Matthew 3

The Preaching of John the Baptist
(Mark 1.1-8Luke 3.1-18John 1.19-28)
1 Years later, John the Baptist started preaching in the desert of Judea. 2 He said, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here.”
3 John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said,

“In the desert someone
is shouting,
‘Get the road ready
for the Lord!
Make a straight path
for him.’ ”

4 John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.
5 From Jerusalem and all Judea and from the Jordan River Valley crowds of people went to John. 6 They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river.
7 Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized. But John said to them:
You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? 8 Do something to show you have really given up your sins. 9 And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family. I tell you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. 10 An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire.
11 I baptize you with water so you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks. He will store the wheat in a barn and burn the husks in a fire that never goes out.
The Baptism of Jesus
(Mark 1.9-11Luke 3.21Luke 22)
13 Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John kept objecting and said, “I ought to be baptized by you. Why have you come to me?”
15 Jesus answered, “For now this is how it should be, because we must do all God wants us to do.” Then John agreed.
16 So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. 17 Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.”
Sumikila kwa Johani we N'dubiki
(Mako 1:1-8Luke 3:1-18Johani 1:19-28)
1 Mu mazhuba iyawo kukazha Johani we N'dubiki, esumikila mu tjilambanyika tje Judiya 2 eti, “Shandukilani matjinyo enyu ngobe bushe gwe kudzimu gwasedzela.” 3 Oyu ndiye wakalebgwa nge kukwe ndi Isaya nlebesambeli eti,
“Hwi le unodanilila mu tjilambanyika eti,
‘Lulwamisani zila ya She,
tambunudzani zijana dzidze.’ ”
4 Johani wakabe eambala zwiambalo zwakathamiwa nge bukuse gwe kamela ne mwandabula we ganda mu thunji dzidze, ngono zojiwa zwizwe zwakabe zwili phashu ne butji gwe nyutji. 5 Bunji gwe bathu be Jerusalema ne Judiya ne be ntuthu we Jorodani, gukayenda kunli, 6 bakazwileba zwibi zwabo, ngono kabadubika mu gwizi gwe Jorodani.
7 Koga kati ebona Bafarasi banjinji bezha kuwodubikiwa, kati ku bali, “Bana be nyoka ndimwi! Ndiani wamutjenjedza kuti mutizhe bushongola gunozha kene? 8 Shingani mishingo inolakidza kuti makashandukila matjinyo enyu. 9 Ngono musitongo kumbula kuti mungazwidwa muti, ‘Iswi ti bana ba Abhurahama.’ Ndomudwa nditi, Ndzimu unotubula kuthamila Abhurahama bana nge mabgwe iyawa. 10 Nangwenu wali shathu lakabigwa kale pa midzi ye miti, ndizo nti mmwe ne mmwe usingazwale zwizwalo zwakalulwama unowotemiwa ukalashigwa mu moto. 11 Imi ndomudubika mu vula ili tjilakidzo tjekushandukila matjinyo enyu. Koga unozha shule kwangu una masimba kundipinda, iye wandisakalizana kusenga khwebana dzidze. Iye unowomudubika nge Meya yakayengemala nenge moto. 12 Luselo gugwe gumu luboko gugwe, unowulusa mathunde awe wose mu lutombo kaabiga mu dula lile, koga unowopisa bunye nge moto usingadzimike.”
Kudubikwa kwa Jesu
(Mako 1:9-11Luke 3:21-22)
13 Ipapo Jesu kazha edwa ku Galili, kayenda ku Jorodani kuna Johani kunodubikiwa ndiye. 14 Koga Johani kagwisa kulamba, eti, “Ndakafanila kudubikiwa ndiwe, apa unozha kundili kene?”
15 Jesu kashandula eti, “Letja kube sa ikoko ngwenu, ngobe kwakafanila kuti kushingikadziwe ndulamo yose.” Ipapo Johani kaduma.
16 Jesu kati adubikwa kabhuda mu vula tjinyolotjo. Ipapo kudzimu kukazhuka ngono kabona Meya ye Ndzimu ideluka se njiba ngono ikagala pezhugwi kukwe. 17 Ngono hwi likadwa kudzimu liti, “Oyu ndiye Nkololo wangu wandinoda, unondishathisa kwazo.”
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