1 Ngaleyo mihla kwavela uJohane uMbhapathizi eshumayela ehlane laseJudiya, ethi:
2 “Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele!”
3 Ngokuba nguye akhuluma ngaye umprofethi u-Isaya, ethi:“Izwi lomemezayo ehlane, lithi:‘Lungisani indlela yeNkosi,nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde.’ ”
4 Yena uJohane wayenengubo yoboya bekamela noqhotho lwesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe; ukudla kwakhe kwakuyizinkumbi nezinyosi zasendle.
5 Khona kwaphumela kuye iJerusalema, neJudiya lonke, nezwe lonke laseJordani,
6 babhapathizwa nguye emfuleni iJordani bevuma izono zabo.
7 Kepha kwathi ebona abaningi kubaFarisi nabaSadusi beza embhapathizweni, wathi kubo: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani onibonise ukubalekela intukuthelo ezayo na?
8 Ngakho vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka.
9 Ningacabangi ukuba ningasho phakathi kwenu ukuthi: ‘Sinobaba u-Abrahama;’ ngokuba ngithi kini: UNkulunkulu angamvusela u-Abrahama abantwana kulawa matshe.
10 Izembe selibekiwe empandeni yemithi; ngakho yonke imithi engatheli izithelo ezinhle iyanqunywa, iphonswe emlilweni.
11 “Mina nginibhapathiza ngamanzi, kube ngukuphenduka; kepha yena oza emva kwami unamandla kunami engingafanele ukuthwala izicathulo zakhe; yena uzakunibhapathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele nangomlilo,
12 ombenge yakhe yokwela isesandleni sakhe; uzakushanelisisa isibuya sakhe, abuthele amabele enqolobaneni yakhe; kepha amakhoba uzakuwashisa ngomlilo ongacimekiyo.”
13 Khona uJesu evela eGalile wafika kuJohane eJordani ukuba azobhapathizwa nguye.
14 Kepha uJohane wamalela wathi: “Yimi engiswela ukubhapathizwa nguwe; wena uza kimi na?”
15 UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Vuma kalokhu, ngokuba kusifanele ukugcwalisa kanjalo ukulunga konke.” Khona wayesemvumela.
16 UJesu esebhapathiziwe wakhuphuka masinyane emanzini; bheka, izulu lavuleka, wabona uMoya kaNkulunkulu ehla njengejuba, eza phezu kwakhe.
17 Bheka, kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: “Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo engithokozile ngayo.”