¹Shoko rakabva kuna Jehovha, rikasvika kuna Jeremiya, asunungurwa paRama naNebhuzaradhani mukuru wavarindi, nguva yaakanga amubata akasungwa namaketani pakati pavatapwa vose veJerusaremu navaJudha, vakanga votapwa vachiiswa Bhabhironi.

¹The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, after Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, hath sent him from Ramah, in his taking him — and he a prisoner in chains — in the midst of all the removal of Jerusalem and of Judah, who are removed to Babylon.

²Mukuru wavarindi akatora Jeremiya, akati kwaari, Jehovha Mwari wako wakareva zvakaipa izvi pamusoro penzvimbo ino;

²And the chief of the executioners taketh Jeremiah, and saith unto him, `Jehovah thy God hath spoken this evil concerning this place,

³zvino Jehovha wazvisvitsa, akaita sezvaakataura; zvamakatadzira Jehovha, mukasateerera inzwi rake, nemhaka iyo chinhu ichi chakauya pamusoro penyu.

³and Jehovah bringeth [it] in, and doth as He spake, because ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not hearkened to His voice, even this thing hath been to you.

⁴Zvino tarira, ndinokusunungurira nhasi maketani ari paruoko rwako. Kana uchiti zvakanaka kuenda neni Bhabhironi, chiuya, ini ndichakuchengeta zvakanaka, asi kana uchiti zvakaipa kuenda neni Bhabhironi, chirega hako; tarira, nyika yose iri pamberi pako; chienda hako kwaunoti zvakanaka nezvakarurama kuti uende.

⁴`And now, lo, I have loosed thee to-day from the chains that [are] on thy hand; if good in thine eyes to come with me [to] Babylon, come, and I keep mine eye upon thee: and if evil in thine eyes to come with me to Babylon, forbear; see, all the land [is] before thee, whither [it be] good, and whither [it be] right in thine eyes to go — go.` —

⁵Zvino wakati achigere kuenda, akati, Dzokera kuna Gedharia mwanakomana waAhikami, mwanakomana waShafani, wakagadzwa namambo weBhabhhironi ave mubati wamaguta aJudha, undogara naye pakati pavanhu; kana chienda hako kwaunoti zvakanaka kuti uende. Naizvozvo mukuru wavarindi akamupa zvokudya nechipo, akamuendisa.

⁵and while he doth not reply — `Or turn back unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath appointed over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him in the midst of the people, or whithersoever it is right in thine eyes to go — go.` And the chief of the executioners giveth to him for the way, and a gift, and sendeth him away,

⁶Ipapo Jeremiya akaenda kuna Gedharia mwanakomana waAhikami paMizipa, akagara naye pakati pavanhu vakanga vakasiiwa munyika.

⁶and Jeremiah cometh in unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dwelleth with him, in the midst of the people who are left in the land.

⁷Zvino vakuru vose vehondo, vakanga vari kumasango, ivo navanhu vavo, vakati vachinzwa kuti mambo weBhabhironi wakange agadza Gedharia mwanakomana waAhikami ave mubati munyika iyo, akaisa pamaoko ake varume navakadzi navana, navaiva varombo kwazvo panyika, vakanga vasina kutapirwa Bhabhironi,

⁷And all the heads of the forces that [are] in the field hear, they and their men, that the king of Babylon hath appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land, and that he hath charged him [with] men, and women, and infants, and of the poor of the land, of those who have not been removed to Babylon;

⁸vakauya kuna Gedharia paMizipa, vaiti, Ishimaeri mwanakomana waNetania, naJohwanani naJonatani vanakomana vaKarea, naSeraia mwanakomana waTanhumeti, navanakomana vaEfai muNetofati, naJezania mwanakomana womuMaakatiti, ivo navanhu vavo.

⁸and they come in unto Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, and Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maachathite, they and their men.

⁹Gedharia mwanakomana waAhikami, mwanakomana waShafani, akavapikira, ivo navanhu vavo, achiti, Musatya kushumira vaKaradhea; garai henyu panyika, mushumire mambo weBhabhironi, mugova nomufaro.

⁹And swear to them doth Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and to their men, saying, `Be not afraid of serving the Chaldeans, abide in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it is well for you;

¹⁰Kana ndirini, tarirai, ndichagara paMizipa, kuti ndimire pamberi pavaKaradhea, vachauya kwatiri; asi imi, unganidzai waini nezvibereko zvezhizha namafuta, muzviise mumidziyo yenyu, mugare mumaguta enyu amakakunda.

¹⁰and I, lo, I am dwelling in Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who are come in unto us, and ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruit, and oil, and put in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.`

¹¹Saizvozvowo, vaJudha vose, vaiva paMoabhu, navaiva pakati pavana vaAmoni, napaEdhomu, navaiva panyika dzose, vakati vachinzwa kuti mambo weBhabhironi wakange asiya vamwe vaJudha, akagadza Gedharia mwanakomana waAhikami, mwanakomana waShafani ave mubati wavo;

¹¹And also all the Jews who [are] in Moab, and among the sons of Ammon, and in Edom, and who [are] in all the lands, have heard that the king of Babylon hath given a remnant to Judah, and that he hath appointed over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan,

¹²ipapo vaJudha vose vakadzoka pose pavakanga vadzingirwa, vakauya kunyika yaJudha, kuna Gedharia paMizipa, vakaunganidza waini nezvibereko zvizhinji kwazvo zvezhizha.

¹²and all the Jews from all the places whither they have been driven, turn back and enter the land of Judah, unto Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and they gather wine and summer fruit — very much.

¹³NaJohwananiwo, mwanakomana waKarea, navakuru vose vehondo vaiva kumasango, vakauya kuna Gedharia paMizipa,

¹³And Johanan son of Kareah, and all the heads of the forces that [are] in the field, have come in unto Gedaliah to Mizpah,

¹⁴vakati kwaari, Munoziva here kuti Bhaarisi, mambo wavana vaAmoni, wakatuma Ishimaeri mwanakomana waNetania kuzokuurayai? Asi Gedharia mwanakomana waAhikami haana kuvatenda.

¹⁴and they say unto him, `Dost thou really know that Baalis king of the sons of Ammon hath sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to smite thy soul?` And Gedaliah son of Ahikam hath not given to them credence.

¹⁵Ipapo Johwanani mwanakomana waKarea akataura naGedharia paMizipa chinyararire, akati, Nditenderei henyu kuenda ndindouraya Ishimaeri mwanakomana waNetania, hakungavi nomunhu uchazviziva; ko iye ungakuurayirei, kuti vaJudha vose vakaungana kwamuri vapararire, navakasara vaJudha vaparare?

¹⁵And Johanan son of Kareah hath spoken unto Gedaliah in secret, in Mizpah, saying, `Let me go, I pray thee, and I smite Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one doth know; why doth he smite thy soul? and scattered have been all Judah who are gathered unto thee, and perished hath the remnant of Judah.`

¹⁶Asi Gedharia mwanakomana waAhikami akati kuna Johwanani mwanakomana waKarea, Usaita chinhu ichi, nekuti unoreva nhema pamusoro paIshimaeri.

¹⁶And Gedaliah son of Ahikam saith unto Johanan son of Kareah, `Thou dost not do this thing, for falsehood thou art speaking concerning Ishmael.`