomana waMatatiasi, mwanakomana waSemeini, mwanakomana waJoseki, mwanakomana waJodha,
[Naggai was the son] of Maath. [Maath was the son] of Mattathias. [Mattathias was the son] of Semein. [Semein was the son] of Josech. [Josech was the son] of Joda.
27 mwanakomana waJoanani, mwanakomana waResa, mwanakomana waZerubhabheri, mwanakomana waShearitieri, mwanakomana waNeri,
[Joda was the son] of Joanan. [Joanan was the son] of Rhesa. [Rhesa was the son] of Zerubbabel. [Zerubbabel was the son] of Shealtiel. [Shealtiel was the son] of Neri.
28 mwanakomana waMereki, mwanakomana waAdhi, mwanakomana waKosamu, mwanakomana waErimadhami, mwanakomana waEri,
[Neri was the son] of Melchi. [Melchi was the son] of Addi. [Addi was the son] of Cosam. [Cosam was the son] of Elmadam. [Elmadam was the son] of Er.
29 mwanakomana waJoshua, mwanakomana waEriezeri, mwanakomana waJerimi, mwanakomana waMatati, mwanakomana waRevhi,
[Er was the son] of Joshua. [Joshua was the son] of Eliezer. [Eliezer was the son] of Jorim. [Jorim was the son] of Matthat. [Matthat was the son] of Levi.
30 mwanakomana waSimeoni, mwanakomana waJudha, mwanakomana waJosefa, mwanakomana waJonami, mwanakomana waEriakimi,
[Levi was the son] of Simeon. [Simeon was the son] of Judah. [Judah was the son] of Joseph. [Joseph was the son] of Jonam. [Jonam was the son] of Eliakim.
31 mwanakomana waMerea, mwanakomana waMena, mwanakomana waMatata, mwanakomana waNatani, mwanakomana waDhavhidhi,
[Eliakim was the son] of Melea. [Melea was the son] of Menna. [Menna was the son] of Mattatha. [Mattatha was the son] of Nathan. [Nathan was the son] of David.
32 mwanakomana waJese, mwanakomana waObhedhi, mwanakomana waBhoazi, mwanakomana waSarimoni, mwanakomana waNahashoni,
[David was the son] of Jesse. [Jesse was the son] of Obed. [Obed was the son] of Boaz. [Boaz was the son] of Sala. [Sala was the son] of Nahshon.
33 mwanakomana waAminadhabhi, mwanakomana waRami, mwanakomana waHezironi, mwanakomana waPerezi, mwanakomana waJudha,
[Nahshon was the son] of Amminadab. [Amminadab was the son] of Admin. [Admin was the son] of Arni. [Arni was the son] of Hezron. [Hezron was the son] of Perez. [Perez was the son] of Judah.
34 mwanakomana waJakobho, mwanakomana waIsaka, mwanakomana waAbhurahama, mwanakomana waTera, mwanakomana waNahori,
[Judah was the son] of Jacob. [Jacob was the son] of Isaac. [Isaac was the son] of Abraham. [Abraham was the son] of Terah. [Terah was the son] of Nahor.
35 mwanakomana waSerugi, mwanakomana waReu, mwanakomana waPeregi, mwanakomana waEbha, mwanakomana waShera,
[Nahor was the son] of Serug. [Serug was the son] of Reu. [Reu was the son] of Peleg. [Peleg was the son] of Eber. [Eber was the son] of Shelah.
36 mwanakomana waKainani, mwanakomana waArifasadhi, mwanakomana waShamu, mwanakomana waNoa, mwanakomana waRameki,
[Shelah was the son] of Cainan. [Cainan was the son] of Arphaxad. [Arphaxad was the son] of Shem. [Shem was the son] of Noah. [Noah was the son] of Lamech.
37 mwanakomana waMetusera, mwanakomana waEnoki, mwanakomana waJaredhi, mwanakomana waMaharareri, mwanakomana waKenani,
[Lamech was the son] of Methuselah. [Methuselah was the son] of Enoch. [Enoch was the son] of Jared. [Jared was the son] of Mahalalel. [Mahalalel was the son] of Cainan.
38 mwanakomana waEnoshi, mwanakomana waSeti, mwanakomana waAdhamu, mwanakomana waMwari.
[Cainan was the son] of Enos. [Enos was the son] of Seth. [Seth was the son] of Adam. [Adam was the man] God created.
