UJeremiya 41:1-18
41 Ngenyanga yesikhombisa, u-Ishmayeli+ indodana kaNethaniya indodana ka-Elishama owayengowesikhosini futhi engomunye wezikhulu zenkosi, wabuya lamadoda alitshumi kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikhamu eMizipha.+ Bathi besadla loGedaliya eMizipha,
2 u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya lamadoda alitshumi ayelaye basukuma babulala uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikhamu indodana kaShafani ngenkemba. U-Ishmayeli wambulala uGedaliya owayebekwe yinkosi yeBhabhiloni ukuthi akhangele ilizwe.
3 U-Ishmayeli wabulala lamaJuda wonke ayeloGedaliya eMizipha kanye lamabutho amaKhaledi ayekhonapho.
4 Ngosuku lwesibili uGedaliya ebulewe, kungakabi lomuntu okwaziyo okwakwenzakele,
5 kwafika amadoda angu-80 evela eShekhemu+ leShilo+ laseSamariya.+ Ayezisike azisika, agela lendevu futhi izembatho zawo zazidabukile.+ Ayethwele iminikelo yamabele lenhlaka yokwenza impepha,+ eyiletha endlini kaJehova.
6 U-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya wasuka eMizipha esiyawahlangabeza ehamba ekhala. Wathi ehlangana lawo wathi kuwo: “Buyani kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikhamu.”
7 Amadoda la athi efika edolobheni, u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya lamadoda ayelaye bawabulala bawaphosela emgodini.
8 Kodwa kwakulamadoda alitshumi phakathi kwawo athi ku-Ishmayeli: “Ungasibulali ngoba silengqoloyi, lebhali, lamafutha loluju esikufihle egangeni.” Ngakho u-Ishmayeli kazange awabulale ngesikhathi ebulala abafowabo.
9 U-Ishmayeli wathatha zonke izidumbu zalabo ayebabulele waziphosela emgodini omkhulu owawugejwe yiNkosi u-Asa ngesikhathi isilwa loBhahasha inkosi yako-Israyeli.+ U-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya wagcwalisa umgodi lo ngezidumbu zabantu ayebabulele.
10 Wathumba bonke abantu ababeseMizipha,+ lamadodakazi enkosi labo bonke ababesele eMizipha, labo uNebhuzaradani induna yabalindi ayebeke uGedaliya+ indodana ka-Ahikhamu ukuthi abakhangele. U-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya wabathumba wasesuka esiya kuma-Amoni.+
11 UJohanani+ indodana kaKhareya lazo zonke izinduna zamabutho ezazilaye bathi besizwa ngakho konke okubi okwakwenziwe ngu-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya,
12 bathatha wonke amadoda basuka besiyakulwa lo-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya, bamthola emanzini amanengi* eGibhiyoni.
13 Abantu bonke ababelo-Ishmayeli bathokoza bebona uJohanani indodana kaKhareya lazo zonke izinduna zamabutho ezazilaye.
14 Bonke abantu ababethunjwe ngu-Ishmayeli eMizipha+ baphenduka babuyela loJohanani indodana kaKhareya.
15 Kodwa u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya lamadoda angu-8 baphunyuka bambalekela uJohanani baya kuma-Amoni.
16 UJohanani indodana kaKhareya lazo zonke izinduna zamabutho ezazilaye bathatha bonke abantu ababesuke eMizipha, labo ababebakhulule ku-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya ngemva kokubulala kwakhe uGedaliya+ indodana ka-Ahikhamu. Basuka eGibhiyoni lamadoda, lamabutho, labesifazana, labantwana leziphathamandla zesigodlweni babuyela emuva.
17 Bahamba bayahlala endaweni yezihambi kaKhimihami eseduze kweBhethilehema+ behlose ukudlula baye eGibhithe+
18 bebalekela amaKhaledi. Basebewesaba ngoba u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya wayebulele uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikhamu, lowo owayebekwe yinkosi yeBhabhiloni ukuthi akhangele ilizwe.+
Amabala angaphansi
^ Ezinye inguqulo zithi, “echibini elikhulu.”
