1 Lapho-ke mina ngathi,

"Lalelani lina bakhokheli bakoJakhobe,

lina babusi bendlu yako-Israyeli.

Ukulunga akumelanga likwazi na,

2 lina elizonda okuhle lithande okubi;

elixebula isikhumba ebantwini bami

lenyama emathanjeni abo;

3 lina elibadla inyama abantu bami,

lihlubule isikhumba sabo

lichoboze lamathambo abo abe yizicucu;

elibaqumaquma njengenyama yepani,

lanjengenyama yembiza?"

4 Lapho-ke bazakhala kuThixo,

kodwa kayikubaphendula.

Ngalesosikhathi uzabafihlela ubuso bakhe

ngenxa yobubi ababenzileyo.

5 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo:

"Okunjengabaphrofethi,

abedukisa abantu bami,

umuntu angabapha ukudla,

bamemezela ‘ukuthula’

nxa engabaphi balungisela

ukumhlasela ngempi.

6 Ngakho ubusuku buzakwehlela phezu kwenu, kungekho mibono,

kanye lomnyama, kungekho kuhlahlula.

Ilanga lizabatshonela abaphrofethi,

losuku luzakuba mnyama kubo.

7 Ababonisayo bazayangeka

labahlahluli babe lenhloni.

Bonke bazamboza ubuso babo

ngoba kungelampendulo evela kuNkulunkulu."

8 Kodwa mina ngiphiwe amandla,

loMoya kaThixo,

lokulunga kanye lesibindi,

ukuba ngitshele uJakhobe ukona kwakhe

lo-Israyeli isono sakhe.

9 Zwanini lokhu lina bakhokheli bendlu kaJakhobe,

lani babusi bendlu ka-Israyeli,

eleyisa ukulunga

lihlanekele konke okuqondileyo;

10 elakha iZiyoni ngokuchitha igazi;

leJerusalema ngobubi.

11 Abakhokheli bayo bahlulela ngokufunjathiswa,

abaphristi bayo bafundisela inhlawulo,

labaphrofethi bayo baphrofithela imali;

ikanti bathembele kuThixo njalo bathi,

"Kanti uThixo kakho phakathi kwethu na?

Akulancithakalo engasehlela."

12 Ngakho-ke ngenxa yenu,

iZiyoni izalinywa njengensimu,

iJerusalema izakuba yinqwaba yemfucuza,

intaba yethempeli ibe yindunduma eyande izixukwana.