UJeremiya 11:1-17

Izwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuSimakade, lithi: “Zwanini amazwi alesi sivumelwano, niwatshele bonke abantu bakwaJuda nezakhamuzi zaseJerusalema, uyothi kubo usho kanje uSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Uqalekisiwe umuntu ongawalaleli amazwi alesi sivumelwano, engayala ngaso okhokho benu mhla ngibakhipha eGibhithe, esithandweni sensimbi, athi: “Yizwani izwi lami, nikwenze konke lokho enginiyala ngakho, niyoba ngabantu bami, Mina ngibe nguNkulunkulu wenu; ukuba ngifeze isifungo engasifunga kokhokho benu, sokubanika izwe elichichima ubisi noju,” njengoba kwenzeka namuhla.’ ” Ngase ngiphendula ngithi: “Amen, Simakade.” USimakade wayesethi kimi: “Memezela wonke lawa mazwi emizini kwaJuda nasemigwaqweni eJerusalema, uthi: ‘Yizwani amazwi alesi sivumelwano, niwenze. Ngokuba okhokho benu ngabayala nokubayala ngosuku engabakhuphula ngalo eGibhithe, kuze kube namuhla, ngabayala ngathi: “Lalelani izwi lami.” “ ‘Kepha abalalelanga, abayibekanga indlebe yabo kulo, kodwa bahamba, kwaba yilowo nalowo ngobulukhuni benhliziyo yakhe embi. Ngehlisela phezu kwabo wonke amazwi alesi sivumelwano engabayala ukuba basigcine, kodwa abasigcinanga.’ ” USimakade wayesethi kimi: “Kukhona uzungu phakathi kwabantu bonke bakwaJuda nezakhamuzi zaseJerusalema. Babuyele eziphambukweni zokhokho babo bokuqala, abala ukulalela amazwi ami, balandela abanye onkulunkulu ukuba babakhonze. Indlu ka-Israyeli nendlu kaJuda zasephula isivumelwano sami engasenza nokhokho babo. Ngakho-ke usho kanje uSimakade, uthi: ‘Bheka, ngiyakwehlisela inhlekelele phezu kwabo abangayukuphunyuka kuyo; bayakukhala kimi, kepha angiyukubezwa. Imizi yakwaJuda nabakhileyo eJerusalema bayakuhamba, bakhale konkulunkulu ababashisela impepho, kepha abayukubasindisa nakancu, lapho behlelwa yinhlekelele. Ngokuba ngangobuningi bemizi yenu, bangako onkulunkulu bakho, Juda, nanjengomumo wemigwaqo eJerusalema, angako ama-althare eniwamisele le nto enengekayo, ama-althare enishisela kuwo uBhali impepho.’ “Ngalokho-ke ungabakhulekeli laba bantu, ungabenzeli izinxuso; ungabakhulekeli, ngokuba angiyukubalalela mhla bekhala kimi ngenhlekelele yabo. “Unalungelo lini othandiweyo wami endlini yami, lapho enza izinto eziningi ezimbi na? Inyama eyehlukaniselwe ingasiguqula yini isijeziso sakho, ujabule ngokwenza okubi na?” USimakade wabiza igama lakho ngokuthi umnqumo oluhlaza obukekayo, onezithelo ezinhle. Kepha ngomsindo wesiphepho esikhulu, uyakuphemba umlilo kuwo, kuphuke amagatsha awo. “USimakade Wamabandla owakutshala ukhulume okubi ngawe, ngenxa yobubi obenziwe yindlu ka-Israyeli nendlu yakwaJuda, bachukuluza ulaka lwami ngokushisela uBhali impepho.”