16 bethi: ‘Maye, maye kuwe muzi omkhulu owawembethe ilineni elicolekileyo, nokububende, nokubomvu, uvunule ngegolide nangamatshe anenani nangamaparele!*
17 Ngokuba ngehora linye nje ingcebo engaka ichithekile.’“Nabashayeli bonke bemikhumbi, nabo bonke abaya nomaphi ngomkhumbi, namatilosi,* nabo bonke abasebenza elwandle bemela kude,
18 badazuluka bebona umusi wokusha kwalo, bethi: ‘Ngumuphi umuzi ofana nalowo muzi omkhulu na?’
19 Base bethela uthuli emakhanda abo, badazuluka bekhala, belila bethi: ‘Maye, maye kuwe muzi omkhulu, abacebile kuwe bonke abanemikhumbi elwandle ngenxa yengcebo enqabileyo yakho, ngokuba ngehora linye nje uchithekile!
20 Thokoza ngawo wena zulu, nani bangcwele, nani baphostoli, nani baprofethi; ngokuba uNkulunkulu uwahlulele, waniphindiselela kuwo.’ ”
21 Ingelosi enamandla yafukula itshe linjengelokusila elikhulu, yaliphonsa elwandle, yathi: “Ngokunjalo iBabiloni umuzi omkhulu liyakuphonswa phansi ngamandla, lingabe lisafunyanwa.
22 Izwi lababetha ihabhu* nelabahlabeleli nelababetha imitshingo namacilongo alisoze laphinda lizwakale kuwe, namuphi umlumbi noma owaluphi uhlobo akasoze wafunyaniswa kuwe, nomsindo wetshe lokusila awusoze wabuye uzwakale kuwe,