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3

Ukutshumayela kukaJohane uMbhabhathizi

1 Ngalezonsuku kwafika uJohane uMbhabhathizi, etshumayela enkangala yeJudiya 2 esithi: Phendukani; ngoba umbuso wamazulu ususondele. 3 Ngoba nguye okwakhulunywa ngaye ngumprofethi uIsaya, esithi: Ilizwi lomemezayo enkangala, lithi: Lungisani indlela yeNkosi; qondisani indledlana zayo. 4 Njalo uJohane lo wayelesembatho soboya bekamela, elozwezwe olwenziwe ngesikhumba ekhalweni lwakhe; lokudla kwakhe kwakuzintethe loluju lweganga. 5 Kwasekuphumela kuye iJerusalema leJudiya lonke lelizwe lonke elizingelezele iJordani; 6 basebebhabhathizwa nguye eJordani bevuma izono zabo.

7 Kwathi ebona abanengi babaFarisi labaSadusi besiza ekubhabhathizeni kwakhe, wathi kubo: Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani olixwayise ukubalekela ulaka oluzayo? 8 Ngakho thelani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka; 9 njalo lingacabangi lithi phakathi kwenu: Silobaba uAbrahama; ngoba ngithi kini: UNkulunkulu ulamandla okumvusela uAbrahama abantwana kulamatshe. 10 Lakhathesi lehloka selibekiwe empandeni zezihlahla; ngakho sonke isihlahla esingatheli isithelo esihle siyaganyulwa siphoselwe emlilweni.

11 Mina ngilibhabhathiza ngamanzi ekuphendukeni; kodwa yena oza emva kwami ulamandla kulami, engingafanele ukuphatha amanyathela akhe; yena uzalibhabhathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele langomlilo; 12 ukhomane lwakhe lokwela lusesandleni sakhe, njalo uzathanyelisisa isibuya sakhe, abesebuthela amabele akhe esiphaleni sakhe, kodwa amakhoba uzawalothisa ngomlilo ongacitshekiyo.

Ukubhabhathizwa kukaJesu

13 Kwathi uJesu evela eGalili wafika eJordani kuJohane, ukuze abhabhathizwe nguye. 14 Kodwa uJohane wayemalela esithi: Mina ngiswela ukubhabhathizwa nguwe, kanti wena uza kimi? 15 Kodwa uJesu ephendula wathi kuye: Vuma khathesi; ngoba kusifanele ukuthi sigcwalise ngokunjalo ukulunga konke. Wasemvumela. 16 UJesu esebhabhathiziwe wahle wakhuphuka emanzini; njalo khangela, amazulu amvulekela, wasebona uMoya kaNkulunkulu esehla kungathi lijuba esiza phezu kwakhe. 17 Njalo khangela, kwezwakala ilizwi livela emazulwini, lisithi: Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engithokoza kuyo.

Next (Matthew 4)