דִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֑הוּ מִן־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּעֲנָת֔וֹת בְּאֶ֖רֶץ בִּנְיָמִֽן׃ The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיָ֤ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלָ֔יו בִּימֵ֛י יֹאשִׁיָּ֥הוּ בֶן־אָמ֖וֹן מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה בִּשְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה שָׁנָ֖ה לְמׇלְכֽוֹ׃ The word of GOD came to him in the days of King Josiah son of Amon of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign,

וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵ֨י יְהוֹיָקִ֤ים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה עַד־תֹּם֙ עַשְׁתֵּ֣י עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה לְצִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ בֶן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה עַד־גְּל֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַֽחֲמִישִֽׁי׃ {פ}
and throughout the days of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of King Zedekiah son of Josiah of Judah, when Jerusalem went into exile in the fifth month.

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me:

בְּטֶ֨רֶם (אצורך) [אֶצׇּרְךָ֤] בַבֶּ֙טֶן֙ יְדַעְתִּ֔יךָ וּבְטֶ֛רֶם תֵּצֵ֥א מֵרֶ֖חֶם הִקְדַּשְׁתִּ֑יךָ נָבִ֥יא לַגּוֹיִ֖ם נְתַתִּֽיךָ׃ Before I created you in the womb, I selected you;
Before you were born, I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet concerning the nations.

וָאֹמַ֗ר אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הִנֵּ֥ה לֹֽא־יָדַ֖עְתִּי דַּבֵּ֑ר כִּי־נַ֖עַר אָנֹֽכִי׃ {ס}         I replied:
Ah, my Sovereign GOD !
I don’t know how to speak,
For I am still a boy.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י אַל־תֹּאמַ֖ר נַ֣עַר אָנֹ֑כִי כִּ֠י עַֽל־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ וְאֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲצַוְּךָ֖ תְּדַבֵּֽר׃ And GOD said to me:
Do not say, “I am still a boy,”
But go wherever I send you
And speak whatever I command you.

אַל־תִּירָ֖א מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אִתְּךָ֥ אֲנִ֛י לְהַצִּלֶ֖ךָ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Have no fear of them,
For I am with you to deliver you
—declares GOD.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ וַיַּגַּ֖ע עַל־פִּ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י הִנֵּ֛ה נָתַ֥תִּי דְבָרַ֖י בְּפִֽיךָ׃ GOD reached out and touched my mouth, and GOD said to me: Herewith I put My words into your mouth.

רְאֵ֞ה הִפְקַדְתִּ֣יךָ ׀ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה עַל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ וְעַל־הַמַּמְלָכ֔וֹת לִנְת֥וֹשׁ וְלִנְת֖וֹץ וּלְהַאֲבִ֣יד וְלַהֲר֑וֹס לִבְנ֖וֹת וְלִנְטֽוֹעַ׃ {פ}
See, I appoint you this day
Over nations and kingdoms:
To uproot and to pull down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant.

וַיְהִ֤י דְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֣י לֵאמֹ֔ר מָה־אַתָּ֥ה רֹאֶ֖ה יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ וָאֹמַ֕ר מַקֵּ֥ל שָׁקֵ֖ד אֲנִ֥י רֹאֶֽה׃ The word of GOD came to me: What do you see, Jeremiah? I replied: I see a branch of an almond tree.^aalmond tree Heb. shaqed.

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י הֵיטַ֣בְתָּ לִרְא֑וֹת כִּֽי־שֹׁקֵ֥ד אֲנִ֛י עַל־דְּבָרִ֖י לַעֲשֹׂתֽוֹ׃ {ס}         GOD said to me:
You have seen right,
For I am watchful^bwatchful Heb. shoqed. to bring My word to pass.

וַיְהִ֨י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ אֵלַי֙ שֵׁנִ֣ית לֵאמֹ֔ר מָ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה רֹאֶ֑ה וָאֹמַ֗ר סִ֤יר נָפ֙וּחַ֙ אֲנִ֣י רֹאֶ֔ה וּפָנָ֖יו מִפְּנֵ֥י צָפֽוֹנָה׃ And the word of GOD came to me a second time: What do you see? I replied:
I see a steaming pot,
Tipped away from the north.^cTipped away from the north Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י מִצָּפוֹן֙ תִּפָּתַ֣ח הָרָעָ֔ה עַ֥ל כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאָֽרֶץ׃ And GOD said to me:
From the north shall disaster break loose
Upon all the inhabitants of the land!

כִּ֣י ׀ הִנְנִ֣י קֹרֵ֗א לְכׇֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֛וֹת מַמְלְכ֥וֹת צָפ֖וֹנָה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וּבָ֡אוּ וְֽנָתְנוּ֩ אִ֨ישׁ כִּסְא֜וֹ פֶּ֣תַח ׀ שַׁעֲרֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם וְעַ֤ל כׇּל־חוֹמֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ סָבִ֔יב וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־עָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃ For I am summoning all the peoples
Of the kingdoms of the north
—declares GOD.
They shall come, and shall each set up a throne
Before the gates of Jerusalem,
Against its walls round about,
And against all the towns of Judah.

וְדִבַּרְתִּ֤י מִשְׁפָּטַי֙ אוֹתָ֔ם עַ֖ל כׇּל־רָעָתָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲזָב֗וּנִי וַֽיְקַטְּרוּ֙ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ לְמַעֲשֵׂ֥י יְדֵיהֶֽם׃ And I will argue My case against them^dthem I.e., Jerusalem and Judah.
For all their wickedness:
They have forsaken Me
And sacrificed to other gods
And worshiped the works of their hands.

וְאַתָּה֙ תֶּאְזֹ֣ר מׇתְנֶ֔יךָ וְקַמְתָּ֙ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י אֲצַוֶּ֑ךָּ אַל־תֵּחַת֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם פֶּֽן־אֲחִתְּךָ֖ לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ So you, gird up your loins,
Arise and speak to them
All that I command you.
Do not break down before them,
Lest I break you before them.

וַאֲנִ֞י הִנֵּ֧ה נְתַתִּ֣יךָ הַיּ֗וֹם לְעִ֨יר מִבְצָ֜ר וּלְעַמּ֥וּד בַּרְזֶ֛ל וּלְחֹמ֥וֹת נְחֹ֖שֶׁת עַל־כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ לְמַלְכֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ לְשָׂרֶ֔יהָ לְכֹהֲנֶ֖יהָ וּלְעַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃ I make you this day
A fortified city,
And an iron pillar,
And bronze walls
Against the whole land—
Against Judah’s kings and officers,
And against its priests and citizens.^ecitizens Lit. “the people of the land.”

וְנִלְחֲמ֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ וְלֹא־י֣וּכְלוּ לָ֑ךְ כִּי־אִתְּךָ֥ אֲנִ֛י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֖ה לְהַצִּילֶֽךָ׃ {פ}
They will attack you,
But they shall not overcome you;
For I am with you—declares GOD —to save you.

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me, saying,

הָלֹ֡ךְ וְֽקָרָ֩אתָ֩ בְאׇזְנֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה זָכַ֤רְתִּי לָךְ֙ חֶ֣סֶד נְעוּרַ֔יִךְ אַהֲבַ֖ת כְּלוּלֹתָ֑יִךְ לֶכְתֵּ֤ךְ אַֽחֲרַי֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר בְּאֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥א זְרוּעָֽה׃ Go proclaim to Jerusalem: Thus said GOD:
I accounted to your favor
The devotion of your youth,
Your love as a bride—
How you followed Me in the wilderness,
In a land not sown.

קֹ֤דֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה רֵאשִׁ֖ית תְּבוּאָתֹ֑ה כׇּל־אֹכְלָ֣יו יֶאְשָׁ֔מוּ רָעָ֛ה תָּבֹ֥א אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
Israel was holy to GOD,
The first fruits of God’s harvest.
All who ate of it were held guilty;
Disaster befell them
—declares GOD.

שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְכׇֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Hear the word of GOD, O House of Jacob,
Every clan of the House of Israel!

כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה מַה־מָּצְא֨וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֥ם בִּי֙ עָ֔וֶל כִּ֥י רָחֲק֖וּ מֵעָלָ֑י וַיֵּ֥לְכ֛וּ אַחֲרֵ֥י הַהֶ֖בֶל וַיֶּהְבָּֽלוּ׃ Thus said GOD:
What wrong did your ancestors find in Me
That they abandoned Me
And went after delusion and were deluded?

וְלֹ֣א אָֽמְר֔וּ אַיֵּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה הַמַּעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖נוּ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הַמּוֹלִ֨יךְ אֹתָ֜נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר בְּאֶ֨רֶץ עֲרָבָ֤ה וְשׁוּחָה֙ בְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙ צִיָּ֣ה וְצַלְמָ֔וֶת בְּאֶ֗רֶץ לֹא־עָ֤בַר בָּהּ֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹא־יָשַׁ֥ב אָדָ֖ם שָֽׁם׃ They never asked themselves, “Where is GOD,
Who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
Who led us through the wilderness,
A land of deserts and pits,
A land of drought and darkness,
A land nobody had traversed,
Where no human being had dwelt?”

וָאָבִ֤יא אֶתְכֶם֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל לֶאֱכֹ֥ל פִּרְיָ֖הּ וְטוּבָ֑הּ וַתָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ וַתְּטַמְּא֣וּ אֶת־אַרְצִ֔י וְנַחֲלָתִ֥י שַׂמְתֶּ֖ם לְתוֹעֵבָֽה׃ I brought you to this country of farmland
To enjoy its fruit and its bounty;
But you came and defiled My land,
You made My possession abhorrent.

הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים לֹ֤א אָֽמְרוּ֙ אַיֵּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה וְתֹפְשֵׂ֤י הַתּוֹרָה֙ לֹ֣א יְדָע֔וּנִי וְהָרֹעִ֖ים פָּ֣שְׁעוּ בִ֑י וְהַנְּבִאִים֙ נִבְּא֣וּ בַבַּ֔עַל וְאַחֲרֵ֥י לֹֽא־יוֹעִ֖לוּ הָלָֽכוּ׃ The priests never asked themselves, “Where is GOD ?”
The guardians of the Teaching ignored Me;
The rulers^arulers Lit. “shepherds”; cf. 3.15; 23.1ff. rebelled against Me,
And the prophets prophesied by Baal
And followed what can do no good.

לָכֵ֗ן עֹ֛ד אָרִ֥יב אִתְּכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אָרִֽיב׃ Oh, I will go on accusing you
—declares GOD —
And I will accuse your children’s children!

כִּ֣י עִבְר֞וּ אִיֵּ֤י כִתִּיִּים֙ וּרְא֔וּ וְקֵדָ֛ר שִׁלְח֥וּ וְהִֽתְבּוֹנְנ֖וּ מְאֹ֑ד וּרְא֕וּ הֵ֥ן הָיְתָ֖ה כָּזֹֽאת׃ Just cross over to the isles of the Kittim and look,
Send to Kedar and observe carefully;
See if aught like this has ever happened:

הַהֵימִ֥יר גּוֹי֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה לֹ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַמִּ֛י הֵמִ֥יר כְּבוֹד֖וֹ בְּל֥וֹא יוֹעִֽיל׃ Has any nation changed its gods
Even though they are no-gods?
But My people has exchanged its glory
For what can do no good.

שֹׁ֥מּוּ שָׁמַ֖יִם עַל־זֹ֑את וְשַׂעֲר֛וּ חׇרְב֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
Be horrified, utterly dazed!
—says GOD.

כִּֽי־שְׁתַּ֥יִם רָע֖וֹת עָשָׂ֣ה עַמִּ֑י אֹתִ֨י עָזְב֜וּ מְק֣וֹר ׀ מַ֣יִם חַיִּ֗ים לַחְצֹ֤ב לָהֶם֙ בֹּאר֔וֹת בֹּארֹת֙ נִשְׁבָּרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָכִ֖לוּ הַמָּֽיִם׃ For My people have done a twofold wrong:
They have forsaken Me, the Fount of living waters,
And hewed out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns,
That cannot even hold water.

הַעֶ֙בֶד֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם־יְלִ֥יד בַּ֖יִת ה֑וּא מַדּ֖וּעַ הָיָ֥ה לָבַֽז׃ Is Israel a bondman?
Is he a home-born slave?
Then why is he given over to plunder?

עָלָיו֙ יִשְׁאֲג֣וּ כְפִרִ֔ים נָתְנ֖וּ קוֹלָ֑ם וַיָּשִׁ֤יתוּ אַרְצוֹ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה עָרָ֥יו (נצתה) [נִצְּת֖וּ] מִבְּלִ֥י יֹשֵֽׁב׃ Lions have roared over him,
Have raised their cries.
They have made his land a waste,
His cities desolate, without inhabitants.

גַּם־בְּנֵי־נֹ֖ף (ותחפנס) [וְתַחְפַּנְחֵ֑ס] יִרְע֖וּךְ קׇדְקֹֽד׃ Those, too, in Noph and Tahpanhes^bNoph and Tahpanhes Cities in Egypt. The Egyptians, like the Assyrians, will prove a disappointment; cf. v. 36.
Will lay bare^cWill lay bare Meaning of Heb. uncertain. your head.

הֲלוֹא־זֹ֖את תַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ עׇזְבֵךְ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֔יִךְ בְּעֵ֖ת מוֹלִכֵ֥ךְ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ See, that is the price you have paid
For forsaking the ETERNAL your God^dthat is the price you have paid / For forsaking the ETERNAL your God Lit. “that is what your forsaking the ETERNAL your God is doing to you.”
Who led you in the way.^eWho led you in the way Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וְעַתָּ֗ה מַה־לָּךְ֙ לְדֶ֣רֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת מֵ֣י שִׁח֑וֹר וּמַה־לָּךְ֙ לְדֶ֣רֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת מֵ֥י נָהָֽר׃ What, then, is the good of your going to Egypt
To drink the waters of the Nile?
And what is the good of your going to Assyria
To drink the waters of the Euphrates?

תְּיַסְּרֵ֣ךְ רָעָתֵ֗ךְ וּמְשֻׁבוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ תּֽוֹכִחֻ֔ךְ וּדְעִ֤י וּרְאִי֙ כִּֽי־רַ֣ע וָמָ֔ר עׇזְבֵ֖ךְ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יִךְ וְלֹ֤א פַחְדָּתִי֙ אֵלַ֔יִךְ נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִ֖ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ Let your misfortune reprove you,
Let your afflictions rebuke you;
Mark well how bad and bitter it is
That you forsake the ETERNAL your God,
That awe for Me is not in you
—declares my Sovereign GOD of Hosts.

כִּ֣י מֵעוֹלָ֞ם שָׁבַ֣רְתִּי עֻלֵּ֗ךְ נִתַּ֙קְתִּי֙ מוֹסְרוֹתַ֔יִךְ וַתֹּאמְרִ֖י לֹ֣א (אעבוד) [אֶעֱב֑וֹר] כִּ֣י עַֽל־כׇּל־גִּבְעָ֞ה גְּבֹהָ֗ה וְתַ֙חַת֙ כׇּל־עֵ֣ץ רַעֲנָ֔ן אַ֖תְּ צֹעָ֥ה זֹנָֽה׃ For long ago you^fyou For the form, cf. shaqqamti, Judg. 5.7; in contrast to others “I.” broke your yoke,
Tore off your yoke-bands,
And said, “I will not work!”^gwork Following the kethib; qere “transgress.”
On every high hill and under every verdant tree,
You recline as a whore.

וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ נְטַעְתִּ֣יךְ שׂוֹרֵ֔ק כֻּלֹּ֖ה זֶ֣רַע אֱמֶ֑ת וְאֵיךְ֙ נֶהְפַּ֣כְתְּ לִ֔י סוּרֵ֖י הַגֶּ֥פֶן נׇכְרִיָּֽה׃ I planted you with noble vines,
All with choicest seed;
Alas, I find you changed
Into a base, an alien vine!

כִּ֤י אִם־תְּכַבְּסִי֙ בַּנֶּ֔תֶר וְתַרְבִּי־לָ֖ךְ בֹּרִ֑ית נִכְתָּ֤ם עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ לְפָנַ֔י נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ Though you wash with natron
And use much lye,
Your guilt is ingrained before Me
—declares my Sovereign GOD.

אֵ֣יךְ תֹּאמְרִ֞י לֹ֣א נִטְמֵ֗אתִי אַחֲרֵ֤י הַבְּעָלִים֙ לֹ֣א הָלַ֔כְתִּי רְאִ֤י דַרְכֵּךְ֙ בַּגַּ֔יְא דְּעִ֖י מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑ית בִּכְרָ֥ה קַלָּ֖ה מְשָׂרֶ֥כֶת דְּרָכֶֽיהָ׃ How can you say, “I am not defiled,
I have not gone after the Baalim”?
Look at your deeds in the Valley,^hValley Of Hinnom; cf. 7.31–32; 32.35.
Consider what you have done!
Like a lustful she-camel,
Restlessly running about,ⁱRestlessly running about Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פֶּ֣רֶה ׀ לִמֻּ֣ד מִדְבָּ֗ר בְּאַוַּ֤ת (נפשו) [נַפְשָׁהּ֙] שָׁאֲפָ֣ה ר֔וּחַ תַּאֲנָתָ֖הּ מִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נָּה כׇּל־מְבַקְשֶׁ֙יהָ֙ לֹ֣א יִיעָ֔פוּ בְּחׇדְשָׁ֖הּ יִמְצָאֽוּנְהָ׃ Or like a wild ass used to the desert,
Snuffing the wind in her eagerness,
Whose passion none can restrain,
None that seek her need grow weary—
In her season, they’ll find her!

מִנְעִ֤י רַגְלֵךְ֙ מִיָּחֵ֔ף (וגורנך) [וּגְרוֹנֵ֖ךְ] מִצִּמְאָ֑ה וַתֹּאמְרִ֣י נוֹאָ֔שׁ ל֕וֹא כִּֽי־אָהַ֥בְתִּי זָרִ֖ים וְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֥ם אֵלֵֽךְ׃ Save your foot from going bare,
And your throat from thirst.
But you say, “It is no use.
No, I love the strangers,^jstrangers I.e., other gods.
And after them I must go.”

כְּבֹ֤שֶׁת גַּנָּב֙ כִּ֣י יִמָּצֵ֔א כֵּ֥ן הֹבִ֖ישׁוּ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הֵ֤מָּה מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ שָׂרֵיהֶ֔ם וְכֹהֲנֵיהֶ֖ם וּנְבִיאֵיהֶֽם׃ Like a thief chagrined when caught,
So is the House of Israel chagrined—
They, their kings, their officers,
And their priests and prophets.

אֹמְרִ֨ים לָעֵ֜ץ אָ֣בִי אַ֗תָּה וְלָאֶ֙בֶן֙ אַ֣תְּ (ילדתני) [יְלִדְתָּ֔נוּ] כִּֽי־פָנ֥וּ אֵלַ֛י עֹ֖רֶף וְלֹ֣א פָנִ֑ים וּבְעֵ֤ת רָעָתָם֙ יֹֽאמְר֔וּ ק֖וּמָה וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ׃ They said to wood, “You are my father,”
To stone, “You gave birth to me,”
While to Me they turned their backs
And not their faces.
But in their hour of calamity they cry,
“Arise and save us!”

וְאַיֵּ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֔ךְ יָק֕וּמוּ אִם־יוֹשִׁיע֖וּךָ בְּעֵ֣ת רָעָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֚י מִסְפַּ֣ר עָרֶ֔יךָ הָי֥וּ אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יְהוּדָֽה׃ {ס}         And where are those gods
You made for yourself?
Let them arise and save you, if they can,
In your hour of calamity.
For your gods have become, O Judah,
As many as your towns!

לָ֥מָּה תָרִ֖יבוּ אֵלָ֑י כֻּלְּכֶ֛ם פְּשַׁעְתֶּ֥ם בִּ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Why do you call Me to account?
You have all rebelled against Me
—declares GOD.

לַשָּׁוְא֙ הִכֵּ֣יתִי אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֔ם מוּסָ֖ר לֹ֣א לָקָ֑חוּ אָכְלָ֧ה חַרְבְּכֶ֛ם נְבִיאֵיכֶ֖ם כְּאַרְיֵ֥ה מַשְׁחִֽית׃ To no purpose did I smite your children;
They would not accept correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
Like a ravening lion.

הַדּ֗וֹר אַתֶּם֙ רְא֣וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה הֲמִדְבָּ֤ר הָיִ֙יתִי֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִ֛ם אֶ֥רֶץ מַאְפֵּ֖לְיָ֑ה מַדּ֜וּעַ אָמְר֤וּ עַמִּי֙ רַ֔דְנוּ לֽוֹא־נָב֥וֹא ע֖וֹד אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ O generation, behold^kO generation, behold Meaning of Heb. uncertain. the word of GOD !
Have I been like a desert to Israel,
Or like a land of deep gloom?
Then why do My people say, “We have broken loose,
We will not come to You anymore?”

הֲתִשְׁכַּ֤ח בְּתוּלָה֙ עֶדְיָ֔הּ כַּלָּ֖ה קִשֻּׁרֶ֑יהָ וְעַמִּ֣י שְׁכֵח֔וּנִי יָמִ֖ים אֵ֥ין מִסְפָּֽר׃ Can a maiden forget her jewels,
A bride her adornments?
Yet My people have forgotten Me—
Days without number.

מַה־תֵּיטִ֥בִי דַרְכֵּ֖ךְ לְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אַהֲבָ֑ה לָכֵן֙ גַּ֣ם אֶת־הָרָע֔וֹת (למדתי) [לִמַּ֖דְתְּ] אֶת־דְּרָכָֽיִךְ׃ How skillfully you plan your way
To seek out love!
Why, you have even taught
The worst of women your ways.

גַּ֤ם בִּכְנָפַ֙יִךְ֙ נִמְצְא֔וּ דַּ֛ם נַפְשׁ֥וֹת אֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים נְקִיִּ֑ים לֹֽא־בַמַּחְתֶּ֥רֶת מְצָאתִ֖ים כִּ֥י עַל־כׇּל־אֵֽלֶּה׃ Moreover, on your garments is found
The lifeblood of the innocent poor—
You did not catch them breaking in.^lbreaking in In which case there might have been an excuse for killing them; cf. Exod. 22.1.
Yet, despite all these things,^mYet, despite all these things Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וַתֹּֽאמְרִי֙ כִּ֣י נִקֵּ֔יתִי אַ֛ךְ שָׁ֥ב אַפּ֖וֹ מִמֶּ֑נִּי הִנְנִי֙ נִשְׁפָּ֣ט אוֹתָ֔ךְ עַל־אׇמְרֵ֖ךְ לֹ֥א חָטָֽאתִי׃ You say, “I have been acquitted;
Surely, God’s anger has turned away from me.”
Lo, I will bring you to judgment
For saying, “I have not sinned.”

מַה־תֵּזְלִ֥י מְאֹ֖ד לְשַׁנּ֣וֹת אֶת־דַּרְכֵּ֑ךְ גַּ֤ם מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ תֵּבֹ֔שִׁי כַּאֲשֶׁר־בֹּ֖שְׁתְּ מֵאַשּֽׁוּר׃ How you cheapen yourself,
By changing your course!
You shall be put to shame through Egypt,
Just as you were put to shame through Assyria.

גַּ֣ם מֵאֵ֥ת זֶה֙ תֵּֽצְאִ֔י וְיָדַ֖יִךְ עַל־רֹאשֵׁ֑ךְ כִּֽי־מָאַ֤ס יְהֹוָה֙ בְּמִבְטַחַ֔יִךְ וְלֹ֥א תַצְלִ֖יחִי לָהֶֽם׃ From this way, too, you will come out
With your hands on your head;ⁿWith your hands on your head A gesture of wild grief; cf. 2 Sam. 13.19.
For GOD has rejected those you trust,
You will not prosper with them.

לֵאמֹ֡ר הֵ֣ן יְשַׁלַּ֣ח אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ֩ וְהָלְכָ֨ה מֵאִתּ֜וֹ וְהָיְתָ֣ה לְאִישׁ־אַחֵ֗ר הֲיָשׁ֤וּב אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ ע֔וֹד הֲל֛וֹא חָנ֥וֹף תֶּחֱנַ֖ף הָאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֑יא וְאַ֗תְּ זָנִית֙ רֵעִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים וְשׁ֥וֹב אֵלַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ [The word of GOD came to me] as follows: If a man divorces his wife, and she leaves him and gets married to another man, can he ever go back to her? Would not such a land be defiled?^aCf. Deut. 24.1–4. Now you have whored with many lovers: can you return to Me?—says GOD.

שְׂאִֽי־עֵינַ֨יִךְ עַל־שְׁפָיִ֜ם וּרְאִ֗י אֵיפֹה֙ לֹ֣א (שגלת) [שֻׁכַּ֔בְתְּ] עַל־דְּרָכִים֙ יָשַׁ֣בְתְּ לָהֶ֔ם כַּעֲרָבִ֖י בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַתַּחֲנִ֣יפִי אֶ֔רֶץ בִּזְנוּתַ֖יִךְ וּבְרָעָתֵֽךְ׃ Look up to the bare heights, and see:
Where have they not lain with you?
You waited for them on the roadside
Like a bandit^bbandit Lit. “Arab.” in the wilderness.
And you defiled the land
With your whoring and your debauchery.

וַיִּמָּנְע֣וּ רְבִבִ֔ים וּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ ל֣וֹא הָיָ֑ה וּמֵ֨צַח אִשָּׁ֤ה זוֹנָה֙ הָ֣יָה לָ֔ךְ מֵאַ֖נְתְּ הִכָּלֵֽם׃ And when showers were withheld
And the late rains did not come,
You had the brazenness^cbrazenness Lit. “forehead.” of a streetwalker,
You refused to be ashamed.

הֲל֣וֹא מֵעַ֔תָּה (קראתי) [קָרָ֥את] לִ֖י אָבִ֑י אַלּ֥וּף נְעֻרַ֖י אָֽתָּה׃ Just now you called to Me, “Father!^dFather I.e., the One who conveys legitimacy and provides support, in return for loyalty.
You are the Companion of my youth.

הֲיִנְטֹ֣ר לְעוֹלָ֔ם אִם־יִשְׁמֹ֖ר לָנֶ֑צַח הִנֵּ֥ה דִבַּ֛רְתְּ וַתַּעֲשִׂ֥י הָרָע֖וֹת וַתּוּכָֽל׃ {פ}
Does one hate for all time?
Does one rage^ehate…rage Cf. Akkadian parallels nadāru and shamāru. forever?”
That is how you spoke;
You did wrong, and had your way.^fhad your way Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י בִּימֵי֙ יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הֲֽרָאִ֔יתָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשְׂתָ֖ה מְשֻׁבָ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הֹלְכָ֨ה הִ֜יא עַל־כׇּל־הַ֣ר גָּבֹ֗הַּ וְאֶל־תַּ֛חַת כׇּל־עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָ֖ן וַתִּזְנִי־שָֽׁם׃ GOD said to me in the days of King Josiah: Have you seen what Rebel Israel did, going to every high mountain and under every leafy tree, and whoring there?

וָאֹמַ֗ר אַחֲרֵ֨י עֲשׂוֹתָ֧הּ אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֛לֶּה אֵלַ֥י תָּשׁ֖וּב וְלֹא־שָׁ֑בָה (ותראה) [וַתֵּ֛רֶא] בָּגוֹדָ֥ה אֲחוֹתָ֖הּ יְהוּדָֽה׃ I thought: After she has done all these things, she will come back to Me. But she did not come back; and her sister, Faithless Judah, saw it.

וָאֵ֗רֶא כִּ֤י עַל־כׇּל־אֹדוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִֽאֲפָה֙ מְשֻׁבָ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שִׁלַּחְתִּ֕יהָ וָאֶתֵּ֛ן אֶת־סֵ֥פֶר כְּרִיתֻתֶ֖יהָ אֵלֶ֑יהָ וְלֹ֨א יָרְאָ֜ה בֹּגֵדָ֤ה יְהוּדָה֙ אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ וַתִּ֥זֶן גַּם־הִֽיא׃ I noted: Because Rebel Israel had committed adultery, I cast her off and handed her a bill of divorce; yet her sister, Faithless Judah, was not afraid—she too went and whored.

וְהָיָה֙ מִקֹּ֣ל זְנוּתָ֔הּ וַתֶּחֱנַ֖ף אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַתִּנְאַ֥ף אֶת־הָאֶ֖בֶן וְאֶת־הָעֵֽץ׃ Indeed, the land was defiled by her casual immorality, as she committed adultery with stone and with wood.^gwith stone and with wood I.e., she deserted her God for idols of stone and wood.

וְגַם־בְּכׇל־זֹ֗את לֹא־שָׁ֨בָה אֵלַ֜י בָּגוֹדָ֧ה אֲחוֹתָ֛הּ יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּכׇל־לִבָּ֑הּ כִּ֥י אִם־בְּשֶׁ֖קֶר נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         And after all that, her sister, Faithless Judah, did not return to Me wholeheartedly, but insincerely—declares GOD.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י צִדְּקָ֥ה נַפְשָׁ֖הּ מְשֻׁבָ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִבֹּגֵדָ֖ה יְהוּדָֽה׃ And GOD said to me: Rebel Israel has shown herself more in the right than Faithless Judah.

הָלֹ֡ךְ וְֽקָרָ֩אתָ֩ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה צָפ֗וֹנָה וְ֠אָמַרְתָּ֠ שׁ֣וּבָה מְשֻׁבָ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה לוֹא־אַפִּ֥יל פָּנַ֖י בָּכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־חָסִ֤יד אֲנִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה לֹ֥א אֶטּ֖וֹר לְעוֹלָֽם׃ Go, make this proclamation toward the north, and say: Turn back, O Rebel Israel—declares GOD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am compassionate—declares GOD; I do not bear a grudge for all time.

אַ֚ךְ דְּעִ֣י עֲוֺנֵ֔ךְ כִּ֛י בַּיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהַ֖יִךְ פָּשָׁ֑עַתְּ וַתְּפַזְּרִ֨י אֶת־דְּרָכַ֜יִךְ לַזָּרִ֗ים תַּ֚חַת כׇּל־עֵ֣ץ רַעֲנָ֔ן וּבְקוֹלִ֥י לֹֽא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Only recognize your sin; for you have transgressed against the ETERNAL your God, and scattered your favors^hfavors Lit. “ways.” among strangers under every leafy tree, and you have not heeded Me—declares GOD.

שׁ֣וּבוּ בָנִ֤ים שֽׁוֹבָבִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אָנֹכִ֖י בָּעַ֣לְתִּי בָכֶ֑ם וְלָקַחְתִּ֨י אֶתְכֶ֜ם אֶחָ֣ד מֵעִ֗יר וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ מִמִּשְׁפָּחָ֔ה וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם צִיּֽוֹן׃ Turn back, rebellious children—declares GOD. Since I have espousedⁱespoused Meaning of Heb. baʻalti uncertain; compare 31.32. you, I will take you, one from a town and two from a clan, and bring you to Zion.

וְנָתַתִּ֥י לָכֶ֛ם רֹעִ֖ים כְּלִבִּ֑י וְרָע֥וּ אֶתְכֶ֖ם דֵּעָ֥ה וְהַשְׂכֵּֽיל׃ And I will give you shepherds^jshepherds Meaning of Heb. uncertain. after My own heart, who will pasture you with knowledge and skill.

וְהָיָ֡ה כִּ֣י תִרְבּוּ֩ וּפְרִיתֶ֨ם בָּאָ֜רֶץ בַּיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵ֙מָּה֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה לֹא־יֹ֣אמְרוּ ע֗וֹד אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִית־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־לֵ֑ב וְלֹ֤א יִזְכְּרוּ־בוֹ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִפְקֹ֔דוּ וְלֹ֥א יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה עֽוֹד׃ And when you increase and are fertile in the land, in those days—declares GOD —people shall no longer speak of the Ark of the Covenant of GOD, nor shall it come to mind. They shall not mention it, or miss it, or make another.

בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא יִקְרְא֤וּ לִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ כִּסֵּ֣א יְהֹוָ֔ה וְנִקְו֨וּ אֵלֶ֧יהָ כׇֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֛ם לְשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה לִירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְלֹא־יֵלְכ֣וּ ע֔וֹד אַחֲרֵ֕י שְׁרִר֖וּת לִבָּ֥ם הָרָֽע׃ {ס}         At that time, they shall call Jerusalem “GOD’s Throne,” and all nations shall assemble there, in the name of GOD, at Jerusalem. They^kThey I.e., Israel and Judah. shall no longer follow the willfulness of their evil hearts.

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔מָּה יֵלְכ֥וּ בֵית־יְהוּדָ֖ה עַל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְיָבֹ֤אוּ יַחְדָּו֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹן עַל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִנְחַ֖לְתִּי אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ In those days, the House of Judah shall go with the House of Israel; they shall come together from the land of the north to the land I gave your ancestors as a possession.

וְאָנֹכִ֣י אָמַ֗רְתִּי אֵ֚יךְ אֲשִׁיתֵ֣ךְ בַּבָּנִ֔ים וְאֶתֶּן־לָךְ֙ אֶ֣רֶץ חֶמְדָּ֔ה נַחֲלַ֥ת צְבִ֖י צִבְא֣וֹת גּוֹיִ֑ם וָאֹמַ֗ר אָבִי֙ (תקראו) [תִּקְרְאִי־]לִ֔י וּמֵאַחֲרַ֖י לֹ֥א (תשובו) [תָשֽׁוּבִי]׃ I had resolved to adopt you as My child, and I gave you a desirable land—the fairest heritage of all the nations; and I thought you would surely call Me “Father,”^lFather See note at v. 4. and never cease to be loyal to Me.

אָכֵ֛ן בָּגְדָ֥ה אִשָּׁ֖ה מֵרֵעָ֑הּ כֵּ֣ן בְּגַדְתֶּ֥ם בִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Instead, you have broken faith with Me, as a woman breaks faith with a paramour, O House of Israel—declares GOD.

ק֚וֹל עַל־שְׁפָיִ֣ים נִשְׁמָ֔ע בְּכִ֥י תַחֲנוּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֤י הֶעֱווּ֙ אֶת־דַּרְכָּ֔ם שָׁכְח֖וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ Hark! On the bare heights is heard
The suppliant weeping of the people of Israel,
For they have gone a crooked way,
Ignoring the ETERNAL their God.

שׁ֚וּבוּ בָּנִ֣ים שׁוֹבָבִ֔ים אֶרְפָּ֖ה מְשׁוּבֹתֵיכֶ֑ם הִנְנוּ֙ אָתָ֣נוּ לָ֔ךְ כִּ֥י אַתָּ֖ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ Turn back, O rebellious children,
I will heal your afflictions!
“Here we are, we come to You,
For You, O ETERNAL One, are our God!

אָכֵ֥ן לַשֶּׁ֛קֶר מִגְּבָע֖וֹת הָמ֣וֹן הָרִ֑ים אָכֵן֙ בַּיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ תְּשׁוּעַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Surely, futility comes from the hills,
Confusion from the mountains.^mSurely, futility comes from … the mountains I.e., the pagan rites celebrated on the hills are futile; exact force of Heb. uncertain.
Only through the ETERNAL our God
Is there deliverance for Israel.

וְהַבֹּ֗שֶׁת אָ֥כְלָ֛ה אֶת־יְגִ֥יעַ אֲבוֹתֵ֖ינוּ מִנְּעוּרֵ֑ינוּ אֶת־צֹאנָם֙ וְאֶת־בְּקָרָ֔ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ But the Shameful ThingⁿShameful Thing Heb. Bosheth, a contemptuous substitute for Baal. has consumed
The possessions of our ancestors ever since our youth—
Their flocks and herds,
Their sons and daughters.

נִשְׁכְּבָ֣ה בְּבׇשְׁתֵּ֗נוּ וּֽתְכַסֵּ֘נוּ֮ כְּלִמָּתֵ֒נוּ֒ כִּי֩ לַיהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵ֜ינוּ חָטָ֗אנוּ אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ וַאֲבוֹתֵ֔ינוּ מִנְּעוּרֵ֖ינוּ וְעַד־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְלֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔עְנוּ בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ {ס}         Let us lie down in our shame,
Let our disgrace cover us;
For we have sinned against the ETERNAL our God,
We and our ancestors from our youth to this day,
And we have not heeded the ETERNAL our God.”

אִם־תָּשׁ֨וּב יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י תָּשׁ֑וּב וְאִם־תָּסִ֧יר שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָ מִפָּנַ֖י וְלֹ֥א תָנֽוּד׃ If you return, O Israel
—declares GOD —
If you return to Me,
If you remove your abominations from My presence
And do not waver,

וְנִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ חַי־יְהֹוָ֔ה בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט וּבִצְדָקָ֑ה וְהִתְבָּ֥רְכוּ ב֛וֹ גּוֹיִ֖ם וּב֥וֹ יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃ {ס}         And swear, “As GOD lives,”^aswear, “As GOD lives” I.e., profess the worship of GOD.
In sincerity, justice, and righteousness—
Nations shall bless themselves by you^byou Heb. “him.”
And praise themselves by you.^cyou Heb. “him.”

כִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה לְאִ֤ישׁ יְהוּדָה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם נִ֥ירוּ לָכֶ֖ם נִ֑יר וְאַֽל־תִּזְרְע֖וּ אֶל־קֹצִֽים׃ For thus said GOD to the citizenry of Judah and to Jerusalem:
Break up the untilled ground,
And do not sow among thorns.

הִמֹּ֣לוּ לַיהֹוָ֗ה וְהָסִ֙רוּ֙ עׇרְל֣וֹת לְבַבְכֶ֔ם אִ֥ישׁ יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם פֶּן־תֵּצֵ֨א כָאֵ֜שׁ חֲמָתִ֗י וּבָֽעֲרָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין מְכַבֶּ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃ Open^dOpen Lit. “circumcise”; cf. Deut. 10.16; 30.6. your hearts to GOD,
Remove the thickening about your hearts—
O citizenry of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem—
Lest My wrath break forth like fire,
And burn, with none to quench it,
Because of your wicked acts.

הַגִּ֣ידוּ בִֽיהוּדָ֗ה וּבִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ הַשְׁמִ֔יעוּ וְאִמְר֕וּ (ותקעו) [תִּקְע֥וּ] שׁוֹפָ֖ר בָּאָ֑רֶץ קִרְא֤וּ מַלְאוּ֙ וְאִמְר֔וּ הֵאָסְפ֥וּ וְנָב֖וֹאָה אֶל־עָרֵ֥י הַמִּבְצָֽר׃ Proclaim in Judah,
Announce in Jerusalem,
And say:
“Blow the horn in the land!”
Shout aloud and say:
“Assemble, and let us go
Into the fortified cities!”

שְׂאוּ־נֵ֣ס צִיּ֔וֹנָה הָעִ֖יזוּ אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹ֑דוּ כִּ֣י רָעָ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י מֵבִ֥יא מִצָּפ֖וֹן וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֽוֹל׃ Set up a signpost: To Zion.
Take refuge, do not delay!
For I bring evil from the north,
And great disaster.

עָלָ֤ה אַרְיֵה֙ מִֽסֻּבְּכ֔וֹ וּמַשְׁחִ֣ית גּוֹיִ֔ם נָסַ֖ע יָצָ֣א מִמְּקֹמ֑וֹ לָשׂ֤וּם אַרְצֵךְ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה עָרַ֥יִךְ תִּצֶּ֖ינָה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ The lion^eThe lion I.e., the invader from the north, as GOD’s agent of destruction. has come up from its thicket:
The destroyer of nations has set out,
Has departed from its place,
To make your land a desolation;
Your cities shall be ruined,
Without inhabitants.

עַל־זֹ֛את חִגְר֥וּ שַׂקִּ֖ים סִפְד֣וּ וְהֵילִ֑ילוּ כִּ֥י לֹֽא־שָׁ֛ב חֲר֥וֹן אַף־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ {פ}
For this, put on sackcloth,
Mourn and wail;
For GOD’s blazing anger
Has not turned away from us.

וְהָיָ֤ה בַיּוֹם־הַהוּא֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה יֹאבַ֥ד לֵב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְלֵ֣ב הַשָּׂרִ֑ים וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וְהַנְּבִאִ֖ים יִתְמָֽהוּ׃ {ס}         And in that day
—declares GOD —
The mind of the king
And the mind of the nobles shall fail,
The priests shall be appalled,
And the prophets shall stand aghast.

וָֽאֹמַ֞ר אֲהָ֣הּ ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה אָכֵן֩ הַשֵּׁ֨א הִשֵּׁ֜אתָ לָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ וְלִירוּשָׁלַ֣͏ִם לֵאמֹ֔ר שָׁל֖וֹם יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם וְנָגְעָ֥ה חֶ֖רֶב עַד־הַנָּֽפֶשׁ׃ And I said:^fAnd I said Septuagint reads “And they shall say.” Ah, my Sovereign GOD ! Surely You have deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying:
It shall be well with you—
Yet the sword threatens the very life!

בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא יֵאָמֵ֤ר לָעָם־הַזֶּה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם ר֣וּחַ צַ֤ח שְׁפָיִם֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר דֶּ֖רֶךְ בַּת־עַמִּ֑י ל֥וֹא לִזְר֖וֹת וְל֥וֹא לְהָבַֽר׃ At that time, it shall be said concerning this people and Jerusalem:
The conduct of My poor people^gMy poor people Lit. “the daughter that is My people”; so, frequently, in poetry. is like searing wind
From the bare heights of the desert—
It will not serve to winnow or to fan.

ר֧וּחַ מָלֵ֛א מֵאֵ֖לֶּה יָ֣בוֹא לִ֑י עַתָּ֕ה גַּם־אֲנִ֛י אֲדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּטִ֖ים אוֹתָֽם׃ A full blast from them comes against Me:
Now I in turn will bring charges against them.

הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ כַּעֲנָנִ֣ים יַעֲלֶ֗ה וְכַסּוּפָה֙ מַרְכְּבוֹתָ֔יו קַלּ֥וּ מִנְּשָׁרִ֖ים סוּסָ֑יו א֥וֹי לָ֖נוּ כִּ֥י שֻׁדָּֽדְנוּ׃ Lo, the destroyer^hdestroyer Heb. “it,” i.e., the invader of v. 7. ascends like clouds,
Its chariots are like a whirlwind,
Its horses are swifter than eagles.
Woe to us, we are ruined!

כַּבְּסִ֨י מֵרָעָ֤ה לִבֵּךְ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם לְמַ֖עַן תִּוָּשֵׁ֑עִי עַד־מָתַ֛י תָּלִ֥ין בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְ מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת אוֹנֵֽךְ׃ Wash your heart clean of wickedness,
O Jerusalem, that you may be rescued.
How long will you harbor within you
Your evil designs?

כִּ֛י ק֥וֹל מַגִּ֖יד מִדָּ֑ן וּמַשְׁמִ֥יעַ אָ֖וֶן מֵהַ֥ר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ Hark, one proclaims from Dan
And announces calamity from Mount Ephraim!

הַזְכִּ֣ירוּ לַגּוֹיִ֗ם הִנֵּה֙ הַשְׁמִ֣יעוּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם נֹצְרִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים מֵאֶ֣רֶץ הַמֶּרְחָ֑ק וַֽיִּתְּנ֛וּ עַל־עָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה קוֹלָֽם׃ Tell the nations: Here theyⁱthey I.e., the invading forces of v. 7. are!
Announce concerning Jerusalem:
Watchers^jWatchers See preceding note. are coming from a distant land,
They raise their voices against the towns of Judah.

כְּשֹׁמְרֵ֣י שָׂדַ֔י הָי֥וּ עָלֶ֖יהָ מִסָּבִ֑יב כִּי־אֹתִ֥י מָרָ֖תָה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Like guards of fields, they surround her on every side.
For she has rebelled against Me
—declares GOD.

דַּרְכֵּךְ֙ וּמַ֣עֲלָלַ֔יִךְ עָשׂ֥וֹ אֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ זֹ֤את רָעָתֵךְ֙ כִּ֣י מָ֔ר כִּ֥י נָגַ֖ע עַד־לִבֵּֽךְ׃ {פ}
Your conduct and your acts
Have brought this upon you;
This is your bitter punishment;
It pierces your very heart.

מֵעַ֣י ׀ מֵעַ֨י ׀ [אוֹחִ֜ילָה] (אחולה) קִיר֥וֹת לִבִּ֛י הֹמֶה־לִּ֥י לִבִּ֖י לֹ֣א אַחֲרִ֑שׁ כִּ֣י ק֤וֹל שׁוֹפָר֙ (שמעתי) [שָׁמַ֣עַתְּ] נַפְשִׁ֔י תְּרוּעַ֖ת מִלְחָמָֽה׃ Oh, my suffering,^ksuffering Lit. “entrails.” my suffering!
How I writhe!
Oh, the walls of my heart!
My heart moans within me,
I cannot be silent;
For I hear^lI hear Lit. “you, O my being, hear.” Change of vocalization yields “I hear the blare of horns, / My inner being, alarms of war.” the blare of horns,
Alarms of war.

שֶׁ֤בֶר עַל־שֶׁ֙בֶר֙ נִקְרָ֔א כִּ֥י שֻׁדְּדָ֖ה כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ פִּתְאֹם֙ שֻׁדְּד֣וּ אֹֽהָלַ֔י רֶ֖גַע יְרִיעֹתָֽי׃ Disaster overtakes disaster,
For all the land has been ravaged.
Suddenly my tents have been ravaged,
In a moment, my tent cloths.

עַד־מָתַ֖י אֶרְאֶה־נֵּ֑ס אֶשְׁמְעָ֖ה ק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃ {פ}
How long must I see standards
And hear the blare of horns?

כִּ֣י ׀ אֱוִ֣יל עַמִּ֗י אוֹתִי֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ בָּנִ֤ים סְכָלִים֙ הֵ֔מָּה וְלֹ֥א נְבוֹנִ֖ים הֵ֑מָּה חֲכָמִ֥ים הֵ֙מָּה֙ לְהָרַ֔ע וּלְהֵיטִ֖יב לֹ֥א יָדָֽעוּ׃ For My people are stupid,
They give Me no heed;
They are foolish children,
They are not intelligent.
They are clever at doing wrong,
But unable to do right.

רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהִנֵּה־תֹ֖הוּ וָבֹ֑הוּ וְאֶל־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ין אוֹרָֽם׃ I look at the earth,
It is unformed and void;
At the skies,
And their light is gone.

רָאִ֙יתִי֙ הֶהָרִ֔ים וְהִנֵּ֖ה רֹעֲשִׁ֑ים וְכׇל־הַגְּבָע֖וֹת הִתְקַלְקָֽלוּ׃ I look at the mountains,
They are quaking;
And all the hills are rocking.

רָאִ֕יתִי וְהִנֵּ֖ה אֵ֣ין הָאָדָ֑ם וְכׇל־ע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם נָדָֽדוּ׃ I look: no human is left,
And all the birds of the sky have fled.

רָאִ֕יתִי וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַכַּרְמֶ֖ל הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְכׇל־עָרָ֗יו נִתְּצוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ׃ {ס}         I look: the farmland is desert,
And all its towns are in ruin—
Because of GOD,
Because of God’s blazing anger.

כִּי־כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שְׁמָמָ֥ה תִֽהְיֶ֖ה כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכָלָ֖ה לֹ֥א אֶעֱשֶֽׂה׃ (For thus said GOD:
The whole land shall be desolate,
But I will not make an end of it.)

עַל־זֹאת֙ תֶּאֱבַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ וְקָדְר֥וּ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם מִמָּ֑עַל עַ֤ל כִּֽי־דִבַּ֙רְתִּי֙ זַמֹּ֔תִי וְלֹ֥א נִחַ֖מְתִּי וְלֹא־אָשׁ֥וּב מִמֶּֽנָּה׃ For this the earth mourns,
And skies are dark above—
Because I have spoken, I have planned,
And I will not relent or turn back from it.

מִקּ֨וֹל פָּרָ֜שׁ וְרֹ֣מֵה קֶ֗שֶׁת בֹּרַ֙חַת֙ כׇּל־הָעִ֔יר בָּ֚אוּ בֶּעָבִ֔ים וּבַכֵּפִ֖ים עָל֑וּ כׇּל־הָעִ֣יר עֲזוּבָ֔ה וְאֵין־יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בָּהֵ֖ן אִֽישׁ׃ At the shout of horseman and bowman
The whole city flees.
They enter the thickets,
They clamber up the rocks.
The whole city is deserted,
Nobody remains there.

(ואתי) [וְאַ֨תְּ] שָׁד֜וּד מַֽה־תַּעֲשִׂ֗י כִּֽי־תִלְבְּשִׁ֨י שָׁנִ֜י כִּֽי־תַעְדִּ֣י עֲדִי־זָהָ֗ב כִּֽי־תִקְרְעִ֤י בַפּוּךְ֙ עֵינַ֔יִךְ לַשָּׁ֖וְא תִּתְיַפִּ֑י מָאֲסוּ־בָ֥ךְ עֹגְבִ֖ים נַפְשֵׁ֥ךְ יְבַקֵּֽשׁוּ׃ And you, who are doomed to ruin,
What do you accomplish by wearing crimson,
By decking yourself in jewels of gold,
By enlarging your eyes with kohl?
You beautify yourself in vain:
Lovers despise you,
They seek your life!

כִּי֩ ק֨וֹל כְּחוֹלָ֜ה שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי צָרָה֙ כְּמַבְכִּירָ֔ה ק֧וֹל בַּת־צִיּ֛וֹן תִּתְיַפֵּ֖חַ תְּפָרֵ֣שׂ כַּפֶּ֑יהָ אֽוֹי־נָ֣א לִ֔י כִּֽי־עָיְפָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י לְהֹרְגִֽים׃ {פ}
I hear a voice as of one in travail,
Anguish as of a woman bearing her first child,
The voice of Fair Zion
Panting, stretching out her hands:
“Alas for me! I faint
Before the killers!”

שׁוֹטְט֞וּ בְּחוּצ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם וּרְאוּ־נָ֤א וּדְעוּ֙ וּבַקְשׁ֣וּ בִרְחוֹבוֹתֶ֔יהָ אִם־תִּמְצְא֣וּ אִ֔ישׁ אִם־יֵ֛שׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֱמוּנָ֑ה וְאֶסְלַ֖ח לָֽהּ׃ Roam the streets of Jerusalem,
Search its squares,
Look about and take note:
You will not find anyone engaged;^aanyone engaged Conscientiously, as a covenant partner.
There is no one who acts justly,
Who seeks integrity—
That I should pardon her.

וְאִ֥ם חַי־יְהֹוָ֖ה יֹאמֵ֑רוּ לָכֵ֥ן לַשֶּׁ֖קֶר יִשָּׁבֵֽעוּ׃ Even when they say, “As GOD lives,”
They are sure to be swearing falsely.

יְהֹוָ֗ה עֵינֶ֘יךָ֮ הֲל֣וֹא לֶאֱמוּנָה֒ הִכִּ֤יתָה אֹתָם֙ וְֽלֹא־חָ֔לוּ כִּלִּיתָ֕ם מֵאֲנ֖וּ קַ֣חַת מוּסָ֑ר חִזְּק֤וּ פְנֵיהֶם֙ מִסֶּ֔לַע מֵאֲנ֖וּ לָשֽׁוּב׃ O ETERNAL One, Your eyes look for integrity.
You have struck them, but they sensed no pain;
You have consumed them, but they would accept no discipline.
They made their faces harder than rock,
They refused to turn back.

וַאֲנִ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי אַךְ־דַּלִּ֖ים הֵ֑ם נוֹאֲל֕וּ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָֽדְעוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה מִשְׁפַּ֖ט אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ Then I thought: These are just poor folk;
They act foolishly;
For they do not know the way of GOD,
The rules of their God.

אֵֽלְכָה־לִּ֤י אֶל־הַגְּדֹלִים֙ וַאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה אוֹתָ֔ם כִּ֣י הֵ֗מָּה יָֽדְעוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה מִשְׁפַּ֖ט אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם אַ֣ךְ הֵ֤מָּה יַחְדָּו֙ שָׁ֣בְרוּ עֹ֔ל נִתְּק֖וּ מוֹסֵרֽוֹת׃ So I will go to the wealthy
And speak with them:
Surely they know the way of GOD,
The rules of their God.
But they as well had broken the yoke,
Had snapped the bonds.

עַל־כֵּן֩ הִכָּ֨ם אַרְיֵ֜ה מִיַּ֗עַר זְאֵ֤ב עֲרָבוֹת֙ יְשׇׁדְדֵ֔ם נָמֵ֤ר שֹׁקֵד֙ עַל־עָ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם כׇּל־הַיּוֹצֵ֥א מֵהֵ֖נָּה יִטָּרֵ֑ף כִּ֤י רַבּוּ֙ פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֔ם עָצְמ֖וּ מְשֻׁבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ Therefore,
The lion of the forest strikes them down,
The wolf of the desert ravages them.
A leopard lies in wait by their towns;
Whoever leaves them will be torn in pieces.
For their transgressions are many,
Their rebellious acts unnumbered.

אֵ֤י לָזֹאת֙ (אסלוח) [אֶֽסְלַֽח־]לָ֔ךְ בָּנַ֣יִךְ עֲזָב֔וּנִי וַיִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ בְּלֹ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים וָאַשְׂבִּ֤עַ אוֹתָם֙ וַיִּנְאָ֔פוּ וּבֵ֥ית זוֹנָ֖ה יִתְגּוֹדָֽדוּ׃ Why should I forgive you?
Your children have forsaken Me
And sworn by no-gods.
When I fed them their fill,
They committed adultery
And went trooping to the prostitute’s house.

סוּסִ֥ים מְיֻזָּנִ֖ים מַשְׁכִּ֣ים הָי֑וּ אִ֛ישׁ אֶל־אֵ֥שֶׁת רֵעֵ֖הוּ יִצְהָֽלוּ׃ They were well-fed, lusty^bwell-fed, lusty Meaning of Heb. uncertain. stallions,
Each neighing at another’s wife.

הַעַל־אֵ֥לֶּה לֽוֹא־אֶפְקֹ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאִם֙ בְּג֣וֹי אֲשֶׁר־כָּזֶ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם נַפְשִֽׁי׃ {ס}         Shall I not punish such deeds?
—says GOD —
Shall I not bring retribution
On a nation such as this?

עֲל֤וּ בְשָׁרוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ וְשַׁחֵ֔תוּ וְכָלָ֖ה אַֽל־תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ הָסִ֙ירוּ֙ נְטִ֣ישׁוֹתֶ֔יהָ כִּ֛י ל֥וֹא לַיהֹוָ֖ה הֵֽמָּה׃ Go up among her vines^cvines Lit. “rows.” and destroy;
Lop off her trailing branches,
For they are not of GOD.
(But do not make an end.)

כִּי֩ בָג֨וֹד בָּגְד֜וּ בִּ֗י בֵּ֧ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וּבֵ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ For the House of Israel and the House of Judah
Have betrayed Me
—declares GOD.

כִּֽחֲשׁוּ֙ בַּיהֹוָ֔ה וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לוֹא־ה֑וּא וְלֹֽא־תָב֤וֹא עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ רָעָ֔ה וְחֶ֥רֶב וְרָעָ֖ב ל֥וֹא נִרְאֶֽה׃ They have been false to GOD
And said: “It is not so!^dIt is not so Or “Not He”; cf. Deut. 32.39; Isa. 43.13.
No trouble shall come upon us,
We shall not see sword or famine.

וְהַנְּבִיאִים֙ יִהְי֣וּ לְר֔וּחַ וְהַדִּבֵּ֖ר אֵ֣ין בָּהֶ֑ם כֹּ֥ה יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה לָהֶֽם׃ {ס}         The prophets shall prove mere wind
For the Word is not in them;
Thus-and-thus shall be done to them!”

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י צְבָא֔וֹת יַ֚עַן דַּבֶּרְכֶ֔ם אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה הִנְנִ֣י נֹתֵן֩ דְּבָרַ֨י בְּפִ֜יךָ לְאֵ֗שׁ וְהָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֛ה עֵצִ֖ים וַאֲכָלָֽתַם׃ Assuredly, thus said GOD,
The God of Hosts:
Because they^ethey Heb. “you.” said that,
I am putting My words into your mouth as fire,
And this people shall be firewood,
Which it will consume.

הִנְנִ֣י מֵבִיא֩ עֲלֵיכֶ֨ם גּ֧וֹי מִמֶּרְחָ֛ק בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה גּ֣וֹי ׀ אֵיתָ֣ן ה֗וּא גּ֤וֹי מֵֽעוֹלָם֙ ה֔וּא גּ֚וֹי לֹא־תֵדַ֣ע לְשֹׁנ֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁמַ֖ע מַה־יְדַבֵּֽר׃ Lo, I am bringing against you, O House of Israel,
A nation from afar
—declares GOD;
It is an enduring nation,
It is an ancient nation;
A nation whose language you do not know—
You will not understand what they say.

אַשְׁפָּת֖וֹ כְּקֶ֣בֶר פָּת֑וּחַ כֻּלָּ֖ם גִּבּוֹרִֽים׃ Their quivers^fTheir quivers Emendation yields “Whose mouths.” are like a yawning grave—
They are all mighty warriors.

וְאָכַ֨ל קְצִֽירְךָ֜ וְלַחְמֶ֗ךָ יֹֽאכְלוּ֙ בָּנֶ֣יךָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יךָ יֹאכַ֤ל צֹֽאנְךָ֙ וּבְקָרֶ֔ךָ יֹאכַ֥ל גַּפְנְךָ֖ וּתְאֵנָתֶ֑ךָ יְרֹשֵׁ֞שׁ עָרֵ֣י מִבְצָרֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֛ה בֹּטֵ֥חַ בָּהֵ֖נָּה בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ They will devour your harvest and food,
They will devour your sons and daughters,
They will devour your flocks and herds,
They will devour your vines and fig trees.
They will batter down with the sword
The fortified towns on which you rely.

וְגַ֛ם בַּיָּמִ֥ים הָהֵ֖מָּה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה לֹא־אֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה אִתְּכֶ֖ם כָּלָֽה׃ But even in those days—declares GOD —I will not make an end of you.

וְהָיָה֙ כִּ֣י תֹאמְר֔וּ תַּ֣חַת מֶ֗ה עָשָׂ֨ה יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ לָ֖נוּ אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֑לֶּה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר עֲזַבְתֶּ֤ם אוֹתִי֙ וַתַּעַבְד֞וּ אֱלֹהֵ֤י נֵכָר֙ בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם כֵּ֚ן תַּעַבְד֣וּ זָרִ֔ים בְּאֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥א לָכֶֽם׃ {פ}
And when they^gthey Heb. “you.” ask, “Because of what did the ETERNAL our God do all these things?” you shall answer them, “Because you forsook Me and served alien gods on your own land, you will have to serve foreigners in a land not your own.”

הַגִּ֥ידוּ זֹ֖את בְּבֵ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְהַשְׁמִיע֥וּהָ בִיהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃ Proclaim this to the House of Jacob
And announce it in Judah:

שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֣א זֹ֔את עַ֥ם סָכָ֖ל וְאֵ֣ין לֵ֑ב עֵינַ֤יִם לָהֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א יִרְא֔וּ אׇזְנַ֥יִם לָהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמָֽעוּ׃ Hear this, O foolish people,
Devoid of intelligence,
That have eyes but can’t see,
That have ears but can’t hear!

הַאוֹתִ֨י לֹא־תִירָ֜אוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֗ה אִ֤ם מִפָּנַי֙ לֹ֣א תָחִ֔ילוּ אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֤מְתִּי חוֹל֙ גְּב֣וּל לַיָּ֔ם חׇק־עוֹלָ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יַעַבְרֶ֑נְהוּ וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יוּכָ֔לוּ וְהָמ֥וּ גַלָּ֖יו וְלֹ֥א יַעַבְרֻֽנְהוּ׃ Should you not revere Me
—says GOD —
Should you not tremble before Me,
Who set the sand as a boundary to the sea,
As a limit for all time, not to be transgressed?
Though its waves toss, they cannot prevail;
Though they roar, they cannot pass it.

וְלָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ הָיָ֔ה לֵ֖ב סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמוֹרֶ֑ה סָ֖רוּ וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃ Yet this people has a wayward and defiant heart;
They have turned aside and gone their way.

וְלֽוֹא־אָמְר֣וּ בִלְבָבָ֗ם נִ֤ירָא נָא֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ הַנֹּתֵ֗ן גֶּ֛שֶׁם (וירה) [יוֹרֶ֥ה] וּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ בְּעִתּ֑וֹ שְׁבֻעֹ֛ת חֻקּ֥וֹת קָצִ֖יר יִשְׁמׇר־לָֽנוּ׃ They have not said to themselves,
“Let us revere the ETERNAL our God,
Who gives the rain,
The early and late rain in season,
Who keeps for our benefit
The weeks appointed for harvest.”

עֲוֺנוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם הִטּוּ־אֵ֑לֶּה וְחַטֹּ֣אותֵיכֶ֔ם מָנְע֥וּ הַטּ֖וֹב מִכֶּֽם׃ It is your iniquities that have diverted these things,
Your sins that have withheld the bounty from you.

כִּֽי־נִמְצְא֥וּ בְעַמִּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֑ים יָשׁוּר֙ כְּשַׁ֣ךְ יְקוּשִׁ֔ים הִצִּ֥יבוּ מַשְׁחִ֖ית אֲנָשִׁ֥ים יִלְכֹּֽדוּ׃ For among My people are found evildoers,
Who lurk, like fowlers lying in wait;^hWho lurk, like fowlers lying in wait Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
They set up a trap to catch other people.

כִּכְלוּב֙ מָ֣לֵא ע֔וֹף כֵּ֥ן בָּתֵּיהֶ֖ם מְלֵאִ֣ים מִרְמָ֑ה עַל־כֵּ֥ן גָּדְל֖וּ וַֽיַּעֲשִֽׁירוּ׃ As a cage is full of birds,
So their houses are full of guile;
That is why they have grown so wealthy.

שָֽׁמְנ֣וּ עָֽשְׁת֗וּ גַּ֚ם עָבְר֣וּ דִבְרֵי־רָ֔ע דִּ֣ין לֹא־דָ֔נוּ דִּ֥ין יָת֖וֹם וְיַצְלִ֑יחוּ וּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט אֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים לֹ֥א שָׁפָֽטוּ׃ They have become fat and sleek;
They pass beyond the bounds of wickedness,ⁱpass beyond the bounds of wickedness Some ancient versions read “have transgressed My words for evil.”
And they prosper.
They will not judge the case of the orphan,
Nor give a hearing to the plea of the needy.

הַעַל־אֵ֥לֶּה לֹֽא־אֶפְקֹ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה אִ֚ם בְּג֣וֹי אֲשֶׁר־כָּזֶ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם נַפְשִֽׁי׃ {ס}         Shall I not punish such deeds
—says GOD —
Shall I not bring retribution
On a nation such as this?

שַׁמָּה֙ וְשַׁ֣עֲרוּרָ֔ה נִהְיְתָ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ An appalling, horrible thing
Has happened in the land:

הַנְּבִאִ֞ים נִבְּא֣וּ בַשֶּׁ֗קֶר וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ יִרְדּ֣וּ עַל־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם וְעַמִּ֖י אָ֣הֲבוּ כֵ֑ן וּמַֽה־תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ לְאַחֲרִיתָֽהּ׃ The prophets prophesy falsely,
And the priests rule accordingly;^jrule accordingly Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
And My people like it so.
But what will you do at the end of it?

הָעִ֣זוּ ׀ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֗ן מִקֶּ֙רֶב֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וּבִתְק֙וֹעַ֙ תִּקְע֣וּ שׁוֹפָ֔ר וְעַל־בֵּ֥ית הַכֶּ֖רֶם שְׂא֣וּ מַשְׂאֵ֑ת כִּ֥י רָעָ֛ה נִשְׁקְפָ֥ה מִצָּפ֖וֹן וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֽוֹל׃ Flee for refuge, O people of Benjamin,
Out of the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow the horn in Tekoa,
Set up a signal at Beth-haccerem!
For evil is appearing from the north,
And great disaster.

הַנָּוָה֙ וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָ֔ה דָּמִ֖יתִי בַּת־צִיּֽוֹן׃ Fair Zion, the lovely and delicate,
I will destroy.^aFair Zion, the lovely and delicate, / I will destroy Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

אֵלֶ֛יהָ יָבֹ֥אוּ רֹעִ֖ים וְעֶדְרֵיהֶ֑ם תָּקְע֨וּ עָלֶ֤יהָ אֹֽהָלִים֙ סָבִ֔יב רָע֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־יָדֽוֹ׃ Against her come shepherds with their flocks,
They pitch tents all around her;
Each grazes the sheep under his care.^bthe sheep under his care Understanding yado as in Ps. 95.7.

קַדְּשׁ֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה ק֖וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַֽצׇּהֳרָ֑יִם א֥וֹי לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּֽי־פָנָ֣ה הַיּ֔וֹם כִּ֥י יִנָּט֖וּ צִלְלֵי־עָֽרֶב׃ Prepare for^cPrepare for Lit. “Consecrate.” battle against her:
“Up! we will attack at noon.”
“Alas for us! for day is declining,
The shadows of evening grow long.”

ק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַלָּ֔יְלָה וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה אַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ {פ}
“Up! let us attack by night,
And wreck her fortresses.”

כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת כִּרְת֣וּ עֵצָ֔הֿ וְשִׁפְכ֥וּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם סֹֽלְלָ֑ה הִ֚יא הָעִ֣יר הׇפְקַ֔ד כֻּלָּ֖הּ עֹ֥שֶׁק בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃ For thus said GOD of Hosts:
Hew down her trees,
And raise a siege mound against Jerusalem.
She is the city destined for punishment;^dShe is the city destined for punishment Emendation yields “She is the city of falseness.”
Only fraud is found in her midst.

כְּהָקִ֥יר (בור) [בַּ֙יִר֙] מֵימֶ֔יהָ כֵּ֖ן הֵקֵ֣רָה רָעָתָ֑הּ חָמָ֣ס וָ֠שֹׁ֠ד יִשָּׁ֨מַע בָּ֧הּ עַל־פָּנַ֛י תָּמִ֖יד חֳלִ֥י וּמַכָּֽה׃ As a well flows with water,
So she flows with wickedness.
Lawlessness and rapine are heard in her;
Before Me constantly are sickness and wounds.

הִוָּֽסְרִי֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם פֶּן־תֵּקַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֖י מִמֵּ֑ךְ פֶּן־אֲשִׂימֵ֣ךְ שְׁמָמָ֔ה אֶ֖רֶץ ל֥וֹא נוֹשָֽׁבָה׃ {פ}
Accept rebuke, O Jerusalem,
Lest I come to loathe you,
Lest I make you a desolation,
An uninhabited land.

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת עוֹלֵ֛ל יְעוֹלְל֥וּ כַגֶּ֖פֶן שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הָשֵׁב֙ יָֽדְךָ֔ כְּבוֹצֵ֖ר עַל־סַלְסִלּֽוֹת׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts:
Let them glean^eLet them glean Emendation yields “Glean” (singular). over and over, as a vine,
The remnant of Israel.
Pass your hand again,
Like a vintager,
Over its branches.

עַל־מִ֨י אֲדַבְּרָ֤ה וְאָעִ֙ידָה֙ וְיִשְׁמָ֔עוּ הִנֵּה֙ עֲרֵלָ֣ה אׇזְנָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א יוּכְל֖וּ לְהַקְשִׁ֑יב הִנֵּ֣ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה הָיָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם לְחֶרְפָּ֖ה לֹ֥א יַחְפְּצוּ־בֽוֹ׃ ^fThe prophet speaks. To whom shall I speak,
Give warning that they may hear?
Their ears are blocked
And they cannot listen.
See, the word of GOD has become for them
An object of scorn; they will have none of it.

וְאֵת֩ חֲמַ֨ת יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ מָלֵ֙אתִי֙ נִלְאֵ֣יתִי הָכִ֔יל שְׁפֹ֤ךְ עַל־עוֹלָל֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְעַ֛ל ס֥וֹד בַּחוּרִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־גַם־אִ֤ישׁ עִם־אִשָּׁה֙ יִלָּכֵ֔דוּ זָקֵ֖ן עִם־מְלֵ֥א יָמִֽים׃ But I am filled with GOD’s wrath,
I cannot hold it in.
Pour it on the infant in the street,
And on the company of youths gathered together!
Yes, men and women alike shall be captured,
Elders and those of advanced years.

וְנָסַ֤בּוּ בָֽתֵּיהֶם֙ לַאֲחֵרִ֔ים שָׂד֥וֹת וְנָשִׁ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־אַטֶּ֧ה אֶת־יָדִ֛י עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Their houses shall pass to others,
Fields and wives as well,
For I will stretch out My arm
Against the inhabitants of the country
—declares GOD.

כִּ֤י מִקְּטַנָּם֙ וְעַד־גְּדוֹלָ֔ם כֻּלּ֖וֹ בּוֹצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע וּמִנָּבִיא֙ וְעַד־כֹּהֵ֔ן כֻּלּ֖וֹ עֹ֥שֶׂה שָּֽׁקֶר׃ For from the smallest to the greatest,
They are all greedy for gain;
Priest and prophet alike,
They all act falsely.

וַֽיְרַפְּא֞וּ אֶת־שֶׁ֤בֶר עַמִּי֙ עַל־נְקַלָּ֔ה לֵאמֹ֖ר שָׁל֣וֹם ׀ שָׁל֑וֹם וְאֵ֖ין שָׁלֽוֹם׃ They offer healing offhand
For the wounds of My people,
Saying, “All is well, all is well,”
When nothing is well.

הֹבִ֕ישׁוּ כִּ֥י תוֹעֵבָ֖ה עָשׂ֑וּ גַּם־בּ֣וֹשׁ לֹֽא־יֵב֗וֹשׁוּ גַּם־הַכְלִים֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ לָכֵ֞ן יִפְּל֧וּ בַנֹּפְלִ֛ים בְּעֵת־פְּקַדְתִּ֥ים יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         They have acted shamefully;
They have done abhorrent things—
Yet they do not feel shame,
And they cannot be made to blush.
Assuredly, they shall fall among the falling,
They shall stumble at the time when I punish them
—said GOD.

כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֡ה עִמְדוּ֩ עַל־דְּרָכִ֨ים וּרְא֜וּ וְשַׁאֲל֣וּ ׀ לִנְתִב֣וֹת עוֹלָ֗ם אֵי־זֶ֨ה דֶ֤רֶךְ הַטּוֹב֙ וּלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּמִצְא֥וּ מַרְגּ֖וֹעַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נֵלֵֽךְ׃ Thus said GOD:
Stand by the roads and consider,
Inquire about ancient paths:
Which is the road to happiness?
Travel it, and find tranquility for yourselves.
But they said, “We will not.”

וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י עֲלֵיכֶם֙ צֹפִ֔ים הַקְשִׁ֖יבוּ לְק֣וֹל שׁוֹפָ֑ר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נַקְשִֽׁיב׃ And I raised up lookouts^glookouts I.e., prophets. for you:
“Hearken to the sound of the horn!”
But they said, “We will not.”

לָכֵ֖ן שִׁמְע֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וּדְעִ֥י עֵדָ֖ה אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־בָּֽם׃ Hear well, O nations,
And know, O community, what is in store for them.^hO community, what is in store for them Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

שִׁמְעִ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מֵבִ֥יא רָעָ֛ה אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה פְּרִ֣י מַחְשְׁבוֹתָ֑ם כִּ֤י עַל־דְּבָרַי֙ לֹ֣א הִקְשִׁ֔יבוּ וְתוֹרָתִ֖י וַיִּמְאֲסוּ־בָֽהּ׃ Hear, O earth!
I am going to bring disaster upon this people,
The outcome of their own schemes;
For they would not hearken to My words,
And they rejected My Instruction.

לָמָּה־זֶּ֨ה לִ֤י לְבוֹנָה֙ מִשְּׁבָ֣א תָב֔וֹא וְקָנֶ֥ה הַטּ֖וֹב מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֶרְחָ֑ק עֹלֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ לֹ֣א לְרָצ֔וֹן וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם לֹא־עָ֥רְבוּ לִֽי׃ What need have I of frankincense
That comes from Sheba,
Or fragrant cane from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable
And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֥י נֹתֵ֛ן אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה מִכְשֹׁלִ֑ים וְכָ֣שְׁלוּ בָ֠ם אָב֨וֹת וּבָנִ֥ים יַחְדָּ֛ו שָׁכֵ֥ן וְרֵע֖וֹ (יאבדו) [וְאָבָֽדוּ]׃ {פ}
Assuredly, thus said GOD:
I shall put before this people stumbling blocks
Over which they shall stumble—
Parents and children alike,
Neighbor and friend shall perish.

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנֵּ֛ה עַ֥ם בָּ֖א מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֑וֹן וְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל יֵע֖וֹר מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃ Thus said GOD:
See, a people comes from the northland,
A great nation is roused
From the remotest parts of the earth.

קֶ֣שֶׁת וְכִיד֞וֹן יַחֲזִ֗יקוּ אַכְזָרִ֥י הוּא֙ וְלֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔מוּ קוֹלָם֙ כַּיָּ֣ם יֶהֱמֶ֔ה וְעַל־סוּסִ֖ים יִרְכָּ֑בוּ עָר֗וּךְ כְּאִישׁ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עָלַ֖יִךְ בַּת־צִיּֽוֹן׃ They grasp the bow and javelin;
They are cruel, they show no mercy;
The sound of them is like the roaring sea.
They ride upon horses,
Accoutered like a man for battle,
Against you, O Fair Zion!

שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ אֶת־שׇׁמְע֖וֹ רָפ֣וּ יָדֵ֑ינוּ צָרָה֙ הֶחֱזִקַ֔תְנוּ חִ֖יל כַּיּֽוֹלֵדָֽה׃ “We have heard the report of them,
Our hands fail;
Pain seizes us,
Agony like a woman in childbirth.

אַל־[תֵּֽצְאוּ֙] (תצאי) הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וּבַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אַל־[תֵּלֵ֑כוּ] (תלכי) כִּ֚י חֶ֣רֶב לְאֹיֵ֔ב מָג֖וֹר מִסָּבִֽיב׃ Do not go out into the country,
Do not walk the roads!
For the sword of the enemy is there,
Terror on every side.”

בַּת־עַמִּ֤י חִגְרִי־שָׂק֙ וְהִתְפַּלְּשִׁ֣י בָאֵ֔פֶר אֵ֤בֶל יָחִיד֙ עֲשִׂ֣י לָ֔ךְ מִסְפַּ֖ד תַּמְרוּרִ֑ים כִּ֣י פִתְאֹ֔ם יָבֹ֥א הַשֹּׁדֵ֖ד עָלֵֽינוּ׃ My poor people,ⁱMy poor people Lit. “Daughter that is My people”; so, frequently, in poetry. See 4.11 and note.
Put on sackcloth
And strew dust on yourselves!
Mourn, as for an only child;
Wail bitterly,
For suddenly the destroyer
Is coming upon us.

בָּח֛וֹן נְתַתִּ֥יךָ בְעַמִּ֖י מִבְצָ֑ר וְתֵדַ֕ע וּבָחַנְתָּ֖ אֶת־דַּרְכָּֽם׃ I have made you an assayer of My people
—A refiner^jrefiner Meaning of Heb. uncertain. —
You are to note and assay their ways.

כֻּלָּם֙ סָרֵ֣י סוֹרְרִ֔ים הֹלְכֵ֥י רָכִ֖יל נְחֹ֣שֶׁת וּבַרְזֶ֑ל כֻּלָּ֥ם מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה׃ They are copper and iron:
They are all stubbornly defiant;
They deal basely^kdeal basely See note at Lev. 19.16.
All of them act corruptly.

נָחַ֣ר מַפֻּ֔חַ (מאשתם) [מֵאֵ֖שׁ תַּ֣ם] עֹפָ֑רֶת לַשָּׁוְא֙ צָרַ֣ף צָר֔וֹף וְרָעִ֖ים לֹ֥א נִתָּֽקוּ׃ The bellows puff;
The lead is consumed by fire.^lThe bellows … fire Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Yet the smelter smelts to no purpose—
The dross^mdross Meaning of Heb. uncertain. is not separated out.

כֶּ֣סֶף נִמְאָ֔ס קָרְא֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־מָאַ֥ס יְהֹוָ֖ה בָּהֶֽם׃ {פ}
They are called “rejected silver,”
For GOD has rejected them.

הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ מֵאֵ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word that came to Jeremiah from GOD:

עֲמֹ֗ד בְּשַׁ֙עַר֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה וְקָרָ֣אתָ שָּׁ֔ם אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ שִׁמְע֣וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה כׇּל־יְהוּדָה֙ הַבָּאִים֙ בַּשְּׁעָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת לַיהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         Stand at the gate of the House of GOD, and there proclaim this word: Hear the word of GOD, all you of Judah who enter these gates to worship GOD !

כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֵיטִ֥יבוּ דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶ֑ם וַאֲשַׁכְּנָ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם בַּמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Mend your ways and your actions, and I will let you dwell^alet you dwell Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Change of vocalization yields “dwell with you”; so Aquila and Vulgate. in this place.

אַל־תִּבְטְח֣וּ לָכֶ֔ם אֶל־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַשֶּׁ֖קֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר הֵיכַ֤ל יְהֹוָה֙ הֵיכַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֔ה הֵיכַ֥ל יְהֹוָ֖ה הֵֽמָּה׃ Don’t put your trust in illusions and say, “The Temple of GOD, the Temple of GOD, the Temple of GOD are these [buildings].”

כִּ֤י אִם־הֵיטֵיב֙ תֵּיטִ֔יבוּ אֶת־דַּרְכֵיכֶ֖ם וְאֶת־מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֑ם אִם־עָשׂ֤וֹ תַֽעֲשׂוּ֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט בֵּ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ וּבֵ֥ין רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ No, if you really mend your ways and your actions; if you execute justice between one party and another;

גֵּ֣ר יָת֤וֹם וְאַלְמָנָה֙ לֹ֣א תַעֲשֹׁ֔קוּ וְדָ֣ם נָקִ֔י אַֽל־תִּשְׁפְּכ֖וּ בַּמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְאַחֲרֵ֨י אֱלֹהִ֧ים אֲחֵרִ֛ים לֹ֥א תֵלְכ֖וּ לְרַ֥ע לָכֶֽם׃ if you do not oppress the stranger, the orphan, and the widow; if you do not shed the blood of the innocent in this place; if you do not follow other gods, to your own hurt—

וְשִׁכַּנְתִּ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ בַּמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם לְמִן־עוֹלָ֖ם וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ then only will I let you dwell^blet you dwell See note at v. 3. in this place, in the land that I gave to your ancestors for all time.

הִנֵּ֤ה אַתֶּם֙ בֹּטְחִ֣ים לָכֶ֔ם עַל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַשָּׁ֑קֶר לְבִלְתִּ֖י הוֹעִֽיל׃ See, you are relying on illusions that are of no avail.

הֲגָנֹ֤ב ׀ רָצֹ֙חַ֙ וְֽנָאֹ֔ף וְהִשָּׁבֵ֥עַ לַשֶּׁ֖קֶר וְקַטֵּ֣ר לַבָּ֑עַל וְהָלֹ֗ךְ אַחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם׃ Will you steal and murder and commit adultery and swear falsely, and sacrifice to Baal, and follow other gods whom you have not experienced,^cexperienced See note at Deut. 11.28.

וּבָאתֶ֞ם וַעֲמַדְתֶּ֣ם לְפָנַ֗י בַּבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִקְרָֽא־שְׁמִ֣י עָלָ֔יו וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם נִצַּ֑לְנוּ לְמַ֣עַן עֲשׂ֔וֹת אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹת הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ and then come and stand before Me in this House that bears My name and say, “We are safe”?—[Safe] to do all these abhorrent things!

הַֽמְעָרַ֣ת פָּרִצִ֗ים הָיָ֨ה הַבַּ֧יִת הַזֶּ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָֽא־שְׁמִ֥י עָלָ֖יו בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם גַּ֧ם אָנֹכִ֛י הִנֵּ֥ה רָאִ֖יתִי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Do you consider this House, which bears My name, to be a den of thieves? As for Me, I have been watching—declares GOD.

כִּ֣י לְכוּ־נָ֗א אֶל־מְקוֹמִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּשִׁיל֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שִׁכַּ֧נְתִּֽי שְׁמִ֛י שָׁ֖ם בָּרִֽאשׁוֹנָ֑ה וּרְאוּ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֣יתִי ל֔וֹ מִפְּנֵ֕י רָעַ֖ת עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Just go to My place at Shiloh, where I had established My name formerly, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel.

וְעַתָּ֗ה יַ֧עַן עֲשׂוֹתְכֶ֛ם אֶת־כׇּל־הַמַּעֲשִׂ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וָאֲדַבֵּ֨ר אֲלֵיכֶ֜ם הַשְׁכֵּ֤ם וְדַבֵּר֙ וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֔ם וָאֶקְרָ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א עֲנִיתֶֽם׃ And now, because you do all these things—declares GOD —and though I spoke to you persistently, you would not listen; and though I called to you, you would not respond—

וְעָשִׂ֜יתִי לַבַּ֣יִת ׀ אֲשֶׁ֧ר נִֽקְרָא־שְׁמִ֣י עָלָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ בֹּטְחִ֣ים בּ֔וֹ וְלַ֨מָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תִּי לָכֶ֖ם וְלַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי לְשִׁלֽוֹ׃ therefore I will do to the House that bears My name, on which you rely, and to the place that I gave you and your ancestors, just what I did to Shiloh.

וְהִשְׁלַכְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵעַ֣ל פָּנָ֑י כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר הִשְׁלַ֙כְתִּי֙ אֶת־כׇּל־אֲחֵיכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת כׇּל־זֶ֥רַע אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ {פ}
And I will cast you out of My presence as I cast out your kinsfolk, the whole brood of Ephraim.

וְאַתָּ֞ה אַל־תִּתְפַּלֵּ֣ל ׀ בְּעַד־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה וְאַל־תִּשָּׂ֧א בַעֲדָ֛ם רִנָּ֥ה וּתְפִלָּ֖ה וְאַל־תִּפְגַּע־בִּ֑י כִּֽי־אֵינֶ֥נִּי שֹׁמֵ֖עַ אֹתָֽךְ׃ As for you, do not pray for this people, do not raise a cry of prayer on their behalf, do not plead with Me; for I will not listen to you.

הַאֵינְךָ֣ רֹאֶ֔ה מָ֛ה הֵ֥מָּה עֹשִׂ֖ים בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וּבְחֻצ֖וֹת יְרֽוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ Don’t you see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

הַבָּנִ֞ים מְלַקְּטִ֣ים עֵצִ֗ים וְהָאָבוֹת֙ מְבַעֲרִ֣ים אֶת־הָאֵ֔שׁ וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים לָשׁ֣וֹת בָּצֵ֑ק לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת כַּוָּנִ֜ים לִמְלֶ֣כֶת הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וְהַסֵּ֤ךְ נְסָכִים֙ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים לְמַ֖עַן הַכְעִסֵֽנִי׃ The children gather sticks, the fathers build the fire, and the mothers knead dough, to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven,^dQueen of Heaven I.e., a particular goddess who was known by this epithet. and they pour libations to other gods, to vex Me.

הַאֹתִ֛י הֵ֥ם מַכְעִסִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה הֲל֣וֹא אֹתָ֔ם לְמַ֖עַן בֹּ֥שֶׁת פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃ Is it Me they are vexing?—says GOD. It is rather themselves, to their own disgrace.

לָכֵ֞ן כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה אַפִּ֤י וַחֲמָתִי֙ נִתֶּ֙כֶת֙ אֶל־הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה עַל־הָאָדָם֙ וְעַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וְעַל־עֵ֥ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה וְעַל־פְּרִ֣י הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וּבָעֲרָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה׃ {פ}
Assuredly, thus said my Sovereign GOD: My wrath and My fury will be poured out upon this place, on human beings and on animals, on the trees of the field and the fruit of the soil. It shall burn, with none to quench it.

כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עֹלוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם סְפ֥וּ עַל־זִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם וְאִכְל֥וּ בָשָֽׂר׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat!

כִּ֠י לֹֽא־דִבַּ֤רְתִּי אֶת־אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א צִוִּיתִ֔ים בְּי֛וֹם (הוציא) [הוֹצִיאִ֥י] אוֹתָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם עַל־דִּבְרֵ֥י עוֹלָ֖ה וָזָֽבַח׃ For when I freed your ancestors from the land of Egypt, I did not speak with them or command them concerning burnt offerings or sacrifice.

כִּ֣י אִֽם־אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַ֠זֶּ֠ה צִוִּ֨יתִי אוֹתָ֤ם לֵאמֹר֙ שִׁמְע֣וּ בְקוֹלִ֔י וְהָיִ֤יתִי לָכֶם֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּֽהְיוּ־לִ֣י לְעָ֑ם וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֗ם בְּכׇל־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲצַוֶּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם לְמַ֖עַן יִיטַ֥ב לָכֶֽם׃ But this is what I commanded them: Do My bidding, that I may be your God and you may be My people; walk only in the way that I enjoin upon you, that it may go well with you.

וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ וְלֹא־הִטּ֣וּ אֶת־אׇזְנָ֔ם וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ בְּמֹ֣עֵצ֔וֹת בִּשְׁרִר֖וּת לִבָּ֣ם הָרָ֑ע וַיִּהְי֥וּ לְאָח֖וֹר וְלֹ֥א לְפָנִֽים׃ Yet they did not listen or give ear; they followed their own counsels, the willfulness of their evil hearts. They have gone backward, not forward,

לְמִן־הַיּ֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצְא֤וּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֲלֵיכֶם֙ אֶת־כׇּל־עֲבָדַ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים י֖וֹם הַשְׁכֵּ֥ם וְשָׁלֹֽחַ׃ from the day your ancestors left the land of Egypt until today. And though I kept sending all My servants, the prophets, to them^ethem Heb. “you.” daily and persistently,

וְל֤וֹא שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֵלַ֔י וְלֹ֥א הִטּ֖וּ אֶת־אׇזְנָ֑ם וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־עׇרְפָּ֔ם הֵרֵ֖עוּ מֵאֲבוֹתָֽם׃ they would not listen to Me or give ear. They stiffened their necks, they acted worse than their ancestors.

וְדִבַּרְתָּ֤ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמְע֖וּ אֵלֶ֑יךָ וְקָרָ֥אתָ אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א יַעֲנֽוּכָה׃ You shall say all these things to them, but they will not listen to you; you shall call to them, but they will not respond to you.

וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם זֶ֤ה הַגּוֹי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֽוֹא־שָׁמְע֗וּ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔יו וְלֹ֥א לָקְח֖וּ מוּסָ֑ר אָֽבְדָה֙ הָאֱמוּנָ֔ה וְנִכְרְתָ֖ה מִפִּיהֶֽם׃ {ס}         Then say to them: This is the nation that would not obey the ETERNAL their God, that would not accept rebuke. Faithfulness has perished, vanished from their mouths.

גׇּזִּ֤י נִזְרֵךְ֙ וְֽהַשְׁלִ֔יכִי וּשְׂאִ֥י עַל־שְׁפָיִ֖ם קִינָ֑ה כִּ֚י מָאַ֣ס יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיִּטֹּ֖שׁ אֶת־דּ֥וֹר עֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃ Shear your locks and cast them away,
Take up a lament on the heights,
For GOD has spurned and cast off
The brood that provoked such wrath.

כִּי־עָשׂ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֥ה הָרַ֛ע בְּעֵינַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה שָׂ֣מוּ שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶ֗ם בַּבַּ֛יִת אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָֽא־שְׁמִ֥י עָלָ֖יו לְטַמְּאֽוֹ׃ For the people of Judah have done what displeases Me—declares GOD. They have set up their abominations in the House that is called by My name, and they have defiled it.

וּבָנ֞וּ בָּמ֣וֹת הַתֹּ֗פֶת אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּגֵ֣יא בֶן־הִנֹּ֔ם לִשְׂרֹ֛ף אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֥ם וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵיהֶ֖ם בָּאֵ֑שׁ אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א צִוִּ֔יתִי וְלֹ֥א עָלְתָ֖ה עַל־לִבִּֽי׃ {פ}
And they have built the shrines of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in fire—which I never commanded, which never came to My mind.

לָכֵ֞ן הִנֵּֽה־יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְלֹא־יֵאָמֵ֨ר ע֤וֹד הַתֹּ֙פֶת֙ וְגֵ֣יא בֶן־הִנֹּ֔ם כִּ֖י אִם־גֵּ֣יא הַהֲרֵגָ֑ה וְקָבְר֥וּ בְתֹ֖פֶת מֵאֵ֥ין מָקֽוֹם׃ Assuredly, a time is coming—declares GOD —when this people^fthis people Heb. “they.” shall no longer speak of Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but of the Valley of Slaughter; and they shall bury in Topheth until no room is left.

וְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה נִבְלַ֨ת הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ לְמַֽאֲכָ֔ל לְע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וּלְבֶהֱמַ֣ת הָאָ֑רֶץ וְאֵ֖ין מַחֲרִֽיד׃ The carcasses of this people shall be food for the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth, with none to frighten them off.

וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֣י ׀ מֵֽעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה וּמֵֽחֻצוֹת֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם ק֤וֹל שָׂשׂוֹן֙ וְק֣וֹל שִׂמְחָ֔ה ק֥וֹל חָתָ֖ן וְק֣וֹל כַּלָּ֑ה כִּ֥י לְחׇרְבָּ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה הָאָֽרֶץ׃ And I will silence in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem the sound of mirth and gladness, the voice of bridegroom and bride. For the whole land shall fall to ruin.

בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֣יא נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֡ה (ויציאו) [יוֹצִ֣יאוּ] אֶת־עַצְמ֣וֹת מַלְכֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֣ה וְאֶת־עַצְמוֹת־שָׂרָיו֩ וְאֶת־עַצְמ֨וֹת הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים וְאֵ֣ת ׀ עַצְמ֣וֹת הַנְּבִיאִ֗ים וְאֵ֛ת עַצְמ֥וֹת יוֹשְׁבֵֽי־יְרוּשָׁלָ֖͏ִם מִקִּבְרֵיהֶֽם׃ At that time—declares GOD —the bones of the kings of Judah, of its officers, of the priests, of the prophets, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be taken out of their graves

וּשְׁטָחוּם֩ לַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ וְלַיָּרֵ֜חַ וּלְכֹ֣ל ׀ צְבָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲהֵב֜וּם וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר עֲבָדוּם֙ וַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ הָלְכ֣וּ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר דְּרָשׁ֔וּם וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר הִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם לֹ֤א יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִקָּבֵ֔רוּ לְדֹ֛מֶן עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָ֖ה יִהְיֽוּ׃ and exposed to the sun, the moon, and all the host of heaven that they loved and served and followed, to which they turned and bowed down. They shall not be gathered for reburial; they shall become dung upon the face of the earth.

וְנִבְחַ֥ר מָ֙וֶת֙ מֵחַיִּ֔ים לְכֹ֗ל הַשְּׁאֵרִית֙ הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֔ים מִן־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את בְּכׇל־הַמְּקֹמ֤וֹת הַנִּשְׁאָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִדַּחְתִּ֣ים שָׁ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ {ס}         And death shall be preferable to life for all that are left of this wicked folk, in all the other places to which I shall banish them—declares GOD of Hosts.

וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הֲיִפְּל֖וּ וְלֹ֣א יָק֑וּמוּ אִם־יָשׁ֖וּב וְלֹ֥א יָשֽׁוּב׃ Say to them: Thus said GOD:
When people fall, do they not get up again?
If they turn aside, do they not turn back?

מַדּ֨וּעַ שׁוֹבְבָ֜ה הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֛ה יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם מְשֻׁבָ֣ה נִצַּ֑חַת הֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙ בַּתַּרְמִ֔ת מֵאֲנ֖וּ לָשֽׁוּב׃ Why is this people—Jerusalem—rebellious
With a persistent rebellion?
They cling to deceit,
They refuse to return.

הִקְשַׁ֤בְתִּי וָֽאֶשְׁמָע֙ לוֹא־כֵ֣ן יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ אֵ֣ין אִ֗ישׁ נִחָם֙ עַל־רָ֣עָת֔וֹ לֵאמֹ֖ר מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתִי כֻּלֹּ֗ה שָׁ֚ב (במרצותם) [בִּמְר֣וּצָתָ֔ם] כְּס֥וּס שׁוֹטֵ֖ף בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ I have listened and heard:
They do not speak honestly.
No one regrets their own wickedness
And says, “What have I done!”
They all persist in their wayward course
Like a steed dashing forward in the fray.

גַּם־חֲסִידָ֣ה בַשָּׁמַ֗יִם יָֽדְעָה֙ מוֹעֲדֶ֔יהָ וְתֹ֤ר (וסוס) [וְסִיס֙] וְעָג֔וּר שָׁמְר֖וּ אֶת־עֵ֣ת בֹּאָ֑נָה וְעַמִּ֕י לֹ֣א יָדְע֔וּ אֵ֖ת מִשְׁפַּ֥ט יְהֹוָֽה׃ Even the stork in the sky knows its seasons,
And the turtledove, swift, and crane
Keep the time of their coming;
But My people pay no heed
To GOD’s law.

אֵיכָ֤ה תֹֽאמְרוּ֙ חֲכָמִ֣ים אֲנַ֔חְנוּ וְתוֹרַ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה אִתָּ֑נוּ אָכֵן֙ הִנֵּ֣ה לַשֶּׁ֣קֶר עָשָׂ֔ה עֵ֖ט שֶׁ֥קֶר סֹפְרִֽים׃ How can you say, “We are wise,
And we possess GOD’s Instruction”?
Assuredly, for naught has the pen labored,
For naught the scribes!

הֹבִ֣שׁוּ חֲכָמִ֔ים חַ֖תּוּ וַיִּלָּכֵ֑דוּ הִנֵּ֤ה בִדְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ מָאָ֔סוּ וְחׇכְמַ֥ת מֶ֖ה לָהֶֽם׃ The wise men shall be put to shame,
Shall be dismayed and caught;
See, they reject the word of GOD,
So their wisdom amounts to nothing.

לָכֵן֩ אֶתֵּ֨ן אֶת־נְשֵׁיהֶ֜ם לַאֲחֵרִ֗ים שְׂדֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ לְי֣וֹרְשִׁ֔ים כִּ֤י מִקָּטֹן֙ וְעַד־גָּד֔וֹל כֻּלֹּ֖ה בֹּצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע מִנָּבִיא֙ וְעַד־כֹּהֵ֔ן כֻּלֹּ֖ה עֹ֥שֶׂה שָּֽׁקֶר׃ Assuredly, I will give their wives to others,
And their fields to dispossessors;
For from the smallest to the greatest,
They are all greedy for gain;
Priest and prophet alike,
They all act falsely.

וַיְרַפּ֞וּ אֶת־שֶׁ֤בֶר בַּת־עַמִּי֙ עַל־נְקַלָּ֔ה לֵאמֹ֖ר שָׁל֣וֹם ׀ שָׁל֑וֹם וְאֵ֖ין שָׁלֽוֹם׃ They offer healing offhand
For the wounds of My poor people,
Saying, “All is well, all is well,”
When nothing is well.

הֹבִ֕שׁוּ כִּ֥י תוֹעֵבָ֖ה עָשׂ֑וּ גַּם־בּ֣וֹשׁ לֹֽא־יֵבֹ֗שׁוּ וְהִכָּלֵם֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ לָכֵ֞ן יִפְּל֣וּ בַנֹּפְלִ֗ים בְּעֵ֧ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֛ם יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
They have acted shamefully;
They have done abhorrent things—
Yet they do not feel shame,
They cannot be made to blush.
Assuredly, they shall fall among the falling,
They shall stumble at the time of their doom
—said GOD.

אָסֹ֥ף אֲסִיפֵ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה אֵין֩ עֲנָבִ֨ים בַּגֶּ֜פֶן וְאֵ֧ין תְּאֵנִ֣ים בַּתְּאֵנָ֗ה וְהֶעָלֶה֙ נָבֵ֔ל וָאֶתֵּ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם יַעַבְרֽוּם׃ I will make an end of them^aI will make an end of them Meaning of Heb. uncertain; change of vocalization yields “Their fruit harvest has been gathered in.”
—declares GOD:
No grapes left on the vine,
No figs on the fig tree,
The leaves all withered;
Whatever I have given them is gone.^bWhatever I have given them is gone Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

עַל־מָה֙ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ יֹֽשְׁבִ֔ים הֵאָסְפ֗וּ וְנָב֛וֹא אֶל־עָרֵ֥י הַמִּבְצָ֖ר וְנִדְּמָה־שָּׁ֑ם כִּי֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ הֲדִמָּ֙נוּ֙ וַיַּשְׁקֵ֣נוּ מֵי־רֹ֔אשׁ כִּ֥י חָטָ֖אנוּ לַיהֹוָֽה׃ Why are we sitting by?
Let us gather into the fortified cities
And meet our doom there.
For the ETERNAL our God has doomed us—
And has made us drink a bitter draft,
Because we sinned against GOD.

קַוֵּ֥ה לְשָׁל֖וֹם וְאֵ֣ין ט֑וֹב לְעֵ֥ת מַרְפֵּ֖ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה בְעָתָֽה׃ We hoped for good fortune, but no happiness came;
For a time of relief—instead there is terror!

מִדָּ֤ן נִשְׁמַע֙ נַחְרַ֣ת סוּסָ֔יו מִקּוֹל֙ מִצְהֲל֣וֹת אַבִּירָ֔יו רָעֲשָׁ֖ה כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּב֗וֹאוּ וַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙ אֶ֣רֶץ וּמְלוֹאָ֔הּ עִ֖יר וְיֹ֥שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ {פ}
The snorting of their horses was heard from Dan;
At the loud neighing of their steeds
The whole land quaked.
They came and devoured the land and what was in it,
The towns and those who dwelt in them.

כִּי֩ הִנְנִ֨י מְשַׁלֵּ֜חַ בָּכֶ֗ם נְחָשִׁים֙ צִפְעֹנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־לָהֶ֖ם לָ֑חַשׁ וְנִשְּׁכ֥וּ אֶתְכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         Lo, I will send serpents against you,
Adders that cannot be charmed,
And they shall bite you
—declares GOD.

מַבְלִ֥יגִיתִ֖י עֲלֵ֣י יָג֑וֹן עָלַ֖י לִבִּ֥י דַוָּֽי׃ When in grief I would seek comfort,^cWhen in grief I would seek comfort Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
My heart is sick within me.

הִנֵּה־ק֞וֹל שַֽׁוְעַ֣ת בַּת־עַמִּ֗י מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙ מַרְחַקִּ֔ים הַֽיהֹוָה֙ אֵ֣ין בְּצִיּ֔וֹן אִם־מַלְכָּ֖הּ אֵ֣ין בָּ֑הּ מַדּ֗וּעַ הִכְעִס֛וּנִי בִּפְסִלֵיהֶ֖ם בְּהַבְלֵ֥י נֵכָֽר׃ ^dHere God is speaking. “Is not GOD in Zion?
Is not her Sovereign in her midst?
Why then did they anger Me with their images,
With alien futilities?”
Hark! The outcry of my poor people
From the land far and wide:

עָבַ֥ר קָצִ֖יר כָּ֣לָה קָ֑יִץ וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ ל֥וֹא נוֹשָֽׁעְנוּ׃ “Harvest is past,
Summer is gone,
But we have not been saved.”

עַל־שֶׁ֥בֶר בַּת־עַמִּ֖י הׇשְׁבָּ֑רְתִּי קָדַ֕רְתִּי שַׁמָּ֖ה הֶחֱזִקָֽתְנִי׃ Because my people is shattered I am shattered;
I am dejected, seized by desolation.

הַצֳּרִי֙ אֵ֣ין בְּגִלְעָ֔ד אִם־רֹפֵ֖א אֵ֣ין שָׁ֑ם כִּ֗י מַדּ֙וּעַ֙ לֹ֣א עָֽלְתָ֔ה אֲרֻכַ֖ת בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ {ס}         Is there no balm in Gilead?
Can no physician be found?
Why has healing not yet
Come to my poor people?

מִֽי־יִתֵּ֤ן רֹאשִׁי֙ מַ֔יִם וְעֵינִ֖י מְק֣וֹר דִּמְעָ֑ה וְאֶבְכֶּה֙ יוֹמָ֣ם וָלַ֔יְלָה אֵ֖ת חַֽלְלֵ֥י בַת־עַמִּֽי׃ {ס}         Oh, that my head were water,
My eyes a fount of tears!
Then would I weep day and night
For the slain of my poor people.

מִֽי־יִתְּנֵ֣נִי בַמִּדְבָּ֗ר מְלוֹן֙ אֹֽרְחִ֔ים וְאֶֽעֶזְבָה֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וְאֵלְכָ֖ה מֵֽאִתָּ֑ם כִּ֤י כֻלָּם֙ מְנָ֣אֲפִ֔ים עֲצֶ֖רֶת בֹּגְדִֽים׃ Oh, to be in the desert,
At an encampment for wayfarers!
Oh, to leave my people,
To go away from them—
For they are all adulterers,
A band of rogues.

וַֽיַּדְרְכ֤וּ אֶת־לְשׁוֹנָם֙ קַשְׁתָּ֣ם שֶׁ֔קֶר וְלֹ֥א לֶאֱמוּנָ֖ה גָּבְר֣וּ בָאָ֑רֶץ כִּי֩ מֵרָעָ֨ה אֶל־רָעָ֧ה ׀ יָצָ֛אוּ וְאֹתִ֥י לֹא־יָדָ֖עוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ They bend their tongues like bows;
They are valorous in the land
For treachery, not for honesty;
They advance from evil to evil.
And they do not heed Me
—declares GOD.

אִ֤ישׁ מֵרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ הִשָּׁמֵ֔רוּ וְעַל־כׇּל־אָ֖ח אַל־תִּבְטָ֑חוּ כִּ֤י כׇל־אָח֙ עָק֣וֹב יַעְקֹ֔ב וְכׇל־רֵ֖עַ רָכִ֥יל יַהֲלֹֽךְ׃ Each of you, beware of your friend!
Trust not even your kinsfolk!
For every sibling takes advantage,^aevery sibling takes advantage Or “every brother is a heel-grabber”; cf. Gen. 25.26; 27.36.
Every friend deals basely.^bdeals basely See note at Lev. 19.16.

וְאִ֤ישׁ בְּרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ יְהָתֵ֔לּוּ וֶאֱמֶ֖ת לֹ֣א יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ לִמְּד֧וּ לְשׁוֹנָ֛ם דַּבֶּר־שֶׁ֖קֶר הַעֲוֵ֥ה נִלְאֽוּ׃ They all cheat each other,
They will not speak truth;
They have trained their tongues to speak falsely;
They wear themselves out working iniquity.

שִׁבְתְּךָ֖ בְּת֣וֹךְ מִרְמָ֑ה בְּמִרְמָ֛ה מֵאֲנ֥וּ דַעַת־אוֹתִ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         You dwell in the midst of deceit.
In their deceit,^cThey wear themselves out … In their deceit Meaning of Heb. uncertain. they refuse to heed Me
—declares GOD.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הִנְנִ֥י צוֹרְפָ֖ם וּבְחַנְתִּ֑ים כִּי־אֵ֣יךְ אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ Assuredly, thus said GOD of Hosts:
Lo, I shall smelt and assay them—
For what else can I do because of My poor people?^dFor what else can I do because of My poor people? Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

חֵ֥ץ (שוחט) [שָׁח֛וּט] לְשׁוֹנָ֖ם מִרְמָ֣ה דִבֵּ֑ר בְּפִ֗יו שָׁל֤וֹם אֶת־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ יְדַבֵּ֔ר וּבְקִרְבּ֖וֹ יָשִׂ֥ים אׇרְבּֽוֹ׃ Their tongue is a sharpened arrow,
They use their mouths to deceive.
They speak to their fellows in friendship,
But lay an ambush for them in their hearts.

הַֽעַל־אֵ֥לֶּה לֹא־אֶפְקׇד־בָּ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה אִ֚ם בְּג֣וֹי אֲשֶׁר־כָּזֶ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם נַפְשִֽׁי׃ {ס}         Shall I not punish them for such deeds?
—says GOD —
Shall I not bring retribution
On such a nation as this?

עַל־הֶ֨הָרִ֜ים אֶשָּׂ֧א בְכִ֣י וָנֶ֗הִי וְעַל־נְא֤וֹת מִדְבָּר֙ קִינָ֔ה כִּ֤י נִצְּתוּ֙ מִבְּלִי־אִ֣ישׁ עֹבֵ֔ר וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ ק֣וֹל מִקְנֶ֑ה מֵע֤וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְעַד־בְּהֵמָ֔ה נָדְד֖וּ הָלָֽכוּ׃ For the mountains I take up weeping and wailing,
For the pastures in the wilderness, a dirge.
They are laid waste; nobody passes through,
And no sound of cattle is heard.
Birds of the sky and beasts as well
Have fled and are gone.

וְנָתַתִּ֧י אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֛͏ִם לְגַלִּ֖ים מְע֣וֹן תַּנִּ֑ים וְאֶת־עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה אֶתֵּ֥ן שְׁמָמָ֖ה מִבְּלִ֥י יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ {ס}         I will turn Jerusalem into rubble,
Into dens for jackals;
And I will make the towns of Judah
A desolation without inhabitants.

מִֽי־הָאִ֤ישׁ הֶחָכָם֙ וְיָבֵ֣ן אֶת־זֹ֔את וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר פִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֵלָ֖יו וְיַגִּדָ֑הּ עַל־מָה֙ אָבְדָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ נִצְּתָ֥ה כַמִּדְבָּ֖ר מִבְּלִ֥י עֹבֵֽר׃ {ס}         Is anybody so wise
As to understand this?
To whom has GOD’s mouth spoken,
So that it can be related:
Why is the land in ruins,
Laid waste like a wilderness,
With none passing through?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־עׇזְבָם֙ אֶת־תּ֣וֹרָתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וְלֹא־שָׁמְע֥וּ בְקוֹלִ֖י וְלֹא־הָ֥לְכוּ בָֽהּ׃ GODreplied: Because they forsook the Teaching I had set before them. They did not obey Me and they did not follow it,

וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ אַחֲרֵ֖י שְׁרִר֣וּת לִבָּ֑ם וְאַֽחֲרֵי֙ הַבְּעָלִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִמְּד֖וּם אֲבוֹתָֽם׃ {פ}
but followed their own willful heart and followed the Baalim, as their ancestors had taught them.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הִנְנִ֧י מַאֲכִילָ֛ם אֶת־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה לַעֲנָ֑ה וְהִשְׁקִיתִ֖ים מֵי־רֹֽאשׁ׃ Assuredly, thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to feed that people wormwood and make them drink a bitter draft.

וַהֲפִֽצוֹתִים֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יָדְע֔וּ הֵ֖מָּה וַאֲבוֹתָ֑ם וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֤י אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־הַחֶ֔רֶב עַ֥ד כַּלּוֹתִ֖י אוֹתָֽם׃ {פ}
I will scatter them among nations that they and their ancestors never knew; and I will dispatch the sword after them until I have consumed them.

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הִתְבּ֥וֹנְנ֛וּ וְקִרְא֥וּ לַמְקוֹנְנ֖וֹת וּתְבוֹאֶ֑ינָה וְאֶל־הַחֲכָמ֥וֹת שִׁלְח֖וּ וְתָבֽוֹאנָה׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts:
Listen!
Summon the dirge-singers,^edirge-singers The Heb. term denotes women. let them come;
Send for the skilled women, let them come.

וּתְמַהֵ֕רְנָה וְתִשֶּׂ֥נָה עָלֵ֖ינוּ נֶ֑הִי וְתֵרַ֤דְנָה עֵינֵ֙ינוּ֙ דִּמְעָ֔ה וְעַפְעַפֵּ֖ינוּ יִזְּלוּ־מָֽיִם׃ Let them quickly start a wailing for us,
That our eyes may run with tears,
Our pupils flow with water.

כִּ֣י ק֥וֹל נְהִ֛י נִשְׁמַ֥ע מִצִּיּ֖וֹן אֵ֣יךְ שֻׁדָּ֑דְנוּ בֹּ֤שְׁנֽוּ מְאֹד֙ כִּֽי־עָזַ֣בְנוּ אָ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י הִשְׁלִ֖יכוּ מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ {ס}         For the sound of wailing
Is heard from Zion:
How we are despoiled!
How greatly we are shamed!
Ah, we must leave our land,
Abandon^fAbandon Lit. “They abandoned.” our dwellings!

כִּֽי־שְׁמַ֤עְנָה נָשִׁים֙ דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְתִקַּ֥ח אׇזְנְכֶ֖ם דְּבַר־פִּ֑יו וְלַמֵּ֤דְנָה בְנֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ נֶ֔הִי וְאִשָּׁ֥ה רְעוּתָ֖הּ קִינָֽה׃ Hear, O women, the word of GOD,
Let your ears receive the divine word,^gdivine word Lit. “word of His mouth.”
And teach your daughters wailing,
And one another lamentation.

כִּי־עָ֤לָֽה מָ֙וֶת֙ בְּחַלּוֹנֵ֔ינוּ בָּ֖א בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֵ֑ינוּ לְהַכְרִ֤ית עוֹלָל֙ מִח֔וּץ בַּֽחוּרִ֖ים מֵרְחֹבֽוֹת׃ For death has climbed through our windows,
Has entered our fortresses,
To cut off babes from the streets,
Young men from the squares.

דַּבֵּ֗ר כֹּ֚ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְנָֽפְלָה֙ נִבְלַ֣ת הָאָדָ֔ם כְּדֹ֖מֶן עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּכְעָמִ֛יר מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י הַקֹּצֵ֖ר וְאֵ֥ין מְאַסֵּֽף׃ {ס}         Speak thus—says GOD:
People’s carcasses shall lie
Like dung upon the fields,
Like sheaves behind the reaper,
With none to pick them up.

כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֤ל חָכָם֙ בְּחׇכְמָת֔וֹ וְאַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל הַגִּבּ֖וֹר בִּגְבֽוּרָת֑וֹ אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל עָשִׁ֖יר בְּעׇשְׁרֽוֹ׃ Thus said GOD:
Let not the wise glory in their wisdom;
Let not the strong glory in their strength;
Let not the rich glory in their riches.

כִּ֣י אִם־בְּזֹ֞את יִתְהַלֵּ֣ל הַמִּתְהַלֵּ֗ל הַשְׂכֵּל֮ וְיָדֹ֣עַ אוֹתִי֒ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה עֹ֥שֶׂה חֶ֛סֶד מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־בְאֵ֥לֶּה חָפַ֖צְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         But only in this should one glory:
In being earnestly devoted to Me.
For I GOD act with kindness,
Justice, and equity in the world;
For in these I delight
—declares GOD.

הִנֵּ֛ה יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וּפָ֣קַדְתִּ֔י עַל־כׇּל־מ֖וּל בְּעׇרְלָֽה׃ Lo, days are coming—declares GOD —when I will take note of everyone circumcised in the foreskin:^hcircumcised in the foreskin Force of Heb. uncertain.

עַל־מִצְרַ֣יִם וְעַל־יְהוּדָ֗ה וְעַל־אֱד֞וֹם וְעַל־בְּנֵ֤י עַמּוֹן֙ וְעַל־מוֹאָ֔ב וְעַל֙ כׇּל־קְצוּצֵ֣י פֵאָ֔ה הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּ֤י כׇל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ עֲרֵלִ֔ים וְכׇל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַרְלֵי־לֵֽב׃ {פ}
of Egypt, Judah, Edom, the Ammonites, Moab, and all the desert dwellers who have the hair of their temples clipped. For all these nations are uncircumcised, but all the House of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.ⁱuncircumcised of heart I.e., their minds are blocked to God’s commandments.

שִׁמְע֣וּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Hear the word that GOD has spoken to you, O House of Israel!

כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־דֶּ֤רֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם֙ אַל־תִּלְמָ֔דוּ וּמֵאֹת֥וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם אַל־תֵּחָ֑תּוּ כִּי־יֵחַ֥תּוּ הַגּוֹיִ֖ם מֵהֵֽמָּה׃ Thus said GOD:
Do not learn to go the way of the nations,
And do not be dismayed by portents in the sky;
Let the nations be dismayed by them!

כִּֽי־חֻקּ֥וֹת הָעַמִּ֖ים הֶ֣בֶל ה֑וּא כִּי־עֵץ֙ מִיַּ֣עַר כְּרָת֔וֹ מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵי־חָרָ֖שׁ בַּֽמַּעֲצָֽד׃ For the laws of the nations^athe laws of the nations Emendation yields “the objects that the nations fear.” are delusions:
For it is the work of a craftsman’s hands.
He cuts down a tree in the forest with an ax,

בְּכֶ֥סֶף וּבְזָהָ֖ב יְיַפֵּ֑הוּ בְּמַסְמְר֧וֹת וּבְמַקָּב֛וֹת יְחַזְּק֖וּם וְל֥וֹא יָפִֽיק׃ He adorns it with silver and gold,
He fastens it^bit Heb. “them.” with nails and hammer,
So that it does not totter.

כְּתֹ֨מֶר מִקְשָׁ֥ה הֵ֙מָּה֙ וְלֹ֣א יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ נָשׂ֥וֹא יִנָּשׂ֖וּא כִּ֣י לֹ֣א יִצְעָ֑דוּ אַל־תִּֽירְא֤וּ מֵהֶם֙ כִּי־לֹ֣א יָרֵ֔עוּ וְגַם־הֵיטֵ֖יב אֵ֥ין אוֹתָֽם׃ {פ}
They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber patch,
They cannot speak.
They have to be carried,
For they cannot walk.
Be not afraid of them, for they can do no harm;
Nor is it in them to do any good.

מֵאֵ֥ין כָּמ֖וֹךָ יְהֹוָ֑ה גָּד֥וֹל אַתָּ֛ה וְגָד֥וֹל שִׁמְךָ֖ בִּגְבוּרָֽה׃ O ETERNAL One, there is none like You!
You are great and Your name is great in power.

מִ֣י לֹ֤א יִרָֽאֲךָ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם כִּ֥י לְךָ֖ יָאָ֑תָה כִּ֣י בְכׇל־חַכְמֵ֧י הַגּוֹיִ֛ם וּבְכׇל־מַלְכוּתָ֖ם מֵאֵ֥ין כָּמֽוֹךָ׃ Who would not revere You, O Sovereign of the nations?
For that is Your due,
Since among all the wise of the nations
And among all their royalty
There is none like You.

וּבְאַחַ֖ת יִבְעֲר֣וּ וְיִכְסָ֑לוּ מוּסַ֥ר הֲבָלִ֖ים עֵ֥ץ הֽוּא׃ But they are both dull and foolish;
[Their] doctrine is but delusion;^c[Their] doctrine is but delusion Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
It is a piece of wood,

כֶּ֣סֶף מְרֻקָּ֞ע מִתַּרְשִׁ֣ישׁ יוּבָ֗א וְזָהָב֙ מֵֽאוּפָ֔ז מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חָרָ֖שׁ וִידֵ֣י צוֹרֵ֑ף תְּכֵ֤לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן֙ לְבוּשָׁ֔ם מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חֲכָמִ֖ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ Silver beaten flat, that is brought from Tarshish,
And gold from Uphaz,
The work of a craftsman and the goldsmith’s hands;
Their clothing is blue and purple,
All of them are the product of skilled workers.

וַיהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ אֱמֶ֔ת הֽוּא־אֱלֹהִ֥ים חַיִּ֖ים וּמֶ֣לֶךְ עוֹלָ֑ם מִקִּצְפּוֹ֙ תִּרְעַ֣שׁ הָאָ֔רֶץ וְלֹֽא־יָכִ֥לוּ גוֹיִ֖ם זַעְמֽוֹ׃ {פ}
But the ETERNAL is truly God—
A living God,
The everlasting Sovereign.
At God’s wrath, the earth quakes,
And nations cannot endure such rage.

כִּדְנָה֙ תֵּאמְר֣וּן לְה֔וֹם אֱלָ֣הַיָּ֔א דִּֽי־שְׁמַיָּ֥א וְאַרְקָ֖א לָ֣א עֲבַ֑דוּ יֵאבַ֧דוּ מֵאַרְעָ֛א וּמִן־תְּח֥וֹת שְׁמַיָּ֖א אֵֽלֶּה׃ {ס}         ^dThis verse is in Aramaic. Thus shall you say to them: Let the gods, who did not make heaven and earth, perish from the earth and from under these heavens.

עֹשֵׂ֥ה אֶ֙רֶץ֙ בְּכֹח֔וֹ מֵכִ֥ין תֵּבֵ֖ל בְּחׇכְמָת֑וֹ וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹ נָטָ֥ה שָׁמָֽיִם׃ [God] made the earth by might,
Established the world by wisdom,
And with understanding stretched out the skies.

לְק֨וֹל תִּתּ֜וֹ הֲמ֥וֹן מַ֙יִם֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיַּעֲלֶ֥ה נְשִׂאִ֖ים מִקְצֵ֣ה (ארץ) [הָאָ֑רֶץ] בְּרָקִ֤ים לַמָּטָר֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וַיּ֥וֹצֵא ר֖וּחַ מֵאֹצְרֹתָֽיו׃ When [God] bellows,^eWhen [God] bellows Lit. “At the sound of His making.”
There is a rumbling of water in the skies;
Vapors rise from the end of the earth,
Lightning accompanies the rain,
And wind is brought forth from God’s treasuries.

נִבְעַ֤ר כׇּל־אָדָם֙ מִדַּ֔עַת הֹבִ֥ישׁ כׇּל־צוֹרֵ֖ף מִפָּ֑סֶל כִּ֛י שֶׁ֥קֶר נִסְכּ֖וֹ וְלֹא־ר֥וּחַ בָּֽם׃ Every mortal is proved dull, without knowledge;
Every goldsmith is put to shame because of the idol,
For their molten images are a deceit—
There is no breath in them.

הֶ֣בֶל הֵ֔מָּה מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה תַּעְתֻּעִ֑ים בְּעֵ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם יֹאבֵֽדוּ׃ They are delusion, a work of mockery;
In their hour of doom, they shall perish.

לֹא־כְאֵ֜לֶּה חֵ֣לֶק יַעֲקֹ֗ב כִּֽי־יוֹצֵ֤ר הַכֹּל֙ ה֔וּא וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל שֵׁ֖בֶט נַחֲלָת֑וֹ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ {ס}         Not like these is the Portion of Jacob—
The One who formed all things,
With Israel as a permanent possession—
Whose name is GOD of Hosts.

אִסְפִּ֥י מֵאֶ֖רֶץ כִּנְעָתֵ֑ךְ (ישבתי) [יֹשֶׁ֖בֶת] בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃ {ס}         Gather up your bundle^fbundle Meaning of Heb. uncertain. from the ground,
You who dwell under siege!

כִּי־כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֥י קוֹלֵ֛עַ אֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ בַּפַּ֣עַם הַזֹּ֑את וַהֲצֵרֹ֥תִי לָהֶ֖ם לְמַ֥עַן יִמְצָֽאוּ׃ {ס}         For thus said GOD: I will fling away the inhabitants of the land this time: I will harass them so that they shall feel it.^gfeel it Emendation yields “have to leave.”

א֥וֹי לִי֙ עַל־שִׁבְרִ֔י נַחְלָ֖ה מַכָּתִ֑י וַאֲנִ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי אַ֛ךְ זֶ֥ה חֳלִ֖י וְאֶשָּׂאֶֽנּוּ׃ Woe unto me for my hurt,
My wound is severe!
I thought, “This is but a sickness
And I must bear it.”

אׇהֳלִ֣י שֻׁדָּ֔ד וְכׇל־מֵיתָרַ֖י נִתָּ֑קוּ בָּנַ֤י יְצָאֻ֙נִי֙ וְאֵינָ֔ם אֵין־נֹטֶ֥ה עוֹד֙ אׇהֳלִ֔י וּמֵקִ֖ים יְרִיעוֹתָֽי׃ My tents are ravaged,
All my tent cords are broken.
My children have gone forth from me
And are no more;
No one is left to stretch out my tents
And hang my tent cloths.

כִּ֤י נִבְעֲרוּ֙ הָרֹעִ֔ים וְאֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה לֹ֣א דָרָ֑שׁוּ עַל־כֵּן֙ לֹ֣א הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ וְכׇל־מַרְעִיתָ֖ם נָפֽוֹצָה׃ {פ}
For the shepherds^hshepherds I.e., rulers; cf. note at 2.8. are dull
And did not seek GOD;
Therefore they have not prospered
And all their flock is scattered.

ק֤וֹל שְׁמוּעָה֙ הִנֵּ֣ה בָאָ֔ה וְרַ֥עַשׁ גָּד֖וֹל מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֑וֹן לָשׂ֞וּם אֶת־עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה שְׁמָמָ֖ה מְע֥וֹן תַּנִּֽים׃ {ס}         Hark, a noise! It is coming,
A great commotion out of the north,
That the towns of Judah may be made a desolation,
A haunt of jackals.

יָדַ֣עְתִּי יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֛י לֹ֥א לָאָדָ֖ם דַּרְכּ֑וֹ לֹֽא־לְאִ֣ישׁ הֹלֵ֔ךְ וְהָכִ֖ין אֶֽת־צַעֲדֽוֹ׃ I know, O ETERNAL One, that mortals’ road is not theirs [to choose],
That people, as they walk, cannot direct their own steps.

יַסְּרֵ֥נִי יְהֹוָ֖ה אַךְ־בְּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט אַל־בְּאַפְּךָ֖ פֶּן־תַּמְעִטֵֽנִי׃ Chastise me, O ETERNAL One, but in measure;
Not in Your wrath, lest You reduce me to naught.

שְׁפֹ֣ךְ חֲמָתְךָ֗ עַל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־יְדָע֔וּךָ וְעַל֙ מִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּשִׁמְךָ֖ לֹ֣א קָרָ֑אוּ כִּֽי־אָכְל֣וּ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַֽאֲכָלֻ֙הוּ֙ וַיְכַלֻּ֔הוּ וְאֶת־נָוֵ֖הוּ הֵשַֽׁמּוּ׃ {פ}
Pour out Your wrath on the nations who have not heeded You,
Upon the clans that have not invoked Your name.
For they have devoured Jacob,
Have devoured and consumed him,
And have laid desolate his homesteads.

הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ מֵאֵ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word that came to Jeremiah from GOD:

שִׁמְע֕וּ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַבְּרִ֣ית הַזֹּ֑את וְדִבַּרְתֶּם֙ אֶל־אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה וְעַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ “Hear the terms of this covenant, and recite them to the citizenry of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem!

וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּֽה־אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אָר֣וּר הָאִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁמַ֔ע אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַבְּרִ֥ית הַזֹּֽאת׃ And say to them, Thus said the ETERNAL, the God of Israel: Cursed be anyone who will not obey the terms of this covenant,

אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּ֣יתִי אֶת־אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֡ם בְּי֣וֹם הוֹצִיאִֽי־אוֹתָ֣ם מֵאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֩יִם֩ מִכּ֨וּר הַבַּרְזֶ֜ל לֵאמֹ֗ר שִׁמְע֤וּ בְקוֹלִי֙ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם אוֹתָ֔ם כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־אֲצַוֶּ֖ה אֶתְכֶ֑ם וִהְיִ֤יתֶם לִי֙ לְעָ֔ם וְאָ֣נֹכִ֔י אֶהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ which I enjoined upon your ancestors when I freed them from the land of Egypt, the iron crucible, saying, ‘Obey Me and observe them,^athem I.e., the terms of the covenant. just as I command you, that you may be My people and I may be your God’—

לְמַ֩עַן֩ הָקִ֨ים אֶת־הַשְּׁבוּעָ֜ה אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי לַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם לָתֵ֤ת לָהֶם֙ אֶ֣רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֛ב וּדְבַ֖שׁ כַּיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וָאַ֥עַן וָאֹמַ֖ר אָמֵ֥ן ׀ יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
in order to fulfill the oath that I swore to your fathers,^bfathers See note at Josh. 1.6. to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as is now the case.” And I responded, “Amen, ETERNAL One.”

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י קְרָ֨א אֶת־כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וּבְחֻצ֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם לֵאמֹ֑ר שִׁמְע֗וּ אֶת־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַבְּרִ֣ית הַזֹּ֔את וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אוֹתָֽם׃ And GOD said to me, “Proclaim all these things through the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem: Hear the terms of this covenant, and perform them.

כִּי֩ הָעֵ֨ד הַעִדֹ֜תִי בַּאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם בְּיוֹם֩ הַעֲלוֹתִ֨י אוֹתָ֜ם מֵאֶ֤רֶץ מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ וְעַד־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה הַשְׁכֵּ֥ם וְהָעֵ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר שִׁמְע֖וּ בְּקוֹלִֽי׃ For I have repeatedly and persistently warned your ancestors from^cfrom Lit. “at.” the time I brought them out of Egypt to this day, saying: Obey My commands.

וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ וְלֹא־הִטּ֣וּ אֶת־אׇזְנָ֔ם וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ אִ֕ישׁ בִּשְׁרִיר֖וּת לִבָּ֣ם הָרָ֑ע וָאָבִ֨יא עֲלֵיהֶ֜ם אֶֽת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֧י הַבְּרִית־הַזֹּ֛את אֲשֶׁר־צִוִּ֥יתִי לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת וְלֹ֥א עָשֽׂוּ׃ {ס}         But they would not listen or give ear; they all followed the willfulness of their evil hearts. So I have brought upon them all the terms^dterms I.e., the punishments prescribed for violation. of this covenant, because they did not do what I commanded them to do.”

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י נִֽמְצָא־קֶ֙שֶׁר֙ בְּאִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה וּבְיֹשְׁבֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ GODsaid to me, “A conspiracy exists among the citizenry of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

שָׁ֩בוּ֩ עַל־עֲוֺנֹ֨ת אֲבוֹתָ֜ם הָרִאשֹׁנִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר מֵֽאֲנוּ֙ לִשְׁמ֣וֹעַ אֶת־דְּבָרַ֔י וְהֵ֣מָּה הָלְכ֗וּ אַֽחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים לְעׇבְדָ֑ם הֵפֵ֤רוּ בֵֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וּבֵ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֕י אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּרַ֖תִּי אֶת־אֲבוֹתָֽם׃ {ס}         They have returned to the iniquities of their ancestors of old, who refused to heed My words. They, too, have followed other gods and served them. The House of Israel and the House of Judah have broken the covenant that I made with their ancestors.”

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֨י מֵבִ֤יא אֲלֵיהֶם֙ רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יוּכְל֖וּ לָצֵ֣את מִמֶּ֑נָּה וְזָעֲק֣וּ אֵלַ֔י וְלֹ֥א אֶשְׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ Assuredly, thus said GOD: I am going to bring upon them disaster from which they will not be able to escape. Then they will cry out to me, but I will not listen to them.

וְֽהָלְכ֞וּ עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה וְיֹֽשְׁבֵי֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְזָֽעֲקוּ֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥ם מְקַטְּרִ֖ים לָהֶ֑ם וְהוֹשֵׁ֛עַ לֹא־יוֹשִׁ֥יעוּ לָהֶ֖ם בְּעֵ֥ת רָעָתָֽם׃ And the townspeople^etownspeople Lit. “towns.” of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to which they sacrifice; but they will not be able to rescue them in their time of disaster.

כִּ֚י מִסְפַּ֣ר עָרֶ֔יךָ הָי֥וּ אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יְהוּדָ֑ה וּמִסְפַּ֞ר חֻצ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם שַׂמְתֶּ֤ם מִזְבְּחוֹת֙ לַבֹּ֔שֶׁת מִזְבְּח֖וֹת לְקַטֵּ֥ר לַבָּֽעַל׃ {ס}         For your gods have become as many as your towns, O Judah, and you have set up as many altars to Shame^fShame See note at 3.24. as there are streets in Jerusalem—altars for sacrifice to Baal.

וְאַתָּ֗ה אַל־תִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ בְּעַד־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה וְאַל־תִּשָּׂ֥א בַעֲדָ֖ם רִנָּ֣ה וּתְפִלָּ֑ה כִּ֣י ׀ אֵינֶ֣נִּי שֹׁמֵ֗עַ בְּעֵ֛ת קׇרְאָ֥ם אֵלַ֖י בְּעַ֥ד רָעָתָֽם׃ {ס}         As for you, do not pray for this people, do not raise a cry of prayer on their behalf; for I will not listen when they call to Me on account of their disaster.

מֶ֣ה לִידִידִ֞י בְּבֵיתִ֗י עֲשׂוֹתָ֤הּ הַֽמְזִמָּ֙תָה֙ הָרַבִּ֔ים וּבְשַׂר־קֹ֖דֶשׁ יַעַבְר֣וּ מֵעָלָ֑יִךְ כִּ֥י רָעָתֵ֖כִי אָ֥ז תַּעֲלֹֽזִי׃ Why should My beloved be in My House,
Who executes so many vile designs?
The sacral flesh will pass away from you,
For you exult while performing your evil deeds.^gWho executes so many vile designs? / The sacral flesh will pass away from you, / For you exult while performing your evil deeds Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “Who does such vile deeds? / Can your treacheries be canceled by sacral flesh / That you exult while performing your evil deeds?”

זַ֤יִת רַעֲנָן֙ יְפֵ֣ה פְרִי־תֹ֔אַר קָרָ֥א יְהֹוָ֖ה שְׁמֵ֑ךְ לְק֣וֹל ׀ הֲמוּלָּ֣ה גְדֹלָ֗ה הִצִּ֥ית אֵשׁ֙ עָלֶ֔יהָ וְרָע֖וּ דָּלִיּוֹתָֽיו׃ GOD named you
“Verdant olive tree,
Fair, with choice fruit.”
But with a great roaring sound
[God] has set it on fire,
And its boughs are broken.^hbroken Emendation yields “burned.”

וַיהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ הַנּוֹטֵ֣עַ אוֹתָ֔ךְ דִּבֶּ֥ר עָלַ֖יִךְ רָעָ֑ה בִּ֠גְלַ֠ל רָעַ֨ת בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וּבֵ֣ית יְהוּדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשׂ֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם לְהַכְעִסֵ֖נִי לְקַטֵּ֥ר לַבָּֽעַל׃ {פ}
GODof Hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because of the evil wrought by the House of Israel and the House of Judah, who angered Me by sacrificing to Baal.

וַיהֹוָ֥ה הוֹדִיעַ֖נִי וָאֵדָ֑עָה אָ֖ז הִרְאִיתַ֥נִי מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ GOD informed me, and I knew—
Then You let me see their deeds.

וַאֲנִ֕י כְּכֶ֥בֶשׂ אַלּ֖וּף יוּבַ֣ל לִטְב֑וֹחַ וְלֹֽא־יָדַ֜עְתִּי כִּֽי־עָלַ֣י ׀ חָשְׁב֣וּ מַחֲשָׁב֗וֹת נַשְׁחִ֨יתָה עֵ֤ץ בְּלַחְמוֹ֙ וְנִכְרְתֶ֙נּוּ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּ֔ים וּשְׁמ֖וֹ לֹא־יִזָּכֵ֥ר עֽוֹד׃ For I was like a docile lamb
Led to the slaughter;
I did not realize
That it was against me
They fashioned their plots:
“Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,ⁱfruit Or “sap.”
Let us cut him off from the land of the living.
That his name be remembered no more!”

וַיהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ שֹׁפֵ֣ט צֶ֔דֶק בֹּחֵ֥ן כְּלָי֖וֹת וָלֵ֑ב אֶרְאֶ֤ה נִקְמָֽתְךָ֙ מֵהֶ֔ם כִּ֥י אֵלֶ֖יךָ גִּלִּ֥יתִי אֶת־רִיבִֽי׃ {ס}         O GOD of Hosts, O just Judge,
Who test the thoughts and the mind,
Let me see Your retribution upon them,
For I lay my case before You.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ עַל־אַנְשֵׁ֣י עֲנָת֔וֹת הַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֥ים אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹ֤א תִנָּבֵא֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א תָמ֖וּת בְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃ {פ}
Assuredly, thus said GOD of Hosts concerning the people of Anathoth^jpeople of Anathoth I.e., the local leaders, authorized to act on the town’s behalf. who seek your life and say, “You must not prophesy anymore in the name of GOD, or you will die by our hand”—

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הִנְנִ֥י פֹקֵ֖ד עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם הַבַּחוּרִים֙ יָמֻ֣תוּ בַחֶ֔רֶב בְּנֵיהֶם֙ וּבְנ֣וֹתֵיהֶ֔ם יָמֻ֖תוּ בָּרָעָֽב׃ Assuredly, thus said GOD of Hosts: “I am going to deal with them: the young men shall die by the sword, their boys and girls shall die by famine.

וּשְׁאֵרִ֕ית לֹ֥א תִהְיֶ֖ה לָהֶ֑ם כִּי־אָבִ֥יא רָעָ֛ה אֶל־אַנְשֵׁ֥י עֲנָת֖וֹת שְׁנַ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָֽם׃ {ס}         No remnant shall be left of them, for I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth,^kpeople of Anathoth See note at v. 21. the year of their doom.”

צַדִּ֤יק אַתָּה֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אָרִ֖יב אֵלֶ֑יךָ אַ֤ךְ מִשְׁפָּטִים֙ אֲדַבֵּ֣ר אֹתָ֔ךְ מַדּ֗וּעַ דֶּ֤רֶךְ רְשָׁעִים֙ צָלֵ֔חָה שָׁל֖וּ כׇּל־בֹּ֥גְדֵי בָֽגֶד׃ You will win,^awin Lit. “be in the right.” O ETERNAL One, if I make claim against You,
Yet I shall present charges against You:
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why are the workers of treachery at ease?

נְטַעְתָּם֙ גַּם־שֹׁרָ֔שׁוּ יֵלְכ֖וּ גַּם־עָ֣שׂוּ פֶ֑רִי קָר֤וֹב אַתָּה֙ בְּפִיהֶ֔ם וְרָח֖וֹק מִכִּלְיוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ You have planted them, and they have taken root,
They spread, they even bear fruit.
You are present in their mouths,
But far from their thoughts.

וְאַתָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ יְדַעְתָּ֔נִי תִּרְאֵ֕נִי וּבָחַנְתָּ֥ לִבִּ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ הַתִּקֵם֙ כְּצֹ֣אן לְטִבְחָ֔ה וְהַקְדִּשֵׁ֖ם לְי֥וֹם הֲרֵגָֽה׃ {פ}
Yet You, ETERNAL One, have noted and observed me;
You have tested my heart, and found it with You.
Drive them out like sheep to the slaughter,
Prepare them for the day of slaying!

עַד־מָתַי֙ תֶּאֱבַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ וְעֵ֥שֶׂב כׇּל־הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה יִיבָ֑שׁ מֵרָעַ֣ת יֹֽשְׁבֵי־בָ֗הּ סָפְתָ֤ה בְהֵמוֹת֙ וָע֔וֹף כִּ֣י אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹ֥א יִרְאֶ֖ה אֶת־אַחֲרִיתֵֽנוּ׃ How long must the land languish,
And the grass of all the countryside dry up?
Must beasts and birds perish,
Because of the evil of its inhabitants,
Who say, “[God] will not look upon our future”?^bfuture Septuagint reads “ways.”

כִּ֣י אֶת־רַגְלִ֥ים ׀ רַ֙צְתָּה֙ וַיַּלְא֔וּךָ וְאֵ֥יךְ תְּתַחֲרֶ֖ה אֶת־הַסּוּסִ֑ים וּבְאֶ֤רֶץ שָׁלוֹם֙ אַתָּ֣ה בוֹטֵ֔חַ וְאֵ֥יךְ תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה בִּגְא֥וֹן הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ ^cGod here replies to Jeremiah’s plea in vv. 1–3. If you race with the foot-runners and they exhaust you,
How then can you compete with horses?
If you are secure only^dsecure only Some Septuagint mss. read “not secure.” in a tranquil land,
How will you fare in the jungle of the Jordan?

כִּ֧י גַם־אַחֶ֣יךָ וּבֵית־אָבִ֗יךָ גַּם־הֵ֙מָּה֙ בָּ֣גְדוּ בָ֔ךְ גַּם־הֵ֛מָּה קָרְא֥וּ אַחֲרֶ֖יךָ מָלֵ֑א אַל־תַּאֲמֵ֣ן בָּ֔ם כִּֽי־יְדַבְּר֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ טוֹבֽוֹת׃ {ס}         For even your own kin and your father’s house—
Even they are treacherous toward you;
They cry after you as a mob.
Do not believe them
When they speak cordially to you.

עָזַ֙בְתִּי֙ אֶת־בֵּיתִ֔י נָטַ֖שְׁתִּי אֶת־נַחֲלָתִ֑י נָתַ֛תִּי אֶת־יְדִד֥וּת נַפְשִׁ֖י בְּכַ֥ף אֹיְבֶֽיהָ׃ I have abandoned My House,
I have deserted My possession,
I have given over My dearly beloved
Into the hands of her enemies.

הָיְתָה־לִּ֥י נַחֲלָתִ֖י כְּאַרְיֵ֣ה בַיָּ֑עַר נָתְנָ֥ה עָלַ֛י בְּקוֹלָ֖הּ עַל־כֵּ֥ן שְׂנֵאתִֽיהָ׃ My own people^epeople Lit. “possession”; the land as well as the people, as is clear in v. 14. acted toward Me
Like a lion in the forest;
She raised her voice against Me—
Therefore I have rejected her.

הַעַ֨יִט צָב֤וּעַ נַֽחֲלָתִי֙ לִ֔י הַעַ֖יִט סָבִ֣יב עָלֶ֑יהָ לְכ֗וּ אִסְפ֛וּ כׇּל־חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה הֵתָ֥יוּ לְאׇכְלָֽה׃ My own people acts toward Me
Like a bird of prey [or] a hyena;
Let the birds of prey surround her!^fMy own people … surround her Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Go, gather all the wild beasts,
Bring them to devour!

רֹעִ֤ים רַבִּים֙ שִׁחֲת֣וּ כַרְמִ֔י בֹּסְס֖וּ אֶת־חֶלְקָתִ֑י נָ֥תְנ֛וּ אֶת־חֶלְקַ֥ת חֶמְדָּתִ֖י לְמִדְבַּ֥ר שְׁמָמָֽה׃ Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard,
Have trampled My field,
Have made My delightful field
A desolate wilderness.

שָׂמָהּ֙ לִשְׁמָמָ֔ה אָבְלָ֥ה עָלַ֖י שְׁמֵמָ֑ה נָשַׁ֙מָּה֙ כׇּל־הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ שָׂ֥ם עַל־לֵֽב׃ They have^gThey have Heb. “He has.” made her a desolation;
Desolate, she pours out grief to Me.
The whole land is laid desolate,
But nobody gives it thought.

עַֽל־כׇּל־שְׁפָיִ֣ם בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר בָּ֚אוּ שֹֽׁדְדִ֔ים כִּ֣י חֶ֤רֶב לַֽיהֹוָה֙ אֹֽכְלָ֔ה מִקְצֵה־אֶ֖רֶץ וְעַד־קְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ אֵ֥ין שָׁל֖וֹם לְכׇל־בָּשָֽׂר׃ {ס}         Spoilers have come
Upon all the bare heights of the wilderness.
For a sword of GOD devours
From one end of the land to the other;
No flesh is safe.

זָרְע֤וּ חִטִּים֙ וְקֹצִ֣ים קָצָ֔רוּ נֶחְל֖וּ לֹ֣א יוֹעִ֑לוּ וּבֹ֙שׁוּ֙ מִתְּבוּאֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם מֵחֲר֖וֹן אַף־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
They have sown wheat and reaped thorns,
They have endured pain to no avail.
Be shamed, then, by your harvest—
By GOD’s blazing wrath!

כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה עַל־כׇּל־שְׁכֵנַי֙ הָֽרָעִ֔ים הַנֹּֽגְעִים֙ בַּֽנַּחֲלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־הִנְחַ֥לְתִּי אֶת־עַמִּ֖י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הִנְנִ֤י נֹֽתְשָׁם֙ מֵעַ֣ל אַדְמָתָ֔ם וְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה אֶתּ֥וֹשׁ מִתּוֹכָֽם׃ Thus said GOD: As for My wicked neighbors who encroach on the heritage that I gave to My people Israel—I am going to uproot them from their soil, and I will uproot the House of Judah out of the midst of them.

וְהָיָ֗ה אַֽחֲרֵי֙ נׇתְשִׁ֣י אוֹתָ֔ם אָשׁ֖וּב וְרִחַמְתִּ֑ים וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֛ים אִ֥ישׁ לְנַחֲלָת֖וֹ וְאִ֥ישׁ לְאַרְצֽוֹ׃ Then, after I have uprooted them, I will take them back into favor, and restore them all to their own inheritance and their own land.

וְהָיָ֡ה אִם־לָמֹ֣ד יִלְמְדוּ֩ אֶת־דַּֽרְכֵ֨י עַמִּ֜י לְהִשָּׁבֵ֤עַ בִּשְׁמִי֙ חַי־יְהֹוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר לִמְּדוּ֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י לְהִשָּׁבֵ֖עַ בַּבָּ֑עַל וְנִבְנ֖וּ בְּת֥וֹךְ עַמִּֽי׃ And if they learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name—“As GOD lives”—just as they once taught My people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of^hbuilt up in the midst of Or “incorporated into.” My people.

וְאִ֖ם לֹ֣א יִשְׁמָ֑עוּ וְנָ֨תַשְׁתִּ֜י אֶת־הַגּ֥וֹי הַה֛וּא נָת֥וֹשׁ וְאַבֵּ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         But if they do not give heed, I will tear out that nation, tear it out and destroy it—declares GOD.

כֹּה־אָמַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י הָל֞וֹךְ וְקָנִ֤יתָ לְּךָ֙ אֵז֣וֹר פִּשְׁתִּ֔ים וְשַׂמְתּ֖וֹ עַל־מׇתְנֶ֑יךָ וּבַמַּ֖יִם לֹ֥א תְבִאֵֽהוּ׃ Thus GOD said to me: “Go buy yourself a loincloth of linen, and put it around your loins, but do not dip it into water.”

וָאֶקְנֶ֥ה אֶת־הָאֵז֖וֹר כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה וָאָשִׂ֖ם עַל־מׇתְנָֽי׃ {פ}
So I bought the loincloth in accordance with GOD’s command, and put it about my loins.

וַיְהִ֧י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י שֵׁנִ֥ית לֵאמֹֽר׃ And the word of GOD came to me a second time:

קַ֧ח אֶת־הָאֵז֛וֹר אֲשֶׁ֥ר קָנִ֖יתָ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־מׇתְנֶ֑יךָ וְקוּם֙ לֵ֣ךְ פְּרָ֔תָה וְטׇמְנֵ֥הוּ שָׁ֖ם בִּנְקִ֥יק הַסָּֽלַע׃ “Take the loincloth that you bought, which is about your loins, and go at once to Perath^aPerath Or “the Euphrates”; cf. “Parah,” Josh. 18.23. and cover it up there in a cleft of the rock.”

וָאֵלֵ֕ךְ וָאֶטְמְנֵ֖הוּ בִּפְרָ֑ת כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אוֹתִֽי׃ I went and buried it at Perath, as GOD had commanded me.

וַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י ק֚וּם לֵ֣ךְ פְּרָ֔תָה וְקַ֤ח מִשָּׁם֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֵז֔וֹר אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּיתִ֖יךָ לְטׇמְנוֹ־שָֽׁם׃ Then, after a long time, GOD said to me, “Go at once to Perath and take there the loincloth that I commanded you to bury there.”

וָאֵלֵ֣ךְ פְּרָ֔תָה וָאֶחְפֹּ֗ר וָֽאֶקַּח֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֵז֔וֹר מִן־הַמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־טְמַנְתִּ֣יו שָׁ֑מָּה וְהִנֵּה֙ נִשְׁחַ֣ת הָאֵז֔וֹר לֹ֥א יִצְלַ֖ח לַכֹּֽל׃ {פ}
So I went to Perath and dug up the loincloth from the place where I had buried it; and found the loincloth ruined; it was not good for anything.

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me:

כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה כָּ֠כָה אַשְׁחִ֞ית אֶת־גְּא֧וֹן יְהוּדָ֛ה וְאֶת־גְּא֥וֹן יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם הָרָֽב׃ Thus said GOD: Even so will I ruin the overweening pride of Judah and Jerusalem.

הָעָם֩ הַזֶּ֨ה הָרָ֜ע הַֽמֵּאֲנִ֣ים ׀ לִשְׁמ֣וֹעַ אֶת־דְּבָרַ֗י הַהֹֽלְכִים֙ בִּשְׁרִר֣וּת לִבָּ֔ם וַיֵּלְכ֗וּ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים לְעׇבְדָ֖ם וּלְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם וִיהִי֙ כָּאֵז֣וֹר הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יִצְלַ֖ח לַכֹּֽל׃ {ס}         This wicked people who refuse to heed My bidding, who follow the willfulness of their own hearts, who follow other gods and serve them and worship them, shall become like that loincloth, which is not good for anything.

כִּ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ יִדְבַּ֨ק הָאֵז֜וֹר אֶל־מׇתְנֵי־אִ֗ישׁ כֵּ֣ן הִדְבַּ֣קְתִּי אֵ֠לַ֠י אֶת־כׇּל־בֵּ֨ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וְאֶת־כׇּל־בֵּ֤ית יְהוּדָה֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה לִֽהְי֥וֹת לִי֙ לְעָ֔ם וּלְשֵׁ֥ם וְלִתְהִלָּ֖ה וּלְתִפְאָ֑רֶת וְלֹ֖א שָׁמֵֽעוּ׃ For as a loincloth clings close to a man’s loins, so I brought close to Me the whole House of Israel and the whole House of Judah—declares GOD —that they might be My people, for fame, and praise, and splendor. But they would not obey.

וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה {ס}        כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כׇּל־נֵ֖בֶל יִמָּ֣לֵא יָ֑יִן וְאָמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ הֲיָדֹ֙עַ֙ לֹ֣א נֵדַ֔ע כִּ֥י כׇל־נֵ֖בֶל יִמָּ֥לֵא יָֽיִן׃ And speak this word to them: Thus said the ETERNAL, the God of Israel: “Every jar should be filled with wine.” And when they say to you, “Don’t we know that every jar should be filled with wine?”

וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה הִנְנִ֣י מְמַלֵּ֣א אֶת־כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֪רֶץ הַזֹּ֟את וְאֶת־הַמְּלָכִ֣ים הַיֹּשְׁבִים֩ לְדָוִ֨ד עַל־כִּסְא֜וֹ וְאֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְאֶת־הַנְּבִאִ֗ים וְאֵ֛ת כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְרֽוּשָׁלָ֖͏ִם שִׁכָּרֽוֹן׃ say to them, “Thus said GOD: I am going to fill with drunkenness all the inhabitants of this land, and the kings who sit on the throne of David, and the priests and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

וְנִפַּצְתִּים֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֜יו וְהָאָב֧וֹת וְהַבָּנִ֛ים יַחְדָּ֖ו נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה לֹֽא־אֶחְמ֧וֹל וְלֹא־אָח֛וּס וְלֹ֥א אֲרַחֵ֖ם מֵהַשְׁחִיתָֽם׃ And I will smash them one against the other, parents and children alike—declares GOD; no pity, compassion, or mercy will stop Me from destroying them.”

שִׁמְע֥וּ וְהַאֲזִ֖ינוּ אַל־תִּגְבָּ֑הוּ כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃ Attend and give ear; be not haughty,
For GOD has spoken.

תְּנוּ֩ לַיהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֤ם כָּבוֹד֙ בְּטֶ֣רֶם יַחְשִׁ֔ךְ וּבְטֶ֛רֶם יִֽתְנַגְּפ֥וּ רַגְלֵיכֶ֖ם עַל־הָ֣רֵי נָ֑שֶׁף וְקִוִּיתֶ֤ם לְאוֹר֙ וְשָׂמָ֣הּ לְצַלְמָ֔וֶת (ישית) [וְשִׁ֖ית] לַעֲרָפֶֽל׃ Give honor to the ETERNAL your God
Before darkness descends,
Before your feet stumble
On the mountains in shadow—
When you hope for light,
And it is turned to darkness
And becomes deep gloom.

וְאִם֙ לֹ֣א תִשְׁמָע֔וּהָ בְּמִסְתָּרִ֥ים תִּבְכֶּֽה־נַפְשִׁ֖י מִפְּנֵ֣י גֵוָ֑ה וְדָמֹ֨עַ תִּדְמַ֜ע וְתֵרַ֤ד עֵינִי֙ דִּמְעָ֔ה כִּ֥י נִשְׁבָּ֖ה עֵ֥דֶר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         For if you will not give heed,
My inmost self must weep,
Because of your arrogance;
My eye must stream and flow
With copious tears,
Because GOD’s flock
Is taken captive.

אֱמֹ֥ר לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְלַגְּבִירָ֖ה הַשְׁפִּ֣ילוּ שֵׁ֑בוּ כִּ֤י יָרַד֙ מַרְאֲשׁ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם עֲטֶ֖רֶת תִּֽפְאַרְתְּכֶֽם׃ Say to the king and the queen mother,
“Sit in a lowly spot;
For your diadems are abased,
Your glorious crowns.”

עָרֵ֥י הַנֶּ֛גֶב סֻגְּר֖וּ וְאֵ֣ין פֹּתֵ֑חַ הׇגְלָ֧ת יְהוּדָ֛ה כֻּלָּ֖הּ הׇגְלָ֥ת שְׁלוֹמִֽים׃ {ס}         The cities of the Negeb are shut,
There is no one to open them;
Judah is exiled completely,
All of it exiled.^bJudah is exiled completely, / All of it exiled I.e., most of Judah has been annexed by an alien people.

(שאי) [שְׂא֤וּ] עֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ (וראי) [וּרְא֔וּ] הַבָּאִ֖ים מִצָּפ֑וֹן אַיֵּ֗ה הָעֵ֙דֶר֙ נִתַּן־לָ֔ךְ צֹ֖אן תִּפְאַרְתֵּֽךְ׃ Raise your eyes and behold
Those who come from the north:
Where are the sheep entrusted to you,
The flock you took pride in?

מַה־תֹּֽאמְרִי֙ כִּֽי־יִפְקֹ֣ד עָלַ֔יִךְ וְ֠אַ֠תְּ לִמַּ֨דְתְּ אֹתָ֥ם עָלַ֛יִךְ אַלֻּפִ֖ים לְרֹ֑אשׁ הֲל֤וֹא חֲבָלִים֙ יֹֽאחֱז֔וּךְ כְּמ֖וֹ אֵ֥שֶׁת לֵדָֽה׃ What will you say when they appoint as your heads
Those among you whom you trained to be tame?^cWhat will you say … to be tame? Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Shall not pangs seize you
Like a woman in childbirth?

וְכִ֤י תֹֽאמְרִי֙ בִּלְבָבֵ֔ךְ מַדּ֖וּעַ קְרָאֻ֣נִי אֵ֑לֶּה בְּרֹ֧ב עֲוֺנֵ֛ךְ נִגְל֥וּ שׁוּלַ֖יִךְ נֶחְמְס֥וּ עֲקֵבָֽיִךְ׃ And when you ask yourself,
“Why have these things befallen me?”
It is because of your great iniquity
That your skirts are lifted up,
Your limbs exposed.

הֲיַהֲפֹ֤ךְ כּוּשִׁי֙ עוֹר֔וֹ וְנָמֵ֖ר חֲבַרְבֻּרֹתָ֑יו גַּם־אַתֶּם֙ תּוּכְל֣וּ לְהֵיטִ֔יב לִמֻּדֵ֖י הָרֵֽעַ׃ Can the Cushites^dCushites People of Cush, the region south of Egypt. change their skin,
Or leopards their spots?
Just as much can you do good,
Who are practiced in doing evil!

וַאֲפִיצֵ֖ם כְּקַשׁ־עוֹבֵ֑ר לְר֖וּחַ מִדְבָּֽר׃ So I will scatter you^eyou Heb. “them.” like straw that flies
Before the desert wind.

זֶ֣ה גוֹרָלֵ֧ךְ מְנָת־מִדַּ֛יִךְ מֵאִתִּ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁכַ֣חַתְּ אוֹתִ֔י וַֽתִּבְטְחִ֖י בַּשָּֽׁקֶר׃ This shall be your lot,
Your measured portion from Me
—declares GOD.
Because you forgot Me
And trusted in falsehood,

וְגַם־אֲנִ֛י חָשַׂ֥פְתִּי שׁוּלַ֖יִךְ עַל־פָּנָ֑יִךְ וְנִרְאָ֖ה קְלוֹנֵֽךְ׃ I in turn will lift your skirts over your face
And your shame shall be seen.

נִאֻפַ֤יִךְ וּמִצְהֲלוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ זִמַּ֣ת זְנוּתֵ֔ךְ עַל־גְּבָעוֹת֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה רָאִ֖יתִי שִׁקּוּצָ֑יִךְ א֥וֹי לָךְ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם לֹ֣א תִטְהֲרִ֔י אַחֲרֵ֥י מָתַ֖י עֹֽד׃ {ס}         I behold your adulteries,
Your lustful neighing,
Your unbridled depravity, your vile acts
On the hills of the countryside.
Woe to you, O Jerusalem,
Who will not be pure!
How much longer shall it be?

אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיָ֤ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ עַל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַבַּצָּרֽוֹת׃ The word of GOD that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts.

אָבְלָ֣ה יְהוּדָ֔ה וּשְׁעָרֶ֥יהָ אֻמְלְל֖וּ קָדְר֣וּ לָאָ֑רֶץ וְצִוְחַ֥ת יְרֽוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם עָלָֽתָה׃ Judah is in mourning,
Her settlements languish.
They are bowed to the ground,
And the outcry of Jerusalem rises.

וְאַדִּ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם שָׁלְח֥וּ (צעוריהם) [צְעִֽירֵיהֶ֖ם] לַמָּ֑יִם בָּ֣אוּ עַל־גֵּבִ֞ים לֹא־מָ֣צְאוּ מַ֗יִם שָׁ֤בוּ כְלֵיהֶם֙ רֵיקָ֔ם בֹּ֥שׁוּ וְהׇכְלְמ֖וּ וְחָפ֥וּ רֹאשָֽׁם׃ Their nobles sent their servants for water;
They came to the cisterns, they found no water.
They returned, their vessels empty.
They are shamed and humiliated,
They cover their heads.

בַּעֲב֤וּר הָֽאֲדָמָה֙ חַ֔תָּה כִּ֛י לֹא־הָיָ֥ה גֶ֖שֶׁם בָּאָ֑רֶץ בֹּ֥שׁוּ אִכָּרִ֖ים חָפ֥וּ רֹאשָֽׁם׃ Because of the ground there is dismay,^aBecause of the ground there is dismay Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
For there has been no rain on the earth.
The plowers are shamed,
They cover their heads.

כִּ֤י גַם־אַיֶּ֙לֶת֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה יָלְדָ֖ה וְעָז֑וֹב כִּ֥י לֹֽא־הָיָ֖ה דֶּֽשֶׁא׃ Even the hind in the field
Forsakes her newborn fawn,
Because there is no grass.

וּפְרָאִים֙ עָמְד֣וּ עַל־שְׁפָיִ֔ם שָׁאֲפ֥וּ ר֖וּחַ כַּתַּנִּ֑ים כָּל֥וּ עֵינֵיהֶ֖ם כִּי־אֵ֥ין עֵֽשֶׂב׃ And the wild asses stand on the bare heights,
Snuffing the air like jackals;
Their eyes pine,
Because there is no herbage.

אִם־עֲוֺנֵ֙ינוּ֙ עָ֣נוּ בָ֔נוּ יְהֹוָ֕ה עֲשֵׂ֖ה לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֶ֑ךָ כִּי־רַבּ֥וּ מְשׁוּבֹתֵ֖ינוּ לְךָ֥ חָטָֽאנוּ׃ Though our iniquities testify against us,
Act, O ETERNAL One, for the sake of Your name;
Though our rebellions are many
And we have sinned against You.

מִקְוֵה֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מוֹשִׁיע֖וֹ בְּעֵ֣ת צָרָ֑ה לָ֤מָּה תִֽהְיֶה֙ כְּגֵ֣ר בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּכְאֹרֵ֖חַ נָטָ֥ה לָלֽוּן׃ O Hope of Israel,
Its deliverer in time of trouble,
Why are You like a stranger in the land,
Like a traveler who stops only for the night?

לָ֤מָּה תִֽהְיֶה֙ כְּאִ֣ישׁ נִדְהָ֔ם כְּגִבּ֖וֹר לֹא־יוּכַ֣ל לְהוֹשִׁ֑יעַ וְאַתָּ֧ה בְקִרְבֵּ֣נוּ יְהֹוָ֗ה וְשִׁמְךָ֛ עָלֵ֥ינוּ נִקְרָ֖א אַל־תַּנִּחֵֽנוּ׃ {ס}         Why are You like a man who is stunned,^bstunned Or “impaired.”
Like a warrior who cannot give victory?
Yet You are in our midst, O ETERNAL One,
And Your name is attached to us—
Do not forsake us!

כֹּה־אָמַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה כֵּ֤ן אָֽהֲבוּ֙ לָנ֔וּעַ רַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֣א חָשָׂ֑כוּ וַֽיהֹוָה֙ לֹ֣א רָצָ֔ם עַתָּה֙ יִזְכֹּ֣ר עֲוֺנָ֔ם וְיִפְקֹ֖ד חַטֹּאתָֽם׃ {פ}
Thus said GOD concerning this people: “Truly, they love to stray, they have not restrained their feet; so GOD has no pleasure in them. Now their iniquity will be recalled—and their sin punished.”

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י אַל־תִּתְפַּלֵּ֛ל בְּעַד־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה לְטוֹבָֽה׃ And GOD said to me, “Do not pray for the benefit of this people.

כִּ֣י יָצֻ֗מוּ אֵינֶ֤נִּי שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ אֶל־רִנָּתָ֔ם וְכִ֧י יַעֲל֛וּ עֹלָ֥ה וּמִנְחָ֖ה אֵינֶ֣נִּי רֹצָ֑ם כִּ֗י בַּחֶ֙רֶב֙ וּבָרָעָ֣ב וּבַדֶּ֔בֶר אָנֹכִ֖י מְכַלֶּ֥ה אוֹתָֽם׃ {ס}         When they fast, I will not listen to their outcry; and when they present burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. I will exterminate them by war, famine, and disease.”

וָאֹמַ֞ר אֲהָ֣הּ ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה הַנְּבִאִ֜ים אֹמְרִ֤ים לָהֶם֙ לֹא־תִרְא֣וּ חֶ֔רֶב וְרָעָ֖ב לֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־שְׁל֤וֹם אֱמֶת֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם בַּמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ {ס}         I said, “Ah, my Sovereign GOD ! The prophets are saying to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, famine shall not come upon you, but I will give you unfailing security in this place.’”

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י שֶׁ֚קֶר הַנְּבִאִים֙ נִבְּאִ֣ים בִּשְׁמִ֔י לֹ֤א שְׁלַחְתִּים֙ וְלֹ֣א צִוִּיתִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א דִבַּ֖רְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם חֲז֨וֹן שֶׁ֜קֶר וְקֶ֤סֶם (ואלול ותרמות) [וֶאֱלִיל֙ וְתַרְמִ֣ית] לִבָּ֔ם הֵ֖מָּה מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֥ים לָכֶֽם׃ {ס}         GODreplied: It is a lie that the prophets utter in My name. I have not sent them or commanded them. I have not spoken to them. A lying vision, an empty divination, the deceit of their own contriving—that is what they prophesy to you!

לָכֵ֞ן כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה עַֽל־הַנְּבִאִ֞ים הַנִּבְּאִ֣ים בִּשְׁמִי֮ וַאֲנִ֣י לֹֽא־שְׁלַחְתִּים֒ וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ אֹֽמְרִ֔ים חֶ֣רֶב וְרָעָ֔ב לֹ֥א יִהְיֶ֖ה בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את בַּחֶ֤רֶב וּבָֽרָעָב֙ יִתַּ֔מּוּ הַנְּבִאִ֖ים הָהֵֽמָּה׃ Assuredly, thus said GOD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name though I have not sent them, and who say, “Sword and famine shall not befall this land”; those very prophets shall perish by sword and famine.

וְהָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֣מָּה נִבְּאִ֣ים לָהֶ֡ם יִהְי֣וּ מֻשְׁלָכִים֩ בְּחֻצ֨וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם מִפְּנֵ֣י ׀ הָרָעָ֣ב וְהַחֶ֗רֶב וְאֵ֤ין מְקַבֵּר֙ לָהֵ֔מָּה הֵ֣מָּה נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְנֹתֵיהֶ֑ם וְשָׁפַכְתִּ֥י עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם אֶת־רָעָתָֽם׃ And the assembly to whom they prophesy shall be left lying in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword, with none to bury them—they, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. I will pour out upon them [the requital of] their wickedness.

וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה תֵּרַ֨דְנָה עֵינַ֥י דִּמְעָ֛ה לַ֥יְלָה וְיוֹמָ֖ם וְאַל־תִּדְמֶ֑ינָה כִּי֩ שֶׁ֨בֶר גָּד֜וֹל נִשְׁבְּרָ֗ה בְּתוּלַת֙ בַּת־עַמִּ֔י מַכָּ֖ה נַחְלָ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃ And do you speak to them thus:
Let my eyes run with tears,
Day and night let them not cease,
For my hapless people^cmy hapless people Lit. “the maiden daughter, My people.” has suffered
A grievous injury, a very painful wound.

אִם־יָצָ֣אתִי הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּה֙ חַלְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶב וְאִם֙ בָּ֣אתִי הָעִ֔יר וְהִנֵּ֖ה תַּחֲלוּאֵ֣י רָעָ֑ב כִּֽי־גַם־נָבִ֧יא גַם־כֹּהֵ֛ן סָחֲר֥וּ אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ וְלֹ֥א יָדָֽעוּ׃ {ס}         If I go out to the country—
Lo, the slain of the sword.
If I enter the city—
Lo, those who are sick with^dthose who are sick with Lit. “the sicknesses of.” famine.
Both priest and prophet roam^eroam Meaning of Heb. uncertain. the land,
They know not where.

הֲמָאֹ֨ס מָאַ֜סְתָּ אֶת־יְהוּדָ֗ה אִם־בְּצִיּוֹן֙ גָּעֲלָ֣ה נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ מַדּ֙וּעַ֙ הִכִּיתָ֔נוּ וְאֵ֥ין לָ֖נוּ מַרְפֵּ֑א קַוֵּ֤ה לְשָׁלוֹם֙ וְאֵ֣ין ט֔וֹב וּלְעֵ֥ת מַרְפֵּ֖א וְהִנֵּ֥ה בְעָתָֽה׃ Have You, then, rejected Judah?
Have You spurned Zion?
Why have You smitten us
So that there is no cure?
Why do we hope for happiness,
But find no good;
For a time of healing,
And meet terror instead?

יָדַ֧עְנוּ יְהֹוָ֛ה רִשְׁעֵ֖נוּ עֲוֺ֣ן אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ כִּ֥י חָטָ֖אנוּ לָֽךְ׃ We acknowledge our wickedness, O ETERNAL One —
The iniquity of our ancestors—
For we have sinned against You.

אַל־תִּנְאַץ֙ לְמַ֣עַן שִׁמְךָ֔ אַל־תְּנַבֵּ֖ל כִּסֵּ֣א כְבוֹדֶ֑ךָ זְכֹ֕ר אַל־תָּפֵ֥ר בְּרִיתְךָ֖ אִתָּֽנוּ׃ For Your name’s sake, do not disown us;
Do not dishonor Your glorious throne.
Remember, do not annul Your covenant with us.

הֲיֵ֨שׁ בְּהַבְלֵ֤י הַגּוֹיִם֙ מַגְשִׁמִ֔ים וְאִם־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם יִתְּנ֣וּ רְבִבִ֑ים הֲלֹ֨א אַתָּה־ה֜וּא יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּנְקַוֶּה־לָּ֔ךְ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ אֶת־כׇּל־אֵֽלֶּה׃ {פ}
Can any of the false gods of the nations give rain?
Can the skies of themselves give showers?
Only You can, O ETERNAL One our God!
So we hope in You,
For only You made all these things.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י אִם־יַעֲמֹ֨ד מֹשֶׁ֤ה וּשְׁמוּאֵל֙ לְפָנַ֔י אֵ֥ין נַפְשִׁ֖י אֶל־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה שַׁלַּ֥ח מֵעַל־פָּנַ֖י וְיֵצֵֽאוּ׃ GODsaid to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel were to intercede with Me,^aintercede with Me Lit. “stand before Me,” as Jeremiah is doing now; cf. 18.20. I would not be won over to that people. Dismiss them from My presence, and let them go forth!

וְהָיָ֛ה כִּי־יֹאמְר֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ אָ֣נָה נֵצֵ֑א וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר לַמָּ֤וֶת לַמָּ֙וֶת֙ וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר לַחֶ֙רֶב֙ לַחֶ֔רֶב וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר לָרָעָב֙ לָרָעָ֔ב וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לַשְּׁבִ֖י לַשֶּֽׁבִי׃ And if they ask you, ‘To what shall we go forth?’ answer them, ‘Thus said GOD:
Those destined for the plague, to the plague;
Those destined for the sword, to the sword;
Those destined for famine, to famine;
Those destined for captivity, to captivity.

וּפָקַדְתִּ֨י עֲלֵיהֶ֜ם אַרְבַּ֤ע מִשְׁפָּחוֹת֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶת־הַחֶ֣רֶב לַהֲרֹ֔ג וְאֶת־הַכְּלָבִ֖ים לִסְחֹ֑ב וְאֶת־ע֧וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְאֶת־בֶּהֱמַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ לֶאֱכֹ֥ל וּלְהַשְׁחִֽית׃ And I will appoint over them four kinds^bkinds Meaning of Heb. uncertain. [of punishment]—declares GOD —the sword to slay, the dogs to drag, the birds of the sky, and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.

וּנְתַתִּ֣ים (לזועה) [לְזַעֲוָ֔ה] לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֑רֶץ בִּ֠גְלַ֠ל מְנַשֶּׁ֤ה בֶן־יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, on account of King Manasseh son of Hezekiah of Judah, and of what he did in Jerusalem.’”

כִּ֠י מִֽי־יַחְמֹ֤ל עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וּמִ֖י יָנ֣וּד לָ֑ךְ וּמִ֣י יָס֔וּר לִשְׁאֹ֥ל לְשָׁלֹ֖ם לָֽךְ׃ But who will pity you, O Jerusalem,
Who will console you?
Who will turn aside to inquire
About your welfare?

אַ֣תְּ נָטַ֥שְׁתְּ אֹתִ֛י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֖ה אָח֣וֹר תֵּלֵ֑כִי וָאַ֨ט אֶת־יָדִ֤י עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ וָֽאַשְׁחִיתֵ֔ךְ נִלְאֵ֖יתִי הִנָּחֵֽם׃ You cast Me off
—declares GOD —
You go ever backward.
So I have stretched out My hand to destroy you;
I cannot relent.

וָאֶזְרֵ֥ם בְּמִזְרֶ֖ה בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ שִׁכַּ֤לְתִּי אִבַּ֙דְתִּי֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י מִדַּרְכֵיהֶ֖ם לוֹא־שָֽׁבוּ׃ I will scatter them as with a winnowing fork
Through the settlements of the earth.
I will bereave, I will destroy My people,
For they would not turn back from their ways.

עָֽצְמוּ־לִ֤י אַלְמְנוֹתָו֙ מֵח֣וֹל יַמִּ֔ים הֵבֵ֨אתִי לָהֶ֥ם עַל־אֵ֛ם בָּח֖וּר שֹׁדֵ֣ד בַּֽצׇּהֳרָ֑יִם הִפַּ֤לְתִּי עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ פִּתְאֹ֔ם עִ֖יר וּבֶהָלֽוֹת׃ Their widows shall be more numerous
Than the sands of the seas.
I will bring against them—
Young men and mothers together^cYoung men and mothers together Meaning of Heb. uncertain. —
A destroyer at noonday.
I will bring down suddenly upon them
Alarm^dAlarm Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and terror.

אֻמְלְלָ֞ה יֹלֶ֣דֶת הַשִּׁבְעָ֗ה נָפְחָ֥ה נַפְשָׁ֛הּ (באה) [בָּ֥א] שִׁמְשָׁ֛הּ בְּעֹ֥ד יוֹמָ֖ם בּ֣וֹשָׁה וְחָפֵ֑רָה וּשְׁאֵרִיתָ֗ם לַחֶ֧רֶב אֶתֵּ֛ן לִפְנֵ֥י אֹיְבֵיהֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         She who bore seven is forlorn,
Utterly disconsolate;
Her sun has set while it is still day,
She is shamed and humiliated.
The remnant of them I will deliver to the sword,
To the power of their enemies
—declares GOD.

אֽוֹי־לִ֣י אִמִּ֔י כִּ֣י יְלִדְתִּ֗נִי אִ֥ישׁ רִ֛יב וְאִ֥ישׁ מָד֖וֹן לְכׇל־הָאָ֑רֶץ לֹֽא־נָשִׁ֥יתִי וְלֹא־נָֽשׁוּ־בִ֖י כֻּלֹּ֥ה מְקַֽלְלַֽוְנִי׃ {ס}         Woe is me, my mother, that you ever bore me—
A man of conflict and strife with all the land!
I have not lent,
And I have not borrowed;
Yet everyone curses me.

אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אִם־לֹ֥א (שרותך) [שֵׁרִיתִ֖יךָ] לְט֑וֹב אִם־ל֣וֹא ׀ הִפְגַּ֣עְתִּֽי בְךָ֗ בְּעֵ֥ת רָעָ֛ה וּבְעֵ֥ת צָרָ֖ה אֶת־הָאֹיֵֽב׃ GOD said:
Surely, a mere remnant of you
Will I spare for a better fate!^eSurely … better fate Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
By the enemy from the north^ffrom the north Moved up from v. 12 for clarity.
In a time of distress and a time of disaster,
Surely, I will have you struck down!

הֲיָרֹ֨עַ בַּרְזֶ֧ל ׀ בַּרְזֶ֛ל מִצָּפ֖וֹן וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ Can iron break iron and bronze?^gCan iron break iron and bronze? Emendation yields “[God] shall shatter iron—iron and bronze!”

חֵֽילְךָ֧ וְאוֹצְרוֹתֶ֛יךָ לָבַ֥ז אֶתֵּ֖ן לֹ֣א בִמְחִ֑יר וּבְכׇל־חַטֹּאותֶ֖יךָ וּבְכׇל־גְּבוּלֶֽיךָ׃ I will hand over your wealth and your treasures
As a spoil, free of charge,
Because of all your sins throughout your territory.

וְהַֽעֲבַרְתִּי֙ אֶת־אֹ֣יְבֶ֔יךָ בְּאֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֣א יָדָ֑עְתָּ כִּי־אֵ֛שׁ קָדְחָ֥ה בְאַפִּ֖י עֲלֵיכֶ֥ם תּוּקָֽד׃ {ס}         And I will bring your enemies
By way of a land you have not known.^hI will hand over … you have not known Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
For a fire has flared in My wrath,
It blazes against you.

אַתָּ֧ה יָדַ֣עְתָּ יְהֹוָ֗ה זׇכְרֵ֤נִי וּפׇקְדֵ֙נִי֙ וְהִנָּ֤קֶם לִי֙ מֵרֹ֣דְפַ֔י אַל־לְאֶ֥רֶךְ אַפְּךָ֖ תִּקָּחֵ֑נִי דַּ֕ע שְׂאֵתִ֥י עָלֶ֖יךָ חֶרְפָּֽה׃ O ETERNAL One, you know—
Remember me and take thought of me,
Avenge me on those who persecute me;
Do not yield to Your patience,
Do not let me perish!ⁱDo not let me perish Lit. “Do not take me away.”
Consider how I have borne insult
On Your account.

נִמְצְא֤וּ דְבָרֶ֙יךָ֙ וָאֹ֣כְלֵ֔ם וַיְהִ֤י (דבריך) [דְבָֽרְךָ֙] לִ֔י לְשָׂשׂ֖וֹן וּלְשִׂמְחַ֣ת לְבָבִ֑י כִּֽי־נִקְרָ֤א שִׁמְךָ֙ עָלַ֔י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י צְבָאֽוֹת׃ {ס}         When Your words were offered, I devoured them;
Your word brought me the delight and joy
Of knowing that Your name is attached to me,
O ETERNAL One, God of Hosts.

לֹא־יָשַׁ֥בְתִּי בְסוֹד־מְשַׂחֲקִ֖ים וָאֶעְלֹ֑ז מִפְּנֵ֤י יָֽדְךָ֙ בָּדָ֣ד יָשַׁ֔בְתִּי כִּי־זַ֖עַם מִלֵּאתָֽנִי׃ I have not sat in the company of revelers
And made merry!
I have sat lonely because of Your hand upon me,
For You have filled me with gloom.

לָ֣מָּה הָיָ֤ה כְאֵבִי֙ נֶ֔צַח וּמַכָּתִ֖י אֲנוּשָׁ֑ה מֵֽאֲנָה֙ הֵרָפֵ֔א הָי֨וֹ תִהְיֶ֥ה לִי֙ כְּמ֣וֹ אַכְזָ֔ב מַ֖יִם לֹ֥א נֶאֱמָֽנוּ׃ {ס}         Why must my pain be endless,
My wound incurable,
Resistant to healing?
You have been to me like a spring that fails,
Like waters that cannot be relied on.

לָכֵ֞ן כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אִם־תָּשׁ֤וּב וַאֲשִֽׁיבְךָ֙ לְפָנַ֣י תַּעֲמֹ֔ד וְאִם־תּוֹצִ֥יא יָקָ֛ר מִזּוֹלֵ֖ל כְּפִ֣י תִֽהְיֶ֑ה יָשֻׁ֤בוּ הֵ֙מָּה֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹא־תָשׁ֥וּב אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ Assuredly, thus said GOD:
If you turn back, I shall take you back
And you shall stand before Me;
If you produce what is noble
Out of the worthless,
You shall be My spokesman.
They shall come back to you,
Not you to them.

וּנְתַתִּ֜יךָ לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה לְחוֹמַ֤ת נְחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ בְּצוּרָ֔ה וְנִלְחֲמ֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ וְלֹא־י֣וּכְלוּ לָ֑ךְ כִּֽי־אִתְּךָ֥ אֲנִ֛י לְהוֹשִׁיעֲךָ֥ וּלְהַצִּילֶ֖ךָ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Against this people I will make you
As a fortified wall of bronze:
They will attack you,
But they shall not overcome you,
For I am with you to deliver and save you
—declares GOD.

וְהִצַּלְתִּ֖יךָ מִיַּ֣ד רָעִ֑ים וּפְדִתִ֖יךָ מִכַּ֥ף עָרִצִֽים׃ {ס}         I will save you from the hands of the wicked
And rescue you from the clutches of the violent.

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me:

לֹא־תִקַּ֥ח לְךָ֖ אִשָּׁ֑ה וְלֹֽא־יִהְי֤וּ לְךָ֙ בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנ֔וֹת בַּמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ {ס}         You are not to marry and not to have sons and daughters in this place.

כִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה עַל־הַבָּנִים֙ וְעַל־הַבָּנ֔וֹת הַיִּלּוֹדִ֖ים בַּמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְעַֽל־אִמֹּתָ֞ם הַיֹּלְד֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם וְעַל־אֲבוֹתָ֛ם הַמּוֹלִדִ֥ים אוֹתָ֖ם בָּאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת׃ For thus said GOD concerning any sons and daughters that may be born in this place, and concerning the mothers who bear them, and concerning the fathers who beget them in this land:

מְמוֹתֵ֨י תַחֲלֻאִ֜ים יָמֻ֗תוּ לֹ֤א יִסָּֽפְדוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִקָּבֵ֔רוּ לְדֹ֛מֶן עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָ֖ה יִהְי֑וּ וּבַחֶ֤רֶב וּבָֽרָעָב֙ יִכְל֔וּ וְהָיְתָ֤ה נִבְלָתָם֙ לְמַאֲכָ֔ל לְע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וּלְבֶהֱמַ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ {ס}         They shall die gruesome deaths. They shall not be lamented or buried; they shall be like dung on the surface of the ground. They shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, and their corpses shall be food for the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth.

כִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אַל־תָּבוֹא֙ בֵּ֣ית מַרְזֵ֔חַ וְאַל־תֵּלֵ֣ךְ לִסְפּ֔וֹד וְאַל־תָּנֹ֖ד לָהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אָסַ֨פְתִּי אֶת־שְׁלוֹמִ֜י מֵאֵ֨ת הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶת־הַחֶ֖סֶד וְאֶת־הָרַחֲמִֽים׃ For thus said GOD:
Do not enter a house of mourning,^amourning Lit. “religious gathering.”
Do not go to lament and to condole with them;
For I have withdrawn My favor from that people
—declares GOD —
My kindness and compassion.

וּמֵ֨תוּ גְדֹלִ֧ים וּקְטַנִּ֛ים בָּאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּ֖את לֹ֣א יִקָּבֵ֑רוּ וְלֹא־יִסְפְּד֣וּ לָהֶ֔ם וְלֹ֣א יִתְגֹּדַ֔ד וְלֹ֥א יִקָּרֵ֖חַ לָהֶֽם׃ Great and small alike shall die in this land,
They shall not be buried; no one shall lament them,
Nor gash and tonsure themselves for them.

וְלֹא־יִפְרְס֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם עַל־אֵ֖בֶל לְנַחֲמ֣וֹ עַל־מֵ֑ת וְלֹֽא־יַשְׁק֤וּ אוֹתָם֙ כּ֣וֹס תַּנְחוּמִ֔ים עַל־אָבִ֖יו וְעַל־אִמּֽוֹ׃ They shall not break bread^bbread So a few mss. Most mss. and editions read “to them.” for a mourner^cmourner Lit. “mourning.”
To offer comfort for a death,
Nor offer one a cup of consolation
For the loss of their father or mother.

וּבֵית־מִשְׁתֶּ֥ה לֹֽא־תָב֖וֹא לָשֶׁ֣בֶת אוֹתָ֑ם לֶאֱכֹ֖ל וְלִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃ {פ}
Nor shall you enter a house of feasting,
To sit down with them to eat and drink.

כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הִנְנִ֨י מַשְׁבִּ֜ית מִן־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֛ה לְעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם וּבִימֵיכֶ֑ם ק֤וֹל שָׂשׂוֹן֙ וְק֣וֹל שִׂמְחָ֔ה ק֥וֹל חָתָ֖ן וְק֥וֹל כַּלָּֽה׃ For thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to banish from this place, in your days and before your eyes, the sound of mirth and gladness, the voice of bridegroom and bride.

וְהָיָ֗ה כִּ֤י תַגִּיד֙ לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְאָמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֗יךָ עַל־מֶה֩ דִבֶּ֨ר יְהֹוָ֤ה עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֵ֣ת כׇּל־הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את וּמֶ֤ה עֲוֺנֵ֙נוּ֙ וּמֶ֣ה חַטָּאתֵ֔נוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָטָ֖אנוּ לַיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ And when you announce all these things to that people, and they ask you, “Why has GOD decreed upon us all this fearful evil? What is the iniquity and what the sin that we have committed against the ETERNAL our God?”

וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם עַל֩ אֲשֶׁר־עָזְב֨וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֤ם אוֹתִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיֵּלְכ֗וּ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַיַּעַבְד֖וּם וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּ לָהֶ֑ם וְאֹתִ֣י עָזָ֔בוּ וְאֶת־תּוֹרָתִ֖י לֹ֥א שָׁמָֽרוּ׃ say to them, “Because your ancestors deserted Me—declares GOD —and followed other gods and served them and worshiped them; they deserted Me and did not keep My Instruction.

וְאַתֶּ֛ם הֲרֵעֹתֶ֥ם לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת מֵאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְהִנְּכֶ֣ם הֹלְכִ֗ים אִ֚ישׁ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ שְׁרִר֣וּת לִבּֽוֹ־הָרָ֔ע לְבִלְתִּ֖י שְׁמֹ֥עַ אֵלָֽי׃ And you have acted worse than your ancestors, every one of you following the willfulness of their own evil heart and paying no heed to Me.

וְהֵטַלְתִּ֣י אֶתְכֶ֗ם מֵעַל֙ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את עַל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם אַתֶּ֖ם וַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁ֞ם אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ יוֹמָ֣ם וָלַ֔יְלָה אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־אֶתֵּ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם חֲנִינָֽה׃ {פ}
Therefore I will hurl you out of this land to a land that neither you nor your ancestors have known, and there you will serve other gods, day and night; for I will show you no mercy.”

לָכֵ֛ן הִנֵּה־יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹא־יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ חַי־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֶעֱלָ֛ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ Assuredly, a time is coming—declares GOD —when it shall no more be said, “As GOD lives who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt,”

כִּ֣י אִם־חַי־יְהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֶעֱלָ֜ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹן וּמִכֹּל֙ הָאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִדִּיחָ֖ם שָׁ֑מָּה וַהֲשִֽׁבֹתִים֙ עַל־אַדְמָתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לַאֲבוֹתָֽם׃ {פ}
but rather, “As GOD lives who brought the Israelites out of the northland, and out of all the lands to which they had been banished.” For I will bring them back to their land, which I gave to their ancestors.

הִנְנִ֨י שֹׁלֵ֜חַ (לדוגים) [לְדַיָּגִ֥ים] רַבִּ֛ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֖ה וְדִיג֑וּם וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן אֶשְׁלַח֙ לְרַבִּ֣ים צַיָּדִ֔ים וְצָד֞וּם מֵעַ֤ל כׇּל־הַר֙ וּמֵעַ֣ל כׇּל־גִּבְעָ֔ה וּמִנְּקִיקֵ֖י הַסְּלָעִֽים׃ Lo, I am sending for many fishermen
—declares GOD —
And they shall haul them out;
And after that I will send for many hunters,
And they shall hunt them
Out of every mountain and out of every hill
And out of the clefts of the rocks.

כִּ֤י עֵינַי֙ עַל־כׇּל־דַּרְכֵיהֶ֔ם לֹ֥א נִסְתְּר֖וּ מִלְּפָנָ֑י וְלֹֽא־נִצְפַּ֥ן עֲוֺנָ֖ם מִנֶּ֥גֶד עֵינָֽי׃ For My eyes are on all their ways,
They are not hidden from My presence,
Their iniquity is not concealed from My sight.

וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֣י רִאשׁוֹנָ֗ה מִשְׁנֵ֤ה עֲוֺנָם֙ וְחַטָּאתָ֔ם עַ֖ל חַלְּלָ֣ם אֶת־אַרְצִ֑י בְּנִבְלַ֤ת שִׁקּֽוּצֵיהֶם֙ וְתוֹעֲב֣וֹתֵיהֶ֔ם מָלְא֖וּ אֶת־נַחֲלָתִֽי׃ {פ}
I will pay them in full^dfull See note to Isa. 65.7. —
Nay, doubly for their iniquity and their sins—
Because they have defiled My land
With the corpses of their abominations,^etheir abominations I.e., their lifeless idols.
And have filled My own possession
With their abhorrent things.