1Izwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuSimakade, ngesikhathi inkosi uZedekiya ithumele uPhashuri kaMalikhiya noZefaniya, indodana kaMahaseya, umphristi, ethi kuye:
2“Ake usibuzele kuSimakade, ngokuba uNebukhadinezari, inkosi yaseBhabhele, usihlasele. Mhlawumbe uSimakade angasenzela njengakuzo zonke izimangaliso zakhe ukuba akhuphuke, ayeke ukumelana nathi.”
3UJeremiya wathi kubo: “Niyakusho kanje kuZedekiya, nithi:
4‘Usho kanje uSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: “Ngiyakuziguqula izikhali zokulwa ezisezandleni zenu, enilwa ngazo nenkosi yaseBhabhele namaKhaledi anivimbezeleyo, angaphandle kogange, ngizozibuthela phakathi kulo muzi.
5Mina ngiyakulwa nani ngesandla esiluliweyo, nangengalo enamandla, ngentukuthelo, ngokufutheka nangolaka olukhulu.
6Ngiyakushaya abakhe kulo muzi, abantu nezilwane; bayobulawa yisifo esikhulu.
7Emveni kwalokho,” kusho uSimakade, “ngiyakunikela uZedekiya, inkosi yakwaJuda, izinceku zakhe nabantu, kulo muzi, abayosinda obhubhaneni, enkembeni, endlaleni, esandleni sikaNebukhadinezari, inkosi yaseBhabhele, esandleni sezitha zabo, esandleni sabafuna ukuphila kwabo; uyakubabhubhisa ngenkemba, angabi naluzwelo, nasihe futhi angabi namusa kubo.” ’
8“Uyakuthi kulaba bantu: ‘Usho kanje uSimakade, uthi: Ngibeka phambi kwakho indlela yokuphila nendlela yokufa.
9Ozosala kulo muzi uyakufa ngenkemba, ngendlala, nangobhubhane; kodwa ozophuma azinikele kumaKhaledi anivimbezeleyo, uyakuphila, aphunyuke nokuphila kwakhe.
10Ngokuba ngimelene nalo muzi, ukwenza okubi kuwo, kungabi ngokuhle,’ ” kusho uSimakade. “Uyakunikelwa esandleni senkosi yaseBhabhele, iwushise ngomlilo.”
11“Nakwabendlu yenkosi yakwaJuda, yithi: ‘Yizwani izwi likaSimakade, elithi:
12Wena ndlu kaDavide, usho kanje uSimakade, uthi: “ ‘Yenzani ubulungiswa ekuseni, nihlenge ophangiweyo esandleni somcindezeli, funa intukuthelo yami iphume njengomlilo, iyakuvutha, kungabi bikho oyicimayo ngenxa yobubi bezenzo zenu.
13Bheka, ngimelene nani, nina enakhe esigodini, wena dwala lethafa, kusho uSimakade. Nina enithi: “ ‘Ngubani oyakwehla asihlasele na? Ngubani oyakungena ezindaweni esizifihle kuzo na?’
14“ ‘Ngiyakunihambela, nginijezise njengokwezithelo zezenzo zenu, ngiyakuphemba umlilo, uqothule ihlathi lawo umuzi nakho konke okuwuzungezileyo, kusho uSimakade.’ ”