UJeremiya
16 Izwi likaJehova laphinde lafika kimi, lathi: 2 “Ungamthathi umfazi, ungabi nawo amadodana namadodakazi kule ndawo. 3 Ngoba yilokhu uJehova akushoyo ngokuphathelene namadodana namadodakazi azalelwa kule ndawo, nangokuphathelene nonina noyise: 4 ‘Bayobulawa yizifo ezibulalayo, + akekho oyobakhalela, akekho oyobangcwaba; + bayoba njengomquba phezu komhlaba. Bayobulawa yinkemba nayindlala, + futhi izidumbu zabo ziyodliwa yizinyoni nayizilwane zasendle.’
5 “Ngoba yilokhu uJehova akushoyo,
‘Ungangeni endlini yabalilayo,
Ungayi ukuyolila noma ukuyozwelana nabo.’ +
‘Ngoba ngikususile ukuthula kwami kulesi sizwe,’ kusho uJehova,
‘Kanye nothando lwami oluqotho nomusa. +
6 Abavelele nabantukazana bayofa kuleli zwe.
7 Akekho oyobanika ukudla labo abalilayo,
Ukuze abaduduze ngenxa yokufelwa;
Akekho oyobanika indebe yewayini lokubaduduza
Ukuze baphuze ngoba beshonelwe uyise noma unina.
8 Ungangeni endlini yedili
Ukuba uhlale phansi nabo ukuze udle futhi uphuze.’
9 “Ngoba yilokhu uJehova wamabutho, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli akushoyo, ‘Niyobona lapho ngithulisa umsindo wokujabula nowokuhalalisa, izwi lomkhwenyana nelikamakoti kule ndawo.’ +
10 “Lapho utshela lesi sizwe wonke la mazwi, siyothi kuwe, ‘Kungani uJehova ethe yonke le nhlekelele izosehlela? Yini esiyenzile engalungile, sone ngani kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu?’ + 11 Wena kumele uthi kuso, ‘ “Kungenxa yokuthi oyihlo bangishiya,” + kusho uJehova, “baqhubeka belandela abanye onkulunkulu bebakhonza, bebakhothamela. + Kodwa mina bangishiya, abazange bawugcine umthetho wami. + 12 Nina niye nenza kabi kakhulu kunoyihlo, + yilowo nalowo ngenkani ulandela inhliziyo yakhe embi kunokungilalela. + 13 Ngizonijikijela ngaphandle kwaleli zwe, nginiyise ezweni nina nokhokho benu eningazange nilazi, + kulo kuyodingeka nikhonze abanye onkulunkulu ubusuku nemini, + ngoba ngeke nginibonise umusa.” ’
14 “ ‘Nokho, kuza izinsuku,’ kusho uJehova, ‘lapho bengeke besasho ukuthi: “Ngimfunge uJehova owakhipha abantu bakwa-Israyeli ezweni laseGibhithe!” + 15 kodwa bayothi: “Ngimfunge uJehova owakhipha abantu bakwa-Israyeli ezweni lasenyakatho nakuwo wonke amazwe ayebahlakazele kuwo!” futhi ngiyobabuyisela ezweni labo, engalinika okhokho babo.’ +
16 ‘Ngithumela ukuba kulandwe abadobi abaningi,’ kusho uJehova,
‘Bayobadoba.
Ngemva kwalokho ngiyothumela abazingeli abaningi,
Bayobazingela kuzo zonke izintaba nakuwo wonke amagquma
Nasemifantwini yamadwala.
17 Ngoba amehlo ami akubona konke abakwenzayo.*
Abafihlekile phambi kwami,
Nesono sabo asifihlekile phambi kwami.
18 Okokuqala, ngizophindisela ngokugcwele kubo ngenxa yesiphambeko sabo nesono sabo, +
Ngoba balingcolisile izwe lami ngezithixo zabo ezingaphili* ezinyanyekayo
Bagcwalise ifa lami ngezinto zabo ezinengekayo.’ ” +
19 O Jehova, mandla ami nesiphephelo sami,
Ndawo yami engibalekela kuyo lapho ngicindezelekile, +
Izizwe ziyoza kuwe zivela emaphethelweni omhlaba,
Ziyothi: “Okhokho bethu badla ifa elingamanga,
Ize nezinto ezingasizi ngalutho.” +
20 Umuntu angazenzela yini onkulunkulu
Bebe bengebona ngempela onkulunkulu? +
21 “Ngakho ngizobenza bazi,
Ngaleso sikhathi ngiyobenza bawazi amandla ami,
Bayokwazi ukuthi igama lami nginguJehova.”