1
Siku zile aliondokea Yohana Mbatizaji akihubiri katika nyika ya Uyahudi, na kusema,
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
2
Tubuni; kwa maana ufalme wa mbinguni umekaribia.
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
3
Kwa sababu huyo ndiye aliyenenwa na nabii Isaya, akisema, Sauti ya mtu aliaye nyikani, Itengenezeni njia ya Bwana, Yanyosheni mapito yake.
This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
4
Naye Yohana mwenyewe alikuwa na vazi lake la singa za ngamia, na mshipi wa ngozi kiunoni mwake; na chakula chake kilikuwa nzige na asali ya mwitu.
John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5
Ndipo walipomwendea Yerusalemu, na Uyahudi wote, na nchi zote za kandokando ya Yordani;
People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.
6
naye akawabatiza katika mto wa Yordani, huku wakiziungama dhambi zao.
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7
Hata alipoona wengi miongoni mwa Mafarisayo na Masadukayo wakiujia ubatizo wake, aliwaambia, Enyi wazao wa nyoka, ni nani aliyewaonya ninyi kuikimbia hasira itakayokuja?
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8
Basi zaeni matunda yapasayo toba;
Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
9
wala msiwaze mioyoni mwenu kwamba, Tunaye baba, ndiye Ibrahimu; kwa maana nawaambia ya kwamba Mungu aweza katika mawe haya kumwinulia Ibrahimu watoto.
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
10
Na shoka limekwisha kuwekwa penye mashina ya miti; basi kila mti usiozaa matunda mazuri hukatwa na kutupwa motoni.
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11
Kweli mimi nawabatiza kwa maji kwa ajili ya toba; bali yeye ajaye nyuma yangu ana nguvu kuliko mimi, wala sistahili hata kuvichukua viatu vyake; yeye atawabatiza kwa Roho Mtakatifu na kwa moto.
I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12
Ambaye pepeto lake li mkononi mwake, naye atausafisha sana uwanda wake; na kuikusanya ngano yake ghalani, bali makapi atayateketeza kwa moto usiozimika.
His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
13
Wakati huo Yesu akaja kutoka Galilaya mpaka Yordani kwa Yohana ili abatizwe.
At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
14
Lakini Yohana alitaka kumzuia, akisema, Mimi nahitaji kubatizwa na wewe, nawe waja kwangu?
But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
15
Yesu akajibu akamwambia, Kubali hivi sasa; kwa kuwa ndivyo itupasavyo kuitimiza haki yote. Basi akamkubali.
“Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
16
Naye Yesu alipokwisha kubatizwa mara akapanda kutoka majini; na tazama, mbingu zikamfunukia, akamwona Roho wa Mungu akishuka kama hua, akija juu yake;
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.
17
na tazama, sauti kutoka mbinguni ikisema, Huyu ni Mwanangu, mpendwa wangu, ninayependezwa naye.
And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”