1 Izwi elafika kuJeremiya ngabantu bonke bakwaJuda ngomnyaka wesine kaJehoyakimi indodana kaJosiya, inkosi yakwaJuda, ongumnyaka wokuqala kaNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele,
2 alikhulumayo uJeremiya umprofethi kubo bonke abantu bakwaJuda nakubo bonke abakhileyo eJerusalema, ethi:
3 “Kusukela emnyakeni weshumi nantathu kaJosiya indodana ka-Amoni, inkosi yakwaJuda, kuze kube namuhla, le minyaka engamashumi amabili nantathu izwi likaJehova lifikile kimi, ngalikhuluma, ngilisho kini njalonjalo, kepha kanilalelanga.”
4 UJehova uthumile kini zonke izinceku zakhe abaprofethi, ebathuma njalonjalo, kepha anilalelanga, anibekanga indlebe ukuba nizwe
5 lapho kwathiwa: “Ake nibuye, kube yilowo nalowo endleleni yakhe embi, nasebubini bezenzo zenu, nihlale ezweni uJehova alinike nina nawoyihlo, kusukela phakade kuze kube phakade,
6 ningalandeli abanye onkulunkulu ukuba nibakhonze, nikhuleke kubo, ningangicunuli ngemisebenzi yezandla zenu; khona angiyikunenzela okubi.