Isahluko 39
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Kwathi lapho iJerusalema selinqotshiwe ngomnyaka wesishiyagalolunye kaSedekiya, inkosi yakwaJuda, ngenyanga yeshumi kwafika uNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, nempi yakhe yonke eJerusalema, walivimbezela;
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ngomnyaka weshumi nanye kaSedekiya ngenyanga yesine ngolwesishiyagalolunye lwenyanga umuzi wafohlwa
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kwangena zonke izikhulu zenkosi yaseBabele, zahlala esangweni eliphakathi, oNerigali Sareseri, noSamigari Nebo, noSaresekimi induna yezinceku, noNerigali Sareseri induna yabapristi, kanye nazo zonke ezinye izikhulu zenkosi yaseBabele.
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Kwathi lapho uSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda nawo onke amadoda empi bezibona, babaleka, bephuma emzini ebusuku ngendlela yensimu yenkosi ngesango phakathi kwezingange zombili; waphuma ngendlela yase-Araba.
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Kepha impi yamaKaledi yabaxosha, yamfica uSedekiya emahlane aseJeriko, yambamba, yamkhuphulela kuNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, eRibila ezweni laseHamati, wamahlulela.
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Inkosi yaseBabele yabulala amadodana kaSedekiya eRibila phambi kwamehlo akhe; futhi inkosi yaseBabele yabulala bonke abakhulu bakwaJuda.
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Yakhipha namehlo kaSedekiya, yambopha ngamaketanga ukuba imyise eBabele.
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AmaKaledi ashisa indlu yenkosi nezindlu zabantu ngomlilo, azidiliza izingange zaseJerusalema.
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Insali yabantu ababesala emzini, nabahlubuki ababehlubukela kuye, nensali yabantu abaseleyo uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi wabathumbela eBabele.
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Kepha uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi wabashiya abantu abampofu ababengenalutho ezweni lakwaJuda, wabanika izivini namasimu ngasikhathi sinye.
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UNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, wamyala uNebuzaradani, induna yabalindi, ngoJeremiya, wathi:
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“Mthathe, umbheke, ungamenzeli lutho olubi, kepha wenze kuye njengokusho kwakhe kuwe.”
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UNebuzaradani induna yabalindi kanye noNebushazibani induna yezinceku, noNerigali Sareseri induna yabapristi, nezikhulu zonke zenkosi yaseBabele base bethumela,
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bathuma bamkhipha uJeremiya egcekeni letilongo, bamnikeza kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu kaShafani ukuba amyise ekhaya; wayesehlala phakathi kwabantu.
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Lase lifika izwi likaJehova kuJeremiya esavalelwe egcekeni letilongo, lithi:
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“Hamba ukhulume ku-Ebedi Meleki umKushe, uthi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Bheka, ngiyakwehlisela amazwi ami kulo muzi kube kubi, kungabi kuhle, abe ngaphambi kwakho ngalolo suku.
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Kepha ngiyakukophula ngalolo suku, usho uJehova, unganikelwa esandleni sabantu obesabayo.
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Ngokuba ngiyakukukhulula nokukukhulula, awuyikuwa ngenkemba, kepha ukuphila kwakho kuyakuba yimpango kuwe, ngokuba ungethembile, usho uJehova.’ ”