Amazwi esivumelwano
1Izwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuJehova, lithi: 2“Zwanini amazwi alesi sivumelwano, nikhulume kubantu bakwaJuda nakwabakhileyo eJerusalema, 3uthi kubo: Usho kanje uJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli: ‘Makaqalekiswe umuntu ongezwa amazwi alesi sivumelwano, 4engayala ngawo oyihlo mhla ngibakhipha ezweni laseGibithe, isithando sensimbi,’ ngokuthi: ‘Zwanini izwi lami, nilenze njengakho konke enginiyala ngakho, nibe ngabantu bami, mina ngibe nguNkulunkulu wenu, 5ukuba ngisiqinise isifungo engasifunga koyihlo ukubanika izwe elichichima ubisi nezinyosi’ – njenganamuhla.”
Ngase ngiphendula ngithi: “Amen, Jehova.”
6Wayesethi uJehova kimi: “Memeza onke lawa mazwi emizini yakwaJuda nasezitaladini zaseJerusalema, uthi: ‘Zwanini amazwi alesi sivumelwano, niwenze. 7Ngokuba ngibayalile nokubayala oyihlo osukwini engabakhuphula ngalo ezweni laseGibithe kuze kube namuhla, ngibayalile, ngathi: “Yizwani izwi lami.” 8Kepha abalalela, ababekanga izindlebe zabo, kepha bahamba, kwaba yilowo nalowo ngobulukhuni benhliziyo yakhe embi; ngase ngehlisela phezu kwabo onke amazwi alesi sivumelwano engabayala ukuwenza, kepha kabawenzanga.’ ”
9Wayesethi uJehova kimi: “Kufunyenwe uzungu phakathi kwabantu bakwaJuda naphakathi kwabakhileyo eJerusalema. 10Babuyele ebubini bawoyise bokuqala abala ukuzwa amazwi ami, balandela abanye onkulunkulu ukuba babakhonze: indlu ka-Israyeli nendlu kaJuda zisaphulile isivumelwano sami engasenza nawoyise. 11Ngalokho usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Bheka, ngiyakwehlisela okubi phezu kwabo abangayikuba nakuphuma kukho; bayakukhala kimi, kepha angiyikubezwa. 12Imizi yakwaJuda nabakhileyo eJerusalema bayakukhala konkulunkulu ababashisela impepho, kepha abayikubasindisa neze ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka kwabo. 13Ngokuba njengomumo wemizi yakho, banjalo onkulunkulu bakho, Juda, nanjengomumo wezitaladi zaseJerusalema nimisele uBosheti* ama-altare, ama-altare okushisela uBali impepho.’
14“Ngalokhu ungabakhulekeli laba bantu, ungabaphakamiseli ukukhala nokuthandaza, ngokuba angiyikubezwa mhla bekhala kimi ngokuhlupheka kwabo.
15“Othandiweyo wami unani endlini yami
lapho enza amacebo nabaningi na?
Inyama engcwele ingavela kuwe,
lokhu ujabula ngokwenza okubi, na?”
16UJehova wabiza igama lakho
ngokuthi umnqumo oluhlaza obukekayo,
onezithelo ezinhle;
ngomsindo wesidumo esikhulu
uyakuphemba umlilo kuwo,
kwaphuke amagatsha awo.
17“UJehova Sebawoti owakutshala ukhulumile okubi phezu kwakho ngenxa yokubi kwendlu yakwa-Israyeli nokwendlu yakwaJuda abakwenzile ukuba bangicunule ngokushisela uBali impepho.”
18UJehova wangazisa, ngakwazi; khona wangibonisa izenzo zabo. 19Kepha mina nganginjengewundlu eliyiswa ekuhlatshweni; ngangingazi ukuthi bangicebela amacebo, bethi:
“Masiwuchithe umuthi kanye nezithelo zawo,
simnqume ezweni labaphilayo,
igama lakhe lingabe lisakhunjulwa.”
20Jehova Sebawoti,
mahluleli olungileyo,
ovivinya izinso nenhliziyo,
mangibone ukuphindisela kwakho kubo,
ngokuba ngibonakalisile indaba yami kuwe.
21“Ngalokho usho kanje uJehova ngabantu base-Anathoti abafuna ukuphila kwakho, bathi: ‘Awuyikuprofetha ngegama likaJehova, ukuze ungafi ngesandla sethu;’ 22ngalokho usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uthi: ‘Bheka, ngiyakubahambela; izinsizwa ziyakufa ngenkemba; amadodana abo namadodakazi abo ayakufa ngendlala, 23nensali ayiyikuba khona kubo, ngokuba ngiyakubehlisela abantu base-Anathoti okubi ngomnyaka wokuhanjelwa kwabo.’ ”
