Verse 1: mihla kwavela uJohane uMbhapathizi eshumayela ehlane laseJudiya, ethi:
Verse 2: “Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele!”
Verse 3: Ngokuba nguye akhuluma ngaye umprofethi u-Isaya, ethi: “Izwi lomemezayo ehlane, lithi: ‘Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde.’ ”
Verse 4: Yena uJohane wayenengubo yoboya bekamela noqhotho lwesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe; ukudla kwakhe kwakuyizinkumbi nezinyosi zasendle.
Verse 5: Khona kwaphumela kuye iJerusalema, neJudiya lonke, nezwe lonke laseJordani,
Verse 6: babhapathizwa nguye emfuleni iJordani bevuma izono zabo.
Verse 7: Kepha kwathi ebona abaningi kubaFarisi nabaSadusi beza embhapathizweni, wathi kubo: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani onibonise ukubalekela intukuthelo ezayo na?
Verse 8: Ngakho vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka.
Verse 9: Ningacabangi ukuba ningasho phakathi kwenu ukuthi: ‘Sinobaba u-Abrahama;’ ngokuba ngithi kini: UNkulunkulu angamvusela u-Abrahama abantwana kulawa matshe.
Verse 10: Izembe selibekiwe empandeni yemithi; ngakho yonke imithi engatheli izithelo ezinhle iyanqunywa, iphonswe emlilweni.
Verse 11: “Mina nginibhapathiza ngamanzi, kube ngukuphenduka; kepha yena oza emva kwami unamandla kunami engingafanele ukuthwala izicathulo zakhe; yena uzakunibhapathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele nangomlilo,
Verse 12: ombenge yakhe yokwela isesandleni sakhe; uzakushanelisisa isibuya sakhe, abuthele amabele enqolobaneni yakhe; kepha amakhoba uzakuwashisa ngomlilo ongacimekiyo.”
Verse 13: Khona uJesu evela eGalile wafika kuJohane eJordani ukuba azobhapathizwa nguye.
Verse 14: Kepha uJohane wamalela wathi: “Yimi engiswela ukubhapathizwa nguwe; wena uza kimi na?”
Verse 15: UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Vuma kalokhu, ngokuba kusifanele ukugcwalisa kanjalo ukulunga konke.” Khona wayesemvumela.
Verse 16: UJesu esebhapathiziwe wakhuphuka masinyane emanzini; bheka, izulu lavuleka, wabona uMoya kaNkulunkulu ehla njengejuba, eza phezu kwakhe.
Verse 17: Bheka, kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: “Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo engithokozile ngayo.”