< UJeremiya 39 >
1 Ngomnyaka wesificamunwemunye kaZedekhiya inkosi yakoJuda, ngenyanga yetshumi, kwafika uNebhukadirezari inkosi yeBhabhiloni lebutho lakhe lonke, bamelana leJerusalema, bayivimbezela.
2 Ngomnyaka wetshumi lanye kaZedekhiya, ngenyanga yesine, ngolwesificamunwemunye lwenyanga, umuzi wafohlelwa.
3 Zonke iziphathamandla zenkosi yeBhabhiloni zasezingena, zahlala esangweni eliphakathi, oNerigali-Sharezi, uSamiganebo, uSarisekimi, uRabisarisi, uNerigali-Sharezi, uRabimagi, lazo zonke ezinye iziphathamandla zenkosi yeBhabhiloni.
4 Kwasekusithi lapho uZedekhiya inkosi yakoJuda lawo wonke amadoda empi bezibona, babaleka, baphuma emzini ebusuku ngendlela yesivande senkosi, ngesango eliphakathi kwemiduli emibili; waphuma ngendlela yamagceke.
5 Kodwa ibutho lamaKhaladiya laxotshana labo, lamfica uZedekhiya emagcekeni eJeriko; selimbambile lamenyusela kuNebhukadinezari inkosi yeBhabhiloni eRibila, elizweni leHamathi, owakhuluma izigwebo ezimelene laye.
6 Inkosi yeBhabhiloni yasibulala amadodana kaZedekhiya eRibila emehlweni akhe; inkosi yeBhabhiloni yabuya yabulala zonke izikhulu zakoJuda.
7 Yasiphumputhekisa amehlo kaZedekhiya, yambopha ngamaketane ethusi amabili ukuze imuse eBhabhiloni.
8 AmaKhaladiya asetshisa indlu yenkosi lezindlu zabantu ngomlilo, adilizela phansi imiduli yeJerusalema.
9 Lensali yabantu eyayisele emzini, lalabo ababehlubukile, ababehlubukile kuyo, lensali yabantu eyayisele, uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi yabathumba yabasa eBhabhiloni.
10 Kodwa uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi watshiya elizweni lakoJuda ebantwini ababengabayanga ababengelalutho, wabanika izivini lamasimu ngalolosuku.
11 UNebhukadirezari inkosi yeBhabhiloni waselaya ngesandla sikaNebuzaradani induna yabalindi ngoJeremiya esithi:
12 Mthathe, umise amehlo akho kuye, ungamenzeli ulutho olubi, kodwa njengokukhuluma kwakhe kuwe wenze njalo ngaye.
13 Ngakho bathuma oNebuzaradani induna yabalindi, loNebushazibani, uRabisarisi, loNerigali-Sharezi, uRabimagi, lazo zonke induna zenkosi yeBhabhiloni,
14 bathuma, bamthatha uJeremiya egumeni lentolongo, bamnikela kuGedaliya, indodana kaAhikhamu, indodana kaShafani, ukuze amkhuphe amuse endlini yakhe. Wasehlala phakathi kwabantu.
15 Ilizwi leNkosi laselifika kuJeremiya esavalelwe egumeni lentolongo, lisithi:
16 Hamba ukhulume kuEbedimeleki umEthiyophiya uthi: Itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Khangela, ngizakwehlisela amazwi ami kulumuzi ngokubi kungeyisikho ngokuhle, njalo azakuba phambi kwakho ngalolosuku.
17 Kodwa ngizakophula ngalolosuku, itsho iNkosi, njalo kawuyikunikelwa esandleni sabantu obesabayo.
18 Ngoba ngizakukhulula isibili, kawuyikuwa-ke ngenkemba, kodwa impilo yakho izakuba yimpango kuwe, ngoba uthembele kimi, itsho iNkosi.
