Mathayo 3
1 Katika siku zile Yohana Mbatizaji alikuja akihubiri katika nyika ya Yuda akisema,
Some time later John the Baptist appeared on the scene, proclaiming in the Judean desert,
2 “Tubuni kwa maana ufalme wa mbinguni u karibu.”
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has arrived!”
3 Kwa maana huyu ndiye aliyenenwa na nabii Isaya akisema, “sauti ya mtu aitaye kutoka jangwani; 'wekeni tayari njia ya Bwana, yanyoosheni mapito yake.”'
He was the one Isaiah spoke about when he said, “A voice is heard crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord. Make the paths straight for him.’”
4 Sasa Yohana alivaa manyoya ya ngamia na mkanda wa ngozi kiunoni mwake. Chakula chake kilikuwa nzige na asali ya mwituni.
John had clothes made of camel hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Kisha Yerusalemu, Yuda yote, na eneo lote linalozunguka mto Yorodani wakaenda kwake.
People came to him from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and the entire Jordan region,
6 Walikuwa wakibatizwa naye katika mto Yorodani huku wakitubu dhambi zao.
and were baptized in the Jordan River, publicly admitting their sins.
7 Lakini alipowaona wengi wa mafarisayo na masadukayo wakija kwake kubatizwa, akawaambia, ''Enyi uzao wa nyoka wenye sumu nani aliye waonya kuikimbia ghadhabu inayokuja?
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You vipers' brood! Who warned you to run away from the coming judgment?
8 Zaeni matunda yaipasayo toba.
Show by what you do that you have truly repented,
9 Na msifikiri na kusemezana miongoni mwenu, 'Tunaye Ibrahimu kama baba yetu.' Kwa kuwa nawaambieni Mungu anaweza kumwinulia Ibrahimu watoto hata kutoka katika mawe haya.
and don't presume to say proudly to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you that God could make children of Abraham from these stones.
10 Tayari shoka limekwisha kuwekwa kwenye mzizi wa miti. Kwahiyo kila mti usiozaa matunda mazuri hukatwa na kutupwa kwenye moto.
In fact the ax is ready to chop down the trees. Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
11 Ninawabatiza kwa maji kwa ajili ya toba. Lakini yeye ajaye baada yangu ni mkuu kuliko mimi nami sistahili hata kubeba viatu vyake. Yeye atawabatiza kwa Roho Mtakatifu na kwa moto.
Yes, I baptize you in water to show repentance, but after me is coming one who is greater than I am. I'm not worthy even to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12 Na pepeto lake li mkononi mwake kusafisha kabisa uwanda wake na kuikusanya ngano yake ghalani. Lakini atayachoma makapi kwa moto ambao hauwezi kuzimika.
He has his winnowing tool ready in his hand. He will clean up the threshing floor and gather the wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn the chaff with fire that can't be put out.”
13 Kisha Yesu akaja kutoka Galilaya mpaka mto Yorodani kubatizwa na Yohana.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.
14 Lakini Yohana alitaka kumzuia akisema, “Mimi nahitaji kubatizwa na wewe, nawe waja kwangu?''
But John tried to change his mind. He told Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me to baptize you?”
15 Yesu akajibu akasema, ''Ruhusu iwe hivi sasa, kwa kuwa ndivyo itupasavyo kuitimiza haki yote.'' Kisha Yohana akamruhusu.
“Please do so, because it's good for us to do what God says is right,” Jesus told him. So John agreed to do it.
16 Baada ya kuwa amebatizwa, mara Yesu alitoka kwenye maji, na tazama, Mbingu zikafunguka kwake. Na alimuona Roho wa Mungu akishuka kwa mfano wa njiwa na kutulia juu yake.
Immediately after he was baptized, Jesus came out of the water. The heavens were opened, and he saw God's Spirit like a dove descending, landing on him.
17 Tazama, sauti ilitoka mbinguni ikisema, “Huyu ni mwanangu mpendwa. Ninaye pendezwa sana naye.''
A voice from heaven said, “This is my son whom I love, who pleases me.”
