Matthew 3
1 In those days, Yochanan the Immerser came, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
Ngalesosikhathi kwafika uJohane uMbhaphathizi etshumayela enkangala yaseJudiya
2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
esithi, “Phendukani ngoba umbuso wezulu ususondele.”
3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!”
Nguye lo okwakhulunywa ngaye ngumphrofethi u-Isaya kwathiwa: “Ilizwi lomemezayo enkangala lithi, ‘Lungiselani iNkosi indlela, yenzani izindlela zayo ziqonde.’”
4 Now Yochanan himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Izigqoko zikaJohane zazenziwe ngoboya bekamela, elebhanti lesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe. Ukudla kwakhe kwakuzintethe loluju lwenyosi zeganga.
5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
Abantu baphuma baya kuye bevela eJerusalema lakulo lonke elaseJudiya lemangweni wonke waseJodani.
6 They were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
Bevuma izono zabo, babhaphathizwa nguye emfuleni uJodani.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his immersion, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Kodwa wathi ebona abaFarisi labaSadusi abanengi besiza lapho ayebhaphathizela khona wathi kubo, “Lina nzalo yezinyoka! Lilimukiswe ngubani ukuthi libalekele ulaka oluzayo na?
8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
Thelani izithelo ezihambelana lokuphenduka.
9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Njalo lingacabangi ukuthi lingazitshela ukuthi, ‘Silo-Abhrahama ongubaba wethu.’ Mina ngilitshela ukuthi kuwonala amatshe uNkulunkulu angamenzela u-Abhrahama abantwana.
10 Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
Ihloka selivele selisezimpandeni zezihlahla njalo zonke izihlahla ezingatheli izithelo ezinhle zizaganyulwa, ziphoselwe emlilweni.
11 “I indeed immerse you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit.
Mina ngilibhaphathiza ngamanzi okutshengisa ukuphenduka. Kodwa ngemva kwami kuza olamandla kulami njalo kakungilingananga ukuthwala amanyathela akhe. Uzalibhaphathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele langomlilo.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
Isitsha sakhe sokwela sisesandleni sakhe njalo uzathanyela isiza sakhe, abuthele amabele akhe wonke esiphaleni, kuthi amakhoba awatshise ngomlilo ongacitshekiyo.”
13 Then Yeshua came from Galilee to the Jordan to Yochanan, to be immersed by him.
UJesu weza eJodani evela eGalile ukuba abhaphathizwe nguJohane.
14 But Yochanan would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?”
Kodwa uJohane wazama ukwenqaba ngokuthi, “Yimi engidinga ukubhaphathizwa nguwe, kanti pho ungeza njani kimi?”
15 But Yeshua, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
UJesu waphendula wathi, “Yekela kube njalo okwakhathesi ngoba kufanele ukuba sikwenze lokhu ukuze sigcwalise konke ukulunga.” Ngakho uJohane wasevuma.
16 Yeshua, when he was immersed, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
Masinyane nje uJesu eqeda kubhaphathizwa waphuma emanzini. Khonokho nje izulu lavuleka, wasebona uMoya kaNkulunkulu usehla njengejuba njalo usehlela phezu kwakhe.
17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Ilizwi elavela ezulwini lathi, “Lo yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyathokoza kakhulu ngayo.”
