1. Izwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuJehova ngomnyaka weshumi kaSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda, owawungumnyaka weshumi nesishiyagalombili kaNebukadinesari.
2. Ngaleso sikhathi impi yenkosi yaseBabele yalivimbezela iJerusalema; uJeremiya umprofethi wayevalelwe egcekeni letilongo elalisendlini yenkosi yakwaJuda,
3. lapho uSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda ebemvalele khona ngokuthi: “Uprofethelani uthi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Bheka, ngiyakuwunikela lo muzi esandleni senkosi yaseBabele, iwuthathe,
4. uSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda angaphunyuki esandleni samaKaledi, kepha anikelwe nokunikelwa esandleni senkosi yaseBabele, akhulume nayo umlomo nomlomo, amehlo akhe awabone amehlo ayo,
5. yona imyise uSedekiya eBabele, abe khona lapho ngize ngimhambele, usho uJehova; noma nilwa namaKaledi, aniyikuphumelela na?’ ”
6. UJeremiya wathi: “Izwi likaJehova lafika kimi, lathi:
7. Bheka, uHanameli indodana kaShalumi uyihlokazi uyakufika kuwe, athi: ‘Zithengele insimu yami ese-Anathoti, ngokuba ilungelo lokuyihlenga lingelakho ukuba uyithenge.’
8. “Wayesefika kimi uHanameli indodana kababekazi egcekeni letilongo njengezwi likaJehova, wathi kimi: ‘Ake uyithenge insimu yami ese-Anathoti elisezweni lakwaBenjamini, ngokuba ilungelo lefa lingelakho, nokuhlenga kungokwakho; zithengele lona.’“Ngase ngazi ukuthi leli zwi lavela kuJehova.
9. Ngayithenga insimu ese-Anathoti kuHanameli indodana kababekazi, ngamlinganisela imali, amashekeli* ayishumi nesikhombisa esiliva.
10. Ngaloba incwadi, ngayinamathelisa, ngazifakazisela, ngamlinganisela imali ngesilinganiso.
11. Ngayithatha incwadi yokuthenga, enamathelisiweyo enemithetho nezimiso, nevulekileyo,
12. nganikela incwadi yokuthenga kuBaruki indodana kaNeriya kaMahaseya ngaphambi kukaHanameli indodana kababekazi naphambi kofakazi ababelobe incwadi yokuthenga naphambi kwabo bonke abaJuda ababehlala egcekeni letilongo.
13. “Ngamyala uBaruki phambi kwabo, ngathi:
14. ‘Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Thatha lezi zincwadi, le ncwadi yokuthenga enamathelisiweyo nale ncwadi evulekileyo, uzifake ezitsheni zebumba ukuba zihlale izinsuku eziningi.
15. Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Kuyakubuye kuthengwe izindlu namasimu nezivini kuleli zwe.’