UJeremiya
37 INkosi uZedekiya + indodana kaJosiya yabusa esikhundleni sikaKhoniya *+ indodana kaJehoyakimi, ngoba uNebukhadinezari* inkosi yaseBhabhiloni yambeka waba inkosi ezweni lakwaJuda. + 2 Kodwa yona nezinceku zayo nabantu bezwe abawalalelanga amazwi kaJehova awakhuluma ngoJeremiya umprofethi.
3 INkosi uZedekiya yathuma uJehukali + indodana kaShelemiya noZefaniya + indodana kaMahaseya umpristi kuJeremiya umprofethi, ithi: “Sicela usithandazele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu.” 4 UJeremiya wayezikhululekele phakathi kwabantu ngoba babengakamfaki ejele. + 5 Manje ibutho likaFaro laliphumile eGibhithe, + amaKhaledi ayevimbezele iJerusalema ezwa umbiko ngalo. Ngakho ahoxa ekulweni neJerusalema. + 6 Khona-ke izwi likaJehova lafika kuJeremiya umprofethi, lathi: 7 “Yilokhu uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli akushoyo, ‘Yilokhu okufanele nikusho enkosini yakwaJuda, enithume ukuba nizobuza kimi: “Bheka! Ibutho likaFaro elizokusiza kuzodingeka libuyele emuva ezweni lalo, eGibhithe. + 8 AmaKhaledi azobuya, alwe naleli dolobha alinqobe alishise ngomlilo.” + 9 Yilokhu uJehova akushoyo: “Ningazikhohlisi nithi, ‘Nakanjani amaKhaledi azoyeka ukulwa nathi,’ ngoba ngeke ayeke. 10 Ngisho noma ngabe benilibulale lonke ibutho lamaKhaledi alwa nani, kwasala kuwo amadoda alimele, abeyovuka ematendeni awo alishise ngomlilo leli dolobha.” ’ ” +
11 Lapho ibutho lamaKhaledi selihoxile ekulweni neJerusalema ngenxa yebutho likaFaro, + 12 uJeremiya waphuma eJerusalema waya ezweni lakwaBhenjamini + ukuze athole isabelo sakhe lapho phakathi kwabantu. 13 Kodwa lapho efika eSangweni LikaBhenjamini, u-Iriya indodana kaShelemiya indodana kaHananiya, isikhulu esengamele onogada, wambamba uJeremiya umprofethi, wathi: “Wena uhlubukela kumaKhaledi!” 14 Kodwa uJeremiya wathi: “Akulona iqiniso lelo! Angihlubukeli kumaKhaledi.” Kodwa akazange amlalele. Ngakho u-Iriya wambopha uJeremiya wamyisa ezikhulwini. 15 Izikhulu zamthukuthelela uJeremiya, + zamshaya zamfaka ejele, + endlini kaJehonathani unobhala, eyayenziwe ijele. 16 UJeremiya wafakwa esitokisini esingaphansi komhlaba,* wahlala lapho izinsuku eziningi.
17 INkosi uZedekiya yabe isithumela ukuba alandwe, inkosi yambuza ngasese endlini yayo. *+ Yathi, “Likhona yini izwi elivela kuJehova?” UJeremiya wathi, “Likhona!” Waqhubeka wathi, “Uzonikelwa enkosini yaseBhabhiloni!” +
18 UJeremiya wathi eNkosini uZedekiya: “Ngone ngani kuwe nasezincekwini zakho nakulesi sizwe, nize ningifake ejele? 19 Baphi manje abaprofethi benu ababeprofetha kini, bethi, ‘Inkosi yaseBhabhiloni ngeke ize izolwa nani kanye naleli zwe’? + 20 Manje ngicela ulalele nkosi yami. Ngicela ungibonise umusa. Ungangibuyiseli endlini kaJehonathani + unobhala ukuze ngingafeli khona.” + 21 Ngakho iNkosi uZedekiya yayala ukuba uJeremiya avalelwe eGcekeni Labaqaphi, + wayenikwa isinkwa esiyindilinga nsuku zonke sivela emgwaqweni wababhaki, + saze saphela sonke isinkwa edolobheni. + UJeremiya waqhubeka eseGcekeni Labaqaphi.