1 Ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo lavakala kuJeremiya mhla uPashure unyana kaMalkiya, kunye nombingeleli uZefaniya unyana kaMaseya, bathunywayo kuye ngukumkani uZedekiya, besithi:
2 “Khawusibuzele kuNdikhoyo. Kaloku ukumkani uNebhukadenezare waseBhabheli uze kulwa nathi. Mhlawumbi angabuya enze imimangaliso uNdikhoyo njengangaphambili, simbone selegoduka nomkhosi wakhe uNebhukadenezare.”
3 Uthe ukuphendula yena uJeremiya: “Yithini kuZedekiya:
4 UNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli utsho ukuthi: ‘Niyabona, ndozenza izikrweqe zenu ezisezandleni zenu zibe lilize, nditsho ezi nilwa ngazo ukumkani waseBhabheli namaKaledi aningqingayo. Ewe, wona asengaphandle kweendonga ngoku, kodwa ndiza kuwahlanganisela esazulwini sesi sixeko.
5 Ndim oza kunihlasela ngesandla sam esinamandla nengalo yam eyomeleleyo ndiqhutywa ngumsindo nengqumbo noburhalarhume obukhulu.
6 Bonke abemi besi sixeko ndiza kubahlisela isibetho sesifo esibulalayo – nditsho abantu kunye nemfuyo yabo.’
7 “Nguwo lo umlomo kaNdikhoyo: ‘Emva koko amasalela asindileyo kubhubhani, nekrele, nendlala, ukumkani uZedekiya namaphakathi akhe kunye nabantu besi sixeko, ndiza kubanikela esandleni sokumkani uNebhukadenezare waseBhabheli nakwiintshaba ezifuna ukubabulala. Yena uza kubangena ngekrele, engenalusizi nanceba naluvelwano.’
8 “Ngaphezu koko baxelele aba bantu uthi: Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Khethani phakathi kokufa nokuphila.
9 Lowo uhlala kwesi sixeko uya kufa likrele nayindlala nangubhubhani. Kodwa lowo uphumela ngaphandle azilahlele kumaKaledi aningqingileyo, uya kusinda ekufeni.
10 Esi sixeko ndizimisele ukusizisela ububi, hayi ubuhle.’ Lowo ngumlomo kaNdikhoyo. ‘Ndosinikela esandleni sokumkani waseBhabheli, aze yena asitshabalalise ngomlilo.’
11 “Yithi kwindlu yokumkani wakwaJuda: ‘Nali ilizwi likaNdikhoyo
12 kuni, nina bendlu kaDavide. Mbekeleni iindlebe uNdikhoyo, uthi:“ ‘Mihla le gwebani ngobulungisa,okhuthuzwayo nimsindise kubabandezeli,hleze ugqabhuke umsindo wam,uvuthe okomlilo,ndibe lugcwabevu, ndinganqandeki,ngenxa yenkohlakalo eniyenzileyo.
13 “ ‘Ndichasene nawe, Jerusalem,wena othe gcobho kule ntili,wena liwa leli thafa.Lowo ngumlomo kaNdikhoyo.Kaloku uthi: “Ngubani onokusitshabalalisa?Ingubani ongagqobhozayo kwiinqaba zethu?”
14 “ ‘Ndiza kunibuyekeza ngokwezenzo zenu.Lowo ngumlomo kaNdikhoyo.Uthi: “Ndiza kuphemba umlilountumekeke kuloo mahlathi anirhawuleyo,kutshe yonke into kuthi bhuqe.” ’ ”