1 Leli yilizwi uThixo alikhuluma ngoJeremiya umphrofethi mayelana leBhabhiloni lelizwe lamaKhaladiya:
2 “Memezelani libike phakathi kwezizwe,
3 Isizwe esivela enyakatho sizayihlasela
4 Ngalezonsuku, ngalesosikhathi,
5 Bazabuza indlela eya eZiyoni
6 Abantu bami bebeyizimvu ezilahlekileyo,
7 Loba ngubani owabatholayo wabadla;
8 Balekelani ngaphandle kweBhabhiloni;
9 Ngoba iBhabhiloni ngizayivusela
10 Ngakho iBhabhiloni izaphangwa,
11 “Njengoba lithokoza njalo lithabile,
12 unyoko uzayangeka kakhulu,
13 Ngenxa yolaka lukaThixo kayiyikuhlalwa muntu kodwa
14 Vivani inhlangothi zonke zeBhabhiloni
15 Klabalalani kuyo ezinhlangothini zonke!
16 Msuseni eBhabhiloni umhlanyeli,
17 U-Israyeli ungumhlambi ohlakazekileyo
18 Ngakho uThixo uSomandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uthi:
19 Kodwa u-Israyeli ngizambuyisela edlelweni lakhe,
20 Ngalezonsuku, ngalesosikhathi,” kutsho uThixo,
21 Hlaselani ilizwe laseMerathayimi
22 Umsindo wempi uselizweni,
23 Yeka ukwephuka lokucezuka
24 Ngakuthiya ngomjibila, wena Bhabhiloni,
25 UThixo usevule indlu yakhe yezikhali
26 Wozani kuyo limelane layo livela kude.
27 Bulalani zonke inkunzi zayo ezisesengamaguqa;
28 Lalelani ababalekayo labaphephileyo abavela eBhabhiloni
29 Bizani abemitshoko bahlasele iBhabhiloni,
30 Ngakho izinsizwa zayo zizakuwa emigwaqweni; ngalolosuku
31 “Khangela, ngimelane lawe, wena oyisiqholo,”
32 Oyisiqholo uzakhubeka awe,
33 UThixo uSomandla uthi:
34 Kodwa uMhlengi wabo ulamandla;
35 Inkemba imelana lamaKhaladiya,”
36 Inkemba izamelana labaphrofethi balo bamanga!
37 Inkemba izamelana lamabhiza ayo lezinqola zempi
38 Kuzakuba lokoma kwamanzi ayo!
39 Ngakho izidalwa zasenkangala lezimpisi zizahlala khona,
40 Njengalokhu uNkulunkulu wachitha iSodoma leGomora
41 Khangelani! Ibutho liyeza livela enyakatho;
42 Bahlome ngamadandili langemikhonto;
43 INkosi yaseBhabhiloni isiyizwile imibiko ngabo,
44 Njengesilwane siphuma emahlathini aseJodani sisiya
45 Ngakho, zwanini lokho uThixo asecebe ukukwenza ngeBhabhiloni,
46 Ekuzwakaleni komsindo wokuthunjwa kweBhabhiloni umhlaba uzagedezela;