1 Kwathi sekuphelile lokho, izikhulu zasondela kimi, zathi: “Abantu bakwa-Israyeli nabapristi namaLevi abazahlukanisanga nabantu bezizwe nezinengiso zabo, ezamaKhanani, namaHeti, namaPherizi, namaJebusi, nama-Amoni, nabakwaMowabi, nabaseGibithe, nama-Amori.
2 Ngokuba bazithathele amadodakazi abo, bona namadodana abo, kuze kuthi inzalo engcwele isixubene nabantu bezizwe; izandla zezikhulu nababusi yizona ebeziphambili kuleso siphambeko.”
3 Lapho ngizwa leyo ndaba, ngaklebhula ingubo yami nejazi lami, ngahluthula izinwele zekhanda lami nesilevu sami, ngahlala phansi ngimangele.
4 Kwase kubuthana kimi bonke abathuthumela ngamazwi kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ngenxa yesiphambeko sabathunjwa; ngahlala ngimangele kwaze kwaba sesikhathini somnikelo wakusihlwa.
5 Ngesikhathi somnikelo wakusihlwa ngavuka ekuzileni kwami, ingubo yami nejazi lami kuklebhukile, ngaguqa ngamadolo, ngelulela izandla zami kuJehova uNkulunkulu wami,
6 ngathi: “Nkulunkulu wami, nginamahloni, ngiyakhophoza ukuba ngiphakamisele ubuso bami kuwe Nkulunkulu wami, ngokuba izono zethu zandile ngaphezu kwamakhanda ethu, namacala ethu akhulile kuze kube sezulwini.
7 Kusukela ezinsukwini zawobaba kuze kube namuhla sinecala elikhulu; ngenxa yezono zethu sanikelwa thina namakhosi ethu nabapristi bethu ezandleni zamakhosi abezizwe enkembeni, nasekuthunjweni, nasekuphangweni, nasemahlonini obuso njenganamuhla.
8 “Kepha manje senzelwe isikhashana umusa ovela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukusishiyela insali yabasindileyo nokusinika isikhonkwane endaweni yakhe engcwele ukuba uNkulunkulu wethu akhanyise amehlo ethu, asinike ikhefu elincane ebugqileni bethu.
9 Ngokuba siyizigqila; nokho uNkulunkulu wethu akasishiyanga ebugqileni bethu, kepha usenzele isihawu emehlweni amakhosi asePheresiya ukuba asinike ikhefu, simise indlu kaNkulunkulu wethu, sivuse incithakalo yayo, asinike ugange kwaJuda naseJerusalema.
10 “Manje siyakuthini, Nkulunkulu wethu, emva kwalokhu na? Ngokuba sishiyile imiyalo yakho
11 oyale ngayo ngezandla zezinceku zakho abaprofethi ngokuthi: ‘Izwe eniya kulo ukulidla liyizwe elingcolileyo ngenxa yokungcola kwabantu bezizwe ngezinengiso zabo eziligcwalisile ngokonakalisa kwabo, kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kufike ekugcineni.
12 Ngalokho ninganiki amadodana abo amadodakazi enu, futhi ningathatheli amadodana enu amadodakazi abo, ningafuni ukuthula kwabo nenhlalakahle yabo kuze kube phakade, ukuze nibe namandla, nidle okuhle kwezwe, nilishiye libe yifa labantwana benu kuze kube phakade.’
13 “Ngasemva kwakho konke okufike phezu kwethu ngenxa yezenzo zethu ezimbi, nangecala lethu elikhulu, nangokuba wena Nkulunkulu wethu awusijezisanga ngokufanele izono zethu, wasinika isigaba sabasindileyo njengalesi,
14 singabuye saphule yini imiyalo yakho, sendiselane nalabo bantu abazenza lezi zinengiso na? Nga ungasithukutheleli uze usiqede, kuze kungabikho nsali nosindayo na?
15 Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ulungile, ngokuba sishiyiwe siyinsali nje njenganamuhla; bheka, siphambi kwakho necala lethu, nokho akakho ongema phambi kwakho ngenxa yalokho.”