Jeremiah 35
1 Izwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuSimakade ezinsukwini zikaJehoyakimi, indodana kaJosiya, inkosi yakwaJuda, lathi:
2 “Hamba uye endlini yamaRekhabhi, ukhulume nawo, bese uwangenisa endlini kaSimakade, kwelinye lamakamelo, uwanike iwayini ukuba aphuze.”
3 Ngase ngithatha uJahazaniya, indodana kaJeremiya kaHabhasiniya nabafowabo, nawo wonke amadodana akhe, nabo bonke abendlu yamaRekhabhi,
4 ngabangenisa endlini kaSimakade, ekamelweni lamadodana kaHanani, indodana ka-Igidaliya, umuntu kaNkulunkulu elaliseceleni kwekamelo lezikhulu, elaliphezu kwekamelo likaMahaseya, indodana kaShalumi, umlindisango.
5 Ngabeka phambi kwamadodana endlu yamaRekhabhi izitsha ezazigcwele iwayini nezindebe, ngathi kubo: “Phuzani iwayini!”
6 Kepha, bathi: “Asiliphuzi iwayini, ngokuba uJonadaba, indodana kaRekhabhi, ukhokho wethu, wasiyala, wathi: ‘Ningaliphuzi iwayini, nina namadodana enu, kuze kube phakade.
7 Ningakhi zindlu, ningahlwanyeli mbewu, ningatshali sivini, futhi ningabi naso, ngokuba niyakuhlala emathendeni zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwenu ukuze niphile isikhathi eside ezweni lapho nigogobele khona.’
8 Siligcinile izwi likaJonadaba indodana kaRekhabhi ukhokho wethu kukho konke asiyala ngakho ukuba singaliphuzi iwayini zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwethu, thina nomkethu, namadodana namadodakazi ethu,
9 nokuba singakhi zindlu ukuba sihlale kuzo, futhi asinazo izivini, amasimu, nembewu.
10 Sihlale emathendeni, salalela, senza konke uJonadaba, ukhokho wethu, asiyala ngakho ukuba sikwenze.
11 Kepha kwathi lapho uNebukhadinezari, inkosi yaseBhabhele, ihlasela izwe, sathi: ‘Wozani, masiye eJerusalema, sibalekele impi yamaKhaledi neyama-Aramu.’ Sasesihlala-ke lapha eJerusalema.”
12 Izwi likaSimakade lafika kuJeremiya, lathi:
13 “Usho kanje uSimakade Wamabandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: hamba uthi kubo bonke abakwaJuda nezakhamuzi zaseJerusalema, uthi: ‘Aniyukukwamukela yini ukuyalwa ukuba nigcine amazwi ami na?’ kusho uSimakade.
14 ‘Amazwi kaJonadaba, indodana kaRekhabhi, agciniwe, ayala ngawo abozalo lwakhe ukuba bangaliphuzi iwayini; kuze kube namuhla abaliphuzanga, ngokuba bawulalela umyalo kakhokho wabo. Nami ngikhulumile kini ngiphindelela, kodwa kaningilalelanga.
15 Ngathumela izinceku zami, abaphrofethi, ngibathuma ngiphindelela, ngithi: “Ake niphenduke, kube yilowo nalowo endleleni yakhe embi, nenze imisebenzi yenu ibe mihle, ningalandeli abanye onkulunkulu ukuba nibakhonze; yikhona niyakuhlala ezweni engalinika nina nokhokho benu.” “ ‘Kepha aniyibekanga indlebe yenu, aningilalelanga.
16 Isizukulwane sikaJonadaba, indodana kaRekhabhi, siwugcinile umyalo kakhokho waso asiyala ngawo, kodwa laba bantu kabangilalelanga.’
17 “Ngakho-ke usho kanje uSimakade uNkulunkulu Wamabandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Bheka, ngizakuletha kuJuda nakuzo zonke izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema konke okubi engikukhulume kubo, ngokuba ngikhulumile kubo kodwa abalalelanga, ngababiza kepha kabasabelanga.’ ”
18 UJeremiya wayesethi kwabendlu yamaRekhabhi: “Usho kanje uSimakade Wamabandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Ngenxa yokuba nawulalela umyalo kaJonadaba, ukhokho wenu, nayigcina yonke imiyalo yakhe, nenza konke ayeniyale ngakho,’
19 ngakho-ke usho kanje uSimakade Wamabandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘UJonadaba, indodana kaRekhabhi, akayukuswela muntu oyokuma phambi kwami kuze kube phakade.’ ”