1Ngaleyo mihla kwavela uJohane uMbhabhadisi eshumayela ehlane eJudiya,
2ethi: “Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele!
3Nguye lo umphrofethi u-Izaya akhuluma ngaye, ethi: “ ‘Izwi lomemeza ehlane, lithi: “Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde!” ’ ”
4UJohane wayenengubo yoboya bekameli noqhotho lwesikhumba okhalo lwakhe. Wayedla izinkumbi noju lwasendle.
5Kweza kuye iJerusalema, nalo lonke iJudiya, nazo zonke izifunda ezizungeze iJordani,
6babhabhadiswa nguye emfuleni iJordani, bevuma izono zabo.
7Kepha kwathi lapho ebona abaFarisi nabaSadusi abaningi beza embhabhadisweni, wathi kubo: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani onixwayise ukuba nibalekele intukuthelo ezayo na?
8Ngakho-ke vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka.
9Ningacabangi ukuthi nizakuthi phakathi kwenu: ‘Sinobaba u-Abhrahama,’ ngokuba ngithi kini: uNkulunkulu angamvusela abantwana u-Abhrahama kulawa matshe.
10Izembe selibekiwe empandeni yemithi, ngakho-ke yonke imithi engatheli izithelo ezinhle iyanqunywa, iphonswe emlilweni.
11“Mina nginibhabhadisa ngamanzi, kube ngukuphenduka. Kepha oza emva kwami, unamandla kunami, engingafanele ukuthukulula izicathulo zakhe. Uzakunibhabhadisa ngoMoya oNgcwele nangomlilo.
12Yena ombenge yakhe yokwela isesandleni sakhe; uzakushanelisisa isibuya sakhe, abuthele amabele enqolobaneni yakhe, kodwa amakhoba uzakuwashisa ngomlilo ongacimekiyo.”
13Kwafika uJesu evela eGalile, weza kuJohane eJordani ukuze abhabhadiswe nguye.
14Kepha uJohane wazama ukumenqabela, ethi: “Yimi engidinga ukubhabhadiswa nguwe, kepha Wena uza kimi na?”
15UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Vuma manje, ngokuba kusifanele ukugcwalisa kanjalo ukulunga konke.” Ngakho-ke wamvumela.
16UJesu esebhabhadisiwe, waphuma masinyane emanzini; bheka, izulu lavuleka, wabona uMoya kaNkulunkulu ehla njengejuba, ehlela phezu kwakhe.
17Kwase kuzwakala izwi ezulwini, lithi: “Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engithokozile ngayo.”