John the Baptist; Baptism of Jesus

¹mihla kwavela uJohane uMbhapathizi eshumayela ehlane laseJudiya, ethi:

²“Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele!”

³Ngokuba nguye akhuluma ngaye umprofethi u-Isaya, ethi: “Izwi lomemezayo ehlane, lithi: ‘Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde.’ ”

⁴Yena uJohane wayenengubo yoboya bekamela noqhotho lwesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe; ukudla kwakhe kwakuyizinkumbi nezinyosi zasendle.

⁵Khona kwaphumela kuye iJerusalema, neJudiya lonke, nezwe lonke laseJordani,

⁶babhapathizwa nguye emfuleni iJordani bevuma izono zabo.

⁷Kepha kwathi ebona abaningi kubaFarisi nabaSadusi beza embhapathizweni, wathi kubo: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani onibonise ukubalekela intukuthelo ezayo na?

⁸Ngakho vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka.

⁹Ningacabangi ukuba ningasho phakathi kwenu ukuthi: ‘Sinobaba u-Abrahama;’ ngokuba ngithi kini: UNkulunkulu angamvusela u-Abrahama abantwana kulawa matshe.

¹⁰Izembe selibekiwe empandeni yemithi; ngakho yonke imithi engatheli izithelo ezinhle iyanqunywa, iphonswe emlilweni.

¹¹“Mina nginibhapathiza ngamanzi, kube ngukuphenduka; kepha yena oza emva kwami unamandla kunami engingafanele ukuthwala izicathulo zakhe; yena uzakunibhapathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele nangomlilo,

¹²ombenge yakhe yokwela isesandleni sakhe; uzakushanelisisa isibuya sakhe, abuthele amabele enqolobaneni yakhe; kepha amakhoba uzakuwashisa ngomlilo ongacimekiyo.”

¹³Khona uJesu evela eGalile wafika kuJohane eJordani ukuba azobhapathizwa nguye.

¹⁴Kepha uJohane wamalela wathi: “Yimi engiswela ukubhapathizwa nguwe; wena uza kimi na?”

¹⁵UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Vuma kalokhu, ngokuba kusifanele ukugcwalisa kanjalo ukulunga konke.” Khona wayesemvumela.

¹⁶UJesu esebhapathiziwe wakhuphuka masinyane emanzini; bheka, izulu lavuleka, wabona uMoya kaNkulunkulu ehla njengejuba, eza phezu kwakhe.

¹⁷Bheka, kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: “Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo engithokozile ngayo.”