NgokukaMathewu 3:1-12

Ngaleyo mihla kwavela uJohane uMbhabhadisi eshumayela ehlane eJudiya, ethi: “Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele! Nguye lo umphrofethi u-Izaya akhuluma ngaye, ethi: “ ‘Izwi lomemeza ehlane, lithi: “Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde!” ’ ” UJohane wayenengubo yoboya bekameli noqhotho lwesikhumba okhalo lwakhe. Wayedla izinkumbi noju lwasendle. Kweza kuye iJerusalema, nalo lonke iJudiya, nazo zonke izifunda ezizungeze iJordani, babhabhadiswa nguye emfuleni iJordani, bevuma izono zabo. Kepha kwathi lapho ebona abaFarisi nabaSadusi abaningi beza embhabhadisweni, wathi kubo: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani onixwayise ukuba nibalekele intukuthelo ezayo na? Ngakho-ke vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka. Ningacabangi ukuthi nizakuthi phakathi kwenu: ‘Sinobaba u-Abhrahama,’ ngokuba ngithi kini: uNkulunkulu angamvusela abantwana u-Abhrahama kulawa matshe. Izembe selibekiwe empandeni yemithi, ngakho-ke yonke imithi engatheli izithelo ezinhle iyanqunywa, iphonswe emlilweni. “Mina nginibhabhadisa ngamanzi, kube ngukuphenduka. Kepha oza emva kwami, unamandla kunami, engingafanele ukuthukulula izicathulo zakhe. Uzakunibhabhadisa ngoMoya oNgcwele nangomlilo. Yena ombenge yakhe yokwela isesandleni sakhe; uzakushanelisisa isibuya sakhe, abuthele amabele enqolobaneni yakhe, kodwa amakhoba uzakuwashisa ngomlilo ongacimekiyo.”