17 Thina siza kuthi rhoqo ukuzalisa amadinga ethu, senzele uKumkanikazi weZulu iziqhumiso, simphe neminikelo ethululwayo njengoko sasikade sisenza thina nookhokho bethu nookumkani neziphathamandla zethu sisahlala kwiidolophu zakwaJuda naseJerusalem. Ngoko sasidla ngokuba nokutya kakhulu, sisanela, kungazange kwabakho shwangusha lakha lasithi cha.
18 Kodwa oko sathi sahlukana nokwenzela uKumkanikazi weZulu iziqhumiso, sayeka nokumpha iziselo, sathiwa nca yindlala, sada sagqibela ngokufa ngekrele naliphango.”
19 Baqokela bathi abafazi: “Ngokuya sasidla ngokwenza amaqebengwana anomfanekiso woKumkanikazi weZulu, uba amadoda ethu ayengayazi loo nto? Ayesazi naxa simenzela iminikelo ethululwayo.”
20 Wenjenje uJeremiya akuphendulwa ngolu hlobo ngamadoda nabafazi nangabantu bonke:
21 “Xa ooyihlo-mkhulu nookumkani neziphathamandla zenu, kunye nomndilili wabantu, babethe rhoqo ukwenza iziqhumiso ezidolophini zakwaJuda naseJerusalem, akazange na uNdikhoyo ayikhumbule loo nto, ayigcine entliziyweni yakhe?
22 UNdikhoyo akabanga nako tu ukukunyamezela ukungcola kwezenzo zenu kunye namasikizi eniwenzileyo. Andithi kanene ilizwe lenu laba ngumqwebedu nento eyoyikekayo esisiqalekiso kangangokuba kungahlali bani kulo unanamhla oku?
23 Nahlelwa leli shwangusha likhoyo namhlanje ngenxa yokuba nenzela izithixo iziqhumiso, namona uNdikhoyo ngokungamthobeli nokungahambi ngokwemithetho nemimiselo nemigaqo yakhe.”