1 Ke kaloku uRehobhowam akuba ewuzinzisile umbuso wakhe selomelele, wasuka yena noSirayeli ephela bawulahla umthetho *kaNdikhoyo.
2 Ngenxa yokunganyaniseki kwabo *kuNdikhoyo, uShishaki ukumkani waseJiputa wayihlasela iJerusalem xa ukumkani eRehobhowam akunyaka wesihlanu.
3 Umkhosi wakhe wawuneshumi elinambini lamakhulu eenqwelo, namawaka angamashumi amathandathu abakhweli-mahashe, kunye nenyambalala yamajoni angamaLibhiya namaSuki namaKushe awayephuma nawo eJiputa.
4 Wazithimba iidolophu ezinqatyisiweyo zakwaJuda, wada waya kuthi xhaxhe eJerusalem.
5 Ngelo thuba ke kwafika umshumayeli uShemaya kuRehobhowam neenkokheli zakwaJuda ezaziqokelelene eJerusalem ngokoyika uShishaki, wathetha nabo wathi: “UNdikhoyo uthi: ‘Kaloku nindilahlile, ngoko ke ngoku nam ndiza kuniyekela kuShishaki.’ ”
6 Ke kaloku iinkokheli zakwaSirayeli kunye nokumkani zazithoba zathi: “UNdikhoyo wenza ngobulungisa!”
7 Ke uNdikhoyo, akubona ukuba bayazithoba, wathumela eli lizwi kuShemaya wathi: “Ngenxa yokuba bezithobile andisayi kubatshabalalisa, koko ndokhawuleza ndibahlangule. Andisayi kuwuphokozela eJerusalem ngoShishaki umsindo wam.