1 T iberius Caesar had been ruler for fifteen years. Pontius Pilate was ruler of the country of Judea. Herod was the ruler of the country of Galilee. His brother Philip was the ruler of the countries of Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was the ruler of the country of Abilene.

Tani në vitin e pesëmbëdhjetë të mbretërimit të Tiberit Cezar, kur Ponc Pilati ishte qeveritari i Judesë, Herodi tetrarku i Galilesë, i vëllai, Filipi, tetrarku i Itureas dhe i krahinës së Trakonitidës dhe Lizania tetrarku i Abilenës,

2 A nnas and Caiaphas were the head religious leaders. The Word of God came to John the Baptist, the son of Zacharias. John was in the desert.

nën kryepriftërinjtë Ana dhe Kajfa, fjala e Perëndisë iu drejtua Gjonit, birit të Zakarias, në shkretëtirë.

3 H e went into all the country around the Jordan River. He preached that people should be baptized because they were sorry for their sins and had turned from them, and they would be forgiven.

Atëherë ai e përshkoi gjithë krahinën përreth Jordanit, duke predikuar një pagëzim pendimi për faljen e mëkateve,

4 T he early preacher Isaiah wrote these words: “His voice calls out in the desert. ‘Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for Him!

ashtu siç është shkruar në librin e fjalëve të profetit Isaia, që thotë: “Ja zëri i njërit që bërtet në shkretirë: Përgatitni udhën e Zotit, drejtoni shtigjet e tij!

5 E very valley will be filled and every mountain and hill will be brought down. The turns in the road will be made straight and the rough places will be made smooth.

Çdo luginë të jetë e mbushur dhe çdo mal e kodër të jetë sheshuar; vendet dredha-dredha të drejtohen dhe rrugët e vështira të sheshohen

6 A nd all men will see God saving people from the punishment of their sins.’”

dhe çdo mish do të shohë shpëtimin e Perëndisë.”

7 J ohn said to the people who came to be baptized by him, “You family of snakes! Who told you how to keep from the anger of God that is coming?

Ai, pra, u thoshte turmave që shkonin të pagëzoheshin prej tij: “Pjellë nepërkash, kush ju ka mesuar t’i arratiseni zemërimit që po vjen?

8 D o something to let me see that you have turned from your sins. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you, God can make children for Abraham out of these stones.

Bëni, pra, fryte të denja pendimi dhe mos filloni të thoni brenda jush: Ne kemi Abrahamin për Atë,," sepse unë po ju them se Perëndia mund t’i nxjerrë fëmijë Abrahamit edhe nga këta gurë.

9 E ven now the ax is on the root of the trees. Every tree that does not give good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Tashmë sëpata u vu në rrënjë të pemëve; çdo pemë që nuk jep fryt të mirë do të pritet dhe do të hidhet në zjarr.”

10 T he people asked him, “Then what should we do?”

Dhe turmat e pyesnin, duke thënë: “Dhe ne, pra, ç’të bëjmë?.”

11 H e answered them, “If you have two coats, give one to him who has none. If you have food, you must share some.”

Atëherë ai, duke përgjigjur, u tha atyre: “Ai që ka dy tunika le t’i ndajë me atë që s’ka, dhe ai që ka të hajë le të veprojë po kështu.”

12 T ax-gatherers came to be baptized also. They asked him, “Teacher, what are we to do?”

Tani erdhën edhe disa tagrambledhës që të pagëzohen dhe e pyetën: “Mësues, ç’duhet të bëjmë?.”

13 H e said to them, “Do not take more money from people than you should.”

Dhe ai u tha atyre: “Mos vilni asgjë më tepër nga sa ju është urdhëruar.”

14 A lso soldiers asked him, “What are we to do?” He answered them, “Take no money from anyone by using your own strength. Do not lie about anyone. Be happy with the pay you get.”

Edhe ushtarët e pyetën duke thënë: “Dhe ne, ç’duhet të bëjmë?.” Dhe ai u tha atyre: “Mos i bëni shantazh asnjeriu, mos i bëni akuza të rreme kurrkujt dhe jini të kënaqur me pagën tuaj!.”

15 T he people were looking for something to happen. They were thinking in their hearts about John the Baptist. They wondered if he might be the Christ.

Dhe populli ishte në pritje dhe të gjithë pyesnin në zemrat e veta nëse Gjoni ishte Krishti vetë.

16 B ut John said to all of them, “I baptize you with water. There is One coming Who is greater than I. I am not good enough to get down and help Him take off His shoes. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Gjoni u përgjigj duke u thënë të gjithëve: “Unë ju pagëzoj me ujë; por vjen ai që është më i fortë nga unë, të cilit unë nuk jam i denjë as t’ia zgjidh lidhëset e sandaleve; ai do t’ju pagëzojë me Frymën e Shenjtë dhe me zjarr.

17 H e comes ready to clean the grain. He will gather the grain and clean it all. He will put the clean grain into a building. But He will burn that which is no good with a fire that cannot be put out.” John the Baptist Is Put in Prison

Ai mban në dorë lopatën e vet, për ta pastruar krejt lëmin e vet dhe për të mbledhur grurin në hambarin e tij, por bykun do ta djegë me zjarr që nuk shuhet.”

18 J ohn spoke much more as he preached the Good News to the people.

Kështu ai e ungjillizonte popullin duke e këshilluar me shumë mënyra të tjera.

19 H e had also spoken sharp words to Herod the ruler because of Herodias. She was his brother Philip’s wife. And John spoke to Herod about all the wrongs he had done.

Por Herodi, tetraku, mbasi u qortua prej tij për shkak të Herodiadës, gruas së vëllait të tij Filipit, dhe për të gjitha mbrapshtitë që ai kishte kryer,

20 T o all these, Herod added another sin by putting John in prison. The Baptism of Jesus

U shtoi të gjitha të tjerave edhe këtë, domethënë e futi Gjonin në burg.

21 W hen all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized also. As He prayed, the heaven opened.

Tani, si u pagëzua gjithë populli, edhe Jezusi u pagëzua; dhe ndërsa po lutej, qielli u hap

22 T he Holy Spirit came down on Him in a body like a dove. A voice came from heaven and said, “You are My much-loved Son. I am very happy with You.” The Family of Jesus through Mary

dhe Fryma e Shenjtë zbriti mbi të, në trajtën trupore si të pëllumbit, dhe nga qielli erdhi një zë, që thoshte: “Ti je Biri im i dashur, në ty unë jam kënaqur!.”

23 J esus was about thirty years old when He began His work. People thought Jesus was the son of Joseph, the son of Heli.

Dhe Jezusi ishte rreth tridhjetë vjeç; dhe e pandehnin se ishte bir i Jozefit, bir i Elit;

24 H eli was the son of Matthat. Matthat was the son of Levi. Levi was the son of Melchi. Melchi was the son of Jannai. Jannai was the son of Joseph.

bir i Mathatit, bir i Levit, bir i Melkit, bir i Janas, bir i Jozefit;

25 J oseph was the son of Mattathias. Mattathias was the son of Amos. Amos was the son of Nahum. Nahum was the son of Esli. Esli was the son of Naggai.

bir i Matathias, bir i Amosit, bir i Naumit, bir i Eslit, bir i Nagait;

26 N aggai was the son of Maath. Maath was the son of Mattathias. Mattathias was the son of Semein. Semein was the son of Josech. Josech was the son of Juda.

bir i Maathit, bir i Matathias, bir i Semeit, bir i Jozefit, bir i Judës;

27 J uda was the son of Johanan. Johanan was the son of Rhesa. Rhesa was the son of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the son of Salathiel. Salathiel was the son of Neri.

bir i Joannas, bir i Resas, bir i Zorobabelit, bir i Salatielit, bir i Nerit;

28 N eri was the son of Melchi. Melchi was the son of Addi. Addi was the son of Cosam. Cosam was the son of Elmadam. Elmadam was the son of Er.

bir i Melkit, bir i Adit, bir i Kosamit, bir i Elmodamit, bir i Erit;

29 E r was the son of Joshua. Joshua was the son of Eliezer. Eliezer was the son of Jorim. Jorim was the son of Matthat. Matthat was the son of Levi.

bir i Joseut, bir i Eliezerit, bir i Iorimit, bir i Mathatit, bir i Levit;

30 L evi was the son of Simeon. Simeon was the son of Judah. Judah was the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Janam. Janam was the son of Eliakim.

bir i Simeonit, bir i Judës, bir i Jozefit, bir i Jonanit, bir i Eliakimit;

31 E liakim was the son of Melea. Melea was the son of Menna. Menna was the son of Mattatha. Mattatha was the son of Nathan. Nathan was the son of David.

bir i Meleas, bir i Menas, bir i Matathas, bir i Natanit, bir i Davidit;

32 D avid was the son of Jesse. Jesse was the son of Obed. Obed was the son of Boaz. Boaz was the son of Salmon. Salmon was the son of Nahshon.

bir i Jeseut, bir i Obedit, bir i Boozit, bir i Salmonit, bir i Naasonit;

33 N ahshon was the son of Amminadab. Amminadab was the son of Admin. Admin was the son of Ram. Ram was the son of Hezron. Hezron was the son of Perez. Perez was the son of Judah.

bir i Aminadabit, bir i Aramit, bir i Esromit, bir i Faresit, bir i Judës;

34 J udah was the son of Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac. Isaac was the son of Abraham. Abraham was the son of Terah. Terah was the son of Nahor.

bir i Jakobit, bir i Isakut, bir i Abrahamit, bir i Tares, bir i Nakorit;

35 N ahor was the son of Serug. Serug was the son of Ragau. Ragau was the son of Peleg. Peleg was the son of Eber. Eber was the son of Shelah.

bir i Serukut, bir i Ragaut, bir i Pelekut, bir i Eberit, bir i Selës;

36 S helah was the son of Cainan. Cainan was the son of Arphaxad. Arphaxad was the son of Shem. Shem was the son of Noah. Noah was the son of Lamech.

bir i Kainanit, bir i Arfaksadit, bir i Semit, bir i Noeut, bir i Lamekut;

37 L amech was the son of Methuselah. Methuselah was the son of Enoch. Enoch was the son of Jared. Jared was the son of Mahalaleel. Mahaleel was the son of Cainan.

bir i Mathusalës, bir i Enokut, bir i Jaredit, bir i Mahalaleelit, bir i Kainanit;

38 C ainan was the son of Enos. Enos was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God.

bir i Enosit, bir i Setit, bir i Adamit, i Perëndisë.