1 Kwathi ngenyanga yesixhenxe uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya unyana kaElishama, owayengumntwana wegazi ekwayingqwayi-ngqwayi kakumkani, waya eMizpa kuGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam, ehamba neshumi lamadoda, baza batya kunye. Kwathi ke besahleli etafileni apho
2 suka uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya kunye nelo shumi lamadoda ayehamba naye baphakama bamxabela ngekrele uGedaliya, unyana ka-Ahikam ongumzukulwana kaShafan. Ngeso senzo bamgwinta owayengumphathiswa welo lizwe omiselwe ngukumkani waseBhabheli.
3 Bawabulala namanye amaJuda onke awayeseMizpa kunye noGedaliya, kwakunye namajoni angamaKaledi awayelapho.
4 Ngomhla wesibini olandela ukugwintwa kukaGedaliya, ingekaziwa loo nto,
5 kwafika amashumi asibhozo amadoda, evela eShekem naseShilo naseSamariya. Ayezichebile iindevu, ezikrazule izambatho, imizimba eyicentile. Ayephethe iminikelo yeenkozo kunye nentlaka yesiqhumiso, ezizisa endlwini *kaNdikhoyo.
6 UIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya wasuka eMizpa, wawahlangabeza ehamba elila. Ufikile kubo, wathi: “Yizani kuGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam.”
7 Kodwa athi nje akuthi cakatha phakathi esixekweni, uIshmayeli nabo babehamba naye bawatyakatya loo madoda, bawaphosa emhadini.
8 Ishumi laloo madoda lona lathi kuIshamayeli: “Musa ukusibulala thina; sinokutya esikufihlileyo endle: ingqolowa, neoyile yomnquma, nobusi.” Wawayeka ke lawo amadoda akawabulala njengamanye.
9 Umhadi okwaphoswa kuwo izidumbu zamadoda abulawa nguIshmayeli kwakunye nesikaGedaliya wenziwa ngukumkani uAsa xa wayehlaselwa ngukumkani uBhasha wakwaSirayeli. Ke uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya wawuzalisa loo mhadi zizidumbu zabagwintiweyo.
10 UIshmayeli wathimba bonke abantu abâsaláyo eMizpa, iintombi zokumkani nabanye bonke abasala ngexesha uNebhuzaradan umphathi-balindi bakomkhulu waphathisa uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam. Wahamba nabo wawelela kwelaseAmon.
11 Kwathi bakuvakala kuYohanan unyana kaKareya kunye nabaphathi-mabutho bonke ububi obenziwe nguIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya,
12 banduluka nawo onke amadoda amabutho abo, baya kuhlasela uIshmayeli. Bamfumana emise ngakwelaa chibi likhulu laseGibheyon.
13 Bavuya abantu ababehamba noIshmayeli bakubona uYohanan esiza nabaphathi-mabutho,
14 bajika bonke abo babethinjwe nguIshmayeli eMizpa, bangenela kuYohanan unyana kaKareya.
15 Waphuncuka kodwa yena uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya namadoda asibhozo, baya kutsho kwelama-Amon.
16 UJohanan unyana kaKareya, ekunye nabaphathi-mabutho, bajika namasalela abantu abaqweqwediswa nguIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya owagwinta uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam esuka nabo eMizpa. Yayingamadoda axhobileyo, abafazi nabantwana, namagosa asebhotwe awayevela nawo eGibheyon.
17 Banduluka bemisa eGerute-kimham ngaseBhetelehem kwindlela yabo esinga eJiputa,
18 bephepha amaKaledi. Babesoyika kuba uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya wagwinta uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam owemiswa ngukumkani waseBhabheli ukuba abe ngumphathiswa welo lizwe.