1 Izwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuJehova, lapho uNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, nayo yonke impi yakhe, nayo yonke imibuso yomhlaba ebuswa yisandla sakhe, nabantu bonke belwa neJerusalema nayo yonke imizi yalo, lathi:
2 “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Hamba usho kuSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda, uthi kuye: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Bheka, ngiyakuwunikela lo muzi esandleni senkosi yaseBabele, iwushise ngomlilo.
3 Awuyikuphunyuka esandleni sayo; uyakubanjwa nokubanjwa, unikelwe esandleni sayo; amehlo akho ayakubheka amehlo enkosi yaseBabele, ikhulume nawe umlomo nomlomo; uyakuya eBabele.
4 “ ‘Kepha yizwa izwi likaJehova, Sedekiya, nkosi yakwaJuda. Usho kanje uJehova ngawe, uthi: Awuyikufa ngenkemba;
5 uyakufa ngokuthula; njengokushiselwa kwawoyihlo, amakhosi okuqala ayengaphambi kwakho, kanjalo bayakukushisela wena, bakulilele, bathi: “Maye, nkosi!” Ngokuba ngilikhulumile izwi, usho uJehova.’ ”
6 UJeremiya umprofethi wayesekhuluma onke lawo mazwi kuSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda eJerusalema,