1Leli yilizwi likaThixo elafika kuJeremiya mayelana lokoma elizweni lisithi:
2“UJuda uyalila,
3Izikhulu zithuma izinceku zazo ukuyafuna amanzi;
4Umhlabathi uqhekezekile
5Lenyamazana ensikazi egangeni
6Obabhemi beganga bema emiqolweni elugwadule
7Lanxa izono zethu zifakaza kubi ngathi,
8Oh Themba lika-Israyeli,
9Kungani usiba njengomuntu ojunyiweyo,
10Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo ngalababantu:
11UThixo wasesithi kimi, “Ungakhulekeli inhlalakahle yabantu laba.
12Lanxa bezila ukudla, ukukhala kwabo angiyikukulalela; loba benikela iminikelo yokutshiswa kanye leminikelo yamabele, angiyikuyamukela. Esikhundleni salokho, ngizabaqeda du ngenkemba, ngendlala langezifo.”
13Kodwa mina ngathi, “Awu Thixo Wobukhosi, abaphrofethi bahlezi bebatshela besithi, ‘Kaliyikubona inkemba loba libulawe yindlala. Impela, ngizalipha ukuthula okungapheliyo kule indawo.’ ”
14UThixo wasesithi kimi, “Abaphrofethi baphrofetha amanga ngebizo lami. Angibathumanga njalo angibakhethanga kumbe ngikhulume labo. Baphrofetha imibono yamanga kini, ukuhlahlula, ukukhonza izithombe lenkohliso yezingqondo zabo.
15Ngakho-ke, nanku okutshiwo nguThixo ngabaphrofethi abaphrofetha ngebizo lami ukuthi: Kangizange ngibathume, kodwa bona bathi, ‘Akulankemba kumbe indlala ezathinta ilizwe leli.’ Bona labo abaphrofethi bazabhujiswa ngenkemba langendlala.
16Abantu abaphrofetha kubo bazaphoselwa phandle emigwaqweni yaseJerusalema ngenxa yendlala lenkemba. Akulamuntu ozabangcwaba kumbe omkabo, amadodana abo loba amadodakazi abo. Ngizabehlisela ingozi ebafaneleyo.
17Khuluma ilizwi leli kubo uthi:
18Nxa ngingena elizweni,
19UJuda usumlahle kokuphela na?
20Awu Thixo, siyakuvuma ukona kwethu
21Ngenxa yebizo lakho ungasenyanyi;
22Zikhona yini izithombe eziyize zezizwe ezinganisa izulu na?