1 Ngexesha ukumkani uJoyakim unyana kaYosiya wayengukumkani kwaJuda lavakala ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo kuJeremiya,
2 lisithi: “Yiya kumaRekabhi, uthethe nawo, uwamemele kwigumbi elibucala endlwini kaNdikhoyo, uwanike iwayini asele.”
3 Ndaya kubiza uYazaniya unyana kaJeremiya unyana kaHabhaziniya, nabantakwabo noonyana bakhe bonke. Ndawumema wonke umzi wamaRekabhi.
4 Ndabangenisa endlwini kaNdikhoyo, kwigumbi leento zikaHanam owayezalwa ngumfo wakwaThixo uIgedaliya. Elo gumbi lalimelene negumbi leziphathamandla, lona eli lingasentla kwelikaMaseya unyana kaShalum owayengumgcini-masango.
5 Ndabeka iibhekile neendebe ezinewayini ngaphambi kwabo, ndathi: “Khanibambe, madoda!”
6 Athi loo madoda: “Hayi, asiyiseli iwayini! Kaloku ubawo omkhulu uYonadabhi, unyana kaRekabhi, wathi: ‘Ze ningaze niyisele iwayini, nina nezizukulwana, nditsho nanini na.
7 Ngaphezu koko ze ningaze nakhe izindlu, nihlwayele imbewu, nityale izidiliya. Ze ningabi nazo konke-konke ezi zinto, koko nihlale ezintenteni bonke ubomi benu. Ukuba nithe nenjenjalo niya kuma ithuba elide kulo mhlaba eniphambukele kuwo.’
8 Siwuthobele ke wonke umyalelo kabawo omkhulu uYonadabhi unyana kaRekabhi. Thina, nabafazi bethu, noonyana neentombi zethu, asizanga sayisela iwayini ebomini,
9 singazanga sakha zindlu zakuhlala, salima masimi nazidiliya.
10 Sasoloko sihlala ezintenteni ngokuthobela umyalelo esawunikwa ngubawo-mkhulu uYonadabhi.
11 Kuthe ke xa ukumkani uNabhukadenezare ehlasela eli lizwe, thina sathi: ‘Masiye kungena eJerusalem, sisabe imikhosi yamaKaledi nama-Aram.’ Yiyo loo nto sisahleli apha eJerusalem.”
12 Libuye lavakala kuJeremiya ilizwi likaNdikhoyo lisithi:
13 “Utsho uSomandla-onke onguThixo kaSirayeli ukuthi: Yiya kubantu bakwaJuda nabemi baseJerusalem uthi: ‘UNdikhoyo uthi: Yini na ukuba ningavumi ukuqeqeshwa niwathobele amazwi am? Lowo ngumlomo kaNdikhoyo.
14 UYonadabhi unyana kaRekabhi wayalela oonyana bakhe ukuba bangaseli iwayini, myalelo lowo bawugcinileyo. Unanamhla ke abayiseli iwayini, kuba bethobela umyalelo wookhokho babo. Kodwa mna ndiphindelele ukuthetha nani, kodwa anandithobela.
15 Ndithe rhoqo ukunithumela zonke izicaka zam *abashumayeli. Babesithi: “Guqukani ezindleleni zenu ezigwenxa, nilungise ihambo yenu. Musani ukulandela abanye oothixo nibanqule. Xa nisenjenjalo niya kuma kulo mhlaba ndawunika ookhokho benu.” Kodwa nina nisuke anahoya, anandithobela.
16 Isizukulwana sikaYonadabhi unyana kaRekabhi sona sawuthobela umyalelo wokhokho waso, kodwa nina, luhlangandini, anivumi ukundithobela!
17 “ ‘Ngoko ke mna Ndikhoyo, uThixo onamandla onke, uThixo kaSirayeli, nditsho ukuthi: “Niyabona, uJuda nabo bonke abemi baseJerusalem ndibazisela yonke intlekele endabasongela ngayo. Ndabathethisa, kodwa àbandiphulaphula; ndabakhalimela, kodwa abasabela.” ’ ”
18 UJeremiya ke wabhekisa kumaRekabhi, wathi: “Utsho uNdikhoyo uSomandla-onke, onguThixo kaSirayeli, ukuthi: Nina namthobela uyihlo-mkhulu uYonadabhi, nawugcina umthetho wakhe, nayenza yonke imiyalelo yakhe.
19 Ngoko ke mna Ndikhoyo onguSomandla-onke uThixo kaSirayeli ndithi: ‘UYonadabhi unyana kaRekabhi akayi kuze aswele ndoda yakundikhonza.’ ”