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The Proclamation of John the Baptist

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.”

Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sad′ducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit that befits repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened[a] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; 17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son,[b] with whom I am well pleased.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:16 Other ancient authorities add to him
  2. Matthew 3:17 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)

In those days (B)John the Baptist came preaching (C)in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for (D)the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

(E)“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
(F)‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”

Now (G)John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was (H)locusts and (I)wild honey. (J)Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him (K)and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, (L)“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from (M)the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, (N)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. (O)Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 (P)I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. (Q)He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit [a]and fire. 12 (R)His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will (S)burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John Baptizes Jesus(T)

13 (U)Then Jesus came (V)from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

16 (W)When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and [b]He saw (X)the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 (Y)And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, (Z)“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:11 M omits and fire
  2. Matthew 3:16 Or he

Yokaana Omubatiza Aluŋŋamya Ekkubo lya Mukama

(A)Mu nnaku ezo Yokaana Omubatiza n’ajja ng’abuulira mu ddungu ly’e Buyudaaya ng’agamba nti, (B)“Mwenenye, kubanga obwakabaka obw’omu ggulu bunaatera okutuuka.” (C)Oyo nnabbi Isaaya gwe yayogerako ng’agamba nti,

“Mpulira eddoboozi ly’oyo ayogerera waggulu mu ddungu ng’agamba nti,
‘Mulongoose oluguudo lwa Mukama,
    muluŋŋamye amakubo ge!’ ”

(D)Ebyambalo bya Yokaana byakolebwa mu bwoya bwa ŋŋamira, era nga yeesibya lukoba lwa ddiba. N’emmere ye yali nzige na mubisi gwa njuki. Abantu bangi ne bava mu Yerusaalemi ne mu Buyudaaya mwonna ne mu bifo ebiriraanye Yoludaani ne bajja mu ddungu okuwulira by’abuulira. N’ababatiza mu mugga Yoludaani, nga baatula ebibi byabwe.

(E)Naye bwe yalaba Abafalisaayo bangi n’Abasaddukaayo nga bajja okubatizibwa n’abagamba nti, “Mmwe, abaana b’essalambwa, ani yabalabula okudduka obusungu bwa Katonda obugenda okujja? (F)Kale mubale ebibala ebiraga nti Mwenenyeza. Temulowooza mu mitima gyammwe nti, ‘Tuli bulungi kubanga tuli Bayudaaya, abaana ba Ibulayimu, tetufaayo, tetulina kye twetaaga.’ Ekyo tekibasigula. Mbategeeza nti, Katonda ayinza okufuula amayinja gano abaana ba Ibulayimu! 10 (G)Kaakano embazzi ya Katonda eteekeddwa ku buli kikolo kya muti, omuti ogutabala bibala birungi, gutemebwa gusuulibwe mu muliro.

11 (H)“Nze mbabatiza na mazzi okutuuka ku kwenenya, naye waliwo omulala ajja, oyo ye ansinga amaanyi era sisaanira na kukwata ngatto ze, oyo alibabatiza ne Mwoyo Mutukuvu n’omuliro. 12 (I)Ekikuŋŋunta kiri mu mukono gwe, alirongoosa egguuliro lye. Eŋŋaano aligitereka mu tterekero lye, naye ebisusunku alibyokya mu muliro ogutazikira.”

Okubatizibwa kwa Yesu

13 (J)Awo Yesu n’ava e Ggaliraaya n’ajja ku mugga Yoludaani, abatizibwe Yokaana. 14 Naye Yokaana n’ayagala okugaana, n’agamba nti, “Nze neetaaga ggwe okumbatiza, naye ate gw’ojja gye ndi?”

15 Yesu n’amuddamu nti, “Kkiriza ombatize, kubanga kitugwanidde okutuukiriza obutuukirivu bwonna.” Awo Yokaana n’amukkiriza.

16 (K)Awo amangwago Yesu nga yakamala okubatizibwa nga yaakava mu mazzi, eggulu ne libikkuka n’alaba Omwoyo wa Katonda ng’amukkako mu kifaananyi ky’ejjiba. 17 (L)Eddoboozi ne liva mu ggulu ne ligamba nti, “Ono ye Mwana wange omwagalwa gwe nsanyukira ennyo.”

The Work of John the Baptist(A)

·About that time [In the course of time; L In those days] John the Baptist began preaching in the ·desert area [wilderness] of Judea. John said, “·Change your hearts and lives [Repent] because the kingdom of heaven ·is near [has drawn near; is at hand].” ·John the Baptist [L For this] is the one Isaiah the prophet was talking about when he said:

“This is a voice of one
    who ·calls out [shouts; cries out] in the ·desert [wilderness]:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
    Make ·the road straight [a clear path] for him [Is. 40:3].’”

John’s clothes were made from camel’s hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist [C reminiscent of the prophet Elijah; 2 Kin. 1:8]. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey [C signifies living off the land]. Many people came from Jerusalem and Judea and all the ·area [region] around the Jordan River to hear John. They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.

Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to the place where John was baptizing people. When John saw them, he said, “You ·are snakes [T brood/offspring of vipers]! Who warned you to ·run [slither; L flee] away from God’s coming ·punishment [wrath; retribution]? ·Do the things [L Produce the fruit] ·that show you really have changed your hearts and lives [that prove your repentance; L of repentance]. And don’t ·think you can [presume to] say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father [C a claim to be God’s special people].’ [L For] I tell you that God could ·make [create; L raise up] children for Abraham from these rocks. 10 The ax ·is now ready to cut down [already lies at the root of] the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire [C a metaphor for judgment].

John Preaches About the Christ(B)

11 “I baptize you with water ·to show that your hearts and lives have changed [for repentence]. But there is one coming after me who is ·greater [mightier; more powerful] than I am, whose sandals I am not ·good enough [fit; qualified] to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 ·He will come ready [L The winnowing fork is in his hand] to clean the grain, ·separating the good grain from the chaff [L to clear his threshing floor]. He will put ·the good part of the grain [L the grain/wheat] into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with ·a fire that cannot be put out [never-ending/unquenchable fire; C a metaphor for judgment, when Jesus will separate the righteous from the wicked].”

Jesus Is Baptized by John(C)

13 ·At that time [Then] Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River ·and wanted John to baptize him [L to be baptized by John]. 14 But John tried to ·stop [deter; dissuade; prevent] him, saying, “·Why do [Do] you come to me to be baptized? I need to be baptized by you!”

15 Jesus answered, “Let it ·be this way for [happen] now. ·We should do all things that are God’s will [or In this way we will do what God requires; L For thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness].” So John ·agreed to baptize Jesus [gave in; consented; allowed it].

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then ·heaven [the sky/heavens] opened, and he saw God’s Spirit ·coming down [descending and lighting/settling] on him like a dove [C either in the form of a dove, or in bird-like descent]. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my ·Son, whom I love [dearly beloved Son; Ps. 2:7; Gen. 22:2], and I am ·very [well] pleased with him [Is. 42:1].”