UJeremiya 29:1-14

Nanka amazwi encwadi uJeremiya, umphrofethi, ayithumela eseJerusalema ensalini yamalunga, abaphristi, abaphrofethi nakubo bonke abantu uNebukhadinezari ayebathumbile eJerusalema, wabayisa eBhabhele. Lokhu kwenzeka emveni kokuba inkosi uJekhoniya, indlovukazi emzalayo, izikhulu zasesigodlweni, izikhulu zakwaJuda nezaseJerusalema, izingcweti nabakhandi, sebesukile eJerusalema, ngesandla sika-Elasa, indodana kaShafani noGemariya, indodana kaHilikiya, uZedekiya, inkosi yakwaJuda, abathuma eBhabhele kuNebukhadinezari, inkosi yaseBhabhele, ethi: Usho kanje uSimakade Wamabandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, kubo bonke abathunjwa engabathumela ekuthunjweni eBhabhele besuka eJerusalema, uthi: “Yakhani izindlu, nihlale kuzo; tshalani amasimu, nidle imikhiqizo yawo; thathani abafazi, nizale amadodana namadodakazi; thathelani amadodana enu abafazi, amadodakazi enu niwaganisele amadoda, ukuba azale amadodana namadodakazi, nande lapho, ninganciphi. Funani inhlalakahle yomuzi lapho nithunjelwe khona, niwukhulekele kuSimakade, ngokuba inhlalakahle yawo kuyoba yinhlalakahle yenu.” Ngokuba usho kanje uSimakade Wamabandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: “Maningakhohliswa ngabaphrofethi benu abaphakathi kwenu, nababhuli benu, ningawalaleli amaphupho enu eniwaphuphayo. Ngokuba baphrofetha amanga kini, egameni lami, Mina angibathumanga,” kusho uSimakade. Usho kanje uSimakade, uthi: “Uma sekuphele iminyaka engama-70 niseBhabhele, ngiyakunikhumbula, ngilifeze kini izwi lami elihle, ngokunibuyisela kule ndawo. Ngokuba Mina ngiyawazi amacebo enginawo ngani,” kusho uSimakade, “amacebo okuba nibe nenhlalakahle, hhayi awokunilimaza, awokuninika ikusasa nethemba. Niyakungibiza, nize nikhuleke kimi, ngiyakunizwa. Niyakungifuna, ningifumane, lapho ningifunisisa ngenhliziyo yenu yonke. Ngiyakufunyanwa yinina,” kusho uSimakade, “ngiyakukuqeda ukuthunjwa kwenu, nginiqoqe kuzo zonke izizwe nasezindaweni zonke lapho nginixoshele khona, nginibuyisele endaweni enganisusa kuyo nganiyisa ekuthunjweni,” kusho uSimakade.