UJeremiya

39 Ngonyaka ka-9 kaZedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda, ngenyanga yeshumi, uNebukhadinezari* inkosi yaseBhabhiloni nalo lonke ibutho lakhe lempi beza eJerusalema balivimbezela. +

2 Ngonyaka ka-11 kaZedekiya, ngenyanga yesine, ngosuku luka-9 lwenyanga izindonga zedolobha zadilizwa. + 3 Zonke izikhulu zenkosi yaseBhabhiloni zangena zahlala phansi eSangweni Eliphakathi, + okuyilezi, uNerigali-sharezeri iSamgari, uNebo-sarisekhimi iRabhisarisi,* uNerigali-sharezeri iRabhimage* nazo zonke ezinye izikhulu zenkosi yaseBhabhiloni.

4 Lapho uZedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda nalo lonke ibutho lempi bezibona babaleka, + baphuma ebusuku edolobheni ngendlela edlula engadini yenkosi, ngesango eliphakathi kodonga olubhangqiwe, baqhubeka ngendlela eya ngase-Araba. + 5 Kodwa ibutho lamaKhaledi labajaha, lamfica uZedekiya emathafeni awugwadule aseJeriko. + Lamthatha lamletha kuNebukhadinezari* inkosi yaseBhabhiloni eRibila + ezweni laseHamati + lapho agwetshwa khona. 6 Inkosi yaseBhabhiloni yabulala amadodana kaZedekiya phambi kwakhe eRibila, yaphinde yabulala zonke izicukuthwane zakwaJuda. + 7 Yamkhipha amehlo uZedekiya, ngemva kwalokho yambopha ngezibopho zethusi, yamyisa eBhabhiloni. +

8 AmaKhaledi ashisa indlu yenkosi* nezindlu zabantu, + adiliza nezindonga zaseJerusalema. + 9 UNebuzaradani, + induna yonogada, wabathatha bonke abantu ababesele edolobheni, abantu ababehlubukile nabo bonke abanye abantu ababesele wabayisa ekudingisweni eBhabhiloni.

10 UNebuzaradani induna yonogada washiya ezweni lakwaJuda abanye babantu ababehlupheka kakhulu, ababengenalutho. Ngalolo suku wabanika namasimu amagilebhisi namasimu ababezosebenza kuwo. *+

11 UNebukhadinezari* inkosi yaseBhabhiloni wanika uNebuzaradani induna yonogada le miyalo ngokuphathele noJeremiya: 12 “Mthathe, umnakekele; ungamlimazi, umnike yonke into ayifunayo.” +

13 Ngakho uNebuzaradani induna yonogada, uNebushazibani iRabhisarisi,* uNerigali-sharezeri iRabhimage* nawo wonke amadoda avelele enkosi yaseBhabhiloni bathumela 14 ukuba kulandwe uJeremiya eGcekeni Labaqaphi, + bamyisa kuGedaliya + indodana ka-Ahikamu + indodana kaShafani + ukuze ahlale endlini yakhe. Ngakho wahlala phakathi kwabantu.

15 Lapho uJeremiya eboshiwe eGcekeni Labaqaphi + kwafika izwi likaJehova, lathi: 16 “Hamba, uthi ku-Ebhedi-meleki + umTopiya, ‘Yilokhu uJehova wamabutho, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, akushoyo: “Ngigcwalisa amazwi ami okuletha inhlekelele hhayi okuhle kuleli dolobha, ngalolo suku uyokubona kwenzeka.” ’

17 “ ‘Ngiyokusindisa ngalolo suku,’ kusho uJehova, ‘ngeke unikelwe emadodeni owesabayo.’

18 “ ‘Ngoba nakanjani ngiyokwenza uphunyuke, ngeke ufe ngenkemba. Uyosindisa ukuphila kwakho + ngoba uthembele kimi,’ + kusho uJehova.”