UJeremiya
18 Leli lilizwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuJehova: 2 “Suka uye endlini yombumbi,+ ungafika lapho ngizakutshela amazwi ami.”
3 Ngakho ngaya endlini yombumbi ngamthola esebenzisa iviri lokubumba. 4 Kodwa isitsha ayesibumba saphambaniseka, wasesidiliza wabumba esinye isitsha ngendlela ayefuna ngayo.*
5 Ilizwi likaJehova laselifika kimi lathi: 6 “‘Lokho okwenziwe ngumbumbi lo ngeke ngikwenze kini yini bantu bako-Israyeli?’ kutsho uJehova. ‘Njengebumba esandleni sombumbi, lani linjalo esandleni sami, lina bantu bako-Israyeli.+ 7 Nxa ngingakhuluma ngokusiphuna lokudiliza kanye lokutshabalalisa isizwe loba umbuso,+ 8 kodwa lesosizwe besesitshiya ukwenza okubi engisixwayise ngakho, lami ngizatshintsha ingqondo* ngingasehliseli umonakalo ebengihlose ukusehlisela wona.+ 9 Nxa ngingavele ngikhulume ngokwakha lokuhlanyela isizwe loba umbuso, 10 kodwa lesosizwe senze okubi phambi kwami njalo singalaleli ilizwi lami, ngizatshintsha ingqondo* ngingasenzeli okuhle ebengihlose ukusenzela khona.’
11 “Khathesi ngicela utshele abantu bakoJuda labeJerusalema uthi, ‘Nanku okutshiwo nguJehova: “Ngilungiselela ukuletha umonakalo njalo ngisacabanga ukuthi ngilijezise njani. Ngakho phendukani litshiye izindlela zenu ezimbi, litshintshe lezenzo zenu kanye lendlela eliziphatha ngayo.”’”+
12 Bona bathi: “Akuncedi lokhu!+ Thina sizakwenza esikucabangayo njalo ngamunye wethu uzalandela inhliziyo yakhe embi.”+
13 Ngakho-ke uJehova uthi:
“Ngicela libuze izizwe.
Ngubani oseke wezwa into enjengale?
Intombi egcweleyo yako-Israyeli yenze into eyesabekayo.+
14 Kambe ungqwaqwane oseziqongweni zeLebhanoni unganyamalala?
Amanzi aqandayo ageleza evela khatshana angoma yini?
15 Kodwa isizwe sami singikhohliwe.+
Senzela izinto ezingelancedo imihlatshelo,+
Njalo senza abantu bakhubeke ezindleleni zaso, izindlela zakudala,+
Bahambe ngezindledlana zeganga ezimahadlahadla.
16 Ngakho ilizwe laso lizakwehliselwa umonakalo owesabekayo,+
Wonke umuntu odlulayo uzalikhangela ethuke, anikine ikhanda.+
17 Ngizabachithachitha phambi kwesitha, njengomoya wempumalanga uphephula umule.
Ngizabafulathela ngosuku lokuhlupheka kwabo, angisoze ngibakhangele.”+
18 Ngakho bathi: “Buyani sibumbe icebo lokuhlasela uJeremiya+ ngoba umthetho uzahlala ukhona kubaphristi bethu, lamadoda ahlakaniphileyo awasoze aphelelwe yizeluleko njalo labaphrofethi abasoze baswele amazwi. Buyani siphikisane laye singakulaleli akutshoyo.”
19 Awu Jehova, ngicela ungilalele,
Ngicela uzwe ukuthi izitha zami zithini.
20 Kambe okuhle kungabuyiselwa ngokubi?
Phela sebegebhe igodi befuna ukungibulala.+
Khumbula ukuthi bengisima phambi kwakho ngikhuluma kuhle ngabo,
Ukuze ulaka lwakho lungabehleli.
21 Ngakho yenza amadodana abo aqedwe yindlala,
Ubanikele bonke babulawe ngenkemba.+
Omkabo kababe ngabafelokazi futhi labantwababo kababulawe.+
Amadoda abo kawabulawe yisifo esitshabalalisayo,
Lamajaha aqedwe yinkemba empini.+
22 Akuzwakale isililo ezindlini zabo
Nxa usuletha abantu abazathumba impahla yabo belibele,
Ngoba bagebhe igodi ukuze bangibambe,
Bafakela lenyawo zami imijibila.+
23 Kodwa wena Jehova,
Uwazi kuhle wonke amacebo abawenzayo ukuze bangibulale.+
Ungabathetheleli icala labo,
Ungasisusi isono sabo phambi kwakho.