17. Ngokuba ngehora linye nje ingcebo engaka ichithekile.’“Nabashayeli bonke bemikhumbi, nabo bonke abaya nomaphi ngomkhumbi, namatilosi,* nabo bonke abasebenza elwandle bemela kude,
18. badazuluka bebona umusi wokusha kwalo, bethi: ‘Ngumuphi umuzi ofana nalowo muzi omkhulu na?’
19. Base bethela uthuli emakhanda abo, badazuluka bekhala, belila bethi: ‘Maye, maye kuwe muzi omkhulu, abacebile kuwe bonke abanemikhumbi elwandle ngenxa yengcebo enqabileyo yakho, ngokuba ngehora linye nje uchithekile!
20. Thokoza ngawo wena zulu, nani bangcwele, nani baphostoli, nani baprofethi; ngokuba uNkulunkulu uwahlulele, waniphindiselela kuwo.’ ”
21. Ingelosi enamandla yafukula itshe linjengelokusila elikhulu, yaliphonsa elwandle, yathi: “Ngokunjalo iBabiloni umuzi omkhulu liyakuphonswa phansi ngamandla, lingabe lisafunyanwa.
22. Izwi lababetha ihabhu* nelabahlabeleli nelababetha imitshingo namacilongo alisoze laphinda lizwakale kuwe, namuphi umlumbi noma owaluphi uhlobo akasoze wafunyaniswa kuwe, nomsindo wetshe lokusila awusoze wabuye uzwakale kuwe,
23. nokukhanya kwesibani akusoze kwaphinda kukhanye phakathi kwakho, nezwi lomyeni nelomlobokazi alisoze labuye lizwakale phakathi kwakho, ngokuba izizwe zonke zidukisiwe ngokuthakatha kwakho,
24. futhi kwafunyaniswa kuwe igazi labaprofethi nelabangcwele nelabo bonke ababebulewe emhlabeni.”