1. Lavakala ilizwi kuJeremiya, libhekiswa kuwo amaJuda akwelaseJiputa emi kwimimandla yaseMigidoli, eTapanesi, eNofu, nasezweni lasePatrosi, lisithi:
2. “Utsho *uNdikhoyo, uThixo onamandla onke kaSirayeli, ukuthi: ‘Niyibonile intlekele endayihlisela iJerusalem kunye needolophu zakwaJuda ziphela. Kunamhlanje-nje zingamabhodlo angahlalwa bani.
3. Yonke loo nto yehla ngenxa yenkohlakalo abayenzileyo. Bandixhokonxa ndade ndanomsindo ngokunqula thixo bambi abangabaziyo, bebenzela iziqhumiso. Nini ke kunye nooyihlo abo benjenjalo.
4. Ndaphindelela ukunithumela bonke abakhonzi bam abashumayeli, ukuze banibongoze bathi: “Musani ukulenza isikizi endilicekisa kakhulu!”
5. Koko abazange bahoye, àbafuna kuphulaphula. Bala ukwahlukana nemikhwa yabo emibi nokuyeka ukwenzela izithixo iziqhumiso.
6. Suka ke mna ndayiphalaza ingqumbo yam nomsindo wam phezu kweedolophu zakwaJuda nasezitalatweni zaseJerusalem, zaba ngalaa mabhodlo oyikekayo zingawo namhla oku.’
7. “Utsho ke ngoko uNdikhoyo, uThixo onamandla onke kaSirayeli, ukuthi: ‘Kutheni nizizisele esi sihelegu kwaJuda sokutshabalalisa amadoda, abafazi, nabantwana, neemveku, kungasali nampunde?
8. Nantso into eza kunihlela nindixhokonxa nje ngokwenzela izithixo iziqhumiso kweli laseJiputa eningabangeneleli kulo. Niza kuzitshabalalisa nina ziqu, nibe sisiqalekiso nesigculelo sezizwe ehlabathini.
9. Ngaba seniyilibele na inkohlakalo yooyihlo, neyookumkani bakwaJuda, nabafazi babo, neyenu kunye nabafazi benu, enayenzayo ngokuya nanisezidolophini zakwaJuda naseJerusalem?
10. Unanamhla oku anikabonakalisi kuzisola nokundihlonela. Anikawuthobeli umthetho nommiselo endawunika nina kunye nooyihlo-mkhulu.’
11. “Utsho ke ngoko uNdikhoyo, uThixo onamandla onke kaSirayeli, ukuthi: ‘Niyabona, ndizimisele ukunihlisela ishwangusha, ndiwatshabalalise onke amaJuda.