1 Wathi *uNdikhoyo: “Yiya kuthenga ingqayi yodongwe kumbumbi. Hamba kunye neqela lamadoda amakhulu abantu, kunye neqela lamadoda amakhulu angababingeleli,
2 uye kuphuma ngesango ekuthiwa nguNgceba zeeNgqayi, eli lijonge kwintili kaBhen-hinom. Apho uzufike uvakalise udaba endikunika lona,
3 uthi: ‘Nina kumkani bakwaJuda, nani bantu baseJerusalem, lubekeleni iindlebe udaba lukaNdikhoyo. UNdikhoyo uSomandla-onke onguThixo kaSirayeli utsho ukuthi: Niyabona, le ndawo ndiza kuyihlisela intlekele eya kutsho zithi nzwii iindlebe zabantu bonke abaya kuyiva.
4 Loo nto ndiza kuyenza ngenxa yokuba abantu basuke bandifulathela, bayenza eyasemzini le ndawo ngokwenzela oothixo basemzini iziqhumiso – ndithetha oothixo abangabaziyo, bengevanga ngabo nangamanyange nkqu nangookumkani bakwaJuda. Le ndawo bayitsho yaba lijaja ligazi labantu abamsulwa,
5 yaye bakhele uBhali izibingelelo, khon' ukuze apho benze amadini ngabantwana babo. Andizange ndibayalele njalo, kwaye andiyithethanga loo nto; andizange ndiyicinge nokuyicinga oku.
6 Ngoko ke liyeza ixesha xa le ndawo ingayi kuba sabizwa ngokuba yiTofeti okanye intili kaBhen-hinom, koko iya kubizwa ngokuba yiNtili yeNtshabalalo.
7 “ ‘Ndiza kuliqhekezela kule ndawo icebo labantu bakwaJuda nabaseJerusalem, ndibawise ngekrele phambi kweentshaba zabo ezizungula ubomi babo. Izidumbu zabo ziza kuba kukudla kweentaka kunye namarhamncwa.
8 Esi sixeko ndiya kusitsho sibe yinto ekhwankqisayo, into engumbono ongajongekiyo. Wonke ubani odlula kuso uya kothuka kakhulu, athi khumnqa ngenxa yezivubeko zaso.
9 Ndiza kubenza badle inyama yoonyana babo kunye neyeentombi zabo, elowo atye inyama yomnye ngexesha lentlupheko yabo nokuxinwa kwabo ziintshaba ezizungula ubomi babo.’
10 “Uze loo ngqayi uyiqhekeze apho ngaphambi kwaloo madoda ahamba kunye nawe,
11 uthi kuwo: ‘UNdikhoyo onamandla onke utsho ukuthi: Abantu balapha ndiza kubantlekeza kunye neso sixeko sabo, baxele le ngqayi intleke-ntleke, iingceba zingasoze zidibane kwakhona. Baya kungcwabela eTofeti kude kungabikho ndawo iseleyo.’
12 Ewe, nguwo lo umlomo kaNdikhoyo: ‘Nantsi into endiza kuyenza kule ndawo nabemi bayo: Esi sixeko ndiza kusitsho sifane neTofeti.
13 Izindlu zaseJerusalem kunye nezookumkani bakwaJuda ziza kuxajelwa zifane neTofeti. Nditsho zonke izindlu ekwakutshiswa phezu kwazo isiqhumiso soothixo abaziinkwenkwezi, kunikelwa nangeminikelo ethululwayo koothixo basemzini.’ ”
14 Wabuya ke uJeremiya evela eTofeti apho wayethunywe ukushumayela khona nguNdikhoyo. Waya kuma ngaphakathi kweyadi yendlu kaNdikhoyo, wathi ebantwini xa bebonke:
15 “UNdikhoyo uSomandla-onke onguThixo kaSirayeli utsho ukuthi: ‘Niyabona, esi sixeko kunye neelali zaso ndiza kusihlisela yonke intlekele endakha ndathetha ngayo, kuba kaloku abantu balapha baneenkani, abafuni kuliphulaphula ilizwi lam.’ ”