1Izwi elafika kuJeremiya, livela kuJehova, ekuthumeni kwenkosi uSedekiya uPhashuri indodana kaMalikhiya noZefaniya indodana kaMahaseya, umpristi, kuye ethi:
2“Ake usibuzele kuJehova, ngokuba uNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele usihlasele; mhlawumbe uJehova angenza kithi njengazo zonke izimangaliso zakhe ukuba akhuphuke, asuke kithi.”
3UJeremiya wathi kubo: “Niyakusho kanje kuSedekiya, nithi:
4‘Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Bheka, ngiyakubuyisa izikhali zokulwa ezisezandleni zenu, enilwa ngazo nenkosi yaseBabele namaKaledi anivimbezelayo ngaphandle kogange, ngizibuthe phakathi nalo muzi.
5Mina ngiyakulwa nani ngesandla eseluliweyo, nangengalo enamandla, nangentukuthelo, nangokufutheka, nangolaka olukhulu.
6Ngiyakubashaya abakhileyo kulo muzi, abantu nezilwane; bayakufa ngesifo esikhulu.
7Ngasemuva, usho uJehova, ngiyakunikela uSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda, nezinceku zakhe, nabantu abasele kulo muzi esifweni, nasenkembeni, nasendlaleni, nasesandleni sikaNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele, nasesandleni sezitha zabo, nasesandleni sabafuna ukuphila kwabo, abashaye ngosiko lwenkemba, angabasindisi, angabahawukeli, angabi namusa kubo.’
8“Uyakusho kulaba bantu, uthi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Bheka, ngibeka phambi kwakho indlela yokuphila nendlela yokufa.
9Osala kulo muzi uyakufa ngenkemba, nangendlala, nangesifo, kepha ophumayo, aye kumaKaledi anivimbezelayo, uyakuphila, ukuphila kwakhe kube yimpango yakhe.
10Ngokuba ngibhekise ubuso bami kulo muzi kube kubi, kungabi kuhle, usho uJehova; uyakunikelwa esandleni senkosi yaseBabele, iwushise ngomlilo.’
11“Yisho endlini yenkosi yakwaJuda, uthi: ‘Zwanini izwi likaJehova lokuthi:
12O, ndlu kaDavide, usho kanje uJehova, uthi: “ ‘Yenzani izahlulelo ekuseni, nophule ophangiweyo esandleni somcindezeli, funa ukufutheka kwami kuphume njengomlilo, kushise, kuze kungabikho owucimayo ngenxa yobubi bezenzo zenu.
13Bheka, ngimelene nawe, wena owakhileyo esigodini, wena litshe lasethafeni, usho uJehova, nina enithi: “Ngubani oyakusehlela, ngubani oyakungena ezindlini zethu, na?”
14Ngiyakunihambela njengezithelo zezenzo zenu, usho uJehova, ngiphembe umlilo ehlathini labo, uqede konke okungakhona.’ ”