2 Njengokulotshwe kumprofethi u-Isaya ukuthi:“Bheka, ngiyasithuma isithunywa sami phambi kwakhoesiyakulungisa indlela yakho,” --
3 “izwi lomemezayo ehlane, lithi:‘Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde,’ ”
4 kwavela uJohane ebhapathiza ehlane, eshumayela umbhapathizo wokuphenduka, kube ngukuthethelelwa kwezono.
5 Kwaphumela kuye izwe lonke laseJudiya nabo bonke abaseJerusalema, babhapathizwa nguye emfuleni iJordani, bevuma izono zabo.
6 UJohane wayembethe eyoboya bekamela, enoqhotho lwesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe, edla izinkumbi nezinyosi zasendle.
7 Washumayela wathi: “Emva kwami kuyeza onamandla kunami, engingafanele ukuba ngikhothame ngithukulule umchilo wezicathulo zakhe.
8 Mina nginibhapathize ngamanzi, kepha yena uzakunibhapathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele.”