UJeremiya
18 Leli yizwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuJehova, lathi: 2 “Sukuma uye endlini yombumbi, + ngizokhuluma nawe lapho.”
3 Ngakho ngahamba ngaya endlini yombumbi, ngamfica ebumba isitsha. 4 Kodwa isitsha ayesibumba sonakala esandleni sakhe. Ngakho umbumbi wenza esinye isitsha, njengoba ayebona kufanele.*
5 Izwi likaJehova laphinde lafika kimi, lathi: 6 “ ‘Angikwazi yini ukwenza njengalo mbumbi kini nina ndlu ka-Israyeli?’ kusho uJehova. ‘Njengobumba esandleni sombumbi, ninjalo nani esandleni sami, nina ndlu ka-Israyeli. + 7 Noma nini lapho ngingase ngikhulume ngokusiphula, ukubhidliza nokubhubhisa isizwe noma umbuso, + 8 bese leso sizwe sibuyeka ububi baso engisixwayise ngabo, ngiyowushintsha umqondo* ngaleyo nhlekelele ebengihlose ukuyiletha kuso. + 9 Kodwa noma nini lapho ngikhuluma ngokwakha nokutshala isizwe noma umbuso, 10 bese senza okubi emehlweni ami singangilaleli, ngiyowushintsha umqondo* ngokuhle ebengihlose ukusenzela kona.’
11 “Manje, ngicela uthi kubantu bakwaJuda nakwabakhileyo eJerusalema, ‘Yilokhu uJehova akushoyo: “Ngihlela* ukunilethela inhlekelele futhi nginakhela icebo. Ngicela nishiye izindlela zenu ezimbi nishintshe nezenzo zenu.” ’ ” +
12 Kodwa bathi: “Akusizi ngalutho! + Ngoba sizokwenza esikucabangayo, ngamunye kithi ngenkani uzokwenza ngokwenhliziyo yakhe embi.” +
13 Ngakho-ke yilokhu uJehova akushoyo:
“Ngicela nibuze abantu bezizwe.
Ubani owake wezwa into enjengale?
Intombi yakwa-Israyeli yenze into eshaqisayo. +
14 Iqhwa laseLebhanoni lingancibilika yini emadwaleni ehlelayo?
Noma angasha yini amanzi abandayo asuka kude?
15 Kodwa isizwe sami singikhohliwe. +
Ngoba senzela into engenanzuzo imihlatshelo, *+
Senza abantu bakhubeke ezindleleni zabo, izindlela zakudala, +
Ukuze bahambe emigwaqweni emincane emahhadlahhadla,*
16 Ukuze senze izwe laso libe yinto eshaqisayo +
Nento yokushayelwa ikhwela kuze kube phakade. +
Wonke umuntu odlula ngakulo uyoligqolozela eshaqekile anikine ikhanda. +
17 Njengomoya wasempumalanga ophephula izinhlanga, nami ngiyosihlakaza phambi kwesitha.
Ngiyosifulathela, ngeke ngisibheke lapho sehlelwa inhlekelele.” +
18 Sathi: “Wozani, masimakheleni uzungu uJeremiya, + ngoba abapristi bethu bayohlale bewazi umthetho* namadoda ahlakaniphile ayohlale eneseluleko noma izwi labaprofethi. Wozani, masimhlasele ngamazwi,* singakunaki nhlobo akushoyo.”
19 O Jehova, nginake,
Ulalele lokho abamelene nami abakushoyo.
20 Ingabe okuhle kufanele kubuyiselwe ngokubi?
Ngoba bangimbele umgodi. +
Khumbula okuhle engakukhuluma ngabo phambi kwakho,
Ukuze ungabathukutheleli.
21 Ngakho yenza amadodana abo abulawe indlala,
Uwanikele enkembeni. +
Kwangathi omkabo bangaphucwa izingane, babe abafelokazi. +
Kwangathi amadoda abo angabulawa yisifo esiwumshayabhuqe,
Izinsizwa zabo zibulawe ngenkemba empini. +
22 Makuzwakale ukukhala ezindlini zabo,
Lapho ubalethela abaphangi bengalindele.
Ngoba bangimbele umgodi ukuze bangibambe,
Babekele izinyawo zami izicupho. +
23 Kodwa wena Jehova,
Uwazi kahle wonke amacebo abo okungibulala. +
Ungasimbozi isiphambeko sabo,
Ungasisuli isono sabo phambi kwakho.