9 Umphathi wabalindi bekumkani, uNebhuzaradan, wabaqhubela eBhabheli ekuthinjweni abantu abasala esixekweni, bekunye nabo babezinikezele, nabanye abantu abaseleyo.
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: