10 Kodwa inxalenye yabantu ababengamahlwempu angenanto tu, wabashiya ezweni lakwaJuda umphathi uNebhuzaradan, wababela amasimi nezidiliya.
11 Mayela noJeremiya ukumkani uNebhukadenezare wayalela umphathi-balindi bakomkhulu uNebhuzaradan wathi:
12 “Mthathe uJeremiya, umphathe kakuhle, ungamenzakalisi, umenzele loo nto ayifunayo.”
13 Ngoko ke umphathi-balindi uNebhuzaradan ekunye noNebhushazibhan umphathi oyintloko, nengqwayi-ngqwayi yomkhosi uNerigale-sharezere, bekunye nezinye iindwalutho zokumkani waseBhabheli,
14 bathi makuye kukhutshwa uJeremiya kulaa nkundla yabalindi wayehlala kuyo. Bamnikezela kuGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam unyana kaShafan ukuba amgoduse. Wasala wahlala phakathi kwabantu bakowabo ke uJeremiya.
15 Ngexesha uJeremiya wayevaleleke enkundleni yabalindi lavakala kuye ilizwi likaNdikhoyo, lisithi:
16 “Yiya kuxelela uEbhedi-meleki umKushe uthi: ‘Utsho *uNdikhoyo uSomandla-onke, uThixo kaSirayeli, ukuthi: Amazwi am mayela nesi sixeko ndiya kuwazalisekisa ngokusihlisela intlekele, ingabi kokulungileyo. Loo nto iza kuhla uyijongile, lakufika ixesha.