Matthew 3

The Preaching of John the Baptist
(Mark 1.1-8Luke 3.1-18John 1.19-28)
1 At that time John the Baptist came to the desert of Judea and started preaching. 2 “Turn away from your sins,” he said, “because the Kingdom of heaven is near!” 3 John was the man the prophet Isaiah was talking about when he said,
“Someone is shouting in the desert,
‘Prepare a road for the Lord;
make a straight path for him to travel!’”
4 John's clothes were made of camel's hair; he wore a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People came to him from Jerusalem, from the whole province of Judea, and from all over the country near the Jordan River. 6 They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan.
7 When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, he said to them, “You snakes—who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? 8 Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. 9 And don't think you can escape punishment by saying that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham! 10 The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire. 11 I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. 12 He has his winnowing shovel with him to thresh out all the grain. He will gather his wheat into his barn, but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out.”
The Baptism of Jesus
(Mark 1.9-11Luke 3.21Luke 22)
13 At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to make him change his mind. “I ought to be baptized by you,” John said, “and yet you have come to me!”
15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires.” So John agreed.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and lighting on him. 17 Then a voice said from heaven, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased.”
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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