UJeremiya 42:1-12

Zase zisondela zonke izinduna zempi, noJohanani indodana kaKhareya, noJezaniya indodana kaHoshaya, nabantu bonke abancane nabakhulu, zathi kuJeremiya umprofethi: “Ukunxusa kwethu makwamukeleke ngaphambi kwakho, usikhulekele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, unxusele yonke le nsali, ngokuba sisele singaba yingcosana kwabaningi, njengalokhu amehlo akho ekubona nje, ukuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho asibonise indlela esiyakuhamba ngayo, nalokhu esiyakukwenza.” Wayesethi kubo uJeremiya umprofethi: “Nginizwile; bhekani, ngiyakukhuleka kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu njengamazwi enu; kuyakuthi noma yintoni uJehova ayakuniphendula ngayo, nginitshele yona, nginganigodleli lutho.” Bathi kuJeremiya: “UJehova makabe ngufakazi oqinisileyo nothembekileyo ngathi, uma singenzi njengamazwi onke uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ayakukuthuma nawo kithi. Noma lilihle, noma lilibi, siyakulilandela izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu esikuthuma kuye ukuba kube kuhle kithi, lapho sililalela izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu.” Kwathi emva kwezinsuku eziyishumi izwi likaJehova lafika kuJeremiya. Wayesembiza uJohanani indodana kaKhareya, nazo zonke izinduna zempi ezazinaye, nabo bonke abantu abancane nabakhulu, wathi kubo: “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli eningithume kuye ukubeka ukunxusa kwenu phambi kwakhe, uthi: ‘Uma nihlala nokuhlala kuleli zwe, ngiyakunakha nginganidilizi, nginitshale nginganisiphuli, ngokuba ngiyazisola ngokubi engikwenzile kini. Ningayesabi inkosi yaseBabele eniyesabayo; ningayesabi, usho uJehova, ngokuba nginani ukuba nginisindise, nginophule esandleni sayo. Ngiyakuniphatha ngobubele ukuba inihawukele, inibuyisele ezweni lakini.’