1 Omu naku egyo, oYokaana oMubatizi nʼayaba omu kitera ekyʼe Buyudaaya, era nʼalaabba obukwenda bwa Kibbumba eeri abantu. 2 Obukwendabwe bwabbaire buti, “Mwenenye, olwakubba obwakabaka bwʼomwigulu bwigereire.” 3:2 Mat 4:17; Mak 1:15 3 OYokaana oyo, niiye onaabbi oIsaaya oguyatumwireku ati:

4 OYokaana oyo, yazwalanga ekizwalo ekibakolere omu byoya bya kisolo ogubeeta ongamira, ngʼomu nkende yeesiba musipi gwʼeidiba. Era yaalyanga nzige nʼomujenene gwʼenzoki egyʼomu kigona. 3:4 2Ba 1:8 5 Awo abantu ni bazwanga omu kibuga e Yerusaalemi, nʼomu byalo byʼomu Buyudaaya mwonamwona, nʼomu byalo ebyeruguuliriirye oMwiga oYoludaani, ni baabanga egiri oYokaana, 6 ni babbutulanga ebikole byabwe ebibbibibbi era nʼababatiziranga omu mwiga oYoludaani.

7 Neye oYokaana oweyaboine ngʼaBafalisaayo nʼaBasedukaayo bangi baaba egyali okubabatiza, nʼabakoba ati, “Inywe abakabbikabbi ooti mpiri enfulugundu! Naani abalabwire ati eenu niiyo engeri eyʼokwiruka obusungu bwa Kibbumba obwaba okwiza? 3:7 Mat 12:34; 23:33 8 Aale atyanu mukole ebikole ebiraga biti dala mwenenyere ebikole byanywe ebibbibibbi. 9 Era timwaseega muti mwezya okubunuka nga mukoba muti, ‘Kasita iswe tuli baizukulu ba Ibbulaimu,’ olwakubba mbakobera nti omu mabbaale ganu, oKibbumba ayezya okusuuciryamu oIbbulaimu abaizukulu abandi. 3:9 Yok 8:33 10 Mumanye muti muli ooti misaale, nga nʼamambaizi agagitema bamalire okugabiikirya oku kikolo kya buli musaale. Ogwo ogutaneneka ebineneka ebisa baaba kugutema, era bagudyake omu musyo. 3:10 Mat 7:19 11 Nze mbabatiza na maizi okulaga nti mwenenyere, neye waliwo ankiraku obwezye aali kwiza oluzwanyuma lwange, oguntasaanira naire okusibindula obusibiro bwʼengaitogye ni ngitoola omu bigerebye. Iye, yalibabatiza na Mwoyo oMweru era na musyo. 12 Iye ayaba okwabulamu abantu ooti muntu owaakwata olugali nʼasenyenta, empeke nʼebisusungu. Empeke igyo yaligikumbaanirya omu kideerokye, kaisi ibyo ebisusungu nʼabyoca nʼomusyo ogutalikira.”

13 Awo oYesu nʼazwa omwitwale lyʼe Galiraaya, nʼayaba oku mwiga oYoludaani egiri oYokaana okumubatiza. 14 Neye oYokaana nʼagezyaku okuloberya oYesu ngʼamukoba ati, “Nze neetaaga niiwe okumbatiza, tete iwe wena oiza giri ninze nkubatize?”

15 Neye iye oYesu nʼamwiramu ati, “Oganye kibbe kityo omu kiseera kinu, ikyo kituuce iswe okukola obutuukirirye bwonabwona.” Kale awo oYokaana nʼaikirirya okubatiza oYesu. 16 Amangu ago ngʼoYesu bankamubatiza, nʼazwa omu maizi, era omu kiseera ekinanyere ekyo eigulu ni lyeigula, oYesu nʼabona oMwoyo wa Kibbumba ngʼaika ooti njiiwa, era nʼayemerera oku Yesu. 17 Era eigono ni lizwa omwigulu, nga likoba liti, “Oyo niiye oMwana wange omutake era ogunsiima eino.” 3:17 Nta 22:2; Zab 2:7; Isa 42:1; Mat 12:18; 17:5; Mak 1:11; Luk 9:35