Jeremiya

Isahluko 39

Kwathi lapho iJerusalema selinqotshiwe ngomnyaka wesishiyagalolunye kaSedekiya, inkosi yakwaJuda, ngenyanga yeshumi kwafika uNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, nempi yakhe yonke eJerusalema, walivimbezela;
2 ngomnyaka weshumi nanye kaSedekiya ngenyanga yesine ngolwesishiyagalolunye lwenyanga umuzi wafohlwa
3 kwangena zonke izikhulu zenkosi yaseBabele, zahlala esangweni eliphakathi, oNerigali Sareseri, noSamigari Nebo, noSaresekimi induna yezinceku, noNerigali Sareseri induna yabapristi, kanye nazo zonke ezinye izikhulu zenkosi yaseBabele.
4 Kwathi lapho uSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda nawo onke amadoda empi bezibona, babaleka, bephuma emzini ebusuku ngendlela yensimu yenkosi ngesango phakathi kwezingange zombili; waphuma ngendlela yase-Araba.
5 Kepha impi yamaKaledi yabaxosha, yamfica uSedekiya emahlane aseJeriko, yambamba, yamkhuphulela kuNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, eRibila ezweni laseHamati, wamahlulela.
6 Inkosi yaseBabele yabulala amadodana kaSedekiya eRibila phambi kwamehlo akhe; futhi inkosi yaseBabele yabulala bonke abakhulu bakwaJuda.
7 Yakhipha namehlo kaSedekiya, yambopha ngamaketanga ukuba imyise eBabele.
8 AmaKaledi ashisa indlu yenkosi nezindlu zabantu ngomlilo, azidiliza izingange zaseJerusalema.
9 Insali yabantu ababesala emzini, nabahlubuki ababehlubukela kuye, nensali yabantu abaseleyo uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi wabathumbela eBabele.
10 Kepha uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi wabashiya abantu abampofu ababengenalutho ezweni lakwaJuda, wabanika izivini namasimu ngasikhathi sinye.
11 UNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, wamyala uNebuzaradani, induna yabalindi, ngoJeremiya, wathi:
12 “Mthathe, umbheke, ungamenzeli lutho olubi, kepha wenze kuye njengokusho kwakhe kuwe.”
13 UNebuzaradani induna yabalindi kanye noNebushazibani induna yezinceku, noNerigali Sareseri induna yabapristi, nezikhulu zonke zenkosi yaseBabele base bethumela,
14 bathuma bamkhipha uJeremiya egcekeni letilongo, bamnikeza kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu kaShafani ukuba amyise ekhaya; wayesehlala phakathi kwabantu.
15 Lase lifika izwi likaJehova kuJeremiya esavalelwe egcekeni letilongo, lithi:
16 “Hamba ukhulume ku-Ebedi Meleki umKushe, uthi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Bheka, ngiyakwehlisela amazwi ami kulo muzi kube kubi, kungabi kuhle, abe ngaphambi kwakho ngalolo suku.
17 Kepha ngiyakukophula ngalolo suku, usho uJehova, unganikelwa esandleni sabantu obesabayo.
18 Ngokuba ngiyakukukhulula nokukukhulula, awuyikuwa ngenkemba, kepha ukuphila kwakho kuyakuba yimpango kuwe, ngokuba ungethembile, usho uJehova.’ ”