1 Munaayo mazhuba Joni uMbhabhatizi wakezha ebhaunula mugwegulu lyeJudiya, 2 Eti, "Shandukani, nokuti bushe bwedenga bwaba pelyo!" 3 Nokuti Joni ndiye wakabelebwa nompolofeti Izaya paakaleba, eti,

"Iwhi linoshobelela lili mugwegulu liti,

‘Bambani ungwagwa waTezi,

lulamisani inzila yiye!’ "

4 Joni walumbala zwimbalo zwobukuse bwekamela, waluba nebhanti lyeganda lyaalusunga munshana, akale zwokulya zwizwe zwaluba imhashu nobuchi bweshango. 5 Banhu bakezha kwaali, beva kuJelusalema, nedunhu lyose lyeJudiya nabepelyo kolwizi Jolodani. 6 Bakabelebulula zwibi zwabo bebhabhatizwa naiye mulwizi lweJolodani.

7 Wakati ebona baFalisi nabaSadusi banji bezha kwobhabhatizwa, wakati kwabali, "Imwi bana benyoka, ndiyani wakamuchenjeja kutizha bukali bukumuzha" 8 Tani zwito zwinotondejela kushanduka. 9 Akale musizwikuje muzwibuja kuti, "Tina Abhulahamu tate bedu." Nokuti ndinomubuja kuti, Mwali unotubula kunyamula bana baAbhulahamu kuva mumabwe yaya. 10 Nangweno ali ishanhu lilogajikwa ponji wonti, wose unti usinozwala unchelo umbuyanana unootemwa nokulashilwa mumoto. 11 Ndomubhabhatiza nevula kutondejela kuti mwashanduka, asi yoyo ukumuzha mushule lyangu ndiye unesimba kupinda lyangu, anditokwelela kunyamula ishangu jije, iye ndiye uchoomubhabhatiza noMpepo uNchena akale nomoto. 12 Chitundu chiche chokululuja chili mumaboko. "Ndiye uchapyaila zwanana lutombo lulwe, unootutila ikoloni yiye mugombana, asi bungu unoobupisa mumoto usinojimika."

13 Wakezha Jesu eva kuGalili enda kuJolodani kuna Joni, kuti ebhabhatizwe naye. 14 Koga Joni wakajoda kulamba, eti, "Imi ndilokwelela kubhabhatizwa nawi, iwi wezha kunami chini!"

15 Koga Jesu wakonshandula eti, "Ngezwibe alo ngweno. Nokuti zwilokwelela kunasu kuti tizhajikije kululama kose." Ndipo paakavuma.

16 Jesu paakati abhabhatizwa, wakabhuda muvula, pakalepo idenga lyakazhulika, akabona Mpepo waMwali ubhuluka ukata senjiba ukagala paali. 17 Akale iwhi lyakawhikana liva kudenga liti, "Yoyu ndiye Mwananhulumyana wangu ulodikana, ndiloshanta munaiye."