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.