1. USedekiya, indodana kaJosiya, waba yinkosi esikhundleni sikaKhoniya, indodana kaJehoyakimi, wabekwa inkosi ezweni lakwaJuda nguNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele.
2. Kepha yena nezinceku zakhe nabantu bezwe abawalalelanga amazwi kaJehova awakhulumayo ngesandla sikaJeremiya umprofethi.
3. USedekiya inkosi wathuma uJehukali, indodana kaShelemiya, noZefaniya, indodana kaMahaseya, umpristi, kumprofethi uJeremiya, wathi: “Ake usikhulekele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu.”
4. UJeremiya wangena, waphuma phakathi kwabantu, ngokuba babengakamfaki etilongweni.
5. Impi kaFaro yayisiphumile eGibithe; lapho amaKaledi avimbezela iJerusalema ekuzwa, akhuphuka eJerusalema.
6. Lase lifika izwi likaJehova kumprofethi uJeremiya, lithi:
7. “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Niyakusho kanje enkosini yakwaJuda eyanithuma kimi ukubuza kimi, nithi: ‘Bheka, impi kaFaro ephume ukunisiza iyakubuyela eGibithe, izwe lakubo.
8. AmaKaledi ayakubuya, alwe nalo muzi, awuthathe, awushise ngomlilo.’
9. “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Ningazikhohlisi ngokuthi: ‘AmaKaledi ayakusuka nokusuka kithi;’ ngokuba awayikusuka.