To The Word – Day 184

₁UJeremiya esavalelwe eyadini yabalindi labuya lavakala okwesibini kuye ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo, lisithi: ₂“UNdikhoyo owenza ihlabathi walibumba walizinzisa, ogama linguNdikhoyo, utsho ukuthi: ₃‘Khala kum, ndikuphendule, ndikwazise izinto ezinkulu ezingenakugocagocwa, obukade ungaziqondi, _4-5nditsho izinto ezimalunga nezindlu zesi sixeko nebhotwe lookumkani bakwaJuda ezadilizwayo, nezimalunga neengqumba zokulwa, namakrele amaKaledi anihlasele ngawo, aza azalisa ezi zindlu ngezidumbu zabantu endandizimisele ukubatshabalalisa ngenxa yomsindo wam ovuthayo xa ndandisifulathele esi sixeko ngenxa yobugwenxa baso obungaka. Ngokubhekiselele kwezi zinto utsho uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli ukuthi: ₆Ndosinyanga ndisiphilise esi sixeko, ndibathi jize ngoxolo nokhuseleko abemi baso. ₇Abantu bakwaJuda nabakwaSirayeli ndobakhulula ekuthinjweni, ndibamilisele njengangaphambili. ₈Ndobahlambulula ebugwenxeni babo bonke abandone ngabo, ndibaxolele amatyala abo nokundivukela kwabo. ₉Esi sixeko siya kuba ngumthombo wovuyo kum, ibhongo neqhayiya lam emehlweni eentlanga zonke zehlabathi xa zisiva ngezinto ezintle endizenzela sona, zitsho zothuke zinkwantye zakubona uxolo nentlala-kahle exhanyulwayo.’

₁₀“Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Aba bantu bathi le ndawo yinkangala engamiwa mntu nasilwanyana. Ewe, kunjalo: iidolophu zakwaJuda nezitalato zaseJerusalem azinabantu, akukho nazilwanyana. Kanti iza kubuya ivakale ₁₁intswahla yemigcobo nemincili, kuvakale izwi lomyeni nelomtshakazi, kuvakale ingoma yâbo bazisa umnikelo wombulelo endlwini kaNdikhoyo, besithi:

₁₂“Utsho uNdikhoyo uSomandla-onke ukuthi: ‘Kanye kule ndawo iyinkangala, ingamiwa mntu nasilwanyana, kuza kuvela amadlelo apho abelusi baya kwalusela khona impahla, kuvuswe needolophu zayo. ₁₃Ezidolophini kweleentaba, nezakumazantsi eentaba, nakumzantsi-Juda, kummandla wakwaBhenjamin, nakwiilali ezingqonge iJerusalem, nakwiidolophu zakwaJuda, kobuya kubalwe imfuyo ngabelusi,’ utsho uNdikhoyo.

₁₄“Nguwo lo umlomo kaNdikhoyo: ‘Iyeza imihla yokuba ndisifezekise isithembiso sam kwisizwe sakwaSirayeli nesakwaJuda.

₁₇“Ewe, uNdikhoyo uthi: ‘KwaDavide soze inqamke indoda yokulawula kwaSirayeli. ₁₈NakubaLevi bohlala bekho ababingeleli bokwenza amadini atshiswayo naweenkozo nemibingelelo.’ ”

₁₉Lavakala kuJeremiya ilizwi likaNdikhoyo, lisithi: ₂₀“Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Xa ungatshitshayo umnqophiso wam wemini nobusuku, kungabikho mini nabusuku ngexesha elimisiweyo, ₂₁ungaphela nomnqophiso wam nesicaka sam uDavide, angabi naye umzukulwana oya kulawula esikhundleni sakhe, kwangokunjalo nomnqophiso wam nabaLevi wokuba bahlale bendikhonza. ₂₂Njengokuba zingenakubalwa iinkwenkwezi esibhakabhakeni, ingenakulinganiswa nentlabathi elunxwemeni lolwandle, ndiya kwenjenjalo ukusandisa isizukulwana sesicaka sam uDavide nesabaLevi abandikhonzayo.’ ”

₂₃Lavakala kuJeremiya ilizwi likaNdikhoyo lisithi: ₂₄“Ukuvile na okuthethwa ngaba bantu besithi: ‘Izizwe ezibini awazinyulayo uNdikhoyo uzibukule’? Ngokwenjenjalo banyelisa abantu bam ngokungathi abaselulo uhlanga emehlweni am. ₂₅Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Xa ungatshitshayo umnqophiso wam wemini nobusuku, khon' ukuze kuphele nemimiselo yam yolungelelwano esibhakabhakeni nasehlabathini, ₂₆xa kunjalo ndingasibukula isizukulwana sikaYakobi nesikaDavide, isicaka sam, kungabi sanyulwa mlawuli koonyana bakhe alawule inzala ka-Abraham noIsake noYakobi. Unakanye! Ndiza kubakhulula ekuthinjweni, ndibabuyisele kundalashe, ndibathi jize ngemfesane.’ ”

₁Ngexesha ukumkani uNebhukadenezare waseBhabheli wayehlasela iJerusalem kunye needolophu eziyingqongileyo ngomkhosi wakhe wonke, encediswa zizikumkani zonke ezazingaphantsi kwakhe zezizwe ngezizwe awayezilawula, wafikelwa ludaba luvela *kuNdikhoyo uJeremiya. Lwafika lusithi: ₂“Utsho uNdikhoyo onguThixo kaSirayeli ukuthi: Yiya kuZedekiya ukumkani wakwaJuda, uthi kuye: ‘Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Esi sixeko ndiza kusinikela esandleni sokumkani waseBhabheli, yaye uza kusitshisa sibe luthuthu. ₃Nawe akuyi kuphuncula: uza kubanjwa unikezelwe kuye. Uza kumbona ngamehlo ukumkani waseBhabheli, nithethe ubuso ngobuso, uhambe uye eBhabheli.’

₄“Kambe ke, mhlekazi Zedekiya, kumkani wakwaJuda, live neli lizwi likaNdikhoyo. Utsho kuwe uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Wena Zedekiya akuyi kufa ngekrele; ₅uza kufa ngoxolo. Nanjengoko abantu babesenza isiqhumiso xa babengcwaba ooyihlo, nditsho ookumkani bamandulo, ngokunjalo naxa bangcwaba wena baza kwenza isiqhumiso. Nawe baza kukuzilela, bathi: “Mawoo, nkosi!” Uthethile uNdikhoyo. Lowo ngumlomo kaNdikhoyo.’ ”

₆Umshumayeli uJeremiya wawathetha ke onke la mazwi kukumkani uZedekiya wakwaJuda eJerusalem, ₇xa kanye umkhosi wokumkani waseBhabheli wawuhlasela eso sixeko kunye nezinye iidolophu ezazisaxhathisile, iLakishe neAzeka, kuphela kwezixeko zakwaJuda ezazinqatyisiwe ezasalayo.

₈Lavakala kuJeremiya ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo emva kokuba ukumkani uZedekiya wayenze umnqophiso nabantu baseJerusalem wokuba baza kwenza isibhengezo sokuwakhulula ₉amakhoboka angamaHebhere angamadoda nabafazi, khon' ukuze kungabikho mntu ungumJuda unekhoboka lomJuda. ₁₀Bavuma bonke abantu kunye neziphathamandla ukuwakhulula onke amakhoboka, bangabi sawakhoboza abo bantu. Bawakhulula ke, ₁₁kodwa kamva babuye barhoxa kwizigqibo zabo, babanyanzela abo bantu ukuba babuyele kwasebukhobokeni.

₁₂Lavakala ke kuJeremiya ilizwi likaNdikhoyo lisithi: ₁₃“Utsho uNdikhoyo onguThixo kaSirayeli ukuthi: ‘Ndênza umnqophiso kunye nookhokho benu mhla ndabakhupha eJiputa, ndabakhulula ebukhobokeni. Ndathi kubo: ₁₄“Qho ekupheleni kweminyaka esixhenxe kufuneka nikhulule wonke umwenu ongumHebhere ozithengise kuwe ithuba leminyaka emithandathu ekusebenzela.” Kodwa ookhokho benu abazanga bayihoye nokuyihoya loo nto ndayithethayo. ₁₅Kambe nina nizohlwayile, nandikholisa ngokuthi nonke nivume ukuwakhulula ebukhobokeni amawenu, nenza umnqophiso phambi kwam endlwini ebizwa ngegama lam. ₁₆Kodwa ngoku nibuye nasityeshela eso sigqibo, nalinyelisa igama lam ngokubuya nibanyanzele nibenze amakhoboka abantu ebenisele nabakhulula baye apho bathanda ukuya khona.’

₁₇“Ngoko ke utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Anindithobelanga ngokungawakhululi amawenu. Niyabona ke, ndinivakalisela isibhengezo senkululeko: inkululeko yokufa ngekrele nendlala nobhubhani. Ndiza kunenza nibe ngumbono orhwaqelisayo kuzo zonke izizwe zehlabathi. Lowo ngumlomo kaNdikhoyo. ₁₈Amadoda awaphuleyo umnqophiso wam, akayifezekisa imiqathango yomnqophiso awawenza phambi kwam, ndowafanisa nethole awalahlula kubini, aza acanda phakathi kwaloo macala alo. ₁₉Iziphathamandla zakwaJuda naseJerusalem kunye namaphakathi, ababingeleli kunye nabo bonke abantu beli lizwe abacande phakathi kwamacala ethole elahlulwe kubini, ₂₀ndiza kubanikezela esandleni seentshaba zabo ezizungula ubomi babo, izidumbu zabo zibe kukutya kweentaka namarhamncwa.

₂₁“ ‘Naye ukumkani uZedekiya wakwaJuda, kunye neziphathamandla zakhe, ndiza kubanikela esandleni seentshaba zabo ezizungula ubomi babo, nditsho umkhosi wokumkani waseBhabheli orhoxileyo ekumhlaseleni. ₂₂Ndiza kunika umyalelo ndiwubuyisele kwesi sixeko, usihlasele, usithimbe, usitshise. Ezi dolophu zakwaJuda ndiza kuzitsho zibe yinkangala apho kungekho bani unokuhlala.’ Lowo ngumlomo kaNdikhoyo.”

₁Ngexesha ukumkani uJoyakim unyana kaYosiya wayengukumkani kwaJuda lavakala ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo kuJeremiya, ₂lisithi: “Yiya kumaRekabhi, uthethe nawo, uwamemele kwigumbi elibucala endlwini kaNdikhoyo, uwanike iwayini asele.”

₃Ndaya kubiza uYazaniya unyana kaJeremiya unyana kaHabhaziniya, nabantakwabo noonyana bakhe bonke. Ndawumema wonke umzi wamaRekabhi. ₄Ndabangenisa endlwini kaNdikhoyo, kwigumbi leento zikaHanam owayezalwa ngumfo wakwaThixo uIgedaliya. Elo gumbi lalimelene negumbi leziphathamandla, lona eli lingasentla kwelikaMaseya unyana kaShalum owayengumgcini-masango. ₅Ndabeka iibhekile neendebe ezinewayini ngaphambi kwabo, ndathi: “Khanibambe, madoda!”

₆Athi loo madoda: “Hayi, asiyiseli iwayini! Kaloku ubawo omkhulu uYonadabhi, unyana kaRekabhi, wathi: ‘Ze ningaze niyisele iwayini, nina nezizukulwana, nditsho nanini na. ₇Ngaphezu koko ze ningaze nakhe izindlu, nihlwayele imbewu, nityale izidiliya. Ze ningabi nazo konke-konke ezi zinto, koko nihlale ezintenteni bonke ubomi benu. Ukuba nithe nenjenjalo niya kuma ithuba elide kulo mhlaba eniphambukele kuwo.’ ₈Siwuthobele ke wonke umyalelo kabawo omkhulu uYonadabhi unyana kaRekabhi. Thina, nabafazi bethu, noonyana neentombi zethu, asizanga sayisela iwayini ebomini, ₉singazanga sakha zindlu zakuhlala, salima masimi nazidiliya. ₁₀Sasoloko sihlala ezintenteni ngokuthobela umyalelo esawunikwa ngubawo-mkhulu uYonadabhi. ₁₁Kuthe ke xa ukumkani uNabhukadenezare ehlasela eli lizwe, thina sathi: ‘Masiye kungena eJerusalem, sisabe imikhosi yamaKaledi nama-Aram.’ Yiyo loo nto sisahleli apha eJerusalem.”

₁₂Libuye lavakala kuJeremiya ilizwi likaNdikhoyo lisithi: ₁₃“Utsho uSomandla-onke onguThixo kaSirayeli ukuthi: Yiya kubantu bakwaJuda nabemi baseJerusalem uthi: ‘UNdikhoyo uthi: Yini na ukuba ningavumi ukuqeqeshwa niwathobele amazwi am? Lowo ngumlomo kaNdikhoyo. ₁₄UYonadabhi unyana kaRekabhi wayalela oonyana bakhe ukuba bangaseli iwayini, myalelo lowo bawugcinileyo. Unanamhla ke abayiseli iwayini, kuba bethobela umyalelo wookhokho babo. Kodwa mna ndiphindelele ukuthetha nani, kodwa anandithobela. ₁₅Ndithe rhoqo ukunithumela zonke izicaka zam *abashumayeli. Babesithi: “Guqukani ezindleleni zenu ezigwenxa, nilungise ihambo yenu. Musani ukulandela abanye oothixo nibanqule. Xa nisenjenjalo niya kuma kulo mhlaba ndawunika ookhokho benu.” Kodwa nina nisuke anahoya, anandithobela. ₁₆Isizukulwana sikaYonadabhi unyana kaRekabhi sona sawuthobela umyalelo wokhokho waso, kodwa nina, luhlangandini, anivumi ukundithobela!

₁₇“ ‘Ngoko ke mna Ndikhoyo, uThixo onamandla onke, uThixo kaSirayeli, nditsho ukuthi: “Niyabona, uJuda nabo bonke abemi baseJerusalem ndibazisela yonke intlekele endabasongela ngayo. Ndabathethisa, kodwa àbandiphulaphula; ndabakhalimela, kodwa abasabela.” ’ ”

₁₈UJeremiya ke wabhekisa kumaRekabhi, wathi: “Utsho uNdikhoyo uSomandla-onke, onguThixo kaSirayeli, ukuthi: Nina namthobela uyihlo-mkhulu uYonadabhi, nawugcina umthetho wakhe, nayenza yonke imiyalelo yakhe. ₁₉Ngoko ke mna Ndikhoyo onguSomandla-onke uThixo kaSirayeli ndithi: ‘UYonadabhi unyana kaRekabhi akayi kuze aswele ndoda yakundikhonza.’ ”

₁Ngonyaka wesine uJoyakim unyana kaYosiya engukumkani wakwaJuda lavakala ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo kuJeremiya ₂lisithi: “Thatha incwadi esongwayo, ubhale onke amazwi endawathethayo kuwe ngokubhekiselele kuSirayeli noJuda kunye nezinye iintlanga, ukususela mhla ndaqala ukuthetha nawe kusalawula uYosiya, kude kuze kuthi gaa ngoku. ₃Mhlawumbi bangaguquka kule mikhwa mibi yabo abantu bakwaJuda xa besiva ngentlekele endizimisele ukubazisela yona, nam ke ndibaxolele izikreqo nezono zabo.”

₄UJeremiya wabiza uBharuki unyana kaNeriya, wambizela onke amazwi kaNdikhoyo awathethe kuye, yena uBharuki wawabhala encwadini apho. ₅UJeremiya waxelela uBharuki wathi: “Ndithintelwe; andinakuya endlwini kaNdikhoyo. ₆Ke mayibe nguwe oyayo endlwini kaNdikhoyo ngomhla wenzila, ufike ufundele abantu amazwi kaNdikhoyo lawo uwabhale ubizelwa ndim. Fundela bonke abantu bakwaJuda abafika bevela kwiidolophu ngeedolophu. ₇Mhlawumbi ukubongoza kwaba bantu kungavakala kuNdikhoyo, baguquke nakwimikhwa yabo emibi, kuba ubasongele enengqumbo nomsindo omkhulu aba bantu uNdikhoyo.”

₈UBharuki unyana kaNeriya wenze njengoko wayalelwa ngumshumayeli uJeremiya, wabafundela abantu apho endlwini kaNdikhoyo loo mazwi ayebhalwe kuloo ncwadi.

₉Ngenyanga yethoba, kunyaka wesihlanu uJoyakim engukumkani wakwaJuda, kwabhengezwa umhla wenzila kubo bonke abantu baseJerusalem kwanâbo babevela kwiidolophu zakwaJuda. Injongo yayiyeyokuba bazisole phambi koNdikhoyo. ₁₀UBharuki esendlwini kaNdikhoyo, emi egumbini likaGemariya unyana kanobhala uShafan elalikwiyadi engentla kwiSango eLitsha lendlu kaNdikhoyo, wabafundela encwadini abantu amazwi kaJeremiya.

₁₁Wasuka uMikaya, ozalwa nguGemariya unyana kaShafan, akuba ewavile amazwi *kaNdikhoyo asencwadini, ₁₂waya kwigumbi likanobhala ebhotwe apho kwakuhleli khona ezi ziphathamandla: unobhala uElishama, uDelaya unyana kaShemaya, noElinatan unyana ka-Akebhore, kunye noGemariya unyana kaShafan, noZedekiya unyana kaHananiya, nezinye iindwalutho zonke.

₁₃Akuba uMikaya ebaxelele konke akuve kufundelwa abantu nguBharuki encwadini, ₁₄ezo ziphathamandla zathuma uYehudi, unyana kaNetaniya ozalwa nguShelemiya unyana kaKushi, ukuba axelele uBharuki athi: “Yiza apha naloo ncwadi uyifundela abantu!” Waya kubo ke uBharuki unyana kaNeriya, eyiphethe loo ncwadi. ₁₅Bathi kuye: “Khawuhlale phantsi usifundele.”

Wahlala phantsi ke, wabafundela. ₁₆Akuba loo madoda ewavile onke loo mazwi, othuka, aza abhekisa kuBharuki athi: “Ngenene, la mazwi makaxelwe kukumkani.” ₁₇Babuza ke kuBharuki bathi: “Khawutsho, uyithatha phi yonke le ntu uyibhalileyo? Ngaba uyibhale uyibizelwa nguJeremiya?”

₁₈Wathi kubo uBharuki: “Ewe, aphuma emlonyeni kaJeremiya onke la mazwi, ndaza ke mna ndawabhala encwadini ngeinki.”

₁₉Ezo ziphathamandla zathi kuBharuki: “Wena noJeremiya sabani niye kuzifihla, kungabikho bani waziyo apho nikhona.”

₂₀Ezo ziphathamandla zayithatha loo ncwadi, zayibeka egumbini likaElishama unobhala, zaya kukumkani enkundleni, zamxelela konke. ₂₁Wathi ukumkani uYehudi makaye kuyilanda loo ncwadi. Waya kuyilanda ke egumbini likaElishama unobhala, wafika wayifundela ukumkani kunye neziphathamandla ezo ezazimngqongile. ₂₂Kwakusebusika ngenyanga yethoba, ukumkani esegumbini lasebusika lebhothwe, esotha imbhawula. ₂₃Wayethi akuba efunde imihlathi emithathu okanye emine uYehudi, ayikrazule ngemela yombhali ukumkani loo mihlathi, ayiphose emlilweni. Wenza loo nto yada yaphela yonke loo ncwadi. ₂₄Ukumkani namaphakathi akhe ababonakalisanga kothuka nakuzohlwaya bakuba bewavile la mazwi. ₂₅Nakuba wayebongozwa ngooElinatan noDelaya noGemariya ukuba angayitshisi loo ncwadi ukumkani, akabaphulaphulanga. ₂₆Wasuka wathi ukumkani kuJerameli unyana wakhe, noSeriya unyana ka-Azeriyeli, kunye noShelemiya unyana ka-Abhedeli, mabababambe ooJeremiya umshumayeli noBharuki unobhala wakhe. Suka yena uNdikhoyo wabafihla.

₂₇Akuba ukumkani eyitshisile incwadi eyabhalwa nguBharuki ebizelwa nguJeremiya, libuye lavakala ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo kuJeremiya, lisithi: ₂₈“Thatha enye incwadi, ubhale kuyo onke loo mazwi awayekulaa ncwadi yokuqala itshiswe nguJoyakim ukumkani wakwaJuda. ₂₉Uze uthi kuJoyakim ukumkani wakwaJuda: ‘Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Wena uyitshisile laa ncwadi, usithi: “Kutheni ukuba ubhale usithi ngenene ukumkani waseBhabheli uza kulitshabalalisa eli lizwe, atshitshise konke abantu nempahla?” ₃₀Ke ngoko utsho uNdikhoyo malunga noJoyakim ukumkani wakwaJuda ukuthi: “Yena akayi kuba namzukulwana uya kulawula esikhundleni sikaDavide. Isidumbu sakhe siya kulahlwa, sitshe lilanga emini, silale iqabaka ebusuku. ₃₁Ndiza kumohlwaya, yena nenzala yakhe, namaphakathi akhe, ngenxa yobugwenxa ababenzileyo. Bona kunye nabemi baseJerusalem nabakwaJuda abandiphulaphulanga; ngoko ke ndiza kubahlisela intlekele ekukade ndibasongela ngayo.” ’ ”

₃₂Wathatha enye incwadi uJeremiya, wayinika unobhala uBharaki unyana kaNeriya. UBharuki wabhala onke loo mazwi wawabizelwa nguJeremiya ayekulaa ncwadi yatshiswa ngukumkani. Kongezwa namanye amazwi amaninzi anjengawo.

₁UZedekiya unyana kaYosiya wabekwa waba ngukumkani wakwaJuda, emiselwa ngukumkani uNebhukadenezare waseBhabheli. Wangena ezihlangwini zikaKoniya unyana kaJoyakim ₂owayengazange awahoye, yena namaphakathi akhe, nabantu belizwe, amazwi *kaNdikhoyo awayeshunyayelwa ngumshumayeli uJeremiya.

₃Ke yena uZedekiya wathumela uYukali unyana kaShelemiya, ekunye nombingeleli uZefaniya unyana kaMaseya, ukuba baye kumshumayeli uJeremiya, bafike bathi: “Khawusithandazele kuNdikhoyo uThixo wethu.”

₄Ngelo xesha wayesakhululekile uJeremiya, esenokuhamba-hamba phakathi kwabantu, kuba wayengekavalelwa entolongweni. ₅Umkhosi wokumkani waseJiputa wawuselundulukile, aza amaKaledi awayengqinge iJerusalem, akuziva ezo ndaba, arhoxa.

₆Lavakala ilizwi likaNdikhoyo kumshumayeli uJeremiya, lisithi: ₇“Utsho uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli ukuthi: ‘Mxeleleni ukumkani wakwaJuda obenithume kum nithi ndithi: Nanko umkhosi wokumkani waseJiputa obuze kuncedisana nani ubuyela kwakwelakowawo eJiputa. ₈Wona ke amaKaledi aza kubuya aze kuhlasela esi sixeko, asithimbe, asitshabalalise ngomlilo.’

₉“Utsho ke uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Nize ningazikhohlisi nibe amaKaledi aza kuniyeka. Unakanye ukuba aniyeke! ₁₀Ndithi nokuba beningade niwubhuqe wonke umkhosi wamaKaledi onihlaselayo, kusale nje iingxwelerha ezintenteni, zona kanye beziya kuvuka zisitshabalalise ngomlilo esi sixeko.’ ”

₁₁Wakuba urhoxile eJerusalem umkhosi wamaKaledi emva kokuva iindaba ngomkhosi waseJiputa, ₁₂uJeremiya wanduluka kweso sixeko, esinga kummandla wakwaBhenjamin, esiya kuthatha isabelo sakhe kubantu balapho. ₁₃Uthe akufika kwisango leJerusalem ekuthiwa lelakwaBhenjamin, umshumayeli uJeremiya wabanjwa nguIriya, unyana kaShelemiya owayezalwa nguHananiya, owayeyintloko yabalindi, wathi: “Ubhacela kumaKaledi!”

₁₄UJeremiya uthe: “Hayi, uyaxoka! Andibhaceli kumaKaledi.” UIriya akazange afune nokuva oku, usuke wambamba, wamsa kwiziphathamandla. ₁₅Zona zacaphuka, zathi makakatswe, avalelwe entolongweni endlwini kaJonatan unobhala, eyayenziwe intolongo.

₁₆Wavalelwa uJeremiya esiseleni esinamagunjana, apho wahlala khona ithuba elide. ₁₇Emva koko ukumkani uZedekiya wathi makasiwe kuye ebhotwe, apho wambuza khona ngasese esithi: “Ngaba unalizwi livela kuNdikhoyo?”

Waphendula wathi uJeremiya: “Ewe, ndinalo. Wena uza kunikezelwa esandleni sokumkani waseBhabheli.”

₁₈Uqokele wathi uJeremiya, ebhekisa kukumkani uZedekiya: “Ndone ngantoni na kuwe, okanye kumaphakathi nakubantu bakho, sendibona ndifakwe entolongweni nje? ₁₉Baphi ngoku abo bashumayeli benu babesithi: ‘Ukumkani waseBhabheli akayi kunihlasela nina neli lizwe’? ₂₀Ndinesicelo, mhlekazi omhle! Ndicela ukuba ndingabuye ndisiwe kulaa ndlu kanobhala uJonatan, hleze ndifele khona!”

₂₁Wayalela ke ukumkani uZedekiya ukuba uJeremiya makagcinwe enkundleni yabalindi, anikwe iqhekeza lesonka kude kuphele ukutya esixekweni. Kwaba njalo ke ukuhlala kukaJeremiya kwinkundla yabalindi.

₂₃Nanga amanye amazwi ezilumko: