Mateo 3
1 Mumazuva iwayo Johani Mubhabhatidzi akauya achiparidza murenje reJudhea,
About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea:
2 achiti, “Tendeukai, nokuti umambo hwokudenga hwava pedyo.”
‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
3 Uyu ndiye akataurwa kubudikidza nomuprofita Isaya zvichinzi: “Inzwi rounodanidzira murenje richiti, ‘Gadzirai nzira yaShe, ruramisai migwagwa yake.’”
John was the one who was spoken of in the prophet Isaiah, where he says – “The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”
4 Nguo dzaJohani dzakanga dzakagadzirwa nemvere dzengamera uye akanga akasunga bhanhire redehwe muchiuno chake. Zvokudya zvake zvaiva mhashu nouchi.
John’s clothes were made of camels’ hair, with a leather strap round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Vanhu vakabuda vakaenda kwaari vachibva muJerusarema nomuJudhea yose nomudunhu rose reJorodhani.
At that time Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him
6 Vachireurura zvivi zvavo vakabhabhatidzwa naye murwizi rweJorodhani.
and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
7 Asi paakaona vaFarisi navaSadhusi vachiuya kwaaibhabhatidzira akati kwavari, “Imi vana venyoka! Ndiani akakuyambirai kuti mutize kutsamwa kuchauya?
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them, ‘You children of snakes! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment?
8 Berekai zvibereko zvakafanira kutendeuka.
Let your life, then, prove your repentance;
9 Uye musafunga kuti mungati, ‘Tina Abhurahama sababa vedu.’ Ndinokuudzai kuti Mwari anogona kumutsa vamwe vana vaAbhurahama kubva pamabwe aya.
and do not think that you can say among yourselves “Abraham is our ancestor,” for I tell you that out of these stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!
10 Demo ratoiswa pamidzi yemiti uye muti wose usingabereki zvibereko zvakanaka uchatemwa ugokandwa mumoto.
Already the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “Ini ndinokubhabhatidzai nemvura kuti mutendeuke. Asi shure kwangu kuchauya mumwe mukuru kwandiri, wandisina kukodzera kunyange kutakura shangu dzake. Achakubhabhatidzai noMweya Mutsvene nomoto.
I, indeed, baptize you with water to teach repentance; but he who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12 Rusero rwuri muruoko rwake, uye achanatsa buriro rake, achiunganidza gorosi mudura, uye achizopisa hundi mumoto usingadzimi.”
His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, and store his grain in the barn, but the chaff he will burn with a fire that cannot be put out.’
13 Ipapo Jesu akabva kuGarirea akauya kuJorodhani kuti azobhabhatidzwa naJohani.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.
14 Asi Johani akaedza kumudzivisa achiti, “Ini ndini ndinotofanira kubhabhatidzwa nemi, imi mouya sei kwandiri?”
But John tried to prevent him. ‘I need to be baptized by you,’ he said, ‘so why have you come to me?’
15 Jesu akapindura akati, “Ngazvive saizvozvo iye zvino; zvakafanira kuti tiite izvi kuti tizadzise kururama kwose.” Ipapo Johani akabvuma hake.
‘This is the way it should be for now,’ Jesus answered, ‘because we should do everything that God requires.’ So John agreed.
16 Jesu angobhabhatidzwa, akabuda mumvura. Panguva iyoyo denga rakazaruka, uye akaona Mweya waMwari uchiburuka senjiva uye ukasvikogara paari.
After the baptism of Jesus, and just as he came up from the water, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him,
17 Inzwi rakabva kudenga richiti, “Uyu ndiye Mwanakomana wangu wandinoda, wandinofarira.”
and from the heavens there came a voice which said, ‘This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy.’
