וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֗ה בָּֽרְבִיעִי֙ בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֣ה לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ וַאֲנִ֥י בְתֽוֹךְ־הַגּוֹלָ֖ה עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָ֑ר נִפְתְּחוּ֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וָאֶרְאֶ֖ה מַרְא֥וֹת אֱלֹהִֽים׃ In the thirtieth year,^athe thirtieth year We do not know the 30th of what. on the fifth day of the fourth month, when I was in the community of exiles by the Chebar Canal, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.

בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ הִ֚יא הַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַחֲמִישִׁ֔ית לְגָל֖וּת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ יוֹיָכִֽין׃ (On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—

הָיֹ֣ה הָיָ֣ה דְבַר־יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה אֶל־יְחֶזְקֵ֨אל בֶּן־בּוּזִ֧י הַכֹּהֵ֛ן בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָ֑ר וַתְּהִ֥י עָלָ֛יו שָׁ֖ם יַד־יְהֹוָֽה׃ the word of GOD came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, by the Chebar Canal, in the land of the Chaldeans. And the hand of GOD came upon him there.)

וָאֵ֡רֶא וְהִנֵּה֩ ר֨וּחַ סְעָרָ֜ה בָּאָ֣ה מִן־הַצָּפ֗וֹן עָנָ֤ן גָּדוֹל֙ וְאֵ֣שׁ מִתְלַקַּ֔חַת וְנֹ֥גַֽהּ ל֖וֹ סָבִ֑יב וּמִ֨תּוֹכָ֔הּ כְּעֵ֥ין הַחַשְׁמַ֖ל מִתּ֥וֹךְ הָאֵֽשׁ׃ I looked, and lo, a stormy wind came sweeping out of the north—a huge cloud and flashing fire, surrounded by a radiance; and in the center of it, in the center of the fire, a gleam as of amber.

וּמִ֨תּוֹכָ֔הּ דְּמ֖וּת אַרְבַּ֣ע חַיּ֑וֹת וְזֶה֙ מַרְאֵיהֶ֔ן דְּמ֥וּת אָדָ֖ם לָהֵֽנָּה׃ In the center of it were also the figures of four creatures. And this was their appearance:
They had the figures of human beings.

וְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה פָנִ֖ים לְאֶחָ֑ת וְאַרְבַּ֥ע כְּנָפַ֖יִם לְאַחַ֥ת לָהֶֽם׃ However, each had four faces, and each of them had four wings;

וְרַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם רֶ֣גֶל יְשָׁרָ֑ה וְכַ֣ף רַגְלֵיהֶ֗ם כְּכַף֙ רֶ֣גֶל עֵ֔גֶל וְנֹ֣צְצִ֔ים כְּעֵ֖ין נְחֹ֥שֶׁת קָלָֽל׃ the legs of each were [fused into] a single rigid leg, and the feet of each were like a single calf’s hoof;^blike a single calf’s hoof I.e., cleft in front. and their sparkle^csparkle Or “plumage.” was like the luster of burnished bronze.

(וידו) [וִידֵ֣י] אָדָ֗ם מִתַּ֙חַת֙ כַּנְפֵיהֶ֔ם עַ֖ל אַרְבַּ֣עַת רִבְעֵיהֶ֑ם וּפְנֵיהֶ֥ם וְכַנְפֵיהֶ֖ם לְאַרְבַּעְתָּֽם׃ They had human hands below their wings. The four of them had their faces and their wings on their four sides.

חֹ֥בְרֹ֛ת אִשָּׁ֥ה אֶל־אֲחוֹתָ֖הּ כַּנְפֵיהֶ֑ם לֹא־יִסַּ֣בּוּ בְלֶכְתָּ֔ן אִ֛ישׁ אֶל־עֵ֥בֶר פָּנָ֖יו יֵלֵֽכוּ׃ Each one’s wings touched those of the other. They did not turn when they moved; each could move in the direction of any of its faces.

וּדְמ֣וּת פְּנֵיהֶם֮ פְּנֵ֣י אָדָם֒ וּפְנֵ֨י אַרְיֵ֤ה אֶל־הַיָּמִין֙ לְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֔ם וּפְנֵי־שׁ֥וֹר מֵהַשְּׂמֹ֖אול לְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֑ן וּפְנֵי־נֶ֖שֶׁר לְאַרְבַּעְתָּֽן׃ Each of them had a human face [at the front]; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right; each of the four had the face of an ox on the left; and each of the four had the face of an eagle [at the back].

וּפְנֵיהֶ֕ם וְכַנְפֵיהֶ֥ם פְּרֻד֖וֹת מִלְמָ֑עְלָה לְאִ֗ישׁ שְׁ֚תַּיִם חֹבְר֣וֹת אִ֔ישׁ וּשְׁתַּ֣יִם מְכַסּ֔וֹת אֵ֖ת גְּוִיֹּתֵיהֶֽנָה׃ Such were their faces. As for their wings, they were separated: above, each had two touching those of the others, while the other two covered its body.

וְאִ֛ישׁ אֶל־עֵ֥בֶר פָּנָ֖יו יֵלֵ֑כוּ אֶ֣ל אֲשֶׁר֩ יִֽהְיֶה־שָּׁ֨מָּה הָר֤וּחַ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ יֵלֵ֔כוּ לֹ֥א יִסַּ֖בּוּ בְּלֶכְתָּֽן׃ And each could move in the direction of any of its faces; they went wherever the spirit impelled them to go, without turning when they moved.

וּדְמ֨וּת הַחַיּ֜וֹת מַרְאֵיהֶ֣ם כְּגַחֲלֵי־אֵ֗שׁ בֹּֽעֲרוֹת֙ כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה הַלַּפִּדִ֔ים הִ֕יא מִתְהַלֶּ֖כֶת בֵּ֣ין הַחַיּ֑וֹת וְנֹ֣גַהּ לָאֵ֔שׁ וּמִן־הָאֵ֖שׁ יוֹצֵ֥א בָרָֽק׃ Such then was the appearance of the creatures. With them was something that looked like burning coals of fire. This fire, suggestive of torches, kept moving about among the creatures; the fire had a radiance, and lightning issued from the fire.

וְהַחַיּ֖וֹת רָצ֣וֹא וָשׁ֑וֹב כְּמַרְאֵ֖ה הַבָּזָֽק׃ Dashing to and fro [among] the creatures was something that looked like flares.^dDashing to and fro [among] the creatures was something that looked like flares Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וָאֵ֖רֶא הַחַיּ֑וֹת וְהִנֵּה֩ אוֹפַ֨ן אֶחָ֥ד בָּאָ֛רֶץ אֵ֥צֶל הַחַיּ֖וֹת לְאַרְבַּ֥עַת פָּנָֽיו׃ As I gazed on the creatures, I saw one wheel on the ground next to each of the four-faced creatures.

מַרְאֵ֨ה הָאוֹפַנִּ֤ים וּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙ כְּעֵ֣ין תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ וּדְמ֥וּת אֶחָ֖ד לְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֑ן וּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙ וּמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יִהְיֶ֥ה הָאוֹפַ֖ן בְּת֥וֹךְ הָאוֹפָֽן׃ As for the appearance and structure of the wheels, they gleamed like beryl. All four had the same form; the appearance and structure of each was as of two wheels cutting through each other.

עַל־אַרְבַּ֥עַת רִבְעֵיהֶ֖ן בְּלֶכְתָּ֣ם יֵלֵ֑כוּ לֹ֥א יִסַּ֖בּוּ בְּלֶכְתָּֽן׃ And when they moved, each could move in the direction of any of its four quarters; they did not veer when they moved.

וְגַ֨בֵּיהֶ֔ן וְגֹ֥בַהּ לָהֶ֖ם וְיִרְאָ֣ה לָהֶ֑ם וְגַבֹּתָ֗ם מְלֵאֹ֥ת עֵינַ֛יִם סָבִ֖יב לְאַרְבַּעְתָּֽן׃ Their rims were tall and frightening, for the rims of all four were covered all over with eyes.

וּבְלֶ֙כֶת֙ הַחַיּ֔וֹת יֵלְכ֥וּ הָאוֹפַנִּ֖ים אֶצְלָ֑ם וּבְהִנָּשֵׂ֤א הַחַיּוֹת֙ מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ יִנָּשְׂא֖וּ הָאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ And when the creatures moved forward, the wheels moved at their sides; and when the creatures were borne above the earth, the wheels were borne too.

עַ֣ל אֲשֶׁר֩ יִֽהְיֶה־שָּׁ֨ם הָר֤וּחַ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ יֵלֵ֔כוּ שָׁ֥מָּה הָר֖וּחַ לָלֶ֑כֶת וְהָאוֹפַנִּ֗ים יִנָּֽשְׂאוּ֙ לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ הַחַיָּ֖ה בָּאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ Wherever the spirit impelled them to go, they went—wherever the spirit impelled them—and the wheels were borne alongside them; for the spirit of the creatures was in the wheels.

בְּלֶכְתָּ֣ם יֵלֵ֔כוּ וּבְעׇמְדָ֖ם יַעֲמֹ֑דוּ וּֽבְהִנָּשְׂאָ֞ם מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֗רֶץ יִנָּשְׂא֤וּ הָאֽוֹפַנִּים֙ לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ הַחַיָּ֖ה בָּאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ When those moved, these moved; and when those stood still, these stood still; and when those were borne above the earth, the wheels were borne alongside them—for the spirit of the creatures was in the wheels.

וּדְמ֞וּת עַל־רָאשֵׁ֤י הַחַיָּה֙ רָקִ֔יעַ כְּעֵ֖ין הַקֶּ֣רַח הַנּוֹרָ֑א נָט֥וּי עַל־רָאשֵׁיהֶ֖ם מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ Above the heads of the creatures was a form: an expanse, with an awe-inspiring gleam as of crystal, was spread out above their heads.

וְתַ֙חַת֙ הָֽרָקִ֔יעַ כַּנְפֵיהֶ֣ם יְשָׁר֔וֹת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֲחוֹתָ֑הּ לְאִ֗ישׁ שְׁתַּ֤יִם מְכַסּוֹת֙ לָהֵ֔נָּה וּלְאִ֗ישׁ שְׁתַּ֤יִם מְכַסּוֹת֙ לָהֵ֔נָּה אֵ֖ת גְּוִיֹּתֵיהֶֽם׃ Under the expanse, each had one pair of wings extended toward those of the others; and each had another pair covering its body.

וָאֶשְׁמַ֣ע אֶת־ק֣וֹל כַּנְפֵיהֶ֡ם כְּקוֹל֩ מַ֨יִם רַבִּ֤ים כְּקוֹל־שַׁדַּי֙ בְּלֶכְתָּ֔ם ק֥וֹל הֲמֻלָּ֖ה כְּק֣וֹל מַחֲנֶ֑ה בְּעׇמְדָ֖ם תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה כַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃ When they moved, I could hear the sound of their wings like the sound of mighty waters, like the sound of Shaddai,^eShaddai Traditionally “the Almighty”; see Gen. 17.1. a tumult like the din of an army. When they stood still, they would let their wings droop.

וַיְהִי־ק֕וֹל מֵעַ֕ל לָרָקִ֖יעַ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־רֹאשָׁ֑ם בְּעׇמְדָ֖ם תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה כַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃ From above the expanse over their heads came a sound.^fFrom above the expanse over their heads came a sound Meaning of Heb. uncertain. When they stood still, they would let their wings droop.

וּמִמַּ֗עַל לָרָקִ֙יעַ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔ם כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה אֶבֶן־סַפִּ֖יר דְּמ֣וּת כִּסֵּ֑א וְעַל֙ דְּמ֣וּת הַכִּסֵּ֔א דְּמ֞וּת כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה אָדָ֛ם עָלָ֖יו מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ Above the expanse over their heads was the semblance of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and on top, upon this semblance of a throne, there was the semblance of a human form.

וָאֵ֣רֶא ׀ כְּעֵ֣ין חַשְׁמַ֗ל כְּמַרְאֵה־אֵ֤שׁ בֵּֽית־לָהּ֙ סָבִ֔יב מִמַּרְאֵ֥ה מׇתְנָ֖יו וּלְמָ֑עְלָה וּמִמַּרְאֵ֤ה מׇתְנָיו֙ וּלְמַ֔טָּה רָאִ֙יתִי֙ כְּמַרְאֵה־אֵ֔שׁ וְנֹ֥גַֽהּ ל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃ From what appeared as the loins up, I saw a gleam as of amber—what looked like a fire encased in a frame;^gwhat looked like a fire encased in a frame Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and from what appeared as the loins down, I saw what looked like fire. There was a surrounding radiance.

כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה הַקֶּ֡שֶׁת אֲשֶׁר֩ יִהְיֶ֨ה בֶעָנָ֜ן בְּי֣וֹם הַגֶּ֗שֶׁם כֵּ֣ן מַרְאֵ֤ה הַנֹּ֙גַהּ֙ סָבִ֔יב ה֕וּא מַרְאֵ֖ה דְּמ֣וּת כְּבוֹד־יְהֹוָ֑ה וָֽאֶרְאֶה֙ וָאֶפֹּ֣ל עַל־פָּנַ֔י וָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע ק֥וֹל מְדַבֵּֽר׃ {פ}
Like the appearance of the bow that shines in the clouds on a day of rain, such was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. That was the appearance of the semblance of the Presence of GOD. When I beheld it, I flung myself down on my face. And I heard the voice of someone speaking.

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י בֶּן־אָדָם֙ עֲמֹ֣ד עַל־רַגְלֶ֔יךָ וַאֲדַבֵּ֖ר אֹתָֽךְ׃ And it said to me, “O mortal, stand up on your feet that I may speak to you.”

וַתָּ֧בֹא בִ֣י ר֗וּחַ כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר אֵלַ֔י וַתַּעֲמִדֵ֖נִי עַל־רַגְלָ֑י וָאֶשְׁמַ֕ע אֵ֖ת מִדַּבֵּ֥ר אֵלָֽי׃ {פ}
As it spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet; and I heard what was being spoken to me.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י בֶּן־אָדָם֙ שׁוֹלֵ֨חַ אֲנִ֤י אֽוֹתְךָ֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־גּוֹיִ֥ם הַמּוֹרְדִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָרְדוּ־בִ֑י הֵ֤מָּה וַֽאֲבוֹתָם֙ פָּ֣שְׁעוּ בִ֔י עַד־עֶ֖צֶם הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ [God] said to me, “O mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, that nation of rebels, who have rebelled against Me.—They as well as their ancestors have defied Me to this very day;

וְהַבָּנִ֗ים קְשֵׁ֤י פָנִים֙ וְחִזְקֵי־לֵ֔ב אֲנִ֛י שׁוֹלֵ֥חַ אוֹתְךָ֖ אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ for the descendants are brazen of face and stubborn of heart. I send you to them, and you shall say to them: ‘Thus said the Sovereign GOD’—

וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ אִם־יִשְׁמְע֣וּ וְאִם־יֶחְדָּ֔לוּ כִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית מְרִ֖י הֵ֑מָּה וְיָ֣דְע֔וּ כִּ֥י נָבִ֖יא הָיָ֥ה בְתוֹכָֽם׃ {פ}
whether they listen or not, for they are a rebellious breed—that they may know that there was a prophet among them.

וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָ֠דָ֠ם אַל־תִּירָ֨א מֵהֶ֜ם וּמִדִּבְרֵיהֶ֣ם אַל־תִּירָ֗א כִּ֣י סָרָבִ֤ים וְסַלּוֹנִים֙ אוֹתָ֔ךְ וְאֶל־עַקְרַבִּ֖ים אַתָּ֣ה יוֹשֵׁ֑ב מִדִּבְרֵיהֶ֤ם אַל־תִּירָא֙ וּמִפְּנֵיהֶ֣ם אַל־תֵּחָ֔ת כִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית מְרִ֖י הֵֽמָּה׃ “And you, mortal, do not fear them and do not fear their words, though thistles and thorns press against^apress against Lit. “are with.” you, and you sit upon scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words and do not be dismayed by them, though they are a rebellious breed;

וְדִבַּרְתָּ֤ אֶת־דְּבָרַי֙ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אִֽם־יִשְׁמְע֖וּ וְאִם־יֶחְדָּ֑לוּ כִּ֥י מְרִ֖י הֵֽמָּה׃ {פ}
but speak My words to them, whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.

וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם שְׁמַע֙ אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִי֙ מְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֶ֔יךָ אַל־תְּהִי־מֶ֖רִי כְּבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֑רִי פְּצֵ֣ה פִ֔יךָ וֶאֱכֹ֕ל אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֖י נֹתֵ֥ן אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ “And you, mortal, heed what I say to you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious breed. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”

וָאֶרְאֶ֕ה וְהִנֵּה־יָ֖ד שְׁלוּחָ֣ה אֵלָ֑י וְהִנֵּה־ב֖וֹ מְגִלַּת־סֵֽפֶר׃ As I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me, holding a written scroll.

וַיִּפְרֹ֤שׂ אוֹתָהּ֙ לְפָנַ֔י וְהִ֥יא כְתוּבָ֖ה פָּנִ֣ים וְאָח֑וֹר וְכָת֣וּב אֵלֶ֔יהָ קִנִ֥ים וָהֶ֖גֶה וָהִֽי׃ {ס}         [God] unrolled it before me, and it was inscribed on both the front and the back; on it were written lamentations, dirges, and woes.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־תִּמְצָ֖א אֱכ֑וֹל אֱכוֹל֙ אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וְלֵ֥ךְ דַּבֵּ֖ר אֶל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ [God] said to me, “Mortal, eat what is offered you; eat this scroll, and go speak to the House of Israel.”

וָאֶפְתַּ֖ח אֶת־פִּ֑י וַיַּ֣אֲכִילֵ֔נִי אֵ֖ת הַמְּגִלָּ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ So I opened my mouth, and I was given this scroll to eat,

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י בֶּן־אָדָם֙ בִּטְנְךָ֤ תַֽאֲכֵל֙ וּמֵעֶ֣יךָ תְמַלֵּ֔א אֵ֚ת הַמְּגִלָּ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י נֹתֵ֣ן אֵלֶ֑יךָ וָאֹ֣כְלָ֔ה וַתְּהִ֥י בְּפִ֖י כִּדְבַ֥שׁ לְמָתֽוֹק׃ {פ}
as I was told, “Mortal, feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll that I give you.” I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey to me.

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם לֶךְ־בֹּא֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְדִבַּרְתָּ֥ בִדְבָרַ֖י אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ Then [God] said to me, “Mortal, go to the House of Israel and repeat My very words to them.

כִּ֡י לֹא֩ אֶל־עַ֨ם עִמְקֵ֥י שָׂפָ֛ה וְכִבְדֵ֥י לָשׁ֖וֹן אַתָּ֣ה שָׁל֑וּחַ אֶל־בֵּ֖ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ For you are sent, not to a people of unintelligible speech and difficult language, but to the House of Israel—

לֹ֣א ׀ אֶל־עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים עִמְקֵ֤י שָׂפָה֙ וְכִבְדֵ֣י לָשׁ֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תִשְׁמַ֖ע דִּבְרֵיהֶ֑ם אִם־לֹ֤א אֲלֵיהֶם֙ שְׁלַחְתִּ֔יךָ הֵ֖מָּה יִשְׁמְע֥וּ אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ not to the many peoples of unintelligible speech and difficult language, whose talk you cannot understand. If I sent you to them, they would listen to you.

וּבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֹ֤א יֹאבוּ֙ לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ אֵלֶ֔יךָ כִּי־אֵינָ֥ם אֹבִ֖ים לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ אֵלָ֑י כִּ֚י כׇּל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל חִזְקֵי־מֵ֥צַח וּקְשֵׁי־לֵ֖ב הֵֽמָּה׃ But the House of Israel will refuse to listen to you, for they refuse to listen to Me; for the whole House of Israel are brazen of forehead and stubborn of heart.

הִנֵּ֨ה נָתַ֧תִּי אֶת־פָּנֶ֛יךָ חֲזָקִ֖ים לְעֻמַּ֣ת פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וְאֶֽת־מִצְחֲךָ֥ חָזָ֖ק לְעֻמַּ֥ת מִצְחָֽם׃ But I will make your face as hard as theirs, and your forehead as brazen as theirs.

כְּשָׁמִ֛יר חָזָ֥ק מִצֹּ֖ר נָתַ֣תִּי מִצְחֶ֑ךָ לֹֽא־תִירָ֤א אוֹתָם֙ וְלֹא־תֵחַ֣ת מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם כִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית מְרִ֖י הֵֽמָּה׃ {פ}
I will make your forehead like adamant, harder than flint. Do not fear them, and do not be dismayed by them, though they are a rebellious breed.”

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם אֶת־כׇּל־דְּבָרַי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֶ֔יךָ קַ֥ח בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְאׇזְנֶ֥יךָ שְּׁמָֽע׃ Then [God] said to me: “Mortal, listen with your ears and receive into your mind all the words that I speak to you.

וְלֵ֨ךְ בֹּ֤א אֶל־הַגּוֹלָה֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֤ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה אִֽם־יִשְׁמְע֖וּ וְאִם־יֶחְדָּֽלוּ׃ Go to your people, the exile community, and speak to them. Say to them: Thus says the Sovereign GOD —whether they listen or not.”

וַתִּשָּׂאֵ֣נִי ר֔וּחַ וָאֶשְׁמַ֣ע אַחֲרַ֔י ק֖וֹל רַ֣עַשׁ גָּד֑וֹל בָּר֥וּךְ כְּבוֹד־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמְּקוֹמֽוֹ׃ Then a spirit carried me away, and behind me I heard a great roaring sound: “Blessed is the Presence of GOD, in its place,”^asound: “Blessed is the Presence of GOD, in its place” Emendation yields “sound, as the Presence of GOD rose from where it stood.”

וְק֣וֹל ׀ כַּנְפֵ֣י הַחַיּ֗וֹת מַשִּׁיקוֹת֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה אֶל־אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ וְק֥וֹל הָאוֹפַנִּ֖ים לְעֻמָּתָ֑ם וְק֖וֹל רַ֥עַשׁ גָּדֽוֹל׃ with the sound of the wings of the creatures beating against one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them—a great roaring sound.

וְר֥וּחַ נְשָׂאַ֖תְנִי וַתִּקָּחֵ֑נִי וָאֵלֵ֥ךְ מַר֙ בַּחֲמַ֣ת רוּחִ֔י וְיַד־יְהֹוָ֥ה עָלַ֖י חָזָֽקָה׃ A spirit seized me and carried me away. I went in bitterness, in the fury of my spirit, while GOD’s hand was strong upon me.

וָאָב֨וֹא אֶל־הַגּוֹלָ֜ה תֵּ֣ל אָ֠בִ֠יב הַיֹּשְׁבִ֤ים אֶֽל־נְהַר־כְּבָר֙ (ואשר) [וָאֵשֵׁ֔ב] הֵ֖מָּה יוֹשְׁבִ֣ים שָׁ֑ם וָאֵשֵׁ֥ב שָׁ֛ם שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים מַשְׁמִ֥ים בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ And I came to the exile community that dwelt in Tel Abib by the Chebar Canal, and I remained where they dwelt. And for seven days I sat there stunned among them.

וַיְהִ֕י מִקְצֵ֖ה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים {פ}
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ After those seven days, the word of GOD came to me:

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם צֹפֶ֥ה נְתַתִּ֖יךָ לְבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֤ מִפִּי֙ דָּבָ֔ר וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֥ אוֹתָ֖ם מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ “O mortal, I appoint you lookout for the House of Israel; and when you hear a word from My mouth, you must warn them for Me.

בְּאׇמְרִ֤י לָרָשָׁע֙ מ֣וֹת תָּמ֔וּת וְלֹ֣א הִזְהַרְתּ֗וֹ וְלֹ֥א דִבַּ֛רְתָּ לְהַזְהִ֥יר רָשָׁ֛ע מִדַּרְכּ֥וֹ הָרְשָׁעָ֖ה לְחַיֹּת֑וֹ ה֤וּא רָשָׁע֙ בַּעֲוֺנ֣וֹ יָמ֔וּת וְדָמ֖וֹ מִיָּדְךָ֥ אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ If I say to someone wicked, ‘You shall die,’ and you do not give warning—you do not speak to warn them^bthem Heb. “the wicked one.” of their wicked course in order to save their life—then that wicked one shall die for their own iniquity, while from you I will require a reckoning for their blood.

וְאַתָּה֙ כִּי־הִזְהַ֣רְתָּ רָשָׁ֔ע וְלֹא־שָׁב֙ מֵֽרִשְׁע֔וֹ וּמִדַּרְכּ֖וֹ הָרְשָׁעָ֑ה ה֚וּא בַּעֲוֺנ֣וֹ יָמ֔וּת וְאַתָּ֖ה אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ֥ הִצַּֽלְתָּ׃ But if you do warn someone wicked, and they do not turn back from their wickedness and their wicked course, they shall die for their iniquity, while you will have saved your own life.

וּבְשׁ֨וּב צַדִּ֤יק מִצִּדְקוֹ֙ וְעָ֣שָׂה עָ֔וֶל וְנָתַתִּ֥י מִכְשׁ֛וֹל לְפָנָ֖יו ה֣וּא יָמ֑וּת כִּ֣י לֹ֤א הִזְהַרְתּוֹ֙ בְּחַטָּאת֣וֹ יָמ֔וּת וְלֹ֣א תִזָּכַ֗רְןָ צִדְקֹתָו֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְדָמ֖וֹ מִיָּדְךָ֥ אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ Again, if someone righteous abandons righteousness and does wrong—when I put a stumbling block before them—they shall die. They shall die for their sins; the righteous deeds that they did shall not be remembered; while from you, because you did not warn them, I will require a reckoning for their blood.

וְאַתָּ֞ה כִּ֧י הִזְהַרְתּ֣וֹ צַדִּ֗יק לְבִלְתִּ֥י חֲטֹ֛א צַדִּ֖יק וְה֣וּא לֹֽא־חָטָ֑א חָי֤וֹ יִֽחְיֶה֙ כִּ֣י נִזְהָ֔ר וְאַתָּ֖ה אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ֥ הִצַּֽלְתָּ׃ {פ}
If, however, you warn someone righteous not to sin, and that righteous one does not sin, they shall live because they took warning, while you will have saved your own life.”

וַתְּהִ֥י עָלַ֛י שָׁ֖ם יַד־יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י ק֥וּם צֵא֙ אֶל־הַבִּקְעָ֔ה וְשָׁ֖ם אֲדַבֵּ֥ר אוֹתָֽךְ׃ Then GOD’s hand came upon me there, and I was told, “Arise, go out to the valley, and there I will speak with you.”

וָאָקוּם֮ וָאֵצֵ֣א אֶל־הַבִּקְעָה֒ וְהִנֵּה־שָׁ֤ם כְּבוֹד־יְהֹוָה֙ עֹמֵ֔ד כַּכָּב֕וֹד אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָ֑ר וָאֶפֹּ֖ל עַל־פָּנָֽי׃ I arose and went out to the valley, and there stood the Presence of GOD, like the Presence that I had seen at the Chebar Canal; and I flung myself down on my face.

וַתָּבֹא־בִ֣י ר֔וּחַ וַתַּעֲמִדֵ֖נִי עַל־רַגְלָ֑י וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר אֹתִי֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י בֹּ֥א הִסָּגֵ֖ר בְּת֥וֹךְ בֵּיתֶֽךָ׃ And a spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet. And [God] spoke to me, and said to me: “Go, shut yourself up in your house.

וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם הִנֵּ֨ה נָתְנ֤וּ עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ עֲבוֹתִ֔ים וַאֲסָר֖וּךָ בָּהֶ֑ם וְלֹ֥א תֵצֵ֖א בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ As for you, O mortal, cords have been placed upon you, and you have been bound with them, and you shall not go out among the people.^cthe people Heb. “them.”

וּלְשֽׁוֹנְךָ֙ אַדְבִּ֣יק אֶל־חִכֶּ֔ךָ וְנֶֽאֱלַ֔מְתָּ וְלֹא־תִהְיֶ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם לְאִ֣ישׁ מוֹכִ֑יחַ כִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית מְרִ֖י הֵֽמָּה׃ And I will make your tongue cleave to your palate, and you shall be dumb; you shall not be a reprover to them, for they are a rebellious breed.

וּֽבְדַבְּרִ֤י אֽוֹתְךָ֙ אֶפְתַּ֣ח אֶת־פִּ֔יךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה הַשֹּׁמֵ֤עַ ׀ יִשְׁמָע֙ וְהֶחָדֵ֣ל ׀ יֶחְדָּ֔ל כִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית מְרִ֖י הֵֽמָּה׃ {פ}
But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Sovereign GOD !’ Whoever listens will listen, and whoever does not will not—for they are a rebellious breed.”

וְאַתָּ֤ה בֶן־אָדָם֙ קַח־לְךָ֣ לְבֵנָ֔ה וְנָתַתָּ֥ה אוֹתָ֖הּ לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וְחַקּוֹתָ֥ עָלֶ֛יהָ עִ֖יר אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ “And you, O mortal, take a brick and put it in front of you, and incise on it a city, Jerusalem.

וְנָתַתָּ֨ה עָלֶ֜יהָ מָצ֗וֹר וּבָנִ֤יתָ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ דָּיֵ֔ק וְשָׁפַכְתָּ֥ עָלֶ֖יהָ סֹלְלָ֑ה וְנָתַתָּ֨ה עָלֶ֧יהָ מַחֲנ֛וֹת וְשִׂים־עָלֶ֥יהָ כָּרִ֖ים סָבִֽיב׃ Set up a siege against it, and build towers against it, and cast a mound against it; pitch camps against it, and bring up battering rams round about it.

וְאַתָּ֤ה קַח־לְךָ֙ מַֽחֲבַ֣ת בַּרְזֶ֔ל וְנָתַתָּ֤ה אוֹתָהּ֙ קִ֣יר בַּרְזֶ֔ל בֵּינְךָ֖ וּבֵ֣ין הָעִ֑יר וַהֲכִינֹתָה֩ אֶת־פָּנֶ֨יךָ אֵלֶ֜יהָ וְהָיְתָ֤ה בַמָּצוֹר֙ וְצַרְתָּ֣ עָלֶ֔יהָ א֥וֹת הִ֖יא לְבֵ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}
Then take an iron plate and place it as an iron wall between yourself and the city, and set your face against it.^aset your face against it I.e., adopt a hostile stance. Thus it shall be under siege, you shall besiege it. This shall be an omen for the House of Israel.

וְאַתָּ֤ה שְׁכַב֙ עַל־צִדְּךָ֣ הַשְּׂמָאלִ֔י וְשַׂמְתָּ֛ אֶת־עֲוֺ֥ן בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עָלָ֑יו מִסְפַּ֤ר הַיָּמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁכַּ֣ב עָלָ֔יו תִּשָּׂ֖א אֶת־עֲוֺנָֽם׃ “Then lie on your left side, and let it bear the punishment of the House of Israel;^bleft…Israel Since left and right also denote north and south (e.g., 16.46), respectively, the left side represents Israel, the northern kingdom, and the right side Judah, the southern kingdom. for as many days as you lie on it you shall bear their punishment.

וַאֲנִ֗י נָתַ֤תִּֽי לְךָ֙ אֶת־שְׁנֵ֣י עֲוֺנָ֔ם לְמִסְפַּ֣ר יָמִ֔ים שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת וְתִשְׁעִ֖ים י֑וֹם וְנָשָׂ֖אתָ עֲוֺ֥ן בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ For I impose upon you three hundred and ninety days, corresponding to the number of the years of their punishment; and so you shall bear the punishment for the House of Israel.

וְכִלִּיתָ֣ אֶת־אֵ֗לֶּה וְשָׁ֨כַבְתָּ֜ עַֽל־צִדְּךָ֤ (הימיני) [הַיְמָנִי֙] שֵׁנִ֔ית וְנָשָׂ֖אתָ אֶת־עֲוֺ֣ן בֵּית־יְהוּדָ֑ה אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם י֧וֹם לַשָּׁנָ֛ה י֥וֹם לַשָּׁנָ֖ה נְתַתִּ֥יו לָֽךְ׃ When you have completed these, you shall lie another forty days on your right side, and bear the punishment of the House of Judah.^cright…Judah See note at v. 4. I impose on you one day for each year.

וְאֶל־מְצ֤וֹר יְרוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ תָּכִ֣ין פָּנֶ֔יךָ וּֽזְרֹעֲךָ֖ חֲשׂוּפָ֑ה וְנִבֵּאתָ֖ עָלֶֽיהָ׃ “Then, with bared arm, set your face toward besieged Jerusalem and prophesy against it.

וְהִנֵּ֛ה נָתַ֥תִּי עָלֶ֖יךָ עֲבוֹתִ֑ים וְלֹֽא־תֵהָפֵ֤ךְ מִֽצִּדְּךָ֙ אֶל־צִדֶּ֔ךָ עַד־כַּלּוֹתְךָ֖ יְמֵ֥י מְצוּרֶֽךָ׃ Now I put cords upon you, so that you cannot turn from side to side until you complete your days of siege.

וְאַתָּ֣ה קַח־לְךָ֡ חִטִּ֡ין וּ֠שְׂעֹרִ֠ים וּפ֨וֹל וַעֲדָשִׁ֜ים וְדֹ֣חַן וְכֻסְּמִ֗ים וְנָתַתָּ֤ה אוֹתָם֙ בִּכְלִ֣י אֶחָ֔ד וְעָשִׂ֧יתָ אוֹתָ֛ם לְךָ֖ לְלָ֑חֶם מִסְפַּ֨ר הַיָּמִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֣ה ׀ שׁוֹכֵ֣ב עַֽל־צִדְּךָ֗ שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֧וֹת וְתִשְׁעִ֛ים י֖וֹם תֹּאכְלֶֽנּוּ׃ “Further, take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and emmer. Put them into one vessel and bake them into bread. Eat it as many days as you lie on your side: three hundred and ninety.

וּמַאֲכָֽלְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּאכְלֶ֔נּוּ בְּמִשְׁק֕וֹל עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שֶׁ֖קֶל לַיּ֑וֹם מֵעֵ֥ת עַד־עֵ֖ת תֹּאכְלֶֽנּוּ׃ The food that you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; this you shall eat in the space of a day.

וּמַ֛יִם בִּמְשׂוּרָ֥ה תִשְׁתֶּ֖ה שִׁשִּׁ֣ית הַהִ֑ין מֵעֵ֥ת עַד־עֵ֖ת תִּשְׁתֶּֽה׃ And you shall drink water by measure; drink a sixth of a hin in the space of a day.

וְעֻגַ֥ת שְׂעֹרִ֖ים תֹּאכְלֶ֑נָּה וְהִ֗יא בְּגֶֽלְלֵי֙ צֵאַ֣ת הָֽאָדָ֔ם תְּעֻגֶ֖נָה לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס}         “Eat it as a barley^dbarley Meaning of Heb. uncertain. cake; you shall bake it on human excrement before their eyes.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה כָּ֣כָה יֹאכְל֧וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶת־לַחְמָ֖ם טָמֵ֑א בַּגּוֹיִ֕ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַדִּיחֵ֖ם שָֽׁם׃ So,” said GOD, “shall the people of Israel eat their bread, impure, among the nations to which I will banish them.”

וָאֹמַ֗ר אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הִנֵּ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י לֹ֣א מְטֻמָּאָ֑ה וּנְבֵלָ֨ה וּטְרֵפָ֤ה לֹא־אָכַ֙לְתִּי֙ מִנְּעוּרַ֣י וְעַד־עַ֔תָּה וְלֹא־בָ֥א בְּפִ֖י בְּשַׂ֥ר פִּגּֽוּל׃ {ס}         Then I said, “Ah, my Sovereign GOD, my person^eperson Or “throat.” was never defiled; nor have I eaten anything that died of itself or was torn by beasts from my youth until now, nor has foul flesh entered my mouth.”

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י רְאֵ֗ה נָתַ֤תִּֽי לְךָ֙ אֶת־[צְפִיעֵ֣י] (צפועי) הַבָּקָ֔ר תַּ֖חַת גֶּֽלְלֵ֣י הָֽאָדָ֑ם וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ אֶֽת־לַחְמְךָ֖ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס}         The answer came: “See, I allow you cow’s dung instead of human excrement; prepare your bread on that.”

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י בֶּן־אָדָם֙ הִנְנִ֨י שֹׁבֵ֤ר מַטֵּֽה־לֶ֙חֶם֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְאָכְלוּ־לֶ֥חֶם בְּמִשְׁקָ֖ל וּבִדְאָגָ֑ה וּמַ֕יִם בִּמְשׂוּרָ֥ה וּבְשִׁמָּמ֖וֹן יִשְׁתּֽוּ׃ ^fResuming the thought of v. 11. And I was told, “O mortal, I am going to break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they shall eat bread by weight, in anxiety, and drink water by measure, in horror,

לְמַ֥עַן יַחְסְר֖וּ לֶ֣חֶם וָמָ֑יִם וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ וְאָחִ֔יו וְנָמַ֖קּוּ בַּעֲוֺנָֽם׃ {פ}
so that, lacking bread and water, they shall stare at each other, heartsick over their iniquity.

וְאַתָּ֨ה בֶן־אָדָ֜ם קַח־לְךָ֣ ׀ חֶ֣רֶב חַדָּ֗ה תַּ֤עַר הַגַּלָּבִים֙ תִּקָּחֶ֣נָּה לָּ֔ךְ וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ֥ עַל־רֹאשְׁךָ֖ וְעַל־זְקָנֶ֑ךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ לְךָ֛ מֹאזְנֵ֥י מִשְׁקָ֖ל וְחִלַּקְתָּֽם׃ “And you, O mortal, take a sharp knife; use it as a barber’s razor and pass it over your head and beard. Then take scales and divide the hair.^athe hair Lit. “them.”

שְׁלִשִׁ֗ית בָּא֤וּר תַּבְעִיר֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֔יר כִּמְלֹ֖את יְמֵ֣י הַמָּצ֑וֹר וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ אֶת־הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֗ית תַּכֶּ֤ה בַחֶ֙רֶב֙ סְבִ֣יבוֹתֶ֔יהָ וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁית֙ תִּזְרֶ֣ה לָר֔וּחַ וְחֶ֖רֶב אָרִ֥יק אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ When the days of siege are completed, destroy a third part in fire in the city, take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city,^bthe city Heb. “it.” and scatter a third to the wind and unsheathe^cunsheathe Cf. v. 12; lit. “I will unsheathe.” a sword after them.

וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ מִשָּׁ֖ם מְעַ֣ט בְּמִסְפָּ֑ר וְצַרְתָּ֥ אוֹתָ֖ם בִּכְנָפֶֽיךָ׃ “Take also a few [hairs] from there and tie them up in your skirts.

וּמֵהֶם֙ ע֣וֹד תִּקָּ֔ח וְהִשְׁלַכְתָּ֤ אוֹתָם֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הָאֵ֔שׁ וְשָׂרַפְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם בָּאֵ֑שׁ מִמֶּ֥נּוּ תֵֽצֵא־אֵ֖שׁ אֶל־כׇּל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}
And take some more of them and cast them into the fire, and burn them in the fire. From this a fire shall go out upon the whole House of Israel.”

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה זֹ֚את יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם בְּת֥וֹךְ הַגּוֹיִ֖ם שַׂמְתִּ֑יהָ וּסְבִיבוֹתֶ֖יהָ אֲרָצֽוֹת׃ Thus said the Sovereign GOD: I set this Jerusalem in the midst of nations, with countries round about her.

וַתֶּ֨מֶר אֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֤י לְרִשְׁעָה֙ מִן־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְאֶ֨ת־חֻקּוֹתַ֔י מִן־הָאֲרָצ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר סְבִיבוֹתֶ֑יהָ כִּ֤י בְמִשְׁפָּטַי֙ מָאָ֔סוּ וְחֻקּוֹתַ֖י לֹא־הָלְכ֥וּ בָהֶֽם׃ {ס}         But she rebelled against My rules and My laws, acting more wickedly than the nations and the countries round about her; she^dshe Heb. “they.” rejected My rules and disobeyed My laws.

לָכֵ֞ן כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה יַ֤עַן הֲמׇנְכֶם֙ מִן־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר סְבִיבוֹתֵיכֶ֔ם בְּחֻקּוֹתַי֙ לֹ֣א הֲלַכְתֶּ֔ם וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֖י לֹ֣א עֲשִׂיתֶ֑ם וּֽכְמִשְׁפְּטֵ֧י הַגּוֹיִ֛ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר סְבִיבוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א עֲשִׂיתֶֽם׃ Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: Because you have outdone the nations that are round about you—you have not obeyed My laws or followed My rules, nor have you even observed the rules of the nations round about you—

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הִנְנִ֥י עָלַ֖יִךְ גַּם־אָ֑נִי וְעָשִׂ֧יתִי בְתוֹכֵ֛ךְ מִשְׁפָּטִ֖ים לְעֵינֵ֥י הַגּוֹיִֽם׃ assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: I, in turn, am going to deal with you, and I will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations.

וְעָשִׂ֣יתִי בָ֗ךְ אֵ֚ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־עָשִׂ֔יתִי וְאֵ֛ת אֲשֶֽׁר־לֹא־אֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה כָמֹ֖הוּ ע֑וֹד יַ֖עַן כׇּל־תּוֹעֲבֹתָֽיִךְ׃ {פ}
On account of all your abominations, I will do among you what I have never done, and the like of which I will never do again.

לָכֵ֗ן אָב֞וֹת יֹאכְל֤וּ בָנִים֙ בְּתוֹכֵ֔ךְ וּבָנִ֖ים יֹאכְל֣וּ אֲבוֹתָ֑ם וְעָשִׂ֤יתִי בָךְ֙ שְׁפָטִ֔ים וְזֵרִיתִ֥י אֶת־כׇּל־שְׁאֵרִיתֵ֖ךְ לְכׇל־רֽוּחַ׃ {ס}         Assuredly, parents shall eat their children in your midst, and children shall eat their parents. I will execute judgments against you, and I will scatter all your survivors in every direction.

לָכֵ֣ן חַי־אָ֗נִי נְאֻם֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ אִם־לֹ֗א יַ֚עַן אֶת־מִקְדָּשִׁ֣י טִמֵּ֔את בְּכׇל־שִׁקּוּצַ֖יִךְ וּבְכׇל־תּוֹעֲבֹתָ֑יִךְ וְגַם־אֲנִ֤י אֶגְרַע֙ וְלֹא־תָח֣וֹס עֵינִ֔י וְגַם־אֲנִ֖י לֹ֥א אֶחְמֽוֹל׃ Assuredly, as I live—said the Sovereign GOD —because you defiled My Sanctuary with all your detestable things and all your abominations, I in turn will shear [you] away^eshear…away Cf. Isa. 15.2 and Jer. 48.37; here an allusion to the symbolism in v. 1. and show no pity. I in turn will show no compassion:

שְׁלִשִׁתֵ֞יךְ בַּדֶּ֣בֶר יָמ֗וּתוּ וּבָֽרָעָב֙ יִכְל֣וּ בְתוֹכֵ֔ךְ וְהַ֨שְּׁלִשִׁ֔ית בַּחֶ֖רֶב יִפְּל֣וּ סְבִיבוֹתָ֑יִךְ וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁית֙ לְכׇל־ר֣וּחַ אֱזָרֶ֔ה וְחֶ֖רֶב אָרִ֥יק אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ One-third of you shall die of pestilence or perish in your midst by famine, one-third shall fall by the sword around you, and I will scatter one-third in every direction and will unsheathe the sword after them.

וְכָלָ֣ה אַפִּ֗י וַהֲנִחוֹתִ֧י חֲמָתִ֛י בָּ֖ם וְהִנֶּחָ֑מְתִּי וְֽיָדְע֞וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה דִּבַּ֙רְתִּי֙ בְּקִנְאָתִ֔י בְּכַלּוֹתִ֥י חֲמָתִ֖י בָּֽם׃ I will vent all My anger and satisfy My fury upon them; and when I vent all My fury upon them, they shall know that I, GOD, have spoken in My passion.

וְאֶתְּנֵךְ֙ לְחׇרְבָּ֣ה וּלְחֶרְפָּ֔ה בַּגּוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר סְבִיבוֹתָ֑יִךְ לְעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־עוֹבֵֽר׃ I will make you a ruin and a mockery among the nations round about you, in the sight of every passerby.

וְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה חֶרְפָּ֤ה וּגְדוּפָה֙ מוּסָ֣ר וּמְשַׁמָּ֔ה לַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר סְבִיבוֹתָ֑יִךְ בַּעֲשׂ֩וֹתִי֩ בָ֨ךְ שְׁפָטִ֜ים בְּאַ֤ף וּבְחֵמָה֙ וּבְתֹכְח֣וֹת חֵמָ֔ה אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ And when I execute judgment upon you in anger and rage and furious chastisement, you^fyou Heb. “she.” shall be a mockery and a derision, a warning and a horror, to the nations round about you: I, GOD, have spoken.

בְּֽשַׁלְּחִ֡י אֶת־חִצֵּי֩ הָרָעָ֨ב הָרָעִ֤ים בָּהֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָי֣וּ לְמַשְׁחִ֔ית אֲשֶׁר־אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח אוֹתָ֖ם לְשַׁחֶתְכֶ֑ם וְרָעָב֙ אֹסֵ֣ף עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וְשָׁבַרְתִּ֥י לָכֶ֖ם מַטֵּה־לָֽחֶם׃ When I loose the deadly arrows of famine against those doomed to destruction, when I loose them against you to destroy you, I will heap more famine upon you and break your staff of bread.

וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֣י עֲ֠לֵיכֶ֠ם רָעָ֞ב וְחַיָּ֤ה רָעָה֙ וְשִׁכְּלֻ֔ךְ וְדֶ֥בֶר וָדָ֖ם יַעֲבׇר־בָּ֑ךְ וְחֶ֙רֶב֙ אָבִ֣יא עָלַ֔יִךְ אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ {פ}
I will let loose against you famine and wild beasts and they shall bereave you; pestilence and bloodshed shall sweep through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I, GOD, have spoken.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם שִׂ֥ים פָּנֶ֖יךָ אֶל־הָרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהִנָּבֵ֖א אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ O mortal, turn your face toward the mountains of Israel and prophesy to them

וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ הָרֵי֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שִׁמְע֖וּ דְּבַר־אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱ֠הֹוִ֠ה לֶהָרִ֨ים וְלַגְּבָע֜וֹת לָאֲפִיקִ֣ים (ולגיאות) [וְלַגֵּיאָי֗וֹת] הִנְנִ֨י אֲנִ֜י מֵבִ֤יא עֲלֵיכֶם֙ חֶ֔רֶב וְאִבַּדְתִּ֖י בָּמוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ and say: O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign GOD. Thus said the Sovereign GOD to the mountains and the hills, to the streams and the valleys: See, I will bring a sword against you and destroy your shrines.

וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ מִזְבְּח֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם וְנִשְׁבְּר֖וּ חַמָּנֵיכֶ֑ם וְהִפַּלְתִּי֙ חַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם לִפְנֵ֖י גִּלּוּלֵיכֶֽם׃ Your altars shall be wrecked and your incense stands smashed, and I will hurl down your slain in front of your fetishes.

וְנָתַתִּ֗י אֶת־פִּגְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִפְנֵ֖י גִּלּוּלֵיהֶ֑ם וְזֵרִיתִי֙ אֶת־עַצְמ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם סְבִיב֖וֹת מִזְבְּחוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ I will cast the corpses of the people of Israel in front of their fetishes, and scatter your bones around your altars

בְּכֹל֙ מוֹשְׁב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם הֶעָרִ֣ים תֶּחֱרַ֔בְנָה וְהַבָּמ֖וֹת תִּישָׁ֑מְנָה לְמַ֩עַן֩ יֶחֶרְב֨וּ וְיֶאְשְׁמ֜וּ מִזְבְּחֽוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם וְנִשְׁבְּר֤וּ וְנִשְׁבְּתוּ֙ גִּלּ֣וּלֵיכֶ֔ם וְנִגְדְּעוּ֙ חַמָּ֣נֵיכֶ֔ם וְנִמְח֖וּ מַעֲשֵׂיכֶֽם׃ in all your settlements. The towns shall be laid waste and the shrines shall be devastated. Thus your altars shall be laid waste and bear their punishment;^abear their punishment Targum and other ancient versions read “shall be devastated.” your fetishes shall be smashed and annihilated, your incense stands cut down, and your handiwork wiped out;

וְנָפַ֥ל חָלָ֖ל בְּתוֹכְכֶ֑ם וִידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ and the slain shall fall in your midst. Then you shall know that I am GOD.

וְהוֹתַרְתִּ֗י בִּהְי֥וֹת לָכֶ֛ם פְּלִ֥יטֵי חֶ֖רֶב בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם בְּהִזָּרוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ Yet I will leave a remnant, in that some of you shall escape the sword among the nations and be scattered through the lands.

וְזָכְר֨וּ פְלִיטֵיכֶ֜ם אוֹתִ֗י בַּגּוֹיִם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁבּוּ־שָׁם֒ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֜רְתִּי אֶת־לִבָּ֣ם הַזּוֹנֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁר־סָר֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י וְאֵת֙ עֵֽינֵיהֶ֔ם הַזֹּנ֕וֹת אַחֲרֵ֖י גִּלּוּלֵיהֶ֑ם וְנָקֹ֙טּוּ֙ בִּפְנֵיהֶ֔ם אֶל־הָֽרָעוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂ֔וּ לְכֹ֖ל תּוֹעֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ And those of you that escape will remember Me among the nations where they have been taken captive, how I was brokenhearted through^bhow I was brokenhearted through Emendation yields “how I broke.” their faithless hearts that turned away from Me, and through their eyes that lusted after their fetishes. And they shall loathe themselves for all the evil they committed and for all their abominable deeds.

וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה לֹ֤א אֶל־חִנָּם֙ דִּבַּ֔רְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָהֶ֖ם הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ {פ}
Then they shall realize it was not without cause that I, GOD, resolved to bring this evil upon them.

כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה הַכֵּ֨ה בְכַפְּךָ֜ וּרְקַ֤ע בְּרַגְלְךָ֙ וֶאֱמׇר־אָ֔ח אֶ֛ל כׇּל־תּוֹעֲב֥וֹת רָע֖וֹת בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֗ר בַּחֶ֛רֶב בָּרָעָ֥ב וּבַדֶּ֖בֶר יִפֹּֽלוּ׃ Thus said the Sovereign GOD: Strike your hands together and stamp your feet and cry: Aha! over all the vile abominations of the House of Israel who shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.

הָרָח֞וֹק בַּדֶּ֣בֶר יָמ֗וּת וְהַקָּרוֹב֙ בַּחֶ֣רֶב יִפּ֔וֹל וְהַנִּשְׁאָר֙ וְהַנָּצ֔וּר בָּרָעָ֖ב יָמ֑וּת וְכִלֵּיתִ֥י חֲמָתִ֖י בָּֽם׃ Those who are far away shall die of pestilence, and those who are nearby shall fall by the sword, and anyone who survives and is protected shall die of famine. Thus I will spend My fury upon them.

וִֽידַעְתֶּם֙ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה בִּֽהְי֣וֹת חַלְלֵיהֶ֗ם בְּתוֹךְ֙ גִּלּ֣וּלֵיהֶ֔ם סְבִיב֖וֹת מִזְבְּחוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם אֶל֩ כׇּל־גִּבְעָ֨ה רָמָ֜ה בְּכֹ֣ל ׀ רָאשֵׁ֣י הֶהָרִ֗ים וְתַ֨חַת כׇּל־עֵ֤ץ רַֽעֲנָן֙ וְתַ֙חַת֙ כׇּל־אֵלָ֣ה עֲבֻתָּ֔ה מְק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָֽתְנוּ־שָׁם֙ רֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֔חַ לְכֹ֖ל גִּלּוּלֵיהֶֽם׃ And you shall know that I am GOD, when your slain lie among the fetishes round about their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak—wherever they presented pleasing odors to all their fetishes.

וְנָטִ֤יתִי אֶת־יָדִי֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְנָתַתִּ֨י אֶת־הָאָ֜רֶץ שְׁמָמָ֤ה וּמְשַׁמָּה֙ מִמִּדְבַּ֣ר דִּבְלָ֔תָה בְּכֹ֖ל מוֹשְׁבֽוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
I will stretch out My hand against them, and lay the land waste and desolate in all their settlements, from the wilderness as far as Diblah;^cDiblah A few Heb. mss. read “Riblah”; cf. 2 Kings 23.33; 25.6ff. then they shall know that I am GOD.

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

וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנָ֧י יֱהֹוִ֛ה לְאַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל קֵ֑ץ בָּ֣א הַקֵּ֔ץ עַל־[אַרְבַּ֖ע] (ארבעת) כַּנְפ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ You, O mortal, [say:] Thus said the Sovereign GOD to the land of Israel: Doom! Doom is coming upon the four corners of the land.

עַתָּה֙ הַקֵּ֣ץ עָלַ֔יִךְ וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֤י אַפִּי֙ בָּ֔ךְ וּשְׁפַטְתִּ֖יךְ כִּדְרָכָ֑יִךְ וְנָתַתִּ֣י עָלַ֔יִךְ אֵ֖ת כׇּל־תּוֹעֲבוֹתָֽיִךְ׃ Now doom is upon you! I will let loose My anger against you and judge you according to your ways; I will requite you for all your abominations.

וְלֹא־תָח֥וֹס עֵינִ֛י עָלַ֖יִךְ וְלֹ֣א אֶחְמ֑וֹל כִּ֣י דְרָכַ֜יִךְ עָלַ֣יִךְ אֶתֵּ֗ן וְתוֹעֲבוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ בְּתוֹכֵ֣ךְ תִּֽהְיֶ֔יןָ וִידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
I will show you no pity and no compassion; but I will requite you for your ways and for the abominations in your midst. And you shall know that I am GOD.

כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה רָעָ֛ה אַחַ֥ת רָעָ֖ה הִנֵּ֥ה בָאָֽה׃ Thus said the Sovereign GOD: A singular disaster; a disaster^aA singular disaster; a disaster A number of mss. and editions, as well as Targum, read “Disaster after disaster.” is coming.

קֵ֣ץ בָּ֔א בָּ֥א הַקֵּ֖ץ הֵקִ֣יץ אֵלָ֑יִךְ הִנֵּ֖ה בָּאָֽה׃ Doom is coming! The hour of doom is coming! It stirs against you; there it comes!

בָּ֧אָה הַצְּפִירָ֛ה אֵלֶ֖יךָ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֑רֶץ בָּ֣א הָעֵ֗ת קָר֛וֹב הַיּ֥וֹם מְהוּמָ֖ה וְלֹא־הֵ֥ד הָרִֽים׃ ^bMeaning of verse uncertain. The cycle has come around for you, O inhabitants of the land; the time has come; the day is near. There is panic on the mountains, not joy.

עַתָּ֣ה מִקָּר֗וֹב אֶשְׁפּ֤וֹךְ חֲמָתִי֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ וְכִלֵּיתִ֤י אַפִּי֙ בָּ֔ךְ וּשְׁפַטְתִּ֖יךְ כִּדְרָכָ֑יִךְ וְנָתַתִּ֣י עָלַ֔יִךְ אֵ֖ת כׇּל־תּוֹעֲבוֹתָֽיִךְ׃ Very soon I will pour out My wrath upon you and spend My anger on you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will requite you for all your abominations.

וְלֹא־תָח֥וֹס עֵינִ֖י וְלֹ֣א אֶחְמ֑וֹל כִּדְרָכַ֜יִךְ עָלַ֣יִךְ אֶתֵּ֗ן וְתוֹעֲבוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ בְּתוֹכֵ֣ךְ תִּהְיֶ֔יןָ וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מַכֶּֽה׃ I will show you no pity and no compassion; but I will requite you for your ways, and for the abominations in your midst. And you shall know it was I, GOD, who punished.

הִנֵּ֥ה הַיּ֖וֹם הִנֵּ֣ה בָאָ֑ה יָֽצְאָה֙ הַצְּפִרָ֔ה צָ֚ץ הַמַּטֶּ֔ה פָּרַ֖ח הַזָּדֽוֹן׃ Here is the day! See, the cycle has come round; it has appeared. The rod has blossomed; arrogance has budded,

הֶֽחָמָ֥ס ׀ קָ֖ם לְמַטֵּה־רֶ֑שַׁע לֹא־מֵהֶ֞ם וְלֹ֧א מֵהֲמוֹנָ֛ם וְלֹ֥א מֶהֱמֵהֶ֖ם וְלֹא־נֹ֥הַּ בָּהֶֽם׃ lawlessness has grown into a rod of wickedness. Nothing comes of them, nor of their abundance, nor of their wealth; nor is there preeminence among them.^ccycle has come round … among them Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

בָּ֤א הָעֵת֙ הִגִּ֣יעַ הַיּ֔וֹם הַקּוֹנֶה֙ אַל־יִשְׂמָ֔ח וְהַמֹּכֵ֖ר אַל־יִתְאַבָּ֑ל כִּ֥י חָר֖וֹן אֶל־כׇּל־הֲמוֹנָֽהּ׃ The time has come, the day has arrived. Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller mourn—for divine wrath shall overtake all Jerusalem’s^dJerusalem’s Heb. “her.” multitude.

כִּ֣י הַמֹּכֵ֗ר אֶל־הַמִּמְכָּר֙ לֹ֣א יָשׁ֔וּב וְע֥וֹד בַּחַיִּ֖ים חַיָּתָ֑ם כִּֽי־חָז֤וֹן אֶל־כׇּל־הֲמוֹנָהּ֙ לֹ֣א יָשׁ֔וּב וְאִ֧ישׁ בַּעֲוֺנ֛וֹ חַיָּת֖וֹ לֹ֥א יִתְחַזָּֽקוּ׃ For the seller shall not return to what was sold so long as both parties^eboth parties Heb. “they.” remain among the living. For the vision concerns all her multitude, it shall not be revoked. And because of their own guilt, none shall hold fast to their life.

תָּקְע֤וּ בַתָּק֙וֹעַ֙ וְהָכִ֣ין הַכֹּ֔ל וְאֵ֥ין הֹלֵ֖ךְ לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה כִּ֥י חֲרוֹנִ֖י אֶל־כׇּל־הֲמוֹנָֽהּ׃ They have sounded the horn, and all is prepared; but no one goes to battle, for My wrath is directed against all her multitude.

הַחֶ֣רֶב בַּח֔וּץ וְהַדֶּ֥בֶר וְהָרָעָ֖ב מִבָּ֑יִת אֲשֶׁ֤ר בַּשָּׂדֶה֙ בַּחֶ֣רֶב יָמ֔וּת וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּעִ֔יר רָעָ֥ב וָדֶ֖בֶר יֹאכְלֶֽנּוּ׃ The sword is outside and pestilence and famine are inside; those in the field shall die by the sword, those in the town shall be devoured by famine and pestilence.

וּפָֽלְטוּ֙ פְּלִ֣יטֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָי֣וּ אֶל־הֶהָרִ֗ים כְּיוֹנֵ֧י הַגֵּאָי֛וֹת כֻּלָּ֖ם הֹמ֑וֹת אִ֖ישׁ בַּעֲוֺנֽוֹ׃ And if any survive, they shall take to the mountains; they shall be like doves of the valley, moaning together^flike doves of the valley, moaning together Emendation yields “like moaning doves. All of them shall perish.” —everyone for their own iniquity.

כׇּל־הַיָּדַ֖יִם תִּרְפֶּ֑ינָה וְכׇל־בִּרְכַּ֖יִם תֵּלַ֥כְנָה מָּֽיִם׃ All hands shall grow weak, and all knees shall turn to water.

וְחָגְר֣וּ שַׂקִּ֔ים וְכִסְּתָ֥ה אוֹתָ֖ם פַּלָּצ֑וּת וְאֶ֤ל כׇּל־פָּנִים֙ בּוּשָׁ֔ה וּבְכׇל־רָאשֵׁיהֶ֖ם קׇרְחָֽה׃ They shall gird on sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; every face shall betray shame, and every head shall be made bald.

כַּסְפָּ֞ם בַּחוּצ֣וֹת יַשְׁלִ֗יכוּ וּזְהָבָם֮ לְנִדָּ֣ה יִֽהְיֶה֒ כַּסְפָּ֨ם וּזְהָבָ֜ם לֹא־יוּכַ֣ל לְהַצִּילָ֗ם בְּיוֹם֙ עֶבְרַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה נַפְשָׁם֙ לֹ֣א יְשַׂבֵּ֔עוּ וּמֵעֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֣א יְמַלֵּ֑אוּ כִּֽי־מִכְשׁ֥וֹל עֲוֺנָ֖ם הָיָֽה׃ They shall throw their silver into the streets, and their gold shall be treated as something unclean. Their silver and gold shall not avail to save them in the day of GOD’s wrath—to satisfy their hunger or to fill their stomachs. Because they made them stumble into guilt—

וּצְבִ֤י עֶדְיוֹ֙ לְגָא֣וֹן שָׂמָ֔הוּ וְצַלְמֵ֧י תוֹעֲבֹתָ֛ם שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶ֖ם עָ֣שׂוּ ב֑וֹ עַל־כֵּ֛ן נְתַתִּ֥יו לָהֶ֖ם לְנִדָּֽה׃ for out of their beautiful adornments, in which they took pride, they made their images and their detestable abominations—therefore I will make their adornments^gtheir adornments Heb. “it.” a source of uncleanness to them.

וּנְתַתִּ֤יו בְּיַֽד־הַזָּרִים֙ לָבַ֔ז וּלְרִשְׁעֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ לְשָׁלָ֑ל (וחללוה) [וְחִלְּלֽוּהוּ]׃ I will give them as spoil to strangers, and as plunder to the wicked of the earth; and they shall defile them.

וַהֲסִבּוֹתִ֤י פָנַי֙ מֵהֶ֔ם וְחִלְּל֖וּ אֶת־צְפוּנִ֑י וּבָאוּ־בָ֥הּ פָּרִיצִ֖ים וְחִלְּלֽוּהָ׃ {פ}
I will turn My face from them, and My treasures shall be defiled; ruffians shall invade it and defile it.

עֲשֵׂ֖ה הָרַתּ֑וֹק כִּ֣י הָאָ֗רֶץ מָֽלְאָה֙ מִשְׁפַּ֣ט דָּמִ֔ים וְהָעִ֖יר מָלְאָ֥ה חָמָֽס׃ Forge the chain,^hForge the chain Meaning of Heb. uncertain. for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of lawlessness.

וְהֵֽבֵאתִי֙ רָעֵ֣י גוֹיִ֔ם וְיָרְשׁ֖וּ אֶת־בָּתֵּיהֶ֑ם וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי֙ גְּא֣וֹן עַזִּ֔ים וְנִחֲל֖וּ מְקַֽדְשֵׁיהֶֽם׃ I will bring in the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses; so shall I turn to naught the pride of the powerful, and their sanctuaries shall be defiled.

קְפָ֖דָה־בָ֑א וּבִקְשׁ֥וּ שָׁל֖וֹם וָאָֽיִן׃ HorrorⁱHorror Meaning of Heb. uncertain. comes, and they shall seek safety, but there shall be none.

הֹוָ֤ה עַל־הֹוָה֙ תָּב֔וֹא וּשְׁמֻעָ֥ה אֶל־שְׁמוּעָ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶ֑ה וּבִקְשׁ֤וּ חָזוֹן֙ מִנָּבִ֔יא וְתוֹרָה֙ תֹּאבַ֣ד מִכֹּהֵ֔ן וְעֵצָ֖ה מִזְּקֵנִֽים׃ Calamity shall follow calamity, and rumor follow rumor. Then they shall seek vision from the prophet in vain; instruction shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.

הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יִתְאַבָּ֗ל וְנָשִׂיא֙ יִלְבַּ֣שׁ שְׁמָמָ֔ה וִידֵ֥י עַם־הָאָ֖רֶץ תִּבָּהַ֑לְנָה מִדַּרְכָּ֞ם אֶעֱשֶׂ֤ה אֹתָם֙ וּבְמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶ֣ם אֶשְׁפְּטֵ֔ם וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
The king shall mourn, the prince^jthe prince Possibly denoting the king, as is usual in Ezekiel. shall clothe himself with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall tremble. I will treat them in accordance with their own ways and judge them according to their deserts. And they shall know that I am GOD.

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשִּׁשִּׁ֗ית בַּשִּׁשִּׁי֙ בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֣ה לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ אֲנִי֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּבֵיתִ֔י וְזִקְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה יוֹשְׁבִ֣ים לְפָנָ֑י וַתִּפֹּ֤ל עָלַי֙ שָׁ֔ם יַ֖ד אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ In the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, I was sitting at home, and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, and there the hand of the Sovereign GOD fell upon me.

וָאֶרְאֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּ֤ה דְמוּת֙ כְּמַרְאֵה־אֵ֔שׁ מִמַּרְאֵ֥ה מׇתְנָ֛יו וּלְמַ֖טָּה אֵ֑שׁ וּמִמׇּתְנָ֣יו וּלְמַ֔עְלָה כְּמַרְאֵה־זֹ֖הַר כְּעֵ֥ין הַחַשְׁמַֽלָה׃ As I looked, there was a figure that had the appearance of fire:^afire Septuagint “a man.” from what appeared as the loins down, [there was] fire; and from the loins up, the appearance was resplendent and had the color of amber.

וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ תַּבְנִ֣ית יָ֔ד וַיִּקָּחֵ֖נִי בְּצִיצִ֣ת רֹאשִׁ֑י וַתִּשָּׂ֣א אֹתִ֣י ר֣וּחַ ׀ בֵּֽין־הָאָ֣רֶץ וּבֵ֣ין הַשָּׁמַ֡יִם וַתָּבֵא֩ אֹתִ֨י יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ְמָה בְּמַרְא֣וֹת אֱלֹהִ֗ים אֶל־פֶּ֜תַח שַׁ֤עַר הַפְּנִימִית֙ הַפּוֹנֶ֣ה צָפ֔וֹנָה אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֣ם מוֹשַׁ֔ב סֵ֖מֶל הַקִּנְאָ֥ה הַמַּקְנֶֽה׃ The form of a hand stretched out, and took me by the hair of my head. A spirit lifted me up between heaven and earth and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the Penimith^bPenimith Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Gate that faces north; that was the site of the infuriating image that provokes fury.

וְהִ֨נֵּה־שָׁ֔ם כְּב֖וֹד אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כַּמַּרְאֶ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי בַּבִּקְעָֽה׃ And the Presence of the God of Israel appeared there, like the vision that I had seen in the valley.^cthe vision that I had seen in the valley See chap. 1 and 3.22–23.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם שָׂא־נָ֥א עֵינֶ֖יךָ דֶּ֣רֶךְ צָפ֑וֹנָה וָאֶשָּׂ֤א עֵינַי֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ צָפ֔וֹנָה וְהִנֵּ֤ה מִצָּפוֹן֙ לְשַׁ֣עַר הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ סֵ֛מֶל הַקִּנְאָ֥ה הַזֶּ֖ה בַּבִּאָֽה׃ And I was told, “O mortal, turn your eyes northward.” I turned my eyes northward, and there, north of the gate of the altar, was^dnorth of the gate of the altar, was Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “north of the gate was the altar of.” that infuriating image on the approach.^eapproach Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הֲרֹאֶ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה (מהם) [מָ֣ה הֵ֣ם] עֹשִׂ֑ים תּוֹעֵב֨וֹת גְּדֹל֜וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ׀ עֹשִׂ֣ים פֹּ֗ה לְרׇֽחֳקָה֙ מֵעַ֣ל מִקְדָּשִׁ֔י וְעוֹד֙ תָּשׁ֣וּב תִּרְאֶ֔ה תּוֹעֵב֖וֹת גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃ {פ}
And [God] said to me, “Mortal, do you see what they are doing, the terrible abominations that the House of Israel is practicing here, to drive Me far^fto drive Me far Or “at a distance.” from My Sanctuary? You shall yet see even greater abominations!”

וַיָּבֵ֥א אֹתִ֖י אֶל־פֶּ֣תַח הֶחָצֵ֑ר וָאֶרְאֶ֕ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה חֹר־אֶחָ֖ד בַּקִּֽיר׃ Then [God] brought me to the entrance of the court;^gthe court I.e., the outer court of the temple. and I looked, and there was a hole in the wall.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֖ם חֲתׇר־נָ֣א בַקִּ֑יר וָאֶחְתֹּ֣ר בַּקִּ֔יר וְהִנֵּ֖ה פֶּ֥תַח אֶחָֽד׃ {ס}         I was told, “Mortal, break through the wall”; so I broke through the wall and found an entrance.

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י בֹּ֤א וּרְאֵה֙ אֶת־הַתּוֹעֵב֣וֹת הָרָע֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥ם עֹשִׂ֖ים פֹּֽה׃ And I was told, “Enter and see the vile abominations that they are practicing here.”

וָאָבוֹא֮ וָאֶרְאֶה֒ וְהִנֵּ֨ה כׇל־תַּבְנִ֜ית רֶ֤מֶשׂ וּבְהֵמָה֙ שֶׁ֔קֶץ וְכׇל־גִּלּוּלֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מְחֻקֶּ֥ה עַל־הַקִּ֖יר סָבִ֥יב ׀ סָבִֽיב׃ I entered and looked, and there all detestable forms of creeping things and beasts and all the fetishes of the House of Israel were depicted over the entire wall.

וְשִׁבְעִ֣ים אִ֣ישׁ מִזִּקְנֵ֣י בֵֽית־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל וְיַאֲזַנְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־שָׁפָ֜ן עֹמֵ֤ד בְּתוֹכָם֙ עֹמְדִ֣ים לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וְאִ֥ישׁ מִקְטַרְתּ֖וֹ בְּיָד֑וֹ וַעֲתַ֥ר עֲנַֽן־הַקְּטֹ֖רֶת עֹלֶֽה׃ Before them stood seventy of the elders of the House of Israel, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing in their midst. Everyone had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense smoke ascended.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַי֮ הֲרָאִ֣יתָ בֶן־אָדָם֒ אֲשֶׁ֨ר זִקְנֵ֤י בֵֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ עֹשִׂ֣ים בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְ אִ֖ישׁ בְּחַדְרֵ֣י מַשְׂכִּית֑וֹ כִּ֣י אֹמְרִ֗ים אֵ֤ין יְהֹוָה֙ רֹאֶ֣ה אֹתָ֔נוּ עָזַ֥ב יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ Again [God] spoke to me, “O mortal, have you seen what the elders of the House of Israel are doing in the darkness, everyone in his image-covered chamber? For they say, ‘GOD does not see us; GOD has abandoned the country.’”

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י ע֣וֹד תָּשׁ֥וּב תִּרְאֶ֛ה תּוֹעֵב֥וֹת גְּדֹל֖וֹת אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֥מָּה עֹשִֽׂים׃ And [God]said to me, “You shall see even more terrible abominations that they practice.”

וַיָּבֵ֣א אֹתִ֗י אֶל־פֶּ֙תַח֙ שַׁ֣עַר בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֶל־הַצָּפ֑וֹנָה וְהִנֵּה־שָׁם֙ הַנָּשִׁ֣ים יֹשְׁב֔וֹת מְבַכּ֖וֹת אֶת־הַתַּמּֽוּז׃ {ס}         Next [God] brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the House of GOD;^hgate of the House of GOD I.e., the gate of the inner court. and there sat the women bewailing Tammuz.ⁱTammuz A Babylonian god.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלַ֖י הֲרָאִ֣יתָ בֶן־אָדָ֑ם ע֣וֹד תָּשׁ֥וּב תִּרְאֶ֛ה תּוֹעֵב֖וֹת גְּדֹל֥וֹת מֵאֵֽלֶּה׃ I was told, “Have you seen, O mortal? You shall see even more terrible abominations than these.”

וַיָּבֵ֣א אֹתִ֗י אֶל־חֲצַ֣ר בֵּית־יְהֹוָה֮ הַפְּנִימִית֒ וְהִנֵּה־פֶ֜תַח הֵיכַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֗ה בֵּ֤ין הָֽאוּלָם֙ וּבֵ֣ין הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ כְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אִ֑ישׁ אֲחֹ֨רֵיהֶ֜ם אֶל־הֵיכַ֤ל יְהֹוָה֙ וּפְנֵיהֶ֣ם קֵ֔דְמָה וְהֵ֛מָּה מִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֥ם קֵ֖דְמָה לַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ Then [God] brought me into the inner court of the House of GOD, and there, at the entrance to the Temple of GOD, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men, their backs to the Temple of GOD and their faces to the east; they were bowing low to the sun in the east.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַי֮ הֲרָאִ֣יתָ בֶן־אָדָם֒ הֲנָקֵל֙ לְבֵ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה מֵעֲשׂ֕וֹת אֶת־הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂוּ־פֹ֑ה כִּֽי־מָלְא֨וּ אֶת־הָאָ֜רֶץ חָמָ֗ס וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ לְהַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי וְהִנָּ֛ם שֹׁלְחִ֥ים אֶת־הַזְּמוֹרָ֖ה אֶל־אַפָּֽם׃ And I was told, “Do you see, O mortal? Is it not enough for the House of Judah to practice the abominations that they have committed here, that they must fill the country with lawlessness and provoke Me still further and thrust the branch to their nostrils?^jthrust the branch to their nostrils Apparently meaning “goad Me to fury”; “their” is a euphemism for “My.”

וְגַם־אֲנִי֙ אֶעֱשֶׂ֣ה בְחֵמָ֔ה לֹא־תָח֥וֹס עֵינִ֖י וְלֹ֣א אֶחְמֹ֑ל וְקָרְא֤וּ בְאׇזְנַי֙ ק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל וְלֹ֥א אֶשְׁמַ֖ע אוֹתָֽם׃ I in turn will act with fury, I will show no pity or compassion; though they cry aloud to Me, I will not listen to them.”

וַיִּקְרָ֣א בְאׇזְנַ֗י ק֤וֹל גָּדוֹל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר קָרְב֖וּ פְּקֻדּ֣וֹת הָעִ֑יר וְאִ֛ישׁ כְּלִ֥י מַשְׁחֵת֖וֹ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃ Then [God] called loudly in my hearing, saying, “Approach, you who are in charge of the city, each bearing his weapons of destruction!”

וְהִנֵּ֣ה שִׁשָּׁ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֡ים בָּאִ֣ים ׀ מִדֶּרֶךְ־שַׁ֨עַר הָעֶלְי֜וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ מׇפְנֶ֣ה צָפ֗וֹנָה וְאִ֨ישׁ כְּלִ֤י מַפָּצוֹ֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ וְאִישׁ־אֶחָ֤ד בְּתוֹכָם֙ לָבֻ֣שׁ בַּדִּ֔ים וְקֶ֥סֶת הַסֹּפֵ֖ר בְּמׇתְנָ֑יו וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ וַיַּ֣עַמְד֔וּ אֵ֖צֶל מִזְבַּ֥ח הַנְּחֹֽשֶׁת׃ And six figures entered by way of the upper gate that faces north, each with his club in his hand; and among them was another one, clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. They came forward and stopped at the bronze altar.

וּכְב֣וֹד ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַֽעֲלָה֙ מֵעַ֤ל הַכְּרוּב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה עָלָ֔יו אֶ֖ל מִפְתַּ֣ן הַבָּ֑יִת וַיִּקְרָ֗א אֶל־הָאִישׁ֙ הַלָּבֻ֣שׁ הַבַּדִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר קֶ֥סֶת הַסֹּפֵ֖ר בְּמׇתְנָֽיו׃ {פ}
Now the Presence of the God of Israel had moved from the cherub on which it had rested to the platform^athe platform The raised platform on which the temple stood; cf. 47.1. of the House. The figure clothed in linen with the writing case at his waist was summoned;

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלָ֔ו עֲבֹר֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֔יר בְּת֖וֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְהִתְוִ֨יתָ תָּ֜ו עַל־מִצְח֣וֹת הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַנֶּֽאֱנָחִים֙ וְהַנֶּ֣אֱנָקִ֔ים עַ֚ל כׇּל־הַתּ֣וֹעֵב֔וֹת הַֽנַּעֲשׂ֖וֹת בְּתוֹכָֽהּ׃ and GOD said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the persons who moan and groan because of all the abominations that are committed in it.”

וּלְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אָמַ֣ר בְּאׇזְנַ֔י עִבְר֥וּ בָעִ֛יר אַחֲרָ֖יו וְהַכּ֑וּ (על) [אַל־]תָּחֹ֥ס (עיניכם) [עֵינְכֶ֖ם] וְאַל־תַּחְמֹֽלוּ׃ The others were told in my hearing, “Follow him through the city and strike; show no pity or compassion.

זָקֵ֡ן בָּח֣וּר וּבְתוּלָה֩ וְטַ֨ף וְנָשִׁ֜ים תַּהַרְג֣וּ לְמַשְׁחִ֗ית וְעַל־כׇּל־אִ֨ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָלָ֤יו הַתָּו֙ אַל־תִּגַּ֔שׁוּ וּמִמִּקְדָּשִׁ֖י תָּחֵ֑לּוּ וַיָּחֵ֙לּוּ֙ בָּאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הַזְּקֵנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י הַבָּֽיִת׃ Kill off graybeard, youth and maiden, women and children; but do not touch any person who bears the mark. Begin here at My Sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were in front of the House.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם טַמְּא֣וּ אֶת־הַבַּ֗יִת וּמַלְא֧וּ אֶת־הַחֲצֵר֛וֹת חֲלָלִ֖ים צֵ֑אוּ וְיָצְא֖וּ וְהִכּ֥וּ בָעִֽיר׃ And [God] said to them, “Defile the House and fill the courts with the slain. Then go forth.” So they went forth and began to kill in the city.

וַֽיְהִי֙ כְּהַכּוֹתָ֔ם וְנֵֽאשְׁאַ֖ר אָ֑נִי וָאֶפְּלָ֨ה עַל־פָּנַ֜י וָאֶזְעַ֗ק וָֽאֹמַר֙ אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הֲמַשְׁחִ֣ית אַתָּ֗ה אֵ֚ת כׇּל־שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּשׇׁפְכְּךָ֥ אֶת־חֲמָתְךָ֖ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ When they were out killing, and I remained alone, I flung myself on my face and cried out, “Ah, my Sovereign GOD ! Are you going to annihilate all that is left of Israel, pouring out Your fury upon Jerusalem?”

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י עֲוֺ֨ן בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל וִֽיהוּדָה֙ גָּדוֹל֙ בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֔ד וַתִּמָּלֵ֤א הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ דָּמִ֔ים וְהָעִ֖יר מָלְאָ֣ה מֻטֶּ֑ה כִּ֣י אָמְר֗וּ עָזַ֤ב יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֵ֥ין יְהֹוָ֖ה רֹאֶֽה׃ The answer came, “The iniquity of the Houses of Judah and Israel is very very great, the land is full of crime and the city is full of corruption. For they say, ‘GOD has forsaken the land, and GOD does not see.’

וְגַ֨ם־אֲנִ֔י לֹא־תָח֥וֹס עֵינִ֖י וְלֹ֣א אֶחְמֹ֑ל דַּרְכָּ֖ם בְּרֹאשָׁ֥ם נָתָֽתִּי׃ I, in turn, will show no pity or compassion; I will give them their deserts.”

וְהִנֵּ֞ה הָאִ֣ישׁ ׀ לְבֻ֣שׁ הַבַּדִּ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר הַקֶּ֙סֶת֙ בְּמׇתְנָ֔יו מֵשִׁ֥יב דָּבָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר עָשִׂ֕יתִי (כאשר) [כְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר] צִוִּיתָֽנִי׃ {פ}
And then the one clothed in linen with the writing case at his waist brought back word, saying, “I have done as You commanded me.”

וָאֶרְאֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֶל־הָרָקִ֙יעַ֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים כְּאֶ֣בֶן סַפִּ֔יר כְּמַרְאֵ֖ה דְּמ֣וּת כִּסֵּ֑א נִרְאָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ I looked, and on the expanse over the heads of the cherubs, there was something like a sapphire stone; an appearance resembling a throne could be seen over them.

וַיֹּ֜אמֶר אֶל־הָאִ֣ישׁ ׀ לְבֻ֣שׁ הַבַּדִּ֗ים וַיֹּ֡אמֶר בֹּא֩ אֶל־בֵּינ֨וֹת לַגַּלְגַּ֜ל אֶל־תַּ֣חַת לַכְּר֗וּב וּמַלֵּ֨א חׇפְנֶ֤יךָ גַֽחֲלֵי־אֵשׁ֙ מִבֵּינ֣וֹת לַכְּרֻבִ֔ים וּזְרֹ֖ק עַל־הָעִ֑יר וַיָּבֹ֖א לְעֵינָֽי׃ [God] spoke to the figure clothed in linen and said, “Step inside the wheelwork, under the cherubs, and fill your hands with glowing coals from among the cherubs, and scatter them over the city.” And he went in as I looked on.

וְהַכְּרֻבִ֗ים עֹ֥מְדִ֛ים מִימִ֥ין לַבַּ֖יִת בְּבֹא֣וֹ הָאִ֑ישׁ וְהֶעָנָ֣ן מָלֵ֔א אֶת־הֶחָצֵ֖ר הַפְּנִימִֽית׃ Now the cherubs were standing on the south side of the House when that figure entered, and the cloud filled the inner court.

וַיָּ֤רׇם כְּבוֹד־יְהֹוָה֙ מֵעַ֣ל הַכְּר֔וּב עַ֖ל מִפְתַּ֣ן הַבָּ֑יִת וַיִּמָּלֵ֤א הַבַּ֙יִת֙ אֶת־הֶ֣עָנָ֔ן וְהֶֽחָצֵר֙ מָֽלְאָ֔ה אֶת־נֹ֖גַהּ כְּב֥וֹד יְהֹוָֽה׃ But when the Presence of GOD moved from the cherubs to the platform^aplatform See note at 47.1. of the House, the House was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the radiance of the Presence of GOD.

וְקוֹל֙ כַּנְפֵ֣י הַכְּרוּבִ֔ים נִשְׁמַ֕ע עַד־הֶחָצֵ֖ר הַחִֽיצֹנָ֑ה כְּק֥וֹל אֵל־שַׁדַּ֖י בְּדַבְּרֽוֹ׃ The sound of the cherubs’ wings could be heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of El Shaddai^bShaddai See note at Gen. 17.1. when speaking.

וַיְהִ֗י בְּצַוֺּתוֹ֙ אֶת־הָאִ֤ישׁ לְבֻֽשׁ־הַבַּדִּים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר קַ֥ח אֵשׁ֙ מִבֵּינ֣וֹת לַגַּלְגַּ֔ל מִבֵּינ֖וֹת לַכְּרוּבִ֑ים וַיָּבֹא֙ וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֔ד אֵ֖צֶל הָאוֹפָֽן׃ When [God] commanded the figure clothed in linen: “Take fire from among the cherubs within the wheelwork,” he went in and stood beside a wheel.

וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ הַכְּר֨וּב אֶת־יָד֜וֹ מִבֵּינ֣וֹת לַכְּרוּבִ֗ים אֶל־הָאֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ בֵּינ֣וֹת הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים וַיִּשָּׂא֙ וַיִּתֵּ֔ן אֶל־חׇפְנֵ֖י לְבֻ֣שׁ הַבַּדִּ֑ים וַיִּקַּ֖ח וַיֵּצֵֽא׃ And a cherub stretched out a hand among the cherubs to the fire that was among the cherubs; he took some and put it into the hands of the one clothed in linen, who took it and went out.

וַיֵּרָ֖א לַכְּרֻבִ֑ים תַּבְנִית֙ יַד־אָדָ֔ם תַּ֖חַת כַּנְפֵיהֶֽם׃ The cherubs appeared to have the form of a human hand under their wings.

וָאֶרְאֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּ֨ה אַרְבָּעָ֣ה אוֹפַנִּים֮ אֵ֣צֶל הַכְּרוּבִים֒ אוֹפַ֣ן אֶחָ֗ד אֵ֚צֶל הַכְּר֣וּב אֶחָ֔ד וְאוֹפַ֣ן אֶחָ֔ד אֵ֖צֶל הַכְּר֣וּב אֶחָ֑ד וּמַרְאֵה֙ הָא֣וֹפַנִּ֔ים כְּעֵ֖ין אֶ֥בֶן תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃ I could see that there were four wheels beside the cherubs, one wheel beside each of the cherubs; as for the appearance of the wheels, they gleamed like the beryl stone.

וּמַ֨רְאֵיהֶ֔ם דְּמ֥וּת אֶחָ֖ד לְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יִהְיֶ֥ה הָאוֹפַ֖ן בְּת֥וֹךְ הָאוֹפָֽן׃ In appearance, the four had the same form, as if there were two wheels cutting through each other.

בְּלֶכְתָּ֗ם אֶל־אַרְבַּ֤עַת רִבְעֵיהֶם֙ יֵלֵ֔כוּ לֹ֥א יִסַּ֖בּוּ בְּלֶכְתָּ֑ם כִּ֣י הַמָּק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִפְנֶ֤ה הָרֹאשׁ֙ אַחֲרָ֣יו יֵלֵ֔כוּ לֹ֥א יִסַּ֖בּוּ בְּלֶכְתָּֽם׃ And when they moved, each could move in the direction of any of its four quarters; they did not veer as they moved. The [cherubs] moved in the direction in which one of the heads faced, without turning as they moved.

וְכׇל־בְּשָׂרָם֙ וְגַבֵּהֶ֔ם וִידֵיהֶ֖ם וְכַנְפֵיהֶ֑ם וְהָאוֹפַנִּ֗ים מְלֵאִ֤ים עֵינַ֙יִם֙ סָבִ֔יב לְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֖ם אוֹפַנֵּיהֶֽם׃ Their entire bodies—backs, hands, and wings—and the wheels, the wheels of the four of them, were covered all over with eyes.

לָא֖וֹפַנִּ֑ים לָהֶ֛ם קוֹרָ֥א הַגַּלְגַּ֖ל בְּאׇזְנָֽי׃ It was these wheels that I had heard called “the wheelwork.”^cthe wheelwork See v. 2.

וְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה פָנִ֖ים לְאֶחָ֑ד פְּנֵ֨י הָאֶחָ֜ד פְּנֵ֣י הַכְּר֗וּב וּפְנֵ֤י הַשֵּׁנִי֙ פְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֔ם וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי֙ פְּנֵ֣י אַרְיֵ֔ה וְהָרְבִיעִ֖י פְּנֵי־נָֽשֶׁר׃ Each one had four faces: One was a cherub’s face, the second a human face, the third a lion’s face, and the fourth an eagle’s face.

וַיֵּרֹ֖מּוּ הַכְּרוּבִ֑ים הִ֣יא הַחַיָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי בִּֽנְהַר־כְּבָֽר׃ The cherubs ascended; those were the creatures that I had seen by the Chebar Canal.

וּבְלֶ֙כֶת֙ הַכְּרוּבִ֔ים יֵלְכ֥וּ הָאוֹפַנִּ֖ים אֶצְלָ֑ם וּבִשְׂאֵ֨ת הַכְּרוּבִ֜ים אֶת־כַּנְפֵיהֶ֗ם לָרוּם֙ מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ לֹֽא־יִסַּ֧בּוּ הָאוֹפַנִּ֛ים גַּם־הֵ֖ם מֵאֶצְלָֽם׃ Whenever the cherubs went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubs lifted their wings to ascend from the earth, the wheels did not roll away from their side.

בְּעׇמְדָ֣ם יַעֲמֹ֔דוּ וּבְרוֹמָ֖ם יֵר֣וֹמּוּ אוֹתָ֑ם כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ הַחַיָּ֖ה בָּהֶֽם׃ When those stood still, these stood still; and when those ascended, these ascended with them, for the spirit of the creature was in them.

וַיֵּצֵא֙ כְּב֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֔ה מֵעַ֖ל מִפְתַּ֣ן הַבָּ֑יִת וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖ד עַל־הַכְּרוּבִֽים׃ Then the Presence of GOD left the platform^dplatform See note at 47.1. of the House and stopped above the cherubs.

וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ הַכְּרוּבִ֣ים אֶת־כַּ֠נְפֵיהֶ֠ם וַיֵּר֨וֹמּוּ מִן־הָאָ֤רֶץ לְעֵינַי֙ בְּצֵאתָ֔ם וְהָאוֹפַנִּ֖ים לְעֻמָּתָ֑ם וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֗ד פֶּ֣תַח שַׁ֤עַר בֵּית־יְהֹוָה֙ הַקַּדְמוֹנִ֔י וּכְב֧וֹד אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ And I saw the cherubs lift their wings and rise from the earth, with the wheels beside them as they departed; and they^ethey Lit. “it.” stopped at the entrance of the eastern gate of the House of GOD, with the Presence of the God of Israel above them.

הִ֣יא הַחַיָּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֛יתִי תַּ֥חַת אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּֽנְהַר־כְּבָ֑ר וָאֵדַ֕ע כִּ֥י כְרוּבִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה׃ They were the same creatures that I had seen below the God of Israel at the Chebar Canal; so now I knew that they were cherubs.^fI knew that they were cherubs Because they had been called “cherubs” (cf. v. 2).

אַרְבָּעָ֨ה אַרְבָּעָ֤ה פָנִים֙ לְאֶחָ֔ד וְאַרְבַּ֥ע כְּנָפַ֖יִם לְאֶחָ֑ד וּדְמוּת֙ יְדֵ֣י אָדָ֔ם תַּ֖חַת כַּנְפֵיהֶֽם׃ Each one had four faces and each had four wings, with the form of human hands under the wings.

וּדְמ֣וּת פְּנֵיהֶ֔ם הֵ֣מָּה הַפָּנִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָאִ֙יתִי֙ עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָ֔ר מַרְאֵיהֶ֖ם וְאוֹתָ֑ם אִ֛ישׁ אֶל־עֵ֥בֶר פָּנָ֖יו יֵלֵֽכוּ׃ As for the form of their faces, they were the very faces that I had seen by the Chebar Canal—their appearance and their features^gtheir features Lit. “themselves.” —and each could move in the direction of any of its faces.

וַתִּשָּׂ֨א אֹתִ֜י ר֗וּחַ וַתָּבֵ֣א אֹ֠תִ֠י אֶל־שַׁ֨עַר בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֤ה הַקַּדְמוֹנִי֙ הַפּוֹנֶ֣ה קָדִ֔ימָה וְהִנֵּה֙ בְּפֶ֣תַח הַשַּׁ֔עַר עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וַֽחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אִ֑ישׁ וָאֶרְאֶ֨ה בְתוֹכָ֜ם אֶת־יַאֲזַנְיָ֧ה בֶן־עַזֻּ֛ר וְאֶת־פְּלַטְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־בְּנָיָ֖הוּ שָׂרֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃ {פ}
Then a spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the House of GOD, which faces eastward; and there, at the entrance of the gate, were twenty-five men, among whom I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people.

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם אֵ֣לֶּה הָאֲנָשִׁ֞ים הַחֹשְׁבִ֥ים אָ֛וֶן וְהַיֹּעֲצִ֥ים עֲצַת־רָ֖ע בָּעִ֥יר הַזֹּֽאת׃ [ GOD ] said to me, “O mortal, these are the men who plan iniquity and plot wickedness in this city,

הָאֹ֣מְרִ֔ים לֹ֥א בְקָר֖וֹב בְּנ֣וֹת בָּתִּ֑ים הִ֣יא הַסִּ֔יר וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ הַבָּשָֽׂר׃ {ס}         who say: ‘There is no need now to build houses; this [city] is the pot, and we are the meat.’^athis [city] is the pot, and we are the meat I.e., the exiles will not return.

לָכֵ֖ן הִנָּבֵ֣א עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם הִנָּבֵ֖א בֶּן־אָדָֽם׃ I adjure you, prophesy against them; prophesy, O mortal!”

וַתִּפֹּ֣ל עָלַי֮ ר֣וּחַ יְהֹוָה֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י אֱמֹר֙ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה כֵּ֥ן אֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּמַעֲל֥וֹת רוּחֲכֶ֖ם אֲנִ֥י יְדַעְתִּֽיהָ׃ Thereupon the spirit of GOD fell upon me, and I was told, “Speak: Thus said GOD: Such are your thoughts, O House of Israel; I know what comes into your mind.

הִרְבֵּיתֶ֥ם חַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם בָּעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֑את וּמִלֵּאתֶ֥ם חוּצֹתֶ֖יהָ חָלָֽל׃ {פ}
Many have you slain in this city; you have filled its streets with corpses.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ חַלְלֵיכֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שַׂמְתֶּ֣ם בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ הֵ֥מָּה הַבָּשָׂ֖ר וְהִ֣יא הַסִּ֑יר וְאֶתְכֶ֖ם הוֹצִ֥יא מִתּוֹכָֽהּ׃ Assuredly, thus says the Sovereign GOD: The corpses that you have piled up in it are the meat for which it is the pot; but you shall be taken out of it.

חֶ֖רֶב יְרֵאתֶ֑ם וְחֶ֙רֶב֙ אָבִ֣יא עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ You feared the sword, and the sword I will bring upon you—declares the Sovereign GOD.

וְהוֹצֵאתִ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ מִתּוֹכָ֔הּ וְנָתַתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּיַד־זָרִ֑ים וְעָשִׂ֥יתִי בָכֶ֖ם שְׁפָטִֽים׃ I will take you out of it and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and I will execute judgments upon you.

בַּחֶ֣רֶב תִּפֹּ֔לוּ עַל־גְּב֥וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶשְׁפּ֣וֹט אֶתְכֶ֑ם וִידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ You shall fall by the sword; I will punish you at the border of Israel. And you shall know that I am GOD.

הִ֗יא לֹֽא־תִהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ לְסִ֔יר וְאַתֶּ֛ם תִּהְי֥וּ בְתוֹכָ֖הּ לְבָשָׂ֑ר אֶל־גְּב֥וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶשְׁפֹּ֥ט אֶתְכֶֽם׃ This [city] shall not be a pot for you, nor you the meat in it; I will punish you at the border of Israel.

וִֽידַעְתֶּם֙ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּחֻקַּי֙ לֹ֣א הֲלַכְתֶּ֔ם וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י לֹ֣א עֲשִׂיתֶ֑ם וּֽכְמִשְׁפְּטֵ֧י הַגּוֹיִ֛ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר סְבִיבוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם עֲשִׂיתֶֽם׃ Then you shall know that I am GOD, whose laws you did not follow and whose rules you did not obey, acting instead according to the rules of the nations around you.”

וַֽיְהִי֙ כְּהִנָּ֣בְאִ֔י וּפְלַטְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־בְּנָיָ֖ה מֵ֑ת וָאֶפֹּ֨ל עַל־פָּנַ֜י וָאֶזְעַ֣ק קוֹל־גָּד֗וֹל וָֽאֹמַר֙ אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה כָּלָה֙ אַתָּ֣ה עֹשֶׂ֔ה אֵ֖ת שְׁאֵרִ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}
Now, as I prophesied, Pelatiah son of Benaiah dropped dead. I threw myself upon my face and cried out aloud, “Ah, my Sovereign GOD ! You are wiping out the remnant of Israel!”

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם אַחֶ֤יךָ אַחֶ֙יךָ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י גְאֻלָּתֶ֔ךָ וְכׇל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כֻּלֹּ֑ה אֲשֶׁר֩ אָמְר֨וּ לָהֶ֜ם יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם רַֽחֲקוּ֙ מֵעַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֔ה לָ֥נוּ הִ֛יא נִתְּנָ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ לְמוֹרָשָֽׁה׃ {ס}         “O mortal, [I will save] your kinsfolk, your relatives—your next of kin^byour next of kin I.e., the exiles. —all of that very House of Israel to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem say, ‘Keep far from GOD; the land has been given as a heritage to us.’

לָכֵ֣ן אֱמֹ֗ר כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ כִּ֤י הִרְחַקְתִּים֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם וְכִ֥י הֲפִיצוֹתִ֖ים בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹת וָאֱהִ֤י לָהֶם֙ לְמִקְדָּ֣שׁ מְעַ֔ט בָּאֲרָצ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥אוּ שָֽׁם׃ {ס}         Say then: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: I have indeed removed them far among the nations and have scattered them among the countries, and I have become to them a diminished sanctity in the countries whither they have gone.

לָכֵ֣ן אֱמֹ֗ר כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ וְקִבַּצְתִּ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ מִן־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים וְאָסַפְתִּ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם מִן־הָ֣אֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר נְפֹצוֹתֶ֖ם בָּהֶ֑ם וְנָתַתִּ֥י לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־אַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Yet say: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: I will gather you^cyou I.e., the exiles. from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the Land of Israel.

וּבָ֖אוּ־שָׁ֑מָּה וְהֵסִ֜ירוּ אֶת־כׇּל־שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יהָ וְאֶת־כׇּל־תּוֹעֲבוֹתֶ֖יהָ מִמֶּֽנָּה׃ And they shall return there, and do away with all its detestable things and all its abominations.

וְנָתַתִּ֤י לָהֶם֙ לֵ֣ב אֶחָ֔ד וְר֥וּחַ חֲדָשָׁ֖ה אֶתֵּ֣ן בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם וַהֲסִ֨רֹתִ֜י לֵ֤ב הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ מִבְּשָׂרָ֔ם וְנָתַתִּ֥י לָהֶ֖ם לֵ֥ב בָּשָֽׂר׃ I will give them one heart and put a new spirit in them;^dthem Heb. “you.” I will remove the heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh,

לְמַ֙עַן֙ בְּחֻקֹּתַ֣י יֵלֵ֔כוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֥י יִשְׁמְר֖וּ וְעָשׂ֣וּ אֹתָ֑ם וְהָיוּ־לִ֣י לְעָ֔ם וַאֲנִ֕י אֶהְיֶ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ that they may follow My laws and faithfully observe My rules. Then they shall be My people and I will be their God.

וְאֶל־לֵ֧ב שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶ֛ם וְתוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם לִבָּ֣ם הֹלֵ֑ךְ דַּרְכָּם֙ בְּרֹאשָׁ֣ם נָתַ֔תִּי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ But as for them whose heart is set upon their detestable things and their abominations, I will repay them for their conduct—declares the Sovereign GOD.”

וַיִּשְׂא֤וּ הַכְּרוּבִים֙ אֶת־כַּנְפֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָאוֹפַנִּ֖ים לְעֻמָּתָ֑ם וּכְב֧וֹד אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ Then the cherubs, with the wheels beside them, lifted their wings, while the Presence of the God of Israel rested above them.

וַיַּ֙עַל֙ כְּב֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֔ה מֵעַ֖ל תּ֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ עַל־הָהָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִקֶּ֥דֶם לָעִֽיר׃ The Presence of GOD ascended from the midst of the city and stood on the hill east of the city.

וְר֣וּחַ נְשָׂאַ֗תְנִי וַתְּבִאֵ֤נִי כַשְׂדִּ֙ימָה֙ אֶל־הַגּוֹלָ֔ה בַּמַּרְאֶ֖ה בְּר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיַּ֙עַל֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י הַמַּרְאֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִֽיתִי׃ A spirit carried me away and brought me in a vision by the spirit of God to the exile community in Chaldea. Then the vision that I had seen left me,

וָאֲדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־הַגּוֹלָ֑ה אֵ֛ת כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶרְאָֽנִי׃ {פ}
and I told the exiles all the things that GOD had shown me.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם בְּת֥וֹךְ בֵּית־הַמֶּ֖רִי אַתָּ֣ה יֹשֵׁ֑ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֵינַ֩יִם֩ לָהֶ֨ם לִרְא֜וֹת וְלֹ֣א רָא֗וּ אׇזְנַ֨יִם לָהֶ֤ם לִשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ וְלֹ֣א שָׁמֵ֔עוּ כִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית מְרִ֖י הֵֽם׃ O mortal, you dwell among the rebellious breed. They have eyes to see but see not, ears to hear but hear not; for they are a rebellious breed.

וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם עֲשֵׂ֤ה לְךָ֙ כְּלֵ֣י גוֹלָ֔ה וּגְלֵ֥ה יוֹמָ֖ם לְעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם וְגָלִ֨יתָ מִמְּקוֹמְךָ֜ אֶל־מָק֤וֹם אַחֵר֙ לְעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם אוּלַ֣י יִרְא֔וּ כִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית מְרִ֖י הֵֽמָּה׃ Therefore, mortal, get yourself gear for exile, and go into exile by day before their eyes. Go into exile from your home to another place before their very eyes; perhaps they will take note, even though they are a rebellious breed.

וְהוֹצֵאתָ֨ כֵלֶ֜יךָ כִּכְלֵ֥י גוֹלָ֛ה יוֹמָ֖ם לְעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם וְאַתָּ֗ה תֵּצֵ֤א בָעֶ֙רֶב֙ לְעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם כְּמוֹצָאֵ֖י גּוֹלָֽה׃ Carry out your gear as gear for exile by day before their very eyes; and go out again in the evening before their eyes, as one who goes out into exile.

לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם חֲתׇר־לְךָ֣ בַקִּ֑יר וְהוֹצֵאתָ֖ בּֽוֹ׃ Before their eyes, break through the wall and carry [the gear] out through it;

לְעֵ֨ינֵיהֶ֜ם עַל־כָּתֵ֤ף תִּשָּׂא֙ בָּעֲלָטָ֣ה תוֹצִ֔יא פָּנֶ֣יךָ תְכַסֶּ֔ה וְלֹ֥א תִרְאֶ֖ה אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־מוֹפֵ֥ת נְתַתִּ֖יךָ לְבֵ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ before their eyes, carry it on your shoulder. Take it out in the dark, and cover your face that you may not see the land; for I make you a portent to the House of Israel.

וָאַ֣עַשׂ כֵּן֮ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צֻוֵּ֒יתִי֒ כֵּ֠לַ֠י הוֹצֵ֜אתִי כִּכְלֵ֤י גוֹלָה֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וּבָעֶ֛רֶב חָתַֽרְתִּי־לִ֥י בַקִּ֖יר בְּיָ֑ד בָּעֲלָטָ֥ה הוֹצֵ֛אתִי עַל־כָּתֵ֥ף נָשָׂ֖אתִי לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ {פ}
I did just as I was ordered: I took out my gear by day as gear for exile, and in the evening I broke through the wall with my own hands.^awith my own hands Lit. “by hand.” In the darkness I carried [the gear] out on my shoulder, carrying it before their eyes.

וַיְהִ֧י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י בַּבֹּ֥קֶר לֵאמֹֽר׃ In the morning, the word of GOD came to me:

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הֲלֹ֨א אָמְר֥וּ אֵלֶ֛יךָ בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑רִי מָ֖ה אַתָּ֥ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃ O mortal, did not the House of Israel, that rebellious breed, ask you, “What are you doing?”

אֱמֹ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה הַנָּשִׂ֞יא הַמַּשָּׂ֤א הַזֶּה֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְכׇל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֥מָּה בְתוֹכָֽם׃ Say to them: “Thus said the Sovereign GOD: This pronouncement concerns the prince^bprince I.e., the king of Judah, presumably Zedekiah; cf. Rashi, Kimhi. in Jerusalem and all the House of Israel who are in it.”

אֱמֹ֖ר אֲנִ֣י מֽוֹפֶתְכֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֗יתִי כֵּ֚ן יֵעָשֶׂ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם בַּגּוֹלָ֥ה בַשְּׁבִ֖י יֵלֵֽכוּ׃ Say: “I am a portent for you: As I have done, so shall it be done to them; they shall go into exile, into captivity.

וְהַנָּשִׂ֨יא אֲשֶׁר־בְּתוֹכָ֜ם אֶל־כָּתֵ֤ף יִשָּׂא֙ בָּעֲלָטָ֣ה וְיֵצֵ֔א בַּקִּ֥יר יַחְתְּר֖וּ לְה֣וֹצִיא ב֑וֹ פָּנָ֣יו יְכַסֶּ֔ה יַ֗עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יִרְאֶ֥ה לַעַ֛יִן ה֖וּא אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ And the prince among them shall carry his gear on his shoulder as he goes out in the dark. He^cHe Heb. “They.” shall break through the wall in order to carry [his gear] out through it; he shall cover his face, because he himself shall not see the land with his eyes.”

וּפָרַשְׂתִּ֤י אֶת־רִשְׁתִּי֙ עָלָ֔יו וְנִתְפַּ֖שׂ בִּמְצוּדָתִ֑י וְהֵבֵאתִ֨י אֹת֤וֹ בָבֶ֙לָה֙ אֶ֣רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים וְאוֹתָ֥הּ לֹֽא־יִרְאֶ֖ה וְשָׁ֥ם יָמֽוּת׃ I will spread My net over him, and he shall be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, but he shall not see it;^dhe shall not see it Cf. 2 Kings 25.7. and there he shall die.

וְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר סְבִֽיבֹתָ֥יו עֶזְרֹ֛ה וְכׇל־אֲגַפָּ֖יו אֱזָרֶ֣ה לְכׇל־ר֑וּחַ וְחֶ֖רֶב אָרִ֥יק אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ And all those around him, his helpers and all his troops, I will scatter in every direction; and I will unsheathe the sword after them.

וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה בַּהֲפִיצִ֤י אוֹתָם֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם וְזֵרִיתִ֥י אוֹתָ֖ם בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ Then, when I have scattered them among the nations and dispersed them through the countries, they shall know that I am GOD.

וְהוֹתַרְתִּ֤י מֵהֶם֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י מִסְפָּ֔ר מֵחֶ֖רֶב מֵרָעָ֣ב וּמִדָּ֑בֶר לְמַ֨עַן יְסַפְּר֜וּ אֶת־כׇּל־תּוֹעֲבֽוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם בַּגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ שָׁ֔ם וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
But I will spare a few of them from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may recount all their abominable deeds among the nations to which they come; and they shall know that I am GOD !

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם לַחְמְךָ֖ בְּרַ֣עַשׁ תֹּאכֵ֑ל וּמֵימֶ֕יךָ בְּרׇגְזָ֥ה וּבִדְאָגָ֖ה תִּשְׁתֶּֽה׃ O mortal, eat your bread in trembling and drink your water in fear and anxiety.

וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֶל־עַ֣ם הָאָ֡רֶץ כֹּֽה־אָמַר֩ אֲדֹנָ֨י יֱהֹוִ֜ה לְיוֹשְׁבֵ֤י יְרוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ אֶל־אַדְמַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַחְמָם֙ בִּדְאָגָ֣ה יֹאכֵ֔לוּ וּמֵימֵיהֶ֖ם בְּשִׁמָּמ֣וֹן יִשְׁתּ֑וּ לְמַ֜עַן תֵּשַׁ֤ם אַרְצָהּ֙ מִמְּלֹאָ֔הּ מֵחֲמַ֖ס כׇּֽל־הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים בָּֽהּ׃ And say to the people of the land: Thus said the Sovereign GOD concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread in anxiety and drink their water in desolation, because their land will be desolate of its multitudes on account of the lawlessness of all its inhabitants.

וְהֶעָרִ֤ים הַנּֽוֹשָׁבוֹת֙ תֶּחֱרַ֔בְנָה וְהָאָ֖רֶץ שְׁמָמָ֣ה תִֽהְיֶ֑ה וִידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
The inhabited towns shall be laid waste and the land shall become a desolation; then you shall know that I am GOD.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם מָֽה־הַמָּשָׁ֤ל הַזֶּה֙ לָכֶ֔ם עַל־אַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר יַֽאַרְכוּ֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים וְאָבַ֖ד כׇּל־חָזֽוֹן׃ O mortal, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, that you say, “The days grow many and every vision comes to naught?”

לָכֵ֞ן אֱמֹ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כֹּה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ הִשְׁבַּ֙תִּי֙ אֶת־הַמָּשָׁ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה וְלֹֽא־יִמְשְׁל֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ ע֖וֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֚י אִם־דַּבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם קָֽרְבוּ֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים וּדְבַ֖ר כׇּל־חָזֽוֹן׃ Assuredly, say to them, Thus said the Sovereign GOD: I will put an end to this proverb; it shall not be used in Israel anymore. Speak rather to them: The days draw near, and the fulfillment of every vision.

כִּ֠י לֹ֣א יִהְיֶ֥ה ע֛וֹד כׇּל־חֲז֥וֹן שָׁ֖וְא וּמִקְסַ֣ם חָלָ֑ק בְּת֖וֹךְ בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ For there shall no longer be any false vision or soothing divination in the House of Israel.

כִּ֣י ׀ אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה אֲדַבֵּר֙ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲדַבֵּ֤ר דָּבָר֙ וְיֵ֣עָשֶׂ֔ה לֹ֥א תִמָּשֵׁ֖ךְ ע֑וֹד כִּ֣י בִימֵיכֶ֞ם בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֗רִי אֲדַבֵּ֤ר דָּבָר֙ וַעֲשִׂיתִ֔יו נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
But whenever I, GOD, speak what I speak, that word shall be fulfilled without any delay; in your days, O rebellious breed, I will fulfill every word I speak—declares the Sovereign GOD.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם הִנֵּ֤ה בֵֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֹֽמְרִ֔ים הֶחָז֛וֹן אֲשֶׁר־ה֥וּא חֹזֶ֖ה לְיָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים וּלְעִתִּ֥ים רְחוֹק֖וֹת ה֥וּא נִבָּֽא׃ See, O mortal, the House of Israel says, “The vision that he sees is far ahead, and he prophesies for the distant future.”

לָכֵ֞ן אֱמֹ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה לֹא־תִמָּשֵׁ֥ךְ ע֖וֹד כׇּל־דְּבָרָ֑י אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲדַבֵּ֤ר דָּבָר֙ וְיֵ֣עָשֶׂ֔ה נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
Assuredly, say to them: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: There shall be no more delay; whenever I speak a word, that word shall be fulfilled—declares the Sovereign GOD.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הִנָּבֵ֛א אֶל־נְבִיאֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הַנִּבָּאִ֑ים וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ לִנְבִיאֵ֣י מִלִּבָּ֔ם שִׁמְע֖וּ דְּבַר־יְהֹוָֽה׃ O mortal, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy; say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of GOD !

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה ה֖וֹי עַל־הַנְּבִיאִ֣ים הַנְּבָלִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֹלְכִ֛ים אַחַ֥ר רוּחָ֖ם וּלְבִלְתִּ֥י רָאֽוּ׃ Thus said the Sovereign GOD: Woe to the degenerate prophets, who follow their own fancy, without having had a vision!

כְּשֻׁעָלִ֖ים בׇּחֳרָב֑וֹת נְבִיאֶ֥יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הָיֽוּ׃ Your prophets, O Israel, have been like jackals among ruins.

לֹ֤א עֲלִיתֶם֙ בַּפְּרָצ֔וֹת וַתִּגְדְּר֥וּ גָדֵ֖ר עַל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לַעֲמֹ֥ד בַּמִּלְחָמָ֖ה בְּי֥וֹם יְהֹוָֽה׃ You did not enter the breaches and repair the walls for the House of Israel, that they might stand up in battle in the day of GOD.

חָ֤זוּ שָׁוְא֙ וְקֶ֣סֶם כָּזָ֔ב הָאֹֽמְרִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיהֹוָ֖ה לֹ֣א שְׁלָחָ֑ם וְיִחֲל֖וּ לְקַיֵּ֥ם דָּבָֽר׃ They prophesied falsehood and lying divination; they said, “Declares GOD,” when GOD did not send them, and then they waited for their word to be fulfilled.

הֲל֤וֹא מַֽחֲזֵה־שָׁוְא֙ חֲזִיתֶ֔ם וּמִקְסַ֥ם כָּזָ֖ב אֲמַרְתֶּ֑ם וְאֹֽמְרִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וַאֲנִ֖י לֹ֥א דִבַּֽרְתִּי׃ {ס}         It was false visions you prophesied and lying divination you uttered, saying, “Declares GOD,” when I had not spoken.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה יַ֚עַן דַּבֶּרְכֶ֣ם שָׁ֔וְא וַחֲזִיתֶ֖ם כָּזָ֑ב לָכֵן֙ הִנְנִ֣י אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: Because you speak falsehood and prophesy lies, assuredly, I will deal with you—declares the Sovereign GOD.

וְהָיְתָ֣ה יָדִ֗י אֶֽל־הַנְּבִיאִ֞ים הַחֹזִ֣ים שָׁוְא֮ וְהַקֹּסְמִ֣ים כָּזָב֒ בְּס֧וֹד עַמִּ֣י לֹֽא־יִֽהְי֗וּ וּבִכְתָ֤ב בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֹ֣א יִכָּתֵ֔בוּ וְאֶל־אַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹ֣א יָבֹ֑אוּ וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֥י אֲנִ֖י אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ My hand will be against the prophets who prophesy falsehood and utter lying divination. They shall not remain in the assembly of My people, they shall not be inscribed in the lists of the House of Israel, and they shall not come back to the land of Israel. Thus shall you know that I am the Sovereign GOD.

יַ֣עַן וּבְיַ֜עַן הִטְע֧וּ אֶת־עַמִּ֛י לֵאמֹ֥ר שָׁל֖וֹם וְאֵ֣ין שָׁל֑וֹם וְהוּא֙ בֹּ֣נֶה חַ֔יִץ וְהִנָּ֛ם טָחִ֥ים אֹת֖וֹ תָּפֵֽל׃ Inasmuch as they have misled My people, saying, “It is well,” when nothing is well, daubing with plaster the flimsy wall that the people^athe people Heb. “it.” were building,

אֱמֹ֛ר אֶל־טָחֵ֥י תָפֵ֖ל וְיִפֹּ֑ל הָיָ֣ה ׀ גֶּ֣שֶׁם שׁוֹטֵ֗ף וְאַתֵּ֜נָה אַבְנֵ֤י אֶלְגָּבִישׁ֙ תִּפֹּ֔לְנָה וְר֥וּחַ סְעָר֖וֹת תְּבַקֵּֽעַ׃ say to those daubers of plaster: It shall collapse; a driving rain shall descend—and you, O great hailstones, shall fall—and a hurricane wind shall rend it.

וְהִנֵּ֖ה נָפַ֣ל הַקִּ֑יר הֲלוֹא֙ יֵאָמֵ֣ר אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם אַיֵּ֥ה הַטִּ֖יחַ אֲשֶׁ֥ר טַחְתֶּֽם׃ {ס}         Then, when the wall collapses, you will be asked, “What became of the plaster you daubed on?”

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה וּבִקַּעְתִּ֥י רוּחַ־סְעָר֖וֹת בַּחֲמָתִ֑י וְגֶ֤שֶׁם שֹׁטֵף֙ בְּאַפִּ֣י יִֽהְיֶ֔ה וְאַבְנֵ֥י אֶלְגָּבִ֖ישׁ בְּחֵמָ֥ה לְכָלָֽה׃ Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: In My fury I will let loose hurricane winds; in My anger a driving rain shall descend, and great hailstones in destructive fury.

וְהָ֨רַסְתִּ֜י אֶת־הַקִּ֨יר אֲשֶׁר־טַחְתֶּ֥ם תָּפֵ֛ל וְהִגַּעְתִּ֥יהוּ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְנִגְלָ֣ה יְסֹד֑וֹ וְנָֽפְלָה֙ וּכְלִיתֶ֣ם בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ וִידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ I will throw down the wall that you daubed with plaster, and I will raze it to the ground so that its foundation is exposed; and when it falls, you shall perish in its midst; then you shall know that I am GOD.

וְכִלֵּיתִ֤י אֶת־חֲמָתִי֙ בַּקִּ֔יר וּבַטָּחִ֥ים אֹת֖וֹ תָּפֵ֑ל וְאֹמַ֤ר לָכֶם֙ אֵ֣ין הַקִּ֔יר וְאֵ֖ין הַטָּחִ֥ים אֹתֽוֹ׃ And when I have spent My fury upon the wall and upon those who daubed it with plaster, I will say to you: Gone is the wall and gone are its daubers,

נְבִיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הַֽנִּבְּאִים֙ אֶל־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְהַֽחֹזִ֥ים לָ֖הּ חֲז֣וֹן שָׁלֹ֑ם וְאֵ֣ין שָׁלֹ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
the prophets of Israel who prophesy about Jerusalem and see a vision of well-being for her when there is no well-being—declares the Sovereign GOD.

וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם שִׂ֤ים פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶל־בְּנ֣וֹת עַמְּךָ֔ הַמִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וֹת מִֽלִּבְּהֶ֑ן וְהִנָּבֵ֖א עֲלֵיהֶֽן׃ And you, O mortal, set your face against the women of your people, who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them

וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה הוֹי֩ לִֽמְתַפְּר֨וֹת כְּסָת֜וֹת עַ֣ל ׀ כׇּל־אַצִּילֵ֣י יָדַ֗י וְעֹשׂ֧וֹת הַמִּסְפָּח֛וֹת עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ כׇּל־קוֹמָ֖ה לְצוֹדֵ֣ד נְפָשׁ֑וֹת הַנְּפָשׁוֹת֙ תְּצוֹדֵ֣דְנָה לְעַמִּ֔י וּנְפָשׁ֖וֹת לָכֶ֥נָה תְחַיֶּֽינָה׃ and say: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: Woe to those who sew pads^bpads Meaning of Heb. uncertain. on all arm-joints and make bonnets^cbonnets Meaning of Heb. uncertain. for the head of every person, in order to entrap! Can you hunt down lives among My people, while you preserve your own lives?

וַתְּחַלֶּלְ֨נָה אֹתִ֜י אֶל־עַמִּ֗י בְּשַׁעֲלֵ֣י שְׂעֹרִים֮ וּבִפְת֣וֹתֵי לֶחֶם֒ לְהָמִ֤ית נְפָשׁוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־תְמוּתֶ֔נָה וּלְחַיּ֥וֹת נְפָשׁ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־תִֽחְיֶ֑ינָה בְּכַ֨זֶּבְכֶ֔ם לְעַמִּ֖י שֹׁמְעֵ֥י כָזָֽב׃ {ס}         You have profaned My name^dMy name Heb. “Me.” among My people in return for handfuls of barley and morsels of bread; you have announced the death of persons who will not die and the survival of persons who will not live—lying to My people, who listen to your lies.

לָכֵ֞ן כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה הִנְנִ֤י אֶל־כִּסְּתוֹתֵיכֶ֙נָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַ֠תֵּ֠נָה מְצֹדְד֨וֹת שָׁ֤ם אֶת־הַנְּפָשׁוֹת֙ לְפֹ֣רְח֔וֹת וְקָרַעְתִּ֣י אֹתָ֔ם מֵעַ֖ל זְרוֹעֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי֙ אֶת־הַנְּפָשׁ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֛ם מְצֹדְד֥וֹת אֶת־נְפָשִׁ֖ים לְפֹרְחֹֽת׃ Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: I am going to deal with your pads,^epads Meaning of Heb. uncertain. by which^fby which Heb. “where.” you hunt down lives like birds, and I will tear them from your arms and free the persons whose lives you hunt down like birds.

וְקָרַעְתִּ֞י אֶת־מִסְפְּחֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם וְהִצַּלְתִּ֤י אֶת־עַמִּי֙ מִיֶּדְכֶ֔ן וְלֹא־יִהְי֥וּ ע֛וֹד בְּיֶדְכֶ֖ן לִמְצוּדָ֑ה וִידַעְתֶּ֖ן כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ I will tear off your bonnets^gbonnets Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and rescue My people from your hands, and they shall no longer be prey in your hands; then you shall know that I am GOD.

יַ֣עַן הַכְא֤וֹת לֵב־צַדִּיק֙ שֶׁ֔קֶר וַאֲנִ֖י לֹ֣א הִכְאַבְתִּ֑יו וּלְחַזֵּק֙ יְדֵ֣י רָשָׁ֔ע לְבִלְתִּי־שׁ֛וּב מִדַּרְכּ֥וֹ הָרָ֖ע לְהַחֲיֹתֽוֹ׃ Because you saddened the heart of the innocent with lies, when I would not inflict suffering on them, and encouraged the wicked not to repent of their evil ways and so gain life—

לָכֵ֗ן שָׁ֚וְא לֹ֣א תֶחֱזֶ֔ינָה וְקֶ֖סֶם לֹא־תִקְסַ֣מְנָה ע֑וֹד וְהִצַּלְתִּ֤י אֶת־עַמִּי֙ מִיֶּדְכֶ֔ן וִידַעְתֶּ֖ן כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ assuredly, you shall no longer prophesy lies or practice divination! I will save My people from your hands, and you shall know that I am GOD.

וַיָּב֤וֹא אֵלַי֙ אֲנָשִׁ֔ים מִזִּקְנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ לְפָנָֽי׃ {פ}
Certain elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ הֶעֱל֤וּ גִלּֽוּלֵיהֶם֙ עַל־לִבָּ֔ם וּמִכְשׁ֣וֹל עֲוֺנָ֔ם נָתְנ֖וּ נֹ֣כַח פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם הַאִדָּרֹ֥שׁ אִדָּרֵ֖שׁ לָהֶֽם׃ {ס}         O mortal, these men have turned their thoughts upon their fetishes and set their minds upon the sin through which they stumbled: Shall I respond to their inquiry?

לָכֵ֣ן דַּבֵּר־א֠וֹתָ֠ם וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה אִ֣ישׁ אִ֣ישׁ מִבֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל אֲשֶׁר֩ יַעֲלֶ֨ה אֶת־גִּלּוּלָ֜יו אֶל־לִבּ֗וֹ וּמִכְשׁ֤וֹל עֲוֺנוֹ֙ יָשִׂים֙ נֹ֣כַח פָּנָ֔יו וּבָ֖א אֶל־הַנָּבִ֑יא אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה נַעֲנֵ֧יתִי ל֦וֹ (בה) [בָ֖א] בְּרֹ֥ב גִּלּוּלָֽיו׃ Now speak to them and tell them: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: If anyone at all of the House of Israel turns their thoughts upon their fetishes and sets their mind upon the sin through which they stumbled, and yet comes to the prophet, I, GOD, will respond as they come with^aas they come with Emendation yields “directly, because of”; cf. v. 7. their multitude of fetishes.

לְמַ֛עַן תְּפֹ֥שׂ אֶת־בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּלִבָּ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָזֹ֙רוּ֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י בְּגִלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם כֻּלָּֽם׃ {ס}         Thus I will hold the House of Israel to account for their thoughts, because they have all been estranged from Me through their fetishes.

לָכֵ֞ן אֱמֹ֣ר ׀ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה שׁ֣וּבוּ וְהָשִׁ֔יבוּ מֵעַ֖ל גִּלּוּלֵיכֶ֑ם וּמֵעַ֥ל כׇּל־תּוֹעֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם הָשִׁ֥יבוּ פְנֵיכֶֽם׃ Now say to the House of Israel: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: Repent, and turn back from your fetishes and turn your minds away from all your abominations.

כִּי֩ אִ֨ישׁ אִ֜ישׁ מִבֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וּמֵהַגֵּר֮ אֲשֶׁר־יָג֣וּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְיִנָּזֵ֣ר מֵאַחֲרַ֗י וְיַ֤עַל גִּלּוּלָיו֙ אֶל־לִבּ֔וֹ וּמִכְשׁ֣וֹל עֲוֺנ֔וֹ יָשִׂ֖ים נֹ֣כַח פָּנָ֑יו וּבָ֤א אֶל־הַנָּבִיא֙ לִדְרׇשׁ־ל֣וֹ בִ֔י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה נַעֲנֶה־לּ֖וֹ בִּֽי׃ For if anyone at all of the House of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, breaks away from Me and turns their thoughts upon their fetishes and sets their mind upon the sins through which they stumbled, and then goes to the prophet to inquire of Me through him, I, GOD, will respond directly.

וְנָתַתִּ֨י פָנַ֜י בָּאִ֣ישׁ הַה֗וּא וַהֲשִׂמֹתִ֙יהוּ֙ לְא֣וֹת וְלִמְשָׁלִ֔ים וְהִכְרַתִּ֖יו מִתּ֣וֹךְ עַמִּ֑י וִידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         I will set My face against that party and make them a sign and a byword, and I will cut them off from the midst of My people. Then you shall know that I am GOD.

וְהַנָּבִ֤יא כִֽי־יְפֻתֶּה֙ וְדִבֶּ֣ר דָּבָ֔ר אֲנִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ פִּתֵּ֔יתִי אֵ֖ת הַנָּבִ֣יא הַה֑וּא וְנָטִ֤יתִי אֶת־יָדִי֙ עָלָ֔יו וְהִ֨שְׁמַדְתִּ֔יו מִתּ֖וֹךְ עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ And if a prophet is seduced and does speak a word [to such people], it was I, GOD, who seduced that prophet; I will stretch out My hand and destroy that prophet^bthat prophet Heb. “him.” from among My people Israel.

וְנָשְׂא֖וּ עֲוֺנָ֑ם כַּעֲוֺן֙ הַדֹּרֵ֔שׁ כַּעֲוֺ֥ן הַנָּבִ֖יא יִהְיֶֽה׃ Thus they shall bear their punishment: The punishment of the inquirer and the punishment of the prophet shall be the same,

לְ֠מַ֠עַן לֹא־יִתְע֨וּ ע֤וֹד בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵֽאַחֲרַ֔י וְלֹא־יִטַּמְּא֥וּ ע֖וֹד בְּכׇל־פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֑ם וְהָיוּ־לִ֣י לְעָ֗ם וַאֲנִי֙ אֶהְיֶ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
so that the House of Israel may never again stray from Me and defile itself with all its transgressions. Then they shall be My people and I will be their God—declares the Sovereign GOD.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם אֶ֚רֶץ כִּ֤י תֶֽחֱטָא־לִי֙ לִמְעׇל־מַ֔עַל וְנָטִ֤יתִי יָדִי֙ עָלֶ֔יהָ וְשָׁבַ֥רְתִּי לָ֖הּ מַטֵּה־לָ֑חֶם וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּי־בָ֣הּ רָעָ֔ב וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י מִמֶּ֖נָּה אָדָ֥ם וּבְהֵמָֽה׃ O mortal, if a land were to sin against Me and commit a trespass, and I stretched out My hand against it and broke its staff of bread, and sent famine against it and cut off human and animal from it,

וְ֠הָי֠וּ שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ נֹ֖חַ (דנאל) [דָּנִיֵּ֣אל] וְאִיּ֑וֹב הֵ֤מָּה בְצִדְקָתָם֙ יְנַצְּל֣וּ נַפְשָׁ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—should be in it, they would by their righteousness save only themselves—declares the Sovereign GOD.

לוּ־חַיָּ֥ה רָעָ֛ה אַעֲבִ֥יר בָּאָ֖רֶץ וְשִׁכְּלָ֑תָּה וְהָיְתָ֤ה שְׁמָמָה֙ מִבְּלִ֣י עוֹבֵ֔ר מִפְּנֵ֖י הַחַיָּֽה׃ Or, if I were to send wild beasts to roam the land and they depopulated it, and it became a desolation with none passing through it because of the beasts,

שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֵלֶּה֮ בְּתוֹכָהּ֒ חַי־אָ֗נִי נְאֻם֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה אִם־בָּנִ֥ים וְאִם־בָּנ֖וֹת יַצִּ֑ילוּ הֵ֤מָּה לְבַדָּם֙ יִנָּצֵ֔לוּ וְהָאָ֖רֶץ תִּהְיֶ֥ה שְׁמָמָֽה׃ as I live—declares the Sovereign GOD —those three men in it would save neither sons nor daughters; they alone would be saved, but the land would become a desolation.

א֛וֹ חֶ֥רֶב אָבִ֖יא עַל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֑יא וְאָמַרְתִּ֗י חֶ֚רֶב תַּעֲבֹ֣ר בָּאָ֔רֶץ וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י מִמֶּ֖נָּה אָדָ֥ם וּבְהֵמָֽה׃ Or, if I were to bring the sword upon that land and say, “Let a sword sweep through the land so that I may cut off from it human and animal,”

וּשְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֵ֘לֶּה֮ בְּתוֹכָהּ֒ חַי־אָ֗נִי נְאֻם֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה לֹ֥א יַצִּ֖ילוּ בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנ֑וֹת כִּ֛י הֵ֥ם לְבַדָּ֖ם יִנָּצֵֽלוּ׃ if those three men should be in it, as I live—declares the Sovereign GOD —they would save neither sons nor daughters, but they alone would be saved.

א֛וֹ דֶּ֥בֶר אֲשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֑יא וְשָׁפַכְתִּ֨י חֲמָתִ֤י עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ בְּדָ֔ם לְהַכְרִ֥ית מִמֶּ֖נָּה אָדָ֥ם וּבְהֵמָֽה׃ Or, if I let loose a pestilence against that land, and poured out My fury upon it in blood, cutting off from it human and animal,

וְנֹ֨חַ (דנאל) [דָּנִיֵּ֣אל] וְאִיּוֹב֮ בְּתוֹכָהּ֒ חַי־אָ֗נִי נְאֻם֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה אִם־בֵּ֥ן אִם־בַּ֖ת יַצִּ֑ילוּ הֵ֥מָּה בְצִדְקָתָ֖ם יַצִּ֥ילוּ נַפְשָֽׁם׃ {פ}
should Noah, Daniel, and Job be in it, as I live—declares the Sovereign GOD —they would save neither son nor daughter; they would save themselves alone by their righteousness.

כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה אַ֣ף כִּֽי־אַרְבַּ֣עַת שְׁפָטַ֣י ׀ הָרָעִ֡ים חֶ֠רֶב וְרָעָ֞ב וְחַיָּ֤ה רָעָה֙ וָדֶ֔בֶר שִׁלַּ֖חְתִּי אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם לְהַכְרִ֥ית מִמֶּ֖נָּה אָדָ֥ם וּבְהֵמָֽה׃ Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: How much less [should any escape] now that I have let loose against Jerusalem all four of My terrible punishments—the sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence—to cut off human and animal from it!

וְהִנֵּ֨ה נֽוֹתְרָה־בָּ֜הּ פְּלֵטָ֗ה הַֽמּוּצָאִים֮ בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנוֹת֒ הִנָּם֙ יוֹצְאִ֣ים אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וּרְאִיתֶ֥ם אֶת־דַּרְכָּ֖ם וְאֶת־עֲלִילוֹתָ֑ם וְנִחַמְתֶּ֗ם עַל־הָרָעָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֵבֵ֙אתִי֙ עַל־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵבֵ֖אתִי עָלֶֽיהָ׃ Yet there are survivors left of it, sons and daughters who are being brought out.^csons and daughters who are being brought out Several ancient versions read “who are bringing out sons and daughters.” They are coming out to you; and when you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the disaster that I brought on Jerusalem, for all that I brought on it.

וְנִחֲמ֣וּ אֶתְכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־תִרְא֥וּ אֶת־דַּרְכָּ֖ם וְאֶת־עֲלִילוֹתָ֑ם וִידַעְתֶּ֗ם כִּי֩ לֹ֨א חִנָּ֤ם עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙ אֵ֣ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֣יתִי בָ֔הּ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
You will be consoled through them, when you see their ways and their deeds and realize that not without cause did I do all that I did in it—declares the Sovereign GOD.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם מַה־יִּהְיֶ֥ה עֵץ־הַגֶּ֖פֶן מִכׇּל־עֵ֑ץ הַזְּמוֹרָ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה בַּעֲצֵ֥י הַיָּֽעַר׃ O mortal, how is the wood of the grapevine better than the wood of any branch to be found among the trees of the forest?

הֲיֻקַּ֤ח מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ עֵ֔ץ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת לִמְלָאכָ֑ה אִם־יִקְח֤וּ מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ יָתֵ֔ד לִתְל֥וֹת עָלָ֖יו כׇּל־כֶּֽלִי׃ Can wood be taken from it for use in any work? Can one take a peg from it to hang any vessel on?

הִנֵּ֥ה לָאֵ֖שׁ נִתַּ֣ן לְאׇכְלָ֑ה אֵת֩ שְׁנֵ֨י קְצוֹתָ֜יו אָכְלָ֤ה הָאֵשׁ֙ וְתוֹכ֣וֹ נָחָ֔ר הֲיִצְלַ֖ח לִמְלָאכָֽה׃ Now suppose it was thrown into the fire as fuel and the fire consumed its two ends and its middle was charred—is it good for any use?

הִנֵּה֙ בִּֽהְיוֹת֣וֹ תָמִ֔ים לֹ֥א יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה לִמְלָאכָ֑ה אַ֣ף כִּי־אֵ֤שׁ אֲכָלַ֙תְהוּ֙ וַיֵּחָ֔ר וְנַעֲשָׂ֥ה ע֖וֹד לִמְלָאכָֽה׃ {ס}         Even when it was whole it could not be used for anything; how much less when fire has consumed it and it is charred! Can it still be used for anything?

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר עֵץ־הַגֶּ֙פֶן֙ בְּעֵ֣ץ הַיַּ֔עַר אֲשֶׁר־נְתַתִּ֥יו לָאֵ֖שׁ לְאׇכְלָ֑ה כֵּ֣ן נָתַ֔תִּי אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: Like the wood of the grapevine among the trees of the forest, which I have designated to be fuel for fire, so will I treat the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

וְנָתַתִּ֤י אֶת־פָּנַי֙ בָּהֶ֔ם מֵהָאֵ֣שׁ יָצָ֔אוּ וְהָאֵ֖שׁ תֹּאכְלֵ֑ם וִֽידַעְתֶּם֙ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּשׂוּמִ֥י אֶת־פָּנַ֖י בָּהֶֽם׃ I will set My face against them; they escaped from fire, but fire shall consume them. When I set my face against them, you shall know that I am GOD.

וְנָתַתִּ֥י אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ שְׁמָמָ֑ה יַ֚עַן מָ֣עֲלוּ מַ֔עַל נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
I will make the land a desolation, because they committed trespass—declares the Sovereign GOD.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הוֹדַ֥ע אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם אֶת־תּוֹעֲבֹתֶֽיהָ׃ O mortal, proclaim Jerusalem’s abominations to her,

וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ כֹּה־אָמַ֨ר אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ לִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם מְכֹרֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ וּמֹ֣לְדֹתַ֔יִךְ מֵאֶ֖רֶץ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑י אָבִ֥יךְ הָאֱמֹרִ֖י וְאִמֵּ֥ךְ חִתִּֽית׃ and say: Thus said the Sovereign GOD to Jerusalem: By origin and birth you are from the land of the Canaanites—your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.

וּמוֹלְדוֹתַ֗יִךְ בְּי֨וֹם הוּלֶּ֤דֶת אוֹתָךְ֙ לֹא־כָרַּ֣ת שָׁרֵּ֔ךְ וּבְמַ֥יִם לֹא־רֻחַ֖צְתְּ לְמִשְׁעִ֑י וְהׇמְלֵ֙חַ֙ לֹ֣א הֻמְלַ֔חַתְּ וְהׇחְתֵּ֖ל לֹ֥א חֻתָּֽלְתְּ׃ As for your birth, when you were born your navel cord was not cut, and you were not bathed in water to smooth you;^asmooth you Meaning of Heb. uncertain. you were not rubbed with salt, nor were you swaddled.

לֹא־חָ֨סָה עָלַ֜יִךְ עַ֗יִן לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָ֛ךְ אַחַ֥ת מֵאֵ֖לֶּה לְחֻמְלָ֣ה עָלָ֑יִךְ וַֽתֻּשְׁלְכִ֞י אֶל־פְּנֵ֤י הַשָּׂדֶה֙ בְּגֹ֣עַל נַפְשֵׁ֔ךְ בְּי֖וֹם הֻלֶּ֥דֶת אֹתָֽךְ׃ No one pitied you enough to do any one of these things for you out of compassion for you; on the day you were born, you were left lying, rejected, in the open field.

וָאֶעֱבֹ֤ר עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ וָֽאֶרְאֵ֔ךְ מִתְבּוֹסֶ֖סֶת בְּדָמָ֑יִךְ וָאֹ֤מַר לָךְ֙ בְּדָמַ֣יִךְ חֲיִ֔י וָאֹ֥מַר לָ֖ךְ בְּדָמַ֥יִךְ חֲיִֽי׃ When I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you: “Live despite your blood.” Yea, I said to you: “Live despite your blood.”^bYea, I said to you: “Live despite your blood.” This sentence is missing from some ancient versions and a few Heb. mss.

רְבָבָ֗ה כְּצֶ֤מַח הַשָּׂדֶה֙ נְתַתִּ֔יךְ וַתִּרְבִּי֙ וַֽתִּגְדְּלִ֔י וַתָּבֹ֖אִי בַּעֲדִ֣י עֲדָיִ֑ים שָׁדַ֤יִם נָכֹ֙נוּ֙ וּשְׂעָרֵ֣ךְ צִמֵּ֔חַ וְאַ֖תְּ עֵרֹ֥ם וְעֶרְיָֽה׃ I let you grow like the plants of the field; and you continued to grow up until you attained to womanhood,^cto womanhood Meaning of Heb. uncertain. until your breasts became firm and your hair sprouted.
You were still naked and bare

וָאֶעֱבֹ֨ר עָלַ֜יִךְ וָאֶרְאֵ֗ךְ וְהִנֵּ֤ה עִתֵּךְ֙ עֵ֣ת דֹּדִ֔ים וָאֶפְרֹ֤שׂ כְּנָפִי֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ וָאֲכַסֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתֵ֑ךְ וָאֶשָּׁ֣בַֽע לָ֠ךְ וָאָב֨וֹא בִבְרִ֜ית אֹתָ֗ךְ נְאֻ֛ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִ֖ה וַתִּֽהְיִי־לִֽי׃ when I passed by you [again] and saw that your time for love had arrived. So I spread My robe over you^dSo I spread My robe over you An act symbolizing espousal; cf. note at Deut. 23.1; Ruth 3.9. and covered your nakedness, and I entered into a covenant with you by oath—declares the Sovereign GOD; thus you became Mine.

וָאֶרְחָצֵ֣ךְ בַּמַּ֔יִם וָאֶשְׁטֹ֥ף דָּמַ֖יִךְ מֵעָלָ֑יִךְ וָאֲסֻכֵ֖ךְ בַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃ I bathed you in water, and washed the blood off you, and anointed you with oil.

וָאַלְבִּישֵׁ֣ךְ רִקְמָ֔ה וָאֶנְעֲלֵ֖ךְ תָּ֑חַשׁ וָאֶחְבְּשֵׁ֣ךְ בַּשֵּׁ֔שׁ וַאֲכַסֵּ֖ךְ מֶֽשִׁי׃ I clothed you with embroidered garments, and gave you sandals of dolphin leather^edolphin leather Or leather of a certain dyed hue. Meaning of Heb. uncertain. to wear, and wound fine linen about your head, and dressed you in silks.

וָאֶעְדֵּ֖ךְ עֶ֑דִי וָאֶתְּנָ֤ה צְמִידִים֙ עַל־יָדַ֔יִךְ וְרָבִ֖יד עַל־גְּרוֹנֵֽךְ׃ I decked you out in finery and put bracelets on your arms and a chain around your neck.

וָ֥אֶתֵּֽן־נֶ֙זֶם֙ עַל־אַפֵּ֔ךְ וַֽעֲגִילִ֖ים עַל־אׇזְנָ֑יִךְ וַעֲטֶ֥רֶת תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת בְּרֹאשֵֽׁךְ׃ I put a ring in your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a splendid crown on your head.

וַתַּעְדִּ֞י זָהָ֣ב וָכֶ֗סֶף וּמַלְבּוּשֵׁךְ֙ (ששי) [שֵׁ֤שׁ] וָמֶ֙שִׁי֙ וְרִקְמָ֔ה סֹ֧לֶת וּדְבַ֛שׁ וָשֶׁ֖מֶן (אכלתי) [אָכָ֑לְתְּ] וַתִּ֙יפִי֙ בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֔ד וַֽתִּצְלְחִ֖י לִמְלוּכָֽה׃ You adorned yourself with gold and silver, and your apparel was of fine linen, silk, and embroidery. Your food was choice flour, honey, and oil. You grew more and more beautiful, and became fit for royalty.

וַיֵּ֨צֵא לָ֥ךְ שֵׁ֛ם בַּגּוֹיִ֖ם בְּיׇפְיֵ֑ךְ כִּ֣י ׀ כָּלִ֣יל ה֗וּא בַּהֲדָרִי֙ אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֣מְתִּי עָלַ֔יִךְ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ Your beauty won you fame among the nations, for it was perfected through the splendor that I set upon you—declares the Sovereign GOD.

וַתִּבְטְחִ֣י בְיׇפְיֵ֔ךְ וַתִּזְנִ֖י עַל־שְׁמֵ֑ךְ וַתִּשְׁפְּכִ֧י אֶת־תַּזְנוּתַ֛יִךְ עַל־כׇּל־עוֹבֵ֖ר לוֹ־יֶֽהִי׃ But confident in your beauty and fame, you played the whore: you lavished your favors on every passerby; they were his.^fthey were his Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וַתִּקְחִ֣י מִבְּגָדַ֗יִךְ וַתַּֽעֲשִׂי־לָךְ֙ בָּמ֣וֹת טְלֻא֔וֹת וַתִּזְנִ֖י עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א בָא֖וֹת וְלֹ֥א יִהְיֶֽה׃ You even took some of your cloths and made yourself tapestried platforms^gtapestried platforms Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and fornicated on them—not in the future; not in time to come.^hnot in the future; not in time to come See note at Exod. 25.4.

וַתִּקְחִ֞י כְּלֵ֣י תִפְאַרְתֵּ֗ךְ מִזְּהָבִ֤י וּמִכַּסְפִּי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תִּי לָ֔ךְ וַתַּעֲשִׂי־לָ֖ךְ צַלְמֵ֣י זָכָ֑ר וַתִּזְנִי־בָֽם׃ You took your beautiful things, made of the gold and silver that I had given you, and you made yourself phallic images and fornicated with them.

וַתִּקְחִ֛י אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֥י רִקְמָתֵ֖ךְ וַתְּכַסִּ֑ים וְשַׁמְנִי֙ וּקְטׇרְתִּ֔י (נתתי) [נָתַ֖תְּ] לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ You took your embroidered cloths to cover them; and you set My oil and My incense before them.

וְלַחְמִי֩ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֨תִּי לָ֜ךְ סֹ֣לֶת וָשֶׁ֤מֶן וּדְבַשׁ֙ הֶאֱכַלְתִּ֔יךְ וּנְתַתִּ֧יהוּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֛ם לְרֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ וַיֶּ֑הִי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ The food that I had given you—the choice flour, the oil, and the honey that I had provided for you to eat—you set it before them for a pleasing odor.ⁱfor a pleasing odor I.e., as a sacrifice; cf. Lev. 2.2. And so it went—declares the Sovereign GOD.

וַתִּקְחִ֞י אֶת־בָּנַ֤יִךְ וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָלַ֣דְתְּ לִ֔י וַתִּזְבָּחִ֥ים לָהֶ֖ם לֶאֱכ֑וֹל הַמְעַ֖ט (מתזנותך) [מִתַּזְנוּתָֽיִךְ]׃ You even took the sons and daughters that you bore to Me and sacrificed them to those [images] as food—as if your whorings were not enough,

וַֽתִּשְׁחֲטִ֖י אֶת־בָּנָ֑י וַֽתִּתְּנִ֔ים בְּהַעֲבִ֥יר אוֹתָ֖ם לָהֶֽם׃ you slaughtered My children and presented them as offerings to them!

וְאֵ֤ת כׇּל־תּוֹעֲבֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ וְתַזְנֻתַ֔יִךְ לֹ֥א (זכרתי) [זָכַ֖רְתְּ] אֶת־יְמֵ֣י נְעוּרָ֑יִךְ בִּֽהְיוֹתֵךְ֙ עֵירֹ֣ם וְעֶרְיָ֔ה מִתְבּוֹסֶ֥סֶת בְּדָמֵ֖ךְ הָיִֽית׃ In all your abominations and whorings, you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and lay wallowing in your blood.

וַיְהִ֕י אַחֲרֵ֖י כׇּל־רָעָתֵ֑ךְ א֣וֹי א֣וֹי לָ֔ךְ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ After all your wickedness (woe, woe to you!)—declares the Sovereign GOD —

וַתִּבְנִי־לָ֖ךְ גָּ֑ב וַתַּעֲשִׂי־לָ֥ךְ רָמָ֖ה בְּכׇל־רְחֽוֹב׃ you built yourself an eminence and made yourself a mound in every square.

אֶל־כׇּל־רֹ֣אשׁ דֶּ֗רֶךְ בָּנִית֙ רָמָתֵ֔ךְ וַתְּתַֽעֲבִי֙ אֶת־יׇפְיֵ֔ךְ וַתְּפַשְּׂקִ֥י אֶת־רַגְלַ֖יִךְ לְכׇל־עוֹבֵ֑ר וַתַּרְבִּ֖י אֶת־[תַּזְנוּתָֽיִךְ] (תזנותך)׃ You built your mound at every crossroad; and you sullied your beauty and spread your legs to every passerby, and you multiplied your whoredoms.

וַתִּזְנִ֧י אֶל־בְּנֵי־מִצְרַ֛יִם שְׁכֵנַ֖יִךְ גִּדְלֵ֣י בָשָׂ֑ר וַתַּרְבִּ֥י אֶת־תַּזְנֻתֵ֖ךְ לְהַכְעִיסֵֽנִי׃ You played the whore with your neighbors, the lustful^jlustful Lit. “big of phallus”; cf. 23.20. Egyptians—you multiplied your whoredoms to anger Me.

וְהִנֵּ֨ה נָטִ֤יתִי יָדִי֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ וָאֶגְרַ֖ע חֻקֵּ֑ךְ וָאֶתְּנֵ֞ךְ בְּנֶ֤פֶשׁ שֹׂנְאוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ בְּנ֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים הַנִּכְלָמ֖וֹת מִדַּרְכֵּ֥ךְ זִמָּֽה׃ Now, I will stretch out My arm against you and withhold your maintenance; and I will surrender you to the will of your enemies, the Philistine women, who are shocked by your lewd behavior.

וַתִּזְנִי֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר מִבִּלְתִּ֖י שׇׂבְעָתֵ֑ךְ וַתִּזְנִ֕ים וְגַ֖ם לֹ֥א שָׂבָֽעַתְּ׃ In your insatiable lust you also played the whore with the Assyrians; you played the whore with them, but were still unsated.

וַתַּרְבִּ֧י אֶת־תַּזְנוּתֵ֛ךְ אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ כְּנַ֖עַן כַּשְׂדִּ֑ימָה וְגַם־בְּזֹ֖את לֹ֥א שָׂבָֽעַתְּ׃ You multiplied your whoredoms with Chaldea, that land of traders; yet even with this you were not satisfied.

מָ֤ה אֲמֻלָה֙ לִבָּתֵ֔ךְ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה בַּֽעֲשׂוֹתֵךְ֙ אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֔לֶּה מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה אִשָּֽׁה־זוֹנָ֖ה שַׁלָּֽטֶת׃ How sick was your heart^kHow sick was your heart Change of vocalization yields “How furious I was with you”; lit. “How I was filled with your fury” (libbat, as in Akkadian and Old Aramaic). —declares the Sovereign GOD —when you did all those things, the acts of a self-willed whore,

בִּבְנוֹתַ֤יִךְ גַּבֵּךְ֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ כׇּל־דֶּ֔רֶךְ וְרָמָתֵ֥ךְ (עשיתי) [עָשִׂ֖ית] בְּכׇל־רְח֑וֹב וְלֹא־[הָיִ֥ית] (הייתי) כַּזּוֹנָ֖ה לְקַלֵּ֥ס אֶתְנָֽן׃ building your eminence at every crossroad and setting your mound in every square! Yet you were not like a prostitute, for you spurned fees;

הָאִשָּׁ֖ה הַמְּנָאָ֑פֶת תַּ֣חַת אִישָׁ֔הּ תִּקַּ֖ח אֶת־זָרִֽים׃ [you were like] the adulterous wife who welcomes strangers instead of her husband.

לְכׇל־זֹנ֖וֹת יִתְּנוּ־נֵ֑דֶה וְאַ֨תְּ נָתַ֤תְּ אֶת־נְדָנַ֙יִךְ֙ לְכׇל־מְאַֽהֲבַ֔יִךְ וַתִּשְׁחֳדִ֣י אוֹתָ֗ם לָב֥וֹא אֵלַ֛יִךְ מִסָּבִ֖יב בְּתַזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃ Gifts are made to all prostitutes, but you made gifts to all your lovers, and bribed them to come to you from every quarter for your whoring.

וַיְהִי־בָ֨ךְ הֵ֤פֶךְ מִן־הַנָּשִׁים֙ בְּתַזְנוּתַ֔יִךְ וְאַחֲרַ֖יִךְ לֹ֣א זוּנָּ֑ה וּבְתִתֵּ֣ךְ אֶתְנָ֗ן וְאֶתְנַ֛ן לֹ֥א נִתַּן־לָ֖ךְ וַתְּהִ֥י לְהֶֽפֶךְ׃ You were the opposite of other women: you solicited instead of being solicited; you paid fees instead of being paid fees. Thus you were just the opposite!

לָכֵ֣ן זוֹנָ֔ה שִׁמְעִ֖י דְּבַר־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
Now, O whore, hear the word of GOD.

כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה יַ֣עַן הִשָּׁפֵ֤ךְ נְחֻשְׁתֵּךְ֙ וַתִּגָּלֶ֣ה עֶרְוָתֵ֔ךְ בְּתַזְנוּתַ֖יִךְ עַל־מְאַֽהֲבָ֑יִךְ וְעַל֙ כׇּל־גִּלּוּלֵ֣י תוֹעֲבוֹתַ֔יִךְ וְכִדְמֵ֣י בָנַ֔יִךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תְּ לָהֶֽם׃ Thus said the Sovereign GOD: Because of your brazen effrontery, offering your nakedness to your lovers for whoring—just like the blood of your children, which you gave to all your abominable fetishes:^ljust like the blood of your children, which you gave to all your abominable fetishes Construction of Heb. uncertain. —

לָ֠כֵ֠ן הִנְנִ֨י מְקַבֵּ֤ץ אֶת־כׇּל־מְאַהֲבַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָרַ֣בְתְּ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְאֵת֙ כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהַ֔בְתְּ עַ֖ל כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׂנֵ֑את וְקִבַּצְתִּי֩ אֹתָ֨ם עָלַ֜יִךְ מִסָּבִ֗יב וְגִלֵּיתִ֤י עֶרְוָתֵךְ֙ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וְרָא֖וּ אֶת־כׇּל־עֶרְוָתֵֽךְ׃ I will assuredly assemble all the lovers to whom you gave your favors, along with everybody you accepted and everybody you rejected. I will assemble them against you from every quarter, and I will expose your nakedness to them, and they shall see all your nakedness.

וּשְׁפַטְתִּיךְ֙ מִשְׁפְּטֵ֣י נֹאֲפ֔וֹת וְשֹׁפְכֹ֖ת דָּ֑ם וּנְתַתִּ֕יךְ דַּ֥ם חֵמָ֖ה וְקִנְאָֽה׃ I will inflict upon you the punishment of women who commit adultery and murder, and I will direct bloody and impassioned fury against you.

וְנָתַתִּ֨י אֹתָ֜ךְ בְּיָדָ֗ם וְהָרְס֤וּ גַבֵּךְ֙ וְנִתְּצ֣וּ רָמֹתַ֔יִךְ וְהִפְשִׁ֤יטוּ אוֹתָךְ֙ בְּגָדַ֔יִךְ וְלָקְח֖וּ כְּלֵ֣י תִפְאַרְתֵּ֑ךְ וְהִנִּיח֖וּךְ עֵירֹ֥ם וְעֶרְיָֽה׃ I will deliver you into their hands, and they shall tear down your eminence and level your mounds; and they shall strip you of your clothing and take away your dazzling jewels, leaving you naked and bare.

וְהֶעֱל֤וּ עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ קָהָ֔ל וְרָגְמ֥וּ אוֹתָ֖ךְ בָּאָ֑בֶן וּבִתְּק֖וּךְ בְּחַרְבוֹתָֽם׃ Then they shall assemble a mob against you to pelt you with stones and pierce you with their swords.

וְשָׂרְפ֤וּ בָתַּ֙יִךְ֙ בָּאֵ֔שׁ וְעָשׂוּ־בָ֣ךְ שְׁפָטִ֔ים לְעֵינֵ֖י נָשִׁ֣ים רַבּ֑וֹת וְהִשְׁבַּתִּיךְ֙ מִזּוֹנָ֔ה וְגַם־אֶתְנַ֖ן לֹ֥א תִתְּנִי־עֽוֹד׃ They shall put your houses to the flames and execute punishment upon you in the sight of many women; thus I will put a stop to your whoring, and you shall pay no more fees.

וַהֲנִחֹתִ֤י חֲמָתִי֙ בָּ֔ךְ וְסָ֥רָה קִנְאָתִ֖י מִמֵּ֑ךְ וְשָׁ֣קַטְתִּ֔י וְלֹ֥א אֶכְעַ֖ס עֽוֹד׃ When I have satisfied My fury upon you and My rage has departed from you, then I will be tranquil; I will be angry no more.

יַ֗עַן אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־[זָכַרְתְּ֙] (זכרתי) אֶת־יְמֵ֣י נְעוּרַ֔יִךְ וַתִּרְגְּזִי־לִ֖י בְּכׇל־אֵ֑לֶּה וְגַם־אֲנִ֨י הֵ֜א דַּרְכֵּ֣ךְ ׀ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ נָתַ֗תִּי נְאֻם֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה וְלֹ֤א (עשיתי) [עָשִׂית֙] אֶת־הַזִּמָּ֔ה עַ֖ל כׇּל־תּוֹעֲבֹתָֽיִךְ׃ Because you did not remember the days of your youth, but infuriated Me with all those things, I will pay you back for your conduct^mwill pay you back for your conduct Meaning of Heb. uncertain. —declares the Sovereign GOD.
Have you not committed depravity on top of all your other abominations?

הִנֵּה֙ כׇּל־הַמֹּשֵׁ֔ל עָלַ֥יִךְ יִמְשֹׁ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּאִמָּ֖הֿ בִּתָּֽהּ׃ Why, everyone who uses proverbs applies to you the proverb “Like mother, like daughter.”

בַּת־אִמֵּ֣ךְ אַ֔תְּ גֹּעֶ֥לֶת אִישָׁ֖הּ וּבָנֶ֑יהָ וַאֲח֨וֹת אֲחוֹתֵ֜ךְ אַ֗תְּ אֲשֶׁ֤ר גָּֽעֲלוּ֙ אַנְשֵׁיהֶ֣ן וּבְנֵיהֶ֔ן אִמְּכֶ֣ן חִתִּ֔ית וַאֲבִיכֶ֖ן אֱמֹרִֽי׃ You are the daughter of your mother, who rejected her husband and children. And you are the sister of your sisters, who rejected their husbands and children; for you are daughters of a Hittite mother and an Amorite father.

וַאֲחוֹתֵ֨ךְ הַגְּדוֹלָ֤ה שֹׁמְרוֹן֙ הִ֣יא וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ הַיּוֹשֶׁ֖בֶת עַל־שְׂמֹאולֵ֑ךְ וַאֲחוֹתֵ֞ךְ הַקְּטַנָּ֣ה מִמֵּ֗ךְ הַיּוֹשֶׁ֙בֶת֙ מִֽימִינֵ֔ךְ סְדֹ֖ם וּבְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ Your elder sister was Samaria, who lived with her daughters to the north of you; your younger sister was Sodom, who lived with her daughters to the south of you.

וְלֹ֤א בְדַרְכֵיהֶן֙ הָלַ֔כְתְּ וּכְתוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֖ן (עשיתי) [עָשִׂ֑ית] כִּמְעַ֣ט קָ֔ט וַתַּשְׁחִ֥תִי מֵהֵ֖ן בְּכׇל־דְּרָכָֽיִךְ׃ Did you not walk in their ways and practice their abominations? Why, you were almostⁿalmost Meaning of Heb. uncertain. more corrupt than they in all your ways.

חַי־אָ֗נִי נְאֻם֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה אִם־עָֽשְׂתָה֙ סְדֹ֣ם אֲחוֹתֵ֔ךְ הִ֖יא וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֔ית אַ֖תְּ וּבְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃ As I live—declares the Sovereign GOD —your sister Sodom and her daughters did not do what you and your daughters did.

הִנֵּה־זֶ֣ה הָיָ֔ה עֲוֺ֖ן סְדֹ֣ם אֲחוֹתֵ֑ךְ גָּא֨וֹן שִׂבְעַת־לֶ֜חֶם וְשַׁלְוַ֣ת הַשְׁקֵ֗ט הָ֤יָה לָהּ֙ וְלִבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ וְיַד־עָנִ֥י וְאֶבְי֖וֹן לֹ֥א הֶחֱזִֽיקָה׃ Only this was the sin of your sister Sodom: arrogance! She and her daughters had plenty of bread and untroubled tranquility; yet she did not support the poor and the needy.

וַֽתִּגְבְּהֶ֔ינָה וַתַּֽעֲשֶׂ֥ינָה תוֹעֵבָ֖ה לְפָנָ֑י וָאָסִ֥יר אֶתְהֶ֖ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִֽיתִי׃ {ס}         In their haughtiness, they committed abomination before Me; and so I removed them, as you saw.^oyou saw Construed as second-person feminine; cf. qere, vv. 47 and 51; and see above vv. 13, 18, 22, 31, 43.

וְשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן כַּחֲצִ֥י חַטֹּאתַ֖יִךְ לֹ֣א חָטָ֑אָה וַתַּרְבִּ֤י אֶת־תּוֹעֲבוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ מֵהֵ֔נָּה וַתְּצַדְּקִי֙ אֶת־[אֲחוֹתַ֔יִךְ] (אחותך) בְּכׇל־תּוֹעֲבֹתַ֖יִךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר (עשיתי) [עָשִֽׂית]׃ Nor did Samaria commit even half your sins. You committed more abominations than they, and by all the abominations that you committed you made your sisters look righteous.

גַּם־אַ֣תְּ ׀ שְׂאִ֣י כְלִמָּתֵ֗ךְ אֲשֶׁ֤ר פִּלַּלְתְּ֙ לַאֲחוֹתֵ֔ךְ בְּחַטֹּאתַ֛יִךְ אֲשֶׁר־הִתְעַ֥בְתְּ מֵהֵ֖ן תִּצְדַּ֣קְנָה מִמֵּ֑ךְ וְגַם־אַ֥תְּ בּ֙וֹשִׁי֙ וּשְׂאִ֣י כְלִמָּתֵ֔ךְ בְּצַדֶּקְתֵּ֖ךְ אַחְיוֹתֵֽךְ׃ Truly, you must bear the disgrace of serving as your sisters’ advocate: Since you have sinned more abominably than they, they appear righteous in comparison. So be ashamed and bear your disgrace, because you have made your sisters look righteous.

וְשַׁבְתִּי֙ אֶת־שְׁבִ֣יתְהֶ֔ן אֶת־[שְׁב֤וּת] (שבית) סְדֹם֙ וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ וְאֶת־[שְׁב֥וּת] (שבית) שֹׁמְר֖וֹן וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ (ושבית) [וּשְׁב֥וּת] שְׁבִיתַ֖יִךְ בְּתוֹכָֽהְנָה׃ I will restore their fortunes—the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters—and your fortunes along with theirs.

לְמַ֙עַן֙ תִּשְׂאִ֣י כְלִמָּתֵ֔ךְ וְנִכְלַ֕מְתְּ מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֑ית בְּנַחֲמֵ֖ךְ אֹתָֽן׃ Thus you shall bear your disgrace and feel your disgrace for behaving in such a way that they could take comfort.

וַאֲחוֹתַ֗יִךְ סְדֹ֤ם וּבְנוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ תָּשֹׁ֣בְןָ לְקַדְמָתָ֔ן וְשֹֽׁמְרוֹן֙ וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ תָּשֹׁ֖בְןָ לְקַדְמָתָ֑ן וְאַתְּ֙ וּבְנוֹתַ֔יִךְ תְּשֻׁבֶ֖ינָה לְקַדְמַתְכֶֽן׃ Then your sister Sodom and her daughters shall return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former state, and you and your daughters shall return to your former state.

וְל֤וֹא הָֽיְתָה֙ סְדֹ֣ם אֲחוֹתֵ֔ךְ לִשְׁמוּעָ֖ה בְּפִ֑יךְ בְּי֖וֹם גְּאוֹנָֽיִךְ׃ Was not your sister Sodom a byword in your mouth in the days of your pride,

בְּטֶ֘רֶם֮ תִּגָּלֶ֣ה רָעָתֵךְ֒ כְּמ֗וֹ עֵ֚ת חֶרְפַּ֣ת בְּנוֹת־אֲרָ֔ם וְכׇל־סְבִיבוֹתֶ֖יהָ בְּנ֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים הַשָּׁאט֥וֹת אוֹתָ֖ךְ מִסָּבִֽיב׃ before your own wickedness was exposed? So must you now bear the mockery of the daughters of Aram^pAram Many Heb. mss. and editions read “Edom.” and all her neighbors, the daughters of Philistia who jeer at you on every side.

אֶת־זִמָּתֵ֥ךְ וְאֶת־תּוֹעֲבוֹתַ֖יִךְ אַ֣תְּ נְשָׂאתִ֑ים נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         You yourself must bear your depravity and your abominations—declares GOD.

כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה (ועשית) [וְעָשִׂ֥יתִי] אוֹתָ֖ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֑ית אֲשֶׁר־בָּזִ֥ית אָלָ֖ה לְהָפֵ֥ר בְּרִֽית׃ Truly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: I will deal with you as you have dealt, for you have spurned the pact and violated the covenant.

וְזָכַרְתִּ֨י אֲנִ֧י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֛י אוֹתָ֖ךְ בִּימֵ֣י נְעוּרָ֑יִךְ וַהֲקִימוֹתִ֥י לָ֖ךְ בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם׃ Nevertheless, I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish it with you as an everlasting covenant.

וְזָכַ֣רְתְּ אֶת־דְּרָכַ֘יִךְ֮ וְנִכְלַמְתְּ֒ בְּקַחְתֵּ֗ךְ אֶת־אֲחוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ הַגְּדֹל֣וֹת מִמֵּ֔ךְ אֶל־הַקְּטַנּ֖וֹת מִמֵּ֑ךְ וְנָתַתִּ֨י אֶתְהֶ֥ן לָ֛ךְ לְבָנ֖וֹת וְלֹ֥א מִבְּרִיתֵֽךְ׃ You shall remember your ways and feel ashamed, when you receive your older sisters and your younger sisters, and I give them to you as daughters, though they are not of your covenant.

וַהֲקִימֹתִ֥י אֲנִ֛י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ וְיָדַ֖עַתְּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am GOD.

לְמַ֤עַן תִּזְכְּרִי֙ וָבֹ֔שְׁתְּ וְלֹ֨א יִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֥ךְ עוֹד֙ פִּתְח֣וֹן פֶּ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י כְּלִמָּתֵ֑ךְ בְּכַפְּרִי־לָךְ֙ לְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֔ית נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
Thus you shall remember and feel shame, and you shall be too abashed to open your mouth again, when I have forgiven you for all that you did—declares the Sovereign GOD.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם ח֥וּד חִידָ֖ה וּמְשֹׁ֣ל מָשָׁ֑ל אֶל־בֵּ֖ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ O mortal, propound a riddle and relate an allegory to the House of Israel.

וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה הַנֶּ֤שֶׁר הַגָּדוֹל֙ גְּד֤וֹל הַכְּנָפַ֙יִם֙ אֶ֣רֶךְ הָאֵ֔בֶר מָלֵא֙ הַנּוֹצָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ל֖וֹ הָרִקְמָ֑ה בָּ֚א אֶל־הַלְּבָנ֔וֹן וַיִּקַּ֖ח אֶת־צַמֶּ֥רֶת הָאָֽרֶז׃ Say: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: The great eagle with the great wings and the long pinions, with the full plumage and the brilliant colors,^awith the full plumage and the brilliant colors This description suggests the golden eagle; the vulture, called by the same word in Heb. (nesher), has a bald head (Mic. 1.16) and dark feathers. came to the Lebanon range and seized the top of the cedar.

אֵ֛ת רֹ֥אשׁ יְנִיקוֹתָ֖יו קָטָ֑ף וַיְבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן בְּעִ֥יר רֹכְלִ֖ים שָׂמֽוֹ׃ He plucked off its topmost bough and carried it off to the land of traders^btraders Cf. 16.29. and set it in a city of merchants.

וַיִּקַּח֙ מִזֶּ֣רַע הָאָ֔רֶץ וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖הוּ בִּשְׂדֵה־זָ֑רַע קָ֚ח עַל־מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֔ים צַפְצָפָ֖ה שָׂמֽוֹ׃ He then took some of the seed of the land^cland Emendation yields “cedar.” and planted it in a fertile field; he planted and set it like a willow^dhe planted and set it like a willow Meaning of Heb. uncertain. beside abundant waters.

וַיִּצְמַ֡ח וַיְהִי֩ לְגֶ֨פֶן סֹרַ֜חַת שִׁפְלַ֣ת קוֹמָ֗ה לִפְנ֤וֹת דָּֽלִיּוֹתָיו֙ אֵלָ֔יו וְשׇׁרָשָׁ֖יו תַּחְתָּ֣יו יִהְי֑וּ וַתְּהִ֣י לְגֶ֔פֶן וַתַּ֣עַשׂ בַּדִּ֔ים וַתְּשַׁלַּ֖ח פֹּרֹֽאות׃ It grew and became a spreading vine of low stature; it became a vine, produced branches, and sent out boughs. [He had intended] that its twigs should turn to him, and that its roots should stay under him.

וַיְהִ֤י נֶֽשֶׁר־אֶחָד֙ גָּד֔וֹל גְּד֥וֹל כְּנָפַ֖יִם וְרַב־נוֹצָ֑ה וְהִנֵּה֩ הַגֶּ֨פֶן הַזֹּ֜את כָּפְנָ֧ה שׇׁרָשֶׁ֣יהָ עָלָ֗יו וְדָֽלִיּוֹתָיו֙ שִׁלְחָה־לּ֔וֹ לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת אוֹתָ֔הּ מֵעֲרֻג֖וֹת מַטָּעָֽהּ׃ But there was another great eagle with great wings and full plumage; and this vine now bent its roots in his direction and sent out its twigs toward him, that he might water it more than the bed where it was planted—

אֶל־שָׂ֥דֶה טּ֛וֹב אֶל־מַ֥יִם רַבִּ֖ים הִ֣יא שְׁתוּלָ֑ה לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת עָנָף֙ וְלָשֵׂ֣את פֶּ֔רִי לִהְי֖וֹת לְגֶ֥פֶן אַדָּֽרֶת׃ though it was planted in rich soil beside abundant water—so that it might grow branches and produce boughs and be a noble vine.

אֱמֹ֗ר כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֛ר אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִ֖ה תִּצְלָ֑ח הֲלוֹא֩ אֶת־שׇׁרָשֶׁ֨יהָ יְנַתֵּ֜ק וְאֶת־פִּרְיָ֣הּ ׀ יְקוֹסֵ֣ס וְיָבֵ֗שׁ כׇּל־טַרְפֵּ֤י צִמְחָהּ֙ תִּיבָ֔שׁ וְלֹֽא־בִזְרֹ֤עַ גְּדוֹלָה֙ וּבְעַם־רָ֔ב לְמַשְׂא֥וֹת אוֹתָ֖הּ מִשׇּׁרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃ Say: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: Will it thrive? Will he^ehe I.e., the first eagle. not tear out its roots and rip off its crown, so that its entire foliage withers? It shall wither, despite any strong arm or mighty army [that may come] to remove it from its roots.

וְהִנֵּ֥ה שְׁתוּלָ֖ה הֲתִצְלָ֑ח הֲלֹא֩ כְגַ֨עַת בָּ֜הּ ר֤וּחַ הַקָּדִים֙ תִּיבַ֣שׁ יָבֹ֔שׁ עַל־עֲרֻגֹ֥ת צִמְחָ֖הּ תִּיבָֽשׁ׃ {פ}
And suppose it is transplanted, will it thrive? When the east wind strikes it, it shall wither—wither upon the bed where it is growing.

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

אֱמׇר־נָא֙ לְבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֔רִי הֲלֹ֥א יְדַעְתֶּ֖ם מָה־אֵ֑לֶּה אֱמֹ֗ר הִנֵּה־בָ֨א מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֤ל יְרוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ וַיִּקַּ֤ח אֶת־מַלְכָּהּ֙ וְאֶת־שָׂרֶ֔יהָ וַיָּבֵ֥א אוֹתָ֛ם אֵלָ֖יו בָּבֶֽלָה׃ Say to the rebellious breed: Do you not know what these things mean? Say: The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and carried away its king^fits king I.e., Jehoiachin, exiled to Babylonia in 597 BCE. and its officers and brought them back with him to Babylon.

וַיִּקַּח֙ מִזֶּ֣רַע הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה וַיִּכְרֹ֥ת אִתּ֖וֹ בְּרִ֑ית וַיָּבֵ֤א אֹתוֹ֙ בְּאָלָ֔ה וְאֶת־אֵילֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ לָקָֽח׃ He took one of the seed royal^gone of the seed royal I.e., Zedekiah. and made a covenant with him and imposed an oath on him, and he carried away the nobles of the land—

לִֽהְיוֹת֙ מַמְלָכָ֣ה שְׁפָלָ֔ה לְבִלְתִּ֖י הִתְנַשֵּׂ֑א לִשְׁמֹ֥ר אֶת־בְּרִית֖וֹ לְעׇמְדָֽהּ׃ so that it might be a humble kingdom and not exalt itself, but keep his covenant and so endure.

וַיִּמְרׇד־בּ֗וֹ לִשְׁלֹ֤חַ מַלְאָכָיו֙ מִצְרַ֔יִם לָתֶת־ל֥וֹ סוּסִ֖ים וְעַם־רָ֑ב הֲיִצְלָ֤ח הֲיִמָּלֵט֙ הָעֹשֵׂ֣ה אֵ֔לֶּה וְהֵפֵ֥ר בְּרִ֖ית וְנִמְלָֽט׃ But [that prince] rebelled against him and sent his envoys to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Shall he break a covenant and escape?

חַי־אָ֗נִי נְאֻם֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ אִם־לֹ֗א בִּמְקוֹם֙ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַמַּמְלִ֣יךְ אֹת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּזָה֙ אֶת־אָ֣לָת֔וֹ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵפֵ֖ר אֶת־בְּרִית֑וֹ אִתּ֥וֹ בְתוֹךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל יָמֽוּת׃ As I live—declares the Sovereign GOD —in the very homeland of the king who made him king, whose oath he flouted and whose covenant he broke—right there, in Babylon, he shall die.

וְלֹא֩ בְחַ֨יִל גָּד֜וֹל וּבְקָהָ֣ל רָ֗ב יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה אוֹת֤וֹ פַרְעֹה֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה בִּשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ סֹלְלָ֖ה וּבִבְנ֣וֹת דָּיֵ֑ק לְהַכְרִ֖ית נְפָשׁ֥וֹת רַבּֽוֹת׃ Pharaoh will not fight at his side with a great army and with numerous troops in the war, when mounds are thrown up and siege towers erected to destroy many lives.

וּבָזָ֥ה אָלָ֖ה לְהָפֵ֣ר בְּרִ֑ית וְהִנֵּ֨ה נָתַ֥ן יָד֛וֹ וְכׇל־אֵ֥לֶּה עָשָׂ֖ה לֹ֥א יִמָּלֵֽט׃ {ס}         He flouted a pact and broke a covenant; he gave his promise and did all these things—he shall not escape.

לָכֵ֞ן כֹּה־אָמַ֨ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֮ חַי־אָ֒נִי֒ אִם־לֹ֗א אָֽלָתִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּזָ֔ה וּבְרִיתִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֵפִ֑יר וּנְתַתִּ֖יו בְּרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: As I live, I will pay him back for flouting My pact and breaking My covenant.

וּפָרַשְׂתִּ֤י עָלָיו֙ רִשְׁתִּ֔י וְנִתְפַּ֖שׂ בִּמְצוּדָתִ֑י וַהֲבִיאוֹתִ֣יהוּ בָבֶ֗לָה וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֤י אִתּוֹ֙ שָׁ֔ם מַעֲל֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָעַל־בִּֽי׃ I will spread My net over him and he shall be caught in My snare; I will carry him to Babylon and enter with him into judgment there for the trespass that he committed against Me.

וְאֵ֨ת כׇּל־מִבְרָחָ֤ו בְּכׇל־אֲגַפָּיו֙ בַּחֶ֣רֶב יִפֹּ֔לוּ וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים לְכׇל־ר֣וּחַ יִפָּרֵ֑שׂוּ וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ {פ}
And all the fugitives^hfugitives Many mss. read “elite troops.” of all his battalions shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall scatter in every direction; then you will know that I, GOD, have spoken.

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה וְלָקַ֣חְתִּי אָ֗נִי מִצַּמֶּ֧רֶת הָאֶ֛רֶז הָרָמָ֖ה וְנָתָ֑תִּי מֵרֹ֤אשׁ יֹֽנְקוֹתָיו֙ רַ֣ךְ אֶקְטֹ֔ף וְשָׁתַ֣לְתִּי אָ֔נִי עַ֥ל הַר־גָּבֹ֖הַּ וְתָלֽוּל׃ Thus said the Sovereign GOD: Then I in turn will take and set [in the ground a slip] from the lofty top of the cedar; I will pluck a tender twig from the tip of its crown, and I will plant it on a tall, towering mountain.

בְּהַ֨ר מְר֤וֹם יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶשְׁתֳּלֶ֔נּוּ וְנָשָׂ֤א עָנָף֙ וְעָ֣שָׂה פֶ֔רִי וְהָיָ֖ה לְאֶ֣רֶז אַדִּ֑יר וְשָׁכְנ֣וּ תַחְתָּ֗יו כֹּ֚ל צִפּ֣וֹר כׇּל־כָּנָ֔ף בְּצֵ֥ל דָּלִיּוֹתָ֖יו תִּשְׁכֹּֽנָּה׃ I will plant it in Israel’s lofty highlands, and it shall bring forth boughs and produce branchesⁱbranches In contrast to others “fruit.” and grow into a noble cedar. Every bird of every feather shall take shelter under it, shelter in the shade of its boughs.

וְֽיָדְע֞וּ כׇּל־עֲצֵ֣י הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ הִשְׁפַּ֣לְתִּי ׀ עֵ֣ץ גָּבֹ֗הַּ הִגְבַּ֙הְתִּי֙ עֵ֣ץ שָׁפָ֔ל הוֹבַ֙שְׁתִּי֙ עֵ֣ץ לָ֔ח וְהִפְרַ֖חְתִּי עֵ֣ץ יָבֵ֑שׁ אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי וְעָשִֽׂיתִי׃ {פ}
Then shall all the trees of the field know that it is I, GOD, who have abased the lofty tree and exalted the lowly tree, who have dried up the green tree and made the withered tree bud. I, GOD, have spoken, and I will act.

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

מַה־לָּכֶ֗ם אַתֶּם֙ מֹֽשְׁלִים֙ אֶת־הַמָּשָׁ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה עַל־אַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר אָבוֹת֙ יֹ֣אכְלוּ בֹ֔סֶר וְשִׁנֵּ֥י הַבָּנִ֖ים תִּקְהֶֽינָה׃ What do you mean by quoting this proverb upon the soil of Israel, “Parents eat sour grapes and their children’s teeth are blunted”?^ablunted In contrast to others “set on edge.”

חַי־אָ֕נִי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה אִם־יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֜ם ע֗וֹד מְשֹׁ֛ל הַמָּשָׁ֥ל הַזֶּ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ As I live—declares the Sovereign GOD —this proverb shall no longer be current among you in Israel.

הֵ֤ן כׇּל־הַנְּפָשׁוֹת֙ לִ֣י הֵ֔נָּה כְּנֶ֧פֶשׁ הָאָ֛ב וּכְנֶ֥פֶשׁ הַבֵּ֖ן לִי־הֵ֑נָּה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַחֹטֵ֖את הִ֥יא תָמֽוּת׃ Consider, all lives are Mine; the life of the parent and the life of the child are both Mine. Only the person who sins shall die.

וְאִ֖ישׁ כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֣ה צַדִּ֑יק וְעָשָׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָֽה׃ Thus, if a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right:

אֶל־הֶֽהָרִים֙ לֹ֣א אָכָ֔ל וְעֵינָיו֙ לֹ֣א נָשָׂ֔א אֶל־גִּלּוּלֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאֶת־אֵ֤שֶׁת רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ לֹ֣א טִמֵּ֔א וְאֶל־אִשָּׁ֥ה נִדָּ֖ה לֹ֥א יִקְרָֽב׃ If he has not eaten on the mountains^bon the mountains I.e., in idolatry. Emendation yields “with the blood”; cf. 33.25; Lev. 17.10–11; 19.26. or raised his eyes to the fetishes of the House of Israel; if he has not defiled another man’s wife or approached a menstruous woman;

וְאִישׁ֙ לֹ֣א יוֹנֶ֔ה חֲבֹלָת֥וֹ חוֹב֙ יָשִׁ֔יב גְּזֵלָ֖ה לֹ֣א יִגְזֹ֑ל לַחְמוֹ֙ לְרָעֵ֣ב יִתֵּ֔ן וְעֵירֹ֖ם יְכַסֶּה־בָּֽגֶד׃ if he has wronged no one at all; if he has returned the debtor’s pledge to him and has taken nothing by robbery; if he has given bread to the hungry and clothed the naked;

בַּנֶּ֣שֶׁךְ לֹֽא־יִתֵּ֗ן וְתַרְבִּית֙ לֹ֣א יִקָּ֔ח מֵעָ֖וֶל יָשִׁ֣יב יָד֑וֹ מִשְׁפַּ֤ט אֱמֶת֙ יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה בֵּ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ לְאִֽישׁ׃ if he has not lent at advance interest or exacted accrued interest;^cadvance interest or…accrued interest I.e., interest deducted in advance or interest added at the time of repayment; cf. Lev. 25.36. if he has abstained from wrongdoing and executed true justice between one party and the other;

בְּחֻקּוֹתַ֧י יְהַלֵּ֛ךְ וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֥י שָׁמַ֖ר לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אֱמֶ֑ת צַדִּ֥יק הוּא֙ חָיֹ֣ה יִֽחְיֶ֔ה נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ if he has followed My laws and kept My rules and acted honestly—he is righteous. Such a person shall live—declares the Sovereign GOD.

וְהוֹלִ֥יד בֵּן־פָּרִ֖יץ שֹׁפֵ֣ךְ דָּ֑ם וְעָ֣שָׂה אָ֔ח מֵאַחַ֖ד מֵאֵֽלֶּה׃ Suppose, now, that he has begotten a son who is a ruffian, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things,^ddoes any of these things Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וְה֕וּא אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֖לֶּה לֹ֣א עָשָׂ֑ה כִּ֣י גַ֤ם אֶל־הֶהָרִים֙ אָכַ֔ל וְאֶת־אֵ֥שֶׁת רֵעֵ֖הוּ טִמֵּֽא׃ whereas he himself did none of these things. That is, [the son] has eaten on the mountains,^eon the mountains See note at v. 6. has defiled another man’s wife,

עָנִ֤י וְאֶבְיוֹן֙ הוֹנָ֔ה גְּזֵל֣וֹת גָּזָ֔ל חֲבֹ֖ל לֹ֣א יָשִׁ֑יב וְאֶל־הַגִּלּוּלִים֙ נָשָׂ֣א עֵינָ֔יו תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה עָשָֽׂה׃ has wronged the poor and the needy, has taken by robbery, has not returned a pledge, has raised his eyes to the fetishes, has committed abomination,

בַּנֶּ֧שֶׁךְ נָתַ֛ן וְתַרְבִּ֥ית לָקַ֖ח וָחָ֑י לֹ֣א יִֽחְיֶ֗ה אֵ֣ת כׇּל־הַתּוֹעֵב֤וֹת הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ עָשָׂ֔ה מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֔ת דָּמָ֖יו בּ֥וֹ יִֽהְיֶֽה׃ has lent at advance interest, or exacted accrued interest—shall he live? He shall not live! If he has committed any of these abominations, he shall die; he has forfeited his life.

וְהִנֵּה֙ הוֹלִ֣יד בֵּ֔ן וַיַּ֕רְא אֶת־כׇּל־חַטֹּ֥את אָבִ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיִּרְאֶ֕ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה כָּהֵֽן׃ Now suppose that he, in turn, has begotten a son who has seen all the sins that his father committed, but has taken heed and has not imitated them:

עַל־הֶהָרִים֙ לֹ֣א אָכָ֔ל וְעֵינָיו֙ לֹ֣א נָשָׂ֔א אֶל־גִּלּוּלֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֶת־אֵ֥שֶׁת רֵעֵ֖הוּ לֹ֥א טִמֵּֽא׃ He has not eaten upon the mountains^fupon the mountains See note at v. 6. or raised his eyes to the fetishes of the House of Israel; he has not defiled another man’s wife;

וְאִישׁ֙ לֹ֣א הוֹנָ֔ה חֲבֹל֙ לֹ֣א חָבָ֔ל וּגְזֵלָ֖ה לֹ֣א גָזָ֑ל לַחְמוֹ֙ לְרָעֵ֣ב נָתָ֔ן וְעֵר֖וֹם כִּסָּה־בָֽגֶד׃ he has wronged no one at all; he has not seized a pledge or taken anything by robbery; he has given his bread to the hungry and clothed the naked;

מֵעָנִ֞י הֵשִׁ֣יב יָד֗וֹ נֶ֤שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּית֙ לֹ֣א לָקָ֔ח מִשְׁפָּטַ֣י עָשָׂ֔ה בְּחֻקּוֹתַ֖י הָלָ֑ךְ ה֗וּא לֹ֥א יָמ֛וּת בַּעֲוֺ֥ן אָבִ֖יו חָיֹ֥ה יִֽחְיֶֽה׃ he has refrained from oppressing the poor;^grefrained from oppressing the poor Lit. “turned his hand back from the poor.” Emendation yields “abstained from wrongdoing”; cf. v. 8. he has not exacted advance or accrued interest; he has obeyed My rules and followed My laws—he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, but shall live.

אָבִ֞יו כִּֽי־עָ֣שַׁק עֹ֗שֶׁק גָּזַל֙ גֵּ֣זֶל אָ֔ח וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־ט֛וֹב עָשָׂ֖ה בְּת֣וֹךְ עַמָּ֑יו וְהִנֵּה־מֵ֖ת בַּעֲוֺנֽוֹ׃ To be sure, his father, because he practiced fraud, robbed his kin, and acted wickedly among his people, did die for his iniquity;

וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם מַדֻּ֛עַ לֹא־נָשָׂ֥א הַבֵּ֖ן בַּעֲוֺ֣ן הָאָ֑ב וְהַבֵּ֞ן מִשְׁפָּ֧ט וּצְדָקָ֣ה עָשָׂ֗ה אֵ֣ת כׇּל־חֻקּוֹתַ֥י שָׁמַ֛ר וַיַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֖ם חָיֹ֥ה יִֽחְיֶֽה׃ and now you ask, “Why has not the son shared the burden of his father’s guilt?” But the son has done what is right and just, and has carefully kept all My laws: he shall live!

הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַחֹטֵ֖את הִ֣יא תָמ֑וּת בֵּ֞ן לֹֽא־יִשָּׂ֣א ׀ בַּעֲוֺ֣ן הָאָ֗ב וְאָב֙ לֹ֤א יִשָּׂא֙ בַּעֲוֺ֣ן הַבֵּ֔ן צִדְקַ֤ת הַצַּדִּיק֙ עָלָ֣יו תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וְרִשְׁעַ֥ת (רשע) [הָרָשָׁ֖ע] עָלָ֥יו תִּֽהְיֶֽה׃ {ס}         Only the person who sins shall die. A child shall not share the burden of a parent’s guilt, nor shall a parent share the burden of a child’s guilt; the righteousness of the righteous shall be accounted to them alone, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be accounted to them alone.

וְהָרָשָׁ֗ע כִּ֤י יָשׁוּב֙ מִכׇּל־חַטֹּאתָו֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְשָׁמַר֙ אֶת־כׇּל־חֻקּוֹתַ֔י וְעָשָׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָ֑ה חָיֹ֥ה יִֽחְיֶ֖ה לֹ֥א יָמֽוּת׃ Moreover, if someone wicked repents of all the sins that were committed and keeps all My laws and does what is just and right, they shall live; they shall not die.

כׇּל־פְּשָׁעָיו֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה לֹ֥א יִזָּכְר֖וּ ל֑וֹ בְּצִדְקָת֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה יִֽחְיֶֽה׃ None of the transgressions they committed shall be remembered against them; because of the righteousness they have practiced, they shall live.

הֶחָפֹ֤ץ אֶחְפֹּץ֙ מ֣וֹת רָשָׁ֔ע נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה הֲל֛וֹא בְּשׁוּב֥וֹ מִדְּרָכָ֖יו וְחָיָֽה׃ {ס}         Is it my desire that the wicked shall die?—says the Sovereign GOD. It is rather that they shall turn back from their ways and live.

וּבְשׁ֨וּב צַדִּ֤יק מִצִּדְקָתוֹ֙ וְעָ֣שָׂה עָ֔וֶל כְּכֹ֨ל הַתּוֹעֵב֜וֹת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֧ה הָרָשָׁ֛ע יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה וָחָ֑י כׇּל־צִדְקֹתָ֤ו אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה֙ לֹ֣א תִזָּכַ֔רְנָה בְּמַעֲל֧וֹ אֲשֶׁר־מָעַ֛ל וּבְחַטָּאת֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־חָטָ֖א בָּ֥ם יָמֽוּת׃ So, too, if someone righteous turns away from righteousness and does wrong, practicing the very abominations that the wicked person practiced, shall they live? None of the righteous deeds that they did shall be remembered; because of the treachery they have practiced and the sins they have committed—because of these, they shall die.

וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵ֖ן דֶּ֣רֶךְ אֲדֹנָ֑י שִׁמְעוּ־נָא֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֲדַרְכִּי֙ לֹ֣א יִתָּכֵ֔ן הֲלֹ֥א דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵֽנוּ׃ Yet you say, “The Sovereign’s way is unfair.” Listen, O House of Israel: Is My way unfair? It is your ways that are unfair!

בְּשׁוּב־צַדִּ֧יק מִצִּדְקָת֛וֹ וְעָ֥שָׂה עָ֖וֶל וּמֵ֣ת עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם בְּעַוְל֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה יָמֽוּת׃ {ס}         When someone righteous turns away from righteousness and does wrong, they shall die for it; they shall die for the wrong that was done.

וּבְשׁ֣וּב רָשָׁ֗ע מֵֽרִשְׁעָתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָ֑ה ה֖וּא אֶת־נַפְשׁ֥וֹ יְחַיֶּֽה׃ And if someone wicked turns back from the wickedness that is practiced and does what is just and right, they shall save their life.

וַיִּרְאֶ֣ה (וישוב) [וַיָּ֔שׇׁב] מִכׇּל־פְּשָׁעָ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה חָי֥וֹ יִֽחְיֶ֖ה לֹ֥א יָמֽוּת׃ Because they took heed and turned back from all the transgressions that they committed, they shall live; they shall not die.

וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵ֖ן דֶּ֣רֶךְ אֲדֹנָ֑י הַדְּרָכַ֞י לֹ֤א יִתָּֽכְנוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֲלֹ֥א דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵֽן׃ Yet the House of Israel say, “The Sovereign’s way is unfair.” Are My ways unfair, O House of Israel? It is your ways that are unfair!

לָכֵן֩ אִ֨ישׁ כִּדְרָכָ֜יו אֶשְׁפֹּ֤ט אֶתְכֶם֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה שׁ֤וּבוּ וְהָשִׁ֙יבוּ֙ מִכׇּל־פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔ם וְלֹא־יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם לְמִכְשׁ֖וֹל עָוֺֽן׃ Be assured, O House of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to your own ways—declares the Sovereign GOD. Repent and turn back from all your transgressions; let them not be a stumbling block of guilt for you.

הַשְׁלִ֣יכוּ מֵעֲלֵיכֶ֗ם אֶת־כׇּל־פִּשְׁעֵיכֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פְּשַׁעְתֶּ֣ם בָּ֔ם וַעֲשׂ֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם לֵ֥ב חָדָ֖שׁ וְר֣וּחַ חֲדָשָׁ֑ה וְלָ֥מָּה תָמֻ֖תוּ בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Cast away all the transgressions by which you have offended, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit, that you may not die, O House of Israel.

כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אֶחְפֹּץ֙ בְּמ֣וֹת הַמֵּ֔ת נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה וְהָשִׁ֖יבוּ וִֽחְיֽוּ׃ {פ}
For it is not My desire that anyone shall die—declares the Sovereign GOD. Repent, therefore, and live!

וְאַתָּה֙ שָׂ֣א קִינָ֔ה אֶל־נְשִׂיאֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ And you are to intone a dirge over the princes^athe princes I.e., the kings who reigned after Josiah. of Israel,

וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ מָ֤ה אִמְּךָ֙ לְבִיָּ֔א בֵּ֥ין אֲרָי֖וֹת רָבָ֑צָה בְּת֥וֹךְ כְּפִרִ֖ים רִבְּתָ֥ה גוּרֶֽיהָ׃ and say:
What a lioness was your mother
Among the lions!
Crouching among the great beasts,
She reared her cubs.

וַתַּ֛עַל אֶחָ֥ד מִגֻּרֶ֖יהָ כְּפִ֣יר הָיָ֑ה וַיִּלְמַ֥ד לִטְרׇף־טֶ֖רֶף אָדָ֥ם אָכָֽל׃ She raised up one of her cubs,
He became a great beast;
He learned to hunt prey—
He devoured people.

וַיִּשְׁמְע֥וּ אֵלָ֛יו גּוֹיִ֖ם בְּשַׁחְתָּ֣ם נִתְפָּ֑שׂ וַיְבִאֻ֥הוּ בַחַחִ֖ים אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ Nations heeded [the call] against him;
He was caught in their snare.
They dragged him off with hooks
To the land of Egypt.

וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ כִּ֣י נֽוֹחֲלָ֔ה אָבְדָ֖ה תִּקְוָתָ֑הּ וַתִּקַּ֛ח אֶחָ֥ד מִגֻּרֶ֖יהָ כְּפִ֥יר שָׂמָֽתְהוּ׃ When she saw herself frustrated,
Her hope defeated,
She took another of her cubs
And set him up as a great beast.

וַיִּתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בְּתוֹךְ־אֲרָי֖וֹת כְּפִ֣יר הָיָ֑ה וַיִּלְמַ֥ד לִטְרׇף־טֶ֖רֶף אָדָ֥ם אָכָֽל׃ He stalked among the lions,
He was a great beast;
He learned to hunt prey—
He devoured people.

וַיֵּ֙דַע֙ אַלְמְנוֹתָ֔יו וְעָרֵיהֶ֖ם הֶחֱרִ֑יב וַתֵּ֤שַׁם אֶ֙רֶץ֙ וּמְלֹאָ֔הּ מִקּ֖וֹל שַׁאֲגָתֽוֹ׃ He raped their widows,^braped their widows Emendation yields “ravaged their castles.”
Laid waste their cities;
The land and all in it were appalled
At the sound of his roaring.

וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ עָלָ֥יו גּוֹיִ֛ם סָבִ֖יב מִמְּדִינ֑וֹת וַֽיִּפְרְשׂ֥וּ עָלָ֛יו רִשְׁתָּ֖ם בְּשַׁחְתָּ֥ם נִתְפָּֽשׂ׃ Nations from the countries round about
Arrayed themselves against him.
They spread their net over him,
He was caught in their snare.

וַֽיִּתְּנֻ֤הוּ בַסּ֙וּגַר֙ בַּחַחִ֔ים וַיְבִאֻ֖הוּ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֑ל יְבִאֻ֙הוּ֙ בַּמְּצֹד֔וֹת לְמַ֗עַן לֹא־יִשָּׁמַ֥ע קוֹל֛וֹ ע֖וֹד אֶל־הָרֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}
With hooks he was put in a cage,
They carried him off to the king of Babylon
And confined him in a fortress,
So that never again should his roar be heard
On the hills of Israel.

אִמְּךָ֥ כַגֶּ֛פֶן בְּדָמְךָ֖ עַל־מַ֣יִם שְׁתוּלָ֑ה פֹּֽרִיָּה֙ וַעֲנֵפָ֔ה הָיְתָ֖ה מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃ Your mother was like a vine in your blood,^cin your blood Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “in a vineyard.”
Planted beside streams,
With luxuriant boughs and branches
Thanks to abundant waters.

וַיִּֽהְיוּ־לָ֞הּ מַטּ֣וֹת עֹ֗ז אֶל־שִׁבְטֵי֙ מֹֽשְׁלִ֔ים וַתִּגְבַּ֥הּ קוֹמָת֖וֹ עַל־בֵּ֣ין עֲבֹתִ֑ים וַיֵּרָ֣א בְגׇבְה֔וֹ בְּרֹ֖ב דָּלִיֹּתָֽיו׃ And she had a mighty rod^drod Heb. plural.
Fit for a ruler’s scepter.^escepter Heb. plural.
It towered highest among the leafy trees,^famong the leafy trees Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
It was conspicuous by its height,
By the abundance of its boughs.

וַתֻּתַּ֤שׁ בְּחֵמָה֙ לָאָ֣רֶץ הֻשְׁלָ֔כָה וְר֥וּחַ הַקָּדִ֖ים הוֹבִ֣ישׁ פִּרְיָ֑הּ הִתְפָּרְק֧וּ וְיָבֵ֛שׁוּ מַטֵּ֥ה עֻזָּ֖הּ אֵ֥שׁ אֲכָלָֽתְהוּ׃ But plucked up in a fury,
She was hurled to the ground.
The east wind withered her branches,
They broke apart and dried up;
And her mighty rod was consumed by fire.

וְעַתָּ֖ה שְׁתוּלָ֣ה בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר בְּאֶ֖רֶץ צִיָּ֥ה וְצָמָֽא׃ Now she is planted in the desert,
In ground that is arid and parched.

וַתֵּצֵ֨א אֵ֜שׁ מִמַּטֵּ֤ה בַדֶּ֙יהָ֙ פִּרְיָ֣הּ אָכָ֔לָה וְלֹא־הָ֥יָה בָ֛הּ מַטֵּה־עֹ֖ז שֵׁ֣בֶט לִמְשׁ֑וֹל קִ֥ינָה הִ֖יא וַתְּהִ֥י לְקִינָֽה׃ {פ}
Fire has issued from her twig-laden branch
And has consumed her boughs,
She is left without a mighty rod,
A scepter to rule with.
This is a dirge, and it has become a [familiar] dirge.

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗ית בַּחֲמִשִׁי֙ בֶּעָשׂ֣וֹר לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ בָּ֧אוּ אֲנָשִׁ֛ים מִזִּקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לִדְרֹ֣שׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ לְפָנָֽי׃ {ס}         In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, certain elders of Israel came to inquire of GOD, and sat down before me.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶת־זִקְנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֗ם כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הֲלִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֹתִ֖י אַתֶּ֣ם בָּאִ֑ים חַי־אָ֙נִי֙ אִם־אִדָּרֵ֣שׁ לָכֶ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ O mortal, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live, I will not respond to your inquiry—declares the Sovereign GOD.

הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֣ט אֹתָ֔ם הֲתִשְׁפּ֖וֹט בֶּן־אָדָ֑ם אֶת־תּוֹעֲבֹ֥ת אֲבוֹתָ֖ם הוֹדִיעֵֽם׃ Arraign, arraign them, O mortal!^aArraign, arraign them, O mortal! Lit. “Will you arraign them, will you arraign, O mortal?” Declare to them the abhorrent deeds of their ancestors.

וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כֹּה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ בְּיוֹם֙ בׇּחֳרִ֣י בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וָאֶשָּׂ֣א יָדִ֗י לְזֶ֙רַע֙ בֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֔ב וָאִוָּדַ֥ע לָהֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וָאֶשָּׂ֨א יָדִ֤י לָהֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם׃ Say to them: Thus said the Sovereign GOD:
On the day that I chose Israel, I gave My oath^bgave My oath Lit. “raised My hand.” to the stock of the House of Jacob; when I made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, I gave my oath to them. When I said, “I the ETERNAL am your God,”

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נָשָׂ֤אתִי יָדִי֙ לָהֶ֔ם לְהוֹצִיאָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם אֶל־אֶ֜רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־תַּ֣רְתִּי לָהֶ֗ם זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ צְבִ֥י הִ֖יא לְכׇל־הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ that same day I swore to them to take them out of the land of Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey, a land that I had sought out for them, the fairest of all lands.

וָאֹמַ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם אִ֣ישׁ שִׁקּוּצֵ֤י עֵינָיו֙ הַשְׁלִ֔יכוּ וּבְגִלּוּלֵ֥י מִצְרַ֖יִם אַל־תִּטַּמָּ֑אוּ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ I also said to them: Cast away, every one of you, the detestable things that you are drawn to,^cthat you are drawn to Lit. “of his eyes.” and do not defile yourselves with the fetishes of Egypt—I the ETERNAL am your God.

וַיַּמְרוּ־בִ֗י וְלֹ֤א אָבוּ֙ לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ אֵלַ֔י אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־שִׁקּוּצֵ֤י עֵֽינֵיהֶם֙ לֹ֣א הִשְׁלִ֔יכוּ וְאֶת־גִּלּוּלֵ֥י מִצְרַ֖יִם לֹ֣א עָזָ֑בוּ וָאֹמַ֞ר לִשְׁפֹּ֧ךְ חֲמָתִ֣י עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לְכַלּ֤וֹת אַפִּי֙ בָּהֶ֔ם בְּת֖וֹךְ אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ But they defied Me and refused to listen to Me. Not one of them cast away the detestable things they were drawn to, nor did they give up the fetishes of Egypt. Then I resolved to pour out My fury upon them, to vent all My anger upon them there, in the land of Egypt.

וָאַ֙עַשׂ֙ לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמִ֔י לְבִלְתִּ֥י הֵחֵ֛ל לְעֵינֵ֥י הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֣מָּה בְתוֹכָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר נוֹדַ֤עְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶם֙ לְעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם לְהוֹצִיאָ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ But I acted for the sake of My name, that it might not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they were. For it was before their eyes that I had made Myself known to Israel^dIsrael Lit. “them.” to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

וָאוֹצִיאֵ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וָאֲבִאֵ֖ם אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃ I brought them out of the land of Egypt and I led them into the wilderness.

וָאֶתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ אֶת־חֻקּוֹתַ֔י וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֖י הוֹדַ֣עְתִּי אוֹתָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אוֹתָ֛ם הָאָדָ֖ם וָחַ֥י בָּהֶֽם׃ I gave them My laws and taught them My rules, by the pursuit of which humans shall live.

וְגַ֤ם אֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַי֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לָהֶ֔ם לִהְי֣וֹת לְא֔וֹת בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵינֵיהֶ֑ם לָדַ֕עַת כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מְקַדְּשָֽׁם׃ Moreover, I gave them My sabbaths to serve as a sign between Me and them, that they might know that it is I, GOD, who sanctify them.

וַיַּמְרוּ־בִ֨י בֵֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר בְּחֻקּוֹתַ֨י לֹא־הָלָ֜כוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֣י מָאָ֗סוּ אֲשֶׁר֩ יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה אֹתָ֤ם הָֽאָדָם֙ וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֔ם וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י חִלְּל֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וָאֹמַ֞ר לִשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ חֲמָתִ֧י עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר לְכַלּוֹתָֽם׃ But the House of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not follow My laws and they rejected My rules—by the pursuit of which humans shall live—and they grossly desecrated My sabbaths. Then I thought to pour out My fury upon them in the wilderness and to make an end of them;

וָאֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמִ֑י לְבִלְתִּ֤י הֵחֵל֙ לְעֵינֵ֣י הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹצֵאתִ֖ים לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ but I acted for the sake of My name, that it might not be profaned in the sight of the nations before whose eyes I had led them out.

וְגַם־אֲנִ֗י נָשָׂ֧אתִי יָדִ֛י לָהֶ֖ם בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר לְבִלְתִּי֩ הָבִ֨יא אוֹתָ֜ם אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֗תִּי זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ צְבִ֥י הִ֖יא לְכׇל־הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ However, I swore^eswore See note at v. 5. to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the fairest of all lands, that I had assigned [to them],

יַ֜עַן בְּמִשְׁפָּטַ֣י מָאָ֗סוּ וְאֶת־חֻקּוֹתַי֙ לֹא־הָלְכ֣וּ בָהֶ֔ם וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י חִלֵּ֑לוּ כִּ֛י אַחֲרֵ֥י גִלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם לִבָּ֥ם הֹלֵֽךְ׃ for they had rejected My rules, disobeyed My laws, and desecrated My sabbaths; their hearts followed after their fetishes.

וַתָּ֧חׇס עֵינִ֛י עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מִֽשַּׁחֲתָ֑ם וְלֹא־עָשִׂ֧יתִי אוֹתָ֛ם כָּלָ֖ה בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ But I had pity on them and did not destroy them; I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.

וָאֹמַ֤ר אֶל־בְּנֵיהֶם֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר בְּחוּקֵּ֤י אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ אַל־תֵּלֵ֔כוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶ֖ם אַל־תִּשְׁמֹ֑רוּ וּבְגִלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם אַל־תִּטַּמָּֽאוּ׃ I warned their children in the wilderness: Do not follow the practices of your ancestors, do not keep their ways, and do not defile yourselves with their fetishes.

אֲנִי֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם בְּחֻקּוֹתַ֖י לֵ֑כוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֥י שִׁמְר֖וּ וַעֲשׂ֥וּ אוֹתָֽם׃ I the ETERNAL One am your God: Follow My laws and be careful to observe My rules.

וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י קַדֵּ֑שׁוּ וְהָי֤וּ לְאוֹת֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֵיכֶ֔ם לָדַ֕עַת כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ And hallow My sabbaths, that they may be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I the ETERNAL One am your God.

וַיַּמְרוּ־בִ֣י הַבָּנִ֗ים בְּחֻקּוֹתַ֣י לֹֽא־הָ֠לָ֠כוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֨י לֹֽא־שָׁמְר֜וּ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם אֲשֶׁר֩ יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה אוֹתָ֤ם הָאָדָם֙ וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֔ם אֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י חִלֵּ֑לוּ וָֽאֹמַ֞ר לִשְׁפֹּ֧ךְ חֲמָתִ֣י עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לְכַלּ֥וֹת אַפִּ֛י בָּ֖ם בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ But the children rebelled against Me: they did not follow My laws and did not faithfully observe My rules, by the pursuit of which humans shall live; they profaned My sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My fury upon them, to vent all My anger upon them, in the wilderness.

וַהֲשִׁבֹ֙תִי֙ אֶת־יָדִ֔י וָאַ֖עַשׂ לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמִ֑י לְבִלְתִּ֤י הֵחֵל֙ לְעֵינֵ֣י הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הוֹצֵ֥אתִי אוֹתָ֖ם לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ But I held back My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it might not be profaned in the sight of the nations before whose eyes I had led them out.

גַּם־אֲנִ֗י נָשָׂ֧אתִי אֶת־יָדִ֛י לָהֶ֖ם בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר לְהָפִ֤יץ אֹתָם֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם וּלְזָר֥וֹת אוֹתָ֖ם בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ However, I swore^fswore See note at v. 5. to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the lands,

יַ֜עַן מִשְׁפָּטַ֤י לֹֽא־עָשׂוּ֙ וְחֻקּוֹתַ֣י מָאָ֔סוּ וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י חִלֵּ֑לוּ וְאַֽחֲרֵי֙ גִּלּוּלֵ֣י אֲבוֹתָ֔ם הָי֖וּ עֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ because they did not obey My rules, but rejected My laws, profaned My sabbaths, and looked with longing to the fetishes of their ancestors.

וְגַם־אֲנִי֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לָהֶ֔ם חֻקִּ֖ים לֹ֣א טוֹבִ֑ים וּמִ֨שְׁפָּטִ֔ים לֹ֥א יִֽחְי֖וּ בָּהֶֽם׃ Moreover, I gave them laws that were not good and rules by which they could not live:

וָאֲטַמֵּ֤א אוֹתָם֙ בְּמַתְּנוֹתָ֔ם בְּהַעֲבִ֖יר כׇּל־פֶּ֣טֶר רָ֑חַם לְמַ֣עַן אֲשִׁמֵּ֔ם לְמַ֙עַן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֵדְע֔וּ אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         When they set aside every first issue of the womb, I defiled them by their very gifts^gby their very gifts See v. 31. —that I might render them desolate,^hdesolate Emendation yields “guilty.” that they might know that I am GOD.

לָכֵ֞ן דַּבֵּ֨ר אֶל־בֵּ֤ית יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בֶּן־אָדָ֔ם וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה ע֗וֹד זֹ֚את גִּדְּפ֤וּ אוֹתִי֙ אֲב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם בְּמַעֲלָ֥ם בִּ֖י מָֽעַל׃ Now, O mortal, speak to the House of Israel and say to them: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: By this too your ancestors affronted Me and committed trespass against Me:

וָאֲבִיאֵם֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־יָדִ֔י לָתֵ֥ת אוֹתָ֖הּ לָהֶ֑ם וַיִּרְאוּ֩ כׇל־גִּבְעָ֨ה רָמָ֜ה וְכׇל־עֵ֣ץ עָבֹ֗ת וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־שָׁ֤ם אֶת־זִבְחֵיהֶם֙ וַיִּתְּנוּ־שָׁם֙ כַּ֣עַס קׇרְבָּנָ֔ם וַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּ שָׁ֗ם רֵ֚יחַ נִיח֣וֹחֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּסִּ֥יכוּ שָׁ֖ם אֶת־נִסְכֵּיהֶֽם׃ When I brought them to the land that I had swornⁱsworn See note at v. 5. to give them, and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, they slaughtered their sacrifices there and presented their offensive offerings there; there they produced their pleasing odors and poured out their libations.

וָאֹמַ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם מָ֣ה הַבָּמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם הַבָּאִ֖ים שָׁ֑ם וַיִּקָּרֵ֤א שְׁמָהּ֙ בָּמָ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ {ס}         Then I said to them, “What is this shrine that you visit?” (Therefore such [a shrine] is called bamah ^jbamah As if from ba “visit” and mah “what.” to this day.)

לָכֵ֞ן אֱמֹ֣ר ׀ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הַבְּדֶ֥רֶךְ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם אַתֶּ֣ם נִטְמְאִ֑ים וְאַחֲרֵ֥י שִׁקּֽוּצֵיהֶ֖ם אַתֶּ֥ם זֹנִֽים׃ Now say to the House of Israel: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: If you defile yourselves as your ancestors did and go astray after their detestable things,

וּבִשְׂאֵ֣ת מַתְּנֹתֵיכֶ֡ם בְּֽהַעֲבִיר֩ בְּנֵיכֶ֨ם בָּאֵ֜שׁ אַתֶּם֩ נִטְמְאִ֤֨ים לְכׇל־גִּלּֽוּלֵיכֶם֙ עַד־הַיּ֔וֹם {ס}        וַאֲנִ֛י אִדָּרֵ֥שׁ לָכֶ֖ם בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל חַי־אָ֗נִי נְאֻם֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה אִם־אִדָּרֵ֖שׁ לָכֶֽם׃ and if to this very day you defile yourselves in the presentation of your gifts by making your children pass through the fire to all your fetishes, shall I respond to your inquiry, O House of Israel? As I live—declares the Sovereign GOD —I will not respond to you.

וְהָֽעֹלָה֙ עַל־ר֣וּחֲכֶ֔ם הָי֖וֹ לֹ֣א תִֽהְיֶ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹמְרִ֗ים נִֽהְיֶ֤ה כַגּוֹיִם֙ כְּמִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת הָאֲרָצ֔וֹת לְשָׁרֵ֖ת עֵ֥ץ וָאָֽבֶן׃ And what you have in mind shall never come to pass—when you say, “We will be like the nations, like the families of the lands, worshiping wood and stone.”

חַי־אָ֕נִי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה אִם־לֹ֠א בְּיָ֨ד חֲזָקָ֜ה וּבִזְר֧וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֛ה וּבְחֵמָ֥ה שְׁפוּכָ֖ה אֶמְל֥וֹךְ עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ As I live—declares the Sovereign GOD —I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with overflowing fury.

וְהוֹצֵאתִ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ מִן־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים וְקִבַּצְתִּ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם מִן־הָ֣אֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר נְפוֹצֹתֶ֖ם בָּ֑ם בְּיָ֤ד חֲזָקָה֙ וּבִזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֔ה וּבְחֵמָ֖ה שְׁפוּכָֽה׃ With a strong hand and an outstretched arm and overflowing fury I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered,

וְהֵבֵאתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֶל־מִדְבַּ֖ר הָעַמִּ֑ים וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֤י אִתְּכֶם֙ שָׁ֔ם פָּנִ֖ים אֶל־פָּנִֽים׃ and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples; and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר נִשְׁפַּ֙טְתִּי֙ אֶת־אֲב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם כֵּ֚ן אִשָּׁפֵ֣ט אִתְּכֶ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ As I entered into judgment with your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you—declares the Sovereign GOD.

וְהַעֲבַרְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑בֶט וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּמָסֹ֥רֶת הַבְּרִֽית׃ I will make you pass under the shepherd’s staff,^kI will make you pass under the shepherd’s staff I.e., I will count you; see Lev. 27.32. and I will bring you into the bond^lbond Meaning of Heb. uncertain. of the covenant.

וּבָרוֹתִ֣י מִכֶּ֗ם הַמֹּרְדִ֤ים וְהַפּֽוֹשְׁעִים֙ בִּ֔י מֵאֶ֤רֶץ מְגֽוּרֵיהֶם֙ אוֹצִ֣יא אוֹתָ֔ם וְאֶל־אַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹ֣א יָב֑וֹא וִידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ I will remove from you those who rebel and transgress against Me; I will take them out of the countries where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am GOD.

וְאַתֶּ֨ם בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה אִ֤ישׁ גִּלּוּלָיו֙ לְכ֣וּ עֲבֹ֔דוּ וְאַחַ֕ר אִם־אֵינְכֶ֖ם שֹׁמְעִ֣ים אֵלָ֑י וְאֶת־שֵׁ֤ם קׇדְשִׁי֙ לֹ֣א תְחַלְּלוּ־ע֔וֹד בְּמַתְּנוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם וּבְגִלּוּלֵיכֶֽם׃ As for you, O House of Israel, thus said the Sovereign GOD: Go—every last one of you—and worship your fetishes and continue,^mcontinue Meaning of Heb. uncertain. if you will not obey Me; but do not profane My holy name anymore with your idolatrous gifts.

כִּ֣י בְהַר־קׇדְשִׁ֞י בְּהַ֣ר ׀ מְר֣וֹם יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נְאֻם֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה שָׁ֣ם יַעַבְדֻ֜נִי כׇּל־בֵּ֧ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל כֻּלֹּ֖ה בָּאָ֑רֶץ שָׁ֣ם אֶרְצֵ֔ם וְשָׁ֞ם אֶדְר֣וֹשׁ אֶת־תְּרוּמֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם וְאֶת־רֵאשִׁ֛ית מַשְׂאוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם בְּכׇל־קׇדְשֵׁיכֶֽם׃ For only on My holy mountain, on the lofty mount of Israel—declares the Sovereign GOD —there, in the land, the entire House of Israel, all of it, must worship Me. There I will accept them, and there I will take note of your contributions and the choicest offerings of all your sacred things.

בְּרֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֘חַ֮ אֶרְצֶ֣ה אֶתְכֶם֒ בְּהוֹצִיאִ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ מִן־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים וְקִבַּצְתִּ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם מִן־הָ֣אֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר נְפֹצֹתֶ֖ם בָּ֑ם וְנִקְדַּשְׁתִּ֥י בָכֶ֖ם לְעֵינֵ֥י הַגּוֹיִֽם׃ When I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands in which you are scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing odor; and I will be sanctified through you in the sight of the nations.

וִֽידַעְתֶּם֙ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה בַּהֲבִיאִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֶל־אַדְמַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־יָדִ֔י לָתֵ֥ת אוֹתָ֖הּ לַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ Then, when I have brought you to the land of Israel, to the country that I sworeⁿswore See note at v. 5. to give to your fathers,^ofathers See note at Josh. 1.6. you shall know that I am GOD.

וּזְכַרְתֶּם־שָׁ֗ם אֶת־דַּרְכֵיכֶם֙ וְאֵת֙ כׇּל־עֲלִיל֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִטְמֵאתֶ֖ם בָּ֑ם וּנְקֹֽטֹתֶם֙ בִּפְנֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכׇל־רָעוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶֽם׃ There you will recall your ways and all the acts by which you defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves for all the evils that you committed.

וִֽידַעְתֶּם֙ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה בַּעֲשׂוֹתִ֥י אִתְּכֶ֖ם לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמִ֑י לֹא֩ כְדַרְכֵיכֶ֨ם הָרָעִ֜ים וְכַעֲלִילוֹתֵיכֶ֤ם הַנִּשְׁחָתוֹת֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
Then, O House of Israel, you shall know that I am GOD, when I deal with you for My name’s sake—not in accordance with your evil ways and corrupt acts—declares the Sovereign GOD.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם שִׂ֤ים פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ תֵּימָ֔נָה וְהַטֵּ֖ף אֶל־דָּר֑וֹם וְהִנָּבֵ֛א אֶל־יַ֥עַר הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה נֶֽגֶב׃ O mortal, set your face toward Teman, and proclaim to Darom, and prophesy against the brushland of the Negeb.^aTeman…Darom…Negeb Three terms for “the south.” The allusion is to Jerusalem (v. 7), which was always approached from Babylon by way of the north.

וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ לְיַ֣עַר הַנֶּ֔גֶב שְׁמַ֖ע דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֑ה כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֡ה הִנְנִ֣י מַֽצִּית־בְּךָ֣ ׀ אֵ֡שׁ וְאָכְלָ֣ה בְךָ֣ כׇל־עֵֽץ־לַח֩ וְכׇל־עֵ֨ץ יָבֵ֤שׁ לֹֽא־תִכְבֶּה֙ לַהֶ֣בֶת שַׁלְהֶ֔בֶת וְנִצְרְבוּ־בָ֥הּ כׇּל־פָּנִ֖ים מִנֶּ֥גֶב צָפֽוֹנָה׃ Say to the brushland of the Negeb: Hear the word of GOD. Thus said the Sovereign GOD: I am going to kindle a fire in you, which shall devour every tree of yours, both green and withered. Its leaping flame shall not go out, and every face from south to north shall be scorched by it.

וְרָאוּ֙ כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֔ר כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה בִּֽעַרְתִּ֑יהָ לֹ֖א תִּכְבֶּֽה׃ Then all flesh shall recognize that I, GOD, have kindled it; it shall not go out.

וָאֹמַ֕ר אֲהָ֖הּ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה הֵ֚מָּה אֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֔י הֲלֹ֛א מְמַשֵּׁ֥ל מְשָׁלִ֖ים הֽוּא׃ {פ}
And I said, “Ah, my Sovereign GOD ! They say of me: He is just a riddlemonger.”

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם שִׂ֤ים פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶל־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְהַטֵּ֖ף אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁ֑ים וְהִנָּבֵ֖א אֶל־אַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ O mortal, set your face toward Jerusalem and proclaim against her sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel.

וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ לְאַדְמַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֣י אֵלַ֔יִךְ וְהוֹצֵאתִ֥י חַרְבִּ֖י מִתַּעְרָ֑הּ וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י מִמֵּ֖ךְ צַדִּ֥יק וְרָשָֽׁע׃ Say to the land of Israel: Thus said GOD: I am going to deal with you! I will draw My sword from its sheath, and I will wipe out from you both the righteous and the wicked.

יַ֛עַן אֲשֶׁר־הִכְרַ֥תִּי מִמֵּ֖ךְ צַדִּ֣יק וְרָשָׁ֑ע לָ֠כֵ֠ן תֵּצֵ֨א חַרְבִּ֧י מִתַּעְרָ֛הּ אֶל־כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֖ר מִנֶּ֥גֶב צָפֽוֹן׃ In order to wipe out from you both the righteous and the wicked, My sword shall assuredly be unsheathed against all flesh from south to north;

וְיָֽדְעוּ֙ כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֔ר כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה הוֹצֵ֥אתִי חַרְבִּ֖י מִתַּעְרָ֑הּ לֹ֥א תָשׁ֖וּב עֽוֹד׃ {ס}         and all flesh shall know that I, GOD, have drawn My sword from its sheath, not to be sheathed again.

וְאַתָּ֥ה בֶן־אָדָ֖ם הֵאָנַ֑ח בְּשִׁבְר֤וֹן מׇתְנַ֙יִם֙ וּבִמְרִיר֔וּת תֵּאָנַ֖ח לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ And you, O mortal, sigh; with tottering limbs and bitter grief, sigh before their eyes.

וְהָיָה֙ כִּי־יֹאמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ עַל־מָ֖ה אַתָּ֣ה נֶאֱנָ֑ח וְאָמַרְתָּ֡ אֶל־שְׁמוּעָ֣ה כִֽי־בָאָ֡ה וְנָמֵ֣ס כׇּל־לֵב֩ וְרָפ֨וּ כׇל־יָדַ֜יִם וְכִהֲתָ֣ה כׇל־ר֗וּחַ וְכׇל־בִּרְכַּ֙יִם֙ תֵּלַ֣כְנָה מַּ֔יִם הִנֵּ֤ה בָאָה֙ וְנִֽהְיָ֔תָה נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
And when they ask you, “Why do you sigh?” answer, “Because of the tidings that have come.” Every heart shall sink and all hands hang nerveless; every spirit shall grow faint and all knees turn to water because of the tidings that have come. It is approaching, it shall come to pass—declares the Sovereign GOD.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הִנָּבֵא֙ וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֑י אֱמֹ֕ר חֶ֥רֶב חֶ֛רֶב הוּחַ֖דָּה וְגַם־מְרוּטָֽה׃ O mortal, prophesy and say: Thus said the Sovereign: A sword! A sword has been whetted and polished.

לְמַ֨עַן טְבֹ֤חַ טֶ֙בַח֙ הוּחַ֔דָּה לְמַעַן־הֱיֵה־לָ֥הּ בָּרָ֖ק מֹרָ֑טָּה א֣וֹ נָשִׂ֔ישׂ שֵׁ֥בֶט בְּנִ֖י מֹאֶ֥סֶת כׇּל־עֵֽץ׃ It has been whetted to wreak slaughter; [therefore] it has been ground to a brilliant polish.^b[therefore] it has been ground to a brilliant polish Lit. “it has been polished in order that it may have lightning.” How can we rejoice? My child, it scorns^cHow can we rejoice? My child, it scorns Meaning of Heb. uncertain. the rod and every stick.

וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ לְמׇרְטָ֖הֿ לִתְפֹּ֣שׂ בַּכָּ֑ף הִֽיא־הוּחַ֤דָּה חֶ֙רֶב֙ וְהִ֣יא מֹרָ֔טָּה לָתֵ֥ת אוֹתָ֖הּ בְּיַד־הוֹרֵֽג׃ It has been given to be polished and then grasped in the hand; for this has the sword been whetted, for this polished—to be put into the hand of a slayer.

זְעַ֤ק וְהֵילֵל֙ בֶּן־אָדָ֔ם כִּי־הִיא֙ הָיְתָ֣ה בְעַמִּ֔י הִ֖יא בְּכׇל־נְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מְגוּרֵ֤י אֶל־חֶ֙רֶב֙ הָי֣וּ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י לָכֵ֖ן סְפֹ֥ק אֶל־יָרֵֽךְ׃ Cry and wail, O mortal, for this shall befall My people, this shall befall all the chieftains of Israel: they shall be cast before the sword together with My people; oh, strike the thigh [in grief].

כִּ֣י בֹ֔חַן וּמָ֕ה אִם־גַּם־שֵׁ֥בֶט מֹאֶ֖סֶת לֹ֣א יִֽהְיֶ֑ה נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
Consider: How shall it fail to happen, seeing that it even scorns the rod?^dConsider: How shall it fail to happen, seeing that it even scorns the rod? Meaning of Heb. uncertain. —says the Sovereign GOD.

וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֔ם הִנָּבֵ֕א וְהַ֖ךְ כַּ֣ף אֶל־כָּ֑ף וְתִכָּפֵ֞ל חֶ֤רֶב שְׁלִישִׁ֙תָה֙ חֶ֣רֶב חֲלָלִ֔ים הִ֗יא חֶ֚רֶב חָלָ֣ל הַגָּד֔וֹל הַחֹדֶ֖רֶת לָהֶֽם׃ Further, O mortal, prophesy, striking hand against hand. Let the sword strike a second time and yet a third time; it is a sword for massacre, a sword for great carnage, that presses^epresses Meaning of Heb. uncertain. upon them.

לְמַ֣עַן ׀ לָמ֣וּג לֵ֗ב וְהַרְבֵּה֙ הַמִּכְשֹׁלִ֔ים עַ֚ל כׇּל־שַׁ֣עֲרֵיהֶ֔ם נָתַ֖תִּי אִבְחַת־חָ֑רֶב אָ֛ח עֲשׂוּיָ֥ה לְבָרָ֖ק מְעֻטָּ֥ה לְטָֽבַח׃ Thus hearts shall lose courage and many shall fall. At all their gates I have appointed slaughter^fslaughter Meaning of Heb. uncertain. by the sword. Ah! it is made to flash brilliantly, it is honed^ghoned Meaning of Heb. uncertain. for slaughter.

הִתְאַחֲדִ֥י הֵימִ֖נִי הָשִׂ֣ימִי הַשְׂמִ֑ילִי אָ֖נָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ מֻעָדֽוֹת׃ Be united,^hBe united Meaning of Heb. uncertain; Targum reads “Be whetted.” Cf. vv. 14–16. go to the right, turn left; whither are you bound?

וְגַם־אֲנִ֗י אַכֶּ֤ה כַפִּי֙ אֶל־כַּפִּ֔י וַהֲנִיחֹתִ֖י חֲמָתִ֑י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ {פ}
I, too, will strike hand against hand and will satisfy My fury upon you; I, GOD, have spoken.

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

וְאַתָּ֨ה בֶן־אָדָ֜ם שִׂים־לְךָ֣ ׀ שְׁנַ֣יִם דְּרָכִ֗ים לָבוֹא֙ חֶ֣רֶב מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֔ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ אֶחָ֖ד יֵצְא֣וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם וְיָ֣ד בָּרֵ֔א בְּרֹ֥אשׁ דֶּרֶךְ־עִ֖יר בָּרֵֽא׃ And you, O mortal, choose two roads on which the sword of the king of Babylon may advance, both issuing from the same country; and select a spot, select it where roads branch off to [two] cities.

דֶּ֣רֶךְ תָּשִׂ֔ים לָב֣וֹא חֶ֔רֶב אֵ֖ת רַבַּ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֑וֹן וְאֶת־יְהוּדָ֥ה בִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בְּצוּרָֽה׃ Choose a way for the sword to advance on Rabbah of the Ammonites or on fortified Jerusalem in Judah.

כִּֽי־עָמַ֨ד מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֜ל אֶל־אֵ֣ם הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ בְּרֹ֛אשׁ שְׁנֵ֥י הַדְּרָכִ֖ים לִקְסׇם־קָ֑סֶם קִלְקַ֤ל בַּֽחִצִּים֙ שָׁאַ֣ל בַּתְּרָפִ֔ים רָאָ֖ה בַּכָּבֵֽד׃ For the king of Babylon has stood at the fork of the road, where two roads branch off, to perform divination: He has shaken arrows, consulted oracle idols, and inspected the liver.ⁱinspected the liver Of a sacrificed animal.

בִּימִינ֞וֹ הָיָ֣ה ׀ הַקֶּ֣סֶם יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם לָשׂ֤וּם כָּרִים֙ לִפְתֹּ֤חַ פֶּה֙ בְּרֶ֔צַח לְהָרִ֥ים ק֖וֹל בִּתְרוּעָ֑ה לָשׂ֤וּם כָּרִים֙ עַל־שְׁעָרִ֔ים לִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ סֹלְלָ֖ה לִבְנ֥וֹת דָּיֵֽק׃ In his right hand came up the omen against Jerusalem—to set battering rams, to proclaim murder, to raise battle shouts, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to erect towers.

וְהָיָ֨ה לָהֶ֤ם (כקסום) [כִּקְסׇם־]שָׁוְא֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם שְׁבֻעֵ֥י שְׁבֻע֖וֹת לָהֶ֑ם וְהוּא־מַזְכִּ֥יר עָוֺ֖ן לְהִתָּפֵֽשׂ׃ {ס}         ^jThe inhabitants of Jerusalem disregarded their oaths to the Babylonians; cf. 17.13ff. In their eyes, the oaths they had sworn to them were like empty divination; but this shall serve to recall their guilt, for which they shall be taken to task.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ יַ֗עַן הַזְכַּרְכֶם֙ עֲוֺ֣נְכֶ֔ם בְּהִגָּל֣וֹת פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֗ם לְהֵֽרָאוֹת֙ חַטֹּ֣אותֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכֹ֖ל עֲלִילֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם יַ֚עַן הִזָּ֣כֶרְכֶ֔ם בַּכַּ֖ף תִּתָּפֵֽשׂוּ׃ {פ}
Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: For causing your guilt to be recalled, your transgressions to be uncovered, and your sins to be revealed—all your misdeeds—because you have brought yourselves to [My] mind, you shall be taken to task.

וְאַתָּה֙ חָלָ֣ל רָשָׁ֔ע נְשִׂ֖יא יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א יוֹמ֔וֹ בְּעֵ֖ת עֲוֺ֥ן קֵֽץ׃ {ס}         And to you, O dishonored wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come—the time set for your punishment—

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הָסִיר֙ הַמִּצְנֶ֔פֶת וְהָרִ֖ים הָעֲטָרָ֑ה זֹ֣את לֹא־זֹ֔את הַשָּׁפָ֣לָה הַגְבֵּ֔הַּ וְהַגָּבֹ֖הַּ הַשְׁפִּֽיל׃ thus said the Sovereign GOD: Remove the turban and lift off the crown! This shall not remain as it is; exalt the low and abase the high.

עַוָּ֥ה עַוָּ֖ה עַוָּ֣ה אֲשִׂימֶ֑נָּה גַּם־זֹאת֙ לֹ֣א הָיָ֔ה עַד־בֹּ֛א אֲשֶׁר־ל֥וֹ הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט וּנְתַתִּֽיו׃ {פ}
Ruin, an utter ruin I will make it. It shall be no more^kIt shall be no more Meaning of Heb. uncertain. until he comes to whom it rightfully belongs; and I will give it to him.

וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם הִנָּבֵ֤א וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י עַמּ֖וֹן וְאֶל־חֶרְפָּתָ֑ם וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ חֶ֣רֶב חֶ֤רֶב פְּתוּחָה֙ לְטֶ֣בַח מְרוּטָ֔ה לְהָכִ֖יל לְמַ֥עַן בָּרָֽק׃ Further, O mortal, prophesy and say: Thus said the Sovereign GOD concerning the Ammonites and their blasphemies: Proclaim: O sword! O sword unsheathed for slaughter, polished to the utmost, to a flashing brilliance!

בַּחֲז֥וֹת לָךְ֙ שָׁ֔וְא בִּקְסׇם־לָ֖ךְ כָּזָ֑ב לָתֵ֣ת אוֹתָ֗ךְ אֶֽל־צַוְּארֵי֙ חַֽלְלֵ֣י רְשָׁעִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א יוֹמָ֔ם בְּעֵ֖ת עֲוֺ֥ן קֵֽץ׃ Because they have prophesied falsely about you and have divined deceitfully concerning you, you shall be wielded over the necks of the dishonored wicked ones, for their day has come, the time set for their punishment.^lset for their punishment Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

הָשַׁ֖ב אֶל־תַּעְרָ֑הּ בִּמְק֧וֹם אֲשֶׁר־נִבְרֵ֛את בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מְכֻרוֹתַ֖יִךְ אֶשְׁפֹּ֥ט אֹתָֽךְ׃ Return it to its sheath!^mReturn it to its sheath! Emendation yields “Return to your scabbard!” In this and the following verses, the prophet describes the future punishment of Babylon, still symbolized by the sword. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.

וְשָׁפַכְתִּ֤י עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ זַעְמִ֔י בְּאֵ֥שׁ עֶבְרָתִ֖י אָפִ֣יחַ עָלָ֑יִךְ וּנְתַתִּ֗יךְ בְּיַד֙ אֲנָשִׁ֣ים בֹּעֲרִ֔ים חָרָשֵׁ֖י מַשְׁחִֽית׃ I will pour out My indignation upon you, I will blow upon you with the fire of My wrath; and I will deliver you into the hands of barbarians, skilled in destruction.

לָאֵ֤שׁ תִּהְיֶה֙ לְאׇכְלָ֔ה דָּמֵ֥ךְ יִהְיֶ֖ה בְּת֣וֹךְ הָאָ֑רֶץ לֹ֣א תִזָּכֵ֔רִי כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ {פ}
You shall be fuel for the fire, your blood shall sink into the earth, you shall not be remembered, for I, GOD, have spoken.

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

וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֔ם הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֥ט הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֖ט אֶת־עִ֣יר הַדָּמִ֑ים וְה֣וֹדַעְתָּ֔הּ אֵ֖ת כׇּל־תּוֹעֲבוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ Further, O mortal, arraign, arraign^aarraign, arraign Lit. “will you arraign, arraign.” the city of bloodshed; declare to her all her abhorrent deeds!

וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה עִ֣יר שֹׁפֶ֥כֶת דָּ֛ם בְּתוֹכָ֖הּ לָב֣וֹא עִתָּ֑הּ וְעָשְׂתָ֧ה גִלּוּלִ֛ים עָלֶ֖יהָ לְטׇמְאָֽה׃ Say: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: O city in whose midst blood is shed, so that your hour is approaching; within which fetishes are made, so that you have become impure!

בְּדָמֵ֨ךְ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁפַ֜כְתְּ אָשַׁ֗מְתְּ וּבְגִלּוּלַ֤יִךְ אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂית֙ טָמֵ֔את וַתַּקְרִ֣יבִי יָמַ֔יִךְ וַתָּב֖וֹא עַד־שְׁנוֹתָ֑יִךְ עַל־כֵּ֗ן נְתַתִּ֤יךְ חֶרְפָּה֙ לַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְקַלָּסָ֖ה לְכׇל־הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ You stand guilty of the blood you have shed, defiled by the fetishes you have made. You have brought on your day; you have reached your year.^byou have reached your year Some Babylonian mss. and ancient versions read “the time of your years has come.” Therefore I will make you the mockery of the nations and the scorn of all the lands.

הַקְּרֹב֛וֹת וְהָרְחֹק֥וֹת מִמֵּ֖ךְ יִתְקַלְּסוּ־בָ֑ךְ טְמֵאַ֣ת הַשֵּׁ֔ם רַבַּ֖ת הַמְּהוּמָֽה׃ Both the near and the far shall scorn you, O besmirched of name, O laden with iniquity!

הִנֵּה֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִ֥ישׁ לִזְרֹע֖וֹ הָ֣יוּ בָ֑ךְ לְמַ֖עַן שְׁפׇךְ־דָּֽם׃ Every one of the princes of Israel in your midst used his strength for the shedding of blood.

אָ֤ב וָאֵם֙ הֵקַ֣לּוּ בָ֔ךְ לַגֵּ֛ר עָשׂ֥וּ בַעֹ֖שֶׁק בְּתוֹכֵ֑ךְ יָת֥וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֖ה ה֥וֹנוּ בָֽךְ׃ Fathers and mothers have been humiliated within you; strangers have been cheated in your midst; orphans and widows have been wronged within you.

קׇדָשַׁ֖י בָּזִ֑ית וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י חִלָּֽלְתְּ׃ You have despised My holy things and profaned My sabbaths.

אַנְשֵׁ֥י רָכִ֛יל הָ֥יוּ בָ֖ךְ לְמַ֣עַן שְׁפׇךְ־דָּ֑ם וְאֶל־הֶֽהָרִים֙ אָ֣כְלוּ בָ֔ךְ זִמָּ֖ה עָשׂ֥וּ בְתוֹכֵֽךְ׃ Base^cBase Meaning of Heb. uncertain. men in your midst were intent on shedding blood; in you they have eaten on the mountains;^don the mountains Cf. note at 18.6. and they have practiced depravity in your midst.

עֶרְוַת־אָ֖ב גִּלָּה־בָ֑ךְ טְמֵאַ֥ת הַנִּדָּ֖ה עִנּוּ־בָֽךְ׃ In you they have uncovered their fathers’ nakedness;^euncovered their fathers’ nakedness I.e., cohabited with their father’s (former) wife; cf. Lev. 18.7–8. in you they have violated women during their menstrual impurity.

וְאִ֣ישׁ ׀ אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֵ֗הוּ עָשָׂה֙ תּוֹעֵבָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אֶת־כַּלָּת֖וֹ טִמֵּ֣א בְזִמָּ֑ה וְאִ֛ישׁ אֶת־אֲחֹת֥וֹ בַת־אָבִ֖יו עִנָּה־בָֽךְ׃ They have committed abhorrent acts with other men’s wives; in their depravity they have defiled their own daughters-in-law; in you they have violated their own sisters, daughters of their fathers.

שֹׁ֥חַד לָֽקְחוּ־בָ֖ךְ לְמַ֣עַן שְׁפׇךְ־דָּ֑ם נֶ֧שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּ֣ית לָקַ֗חַתְּ וַתְּבַצְּעִ֤י רֵעַ֙יִךְ֙ בַּעֹ֔שֶׁק וְאֹתִ֣י שָׁכַ֔חַתְּ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ They have taken bribes within you to shed blood. You have taken advance and accrued interest;^fadvance and accrued interest Cf. note at 18.8. you have defrauded your fellow [Israelites] to your profit. You have forgotten Me—declares the Sovereign GOD.

וְהִנֵּה֙ הִכֵּ֣יתִי כַפִּ֔י אֶל־בִּצְעֵ֖ךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֑ית וְעַ֨ל־דָּמֵ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ בְּתוֹכֵֽךְ׃ Lo, I will strike My hands over the ill-gotten gains that you have amassed, and over the bloodshed that has been committed in your midst.

הֲיַעֲמֹ֤ד לִבֵּךְ֙ אִם־תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה יָדַ֔יִךְ לַיָּמִ֕ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י עֹשֶׂ֣ה אוֹתָ֑ךְ אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי וְעָשִֽׂיתִי׃ Will your courage endure, will your hands remain firm in the days when I deal with you? I, GOD, have spoken and I will act.

וַהֲפִיצוֹתִ֤י אוֹתָךְ֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם וְזֵרִיתִ֖יךְ בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹת וַהֲתִמֹּתִ֥י טֻמְאָתֵ֖ךְ מִמֵּֽךְ׃ I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the lands; I will consume the impurity out of you.

וְנִחַ֥לְתְּ בָּ֖ךְ לְעֵינֵ֣י גוֹיִ֑ם וְיָדַ֖עַתְּ כִּי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
You shall be dishonored in the sight of nations, and you shall know that I am GOD.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הָיוּ־לִ֥י בֵֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (לסוג) [לְסִ֑יג] כֻּלָּ֡ם נְ֠חֹ֠שֶׁת וּבְדִ֨יל וּבַרְזֶ֤ל וְעוֹפֶ֙רֶת֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ כּ֔וּר סִגִ֥ים כֶּ֖סֶף הָיֽוּ׃ {ס}         O mortal, the House of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all copper, tin, iron, and lead. But in a crucible, the dross shall turn into silver.^gBut in a crucible, the dross shall turn into silver Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה יַ֛עַן הֱי֥וֹת כֻּלְּכֶ֖ם לְסִגִ֑ים לָכֵן֙ הִנְנִ֣י קֹבֵ֣ץ אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֶל־תּ֖וֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: Because you have all become dross, I will gather you into Jerusalem.

קְבֻ֣צַת כֶּ֡סֶף וּ֠נְחֹ֠שֶׁת וּבַרְזֶ֨ל וְעוֹפֶ֤רֶת וּבְדִיל֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ כּ֔וּר לָפַֽחַת־עָלָ֥יו אֵ֖שׁ לְהַנְתִּ֑יךְ כֵּ֤ן אֶקְבֹּץ֙ בְּאַפִּ֣י וּבַחֲמָתִ֔י וְהִנַּחְתִּ֥י וְהִתַּכְתִּ֖י אֶתְכֶֽם׃ As silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin are gathered into a crucible to blow the fire upon them, so as to melt them, so will I gather you in My fierce anger and cast you [into the fire] and melt you.

וְכִנַּסְתִּ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְנָפַחְתִּ֥י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בְּאֵ֣שׁ עֶבְרָתִ֑י וְנִתַּכְתֶּ֖ם בְּתוֹכָֽהּ׃ I will gather you and I will blow upon you the fire of My fury, and you shall be melted in it.

כְּהִתּ֥וּךְ כֶּ֙סֶף֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ כּ֔וּר כֵּ֖ן תֻּתְּכ֣וּ בְתוֹכָ֑הּ וִֽידַעְתֶּם֙ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה שָׁפַ֥כְתִּי חֲמָתִ֖י עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ {פ}
As silver is melted in a crucible, so shall you be melted in it. And you shall know that I, GOD, have poured out My fury upon you.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם אֱמׇר־לָ֕הּ אַ֣תְּ אֶ֔רֶץ לֹ֥א מְטֹהָרָ֖ה הִ֑יא לֹ֥א גֻשְׁמָ֖הּ בְּי֥וֹם זָֽעַם׃ O mortal, say to her: You are an unpurified land, not to be washed with rain^hnot to be washed with rain Meaning of Heb. uncertain. on the day of indignation.

קֶ֤שֶׁר נְבִיאֶ֙יהָ֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ כַּאֲרִ֥י שׁוֹאֵ֖ג טֹ֣רֵֽף טָ֑רֶף נֶ֣פֶשׁ אָכָ֗לוּ חֹ֤סֶן וִיקָר֙ יִקָּ֔חוּ אַלְמְנוֹתֶ֖יהָ הִרְבּ֥וּ בְתוֹכָֽהּ׃ Her gang of prophetsⁱHer gang of prophets Septuagint reads “Whose chieftains.” are like roaring lions in her midst, rending prey. They devour human beings; they seize treasure and wealth; they have widowed many women in her midst.

כֹּהֲנֶ֜יהָ חָמְס֣וּ תוֹרָתִי֮ וַיְחַלְּל֣וּ קׇדָשַׁי֒ בֵּֽין־קֹ֤דֶשׁ לְחֹל֙ לֹ֣א הִבְדִּ֔ילוּ וּבֵין־הַטָּמֵ֥א לְטָה֖וֹר לֹ֣א הוֹדִ֑יעוּ וּמִשַּׁבְּתוֹתַי֙ הֶעְלִ֣ימוּ עֵינֵיהֶ֔ם וָאֵחַ֖ל בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ Her priests have violated My Teaching: they have profaned what is sacred to Me, they have not distinguished between the sacred and the profane, they have not taught the difference between the impure and the pure, and they have closed their eyes to My sabbaths. I am profaned in their midst.

שָׂרֶ֣יהָ בְקִרְבָּ֔הּ כִּזְאֵבִ֖ים טֹ֣רְפֵי טָ֑רֶף לִשְׁפׇּךְ־דָּם֙ לְאַבֵּ֣ד נְפָשׁ֔וֹת לְמַ֖עַן בְּצֹ֥עַ בָּֽצַע׃ Her officials are like wolves rending prey in her midst; they shed blood and destroy lives to win ill-gotten gain.

וּנְבִיאֶ֗יהָ טָח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ תָּפֵ֔ל חֹזִ֣ים שָׁ֔וְא וְקֹסְמִ֥ים לָהֶ֖ם כָּזָ֑ב אֹמְרִ֗ים כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה וַיהֹוָ֖ה לֹ֥א דִבֵּֽר׃ Her prophets, too, daub the wall for them with plaster:^jdaub the wall for them with plaster Cf. 13.10ff. They prophesy falsely and divine deceitfully for them; they say, “Thus said the Sovereign GOD,” when GOD has not spoken.

עַ֤ם הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ עָ֣שְׁקוּ עֹ֔שֶׁק וְגָזְל֖וּ גָּזֵ֑ל וְעָנִ֤י וְאֶבְיוֹן֙ הוֹנ֔וּ וְאֶת־הַגֵּ֥ר עָשְׁק֖וּ בְּלֹ֥א מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ And the people of the land have practiced fraud and committed robbery; they have wronged the poor and needy, have defrauded the stranger without redress.

וָאֲבַקֵּ֣שׁ מֵהֶ֡ם אִ֣ישׁ גֹּֽדֵר־גָּדֵר֩ וְעֹמֵ֨ד בַּפֶּ֧רֶץ לְפָנַ֛י בְּעַ֥ד הָאָ֖רֶץ לְבִלְתִּ֣י שַׁחֲתָ֑הּ וְלֹ֖א מָצָֽאתִי׃ And I sought someone among them to repair the wall or to stand in the breach before Me in behalf of this land, that I might not destroy it; but I found none.

וָאֶשְׁפֹּ֤ךְ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ זַעְמִ֔י בְּאֵ֥שׁ עֶבְרָתִ֖י כִּלִּיתִ֑ים דַּרְכָּם֙ בְּרֹאשָׁ֣ם נָתַ֔תִּי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
I have therefore poured out My indignation upon them; I will consume them with the fire of My fury. I will repay them for their conduct—declares the Sovereign GOD.

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

בֶּן־אָדָ֑ם שְׁתַּ֣יִם נָשִׁ֔ים בְּנ֥וֹת אֵם־אַחַ֖ת הָיֽוּ׃ O mortal, once there were two women, daughters of one mother.

וַתִּזְנֶ֣ינָה בְמִצְרַ֔יִם בִּנְעוּרֵיהֶ֖ן זָנ֑וּ שָׁ֚מָּה מֹעֲכ֣וּ שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן וְשָׁ֣ם עִשּׂ֔וּ דַּדֵּ֖י בְּתוּלֵיהֶֽן׃ They played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore while still young. There their breasts were squeezed, and there their virgin nipples were handled.

וּשְׁמוֹתָ֗ן אׇהֳלָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ וְאׇהֳלִיבָ֣ה אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ וַתִּהְיֶ֣ינָה לִ֔י וַתֵּלַ֖דְנָה בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנ֑וֹת וּשְׁמוֹתָ֕ן שֹׁמְר֣וֹן אׇהֳלָ֔ה וִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם אׇהֳלִיבָֽה׃ Their names were: the elder one, Oholah;^aOholah I.e., “Tent.” and her sister, Oholibah.^bOholibah I.e., “My Tent Is in Her.” They became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

וַתִּ֥זֶן אׇהֳלָ֖ה תַּחְתָּ֑י וַתֶּעְגַּב֙ עַֽל־מְאַהֲבֶ֔יהָ אֶל־אַשּׁ֖וּר קְרוֹבִֽים׃ Oholah whored while she was Mine, and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians, warriors^cwarriors Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

לְבֻשֵׁ֤י תְכֵ֙לֶת֙ פַּח֣וֹת וּסְגָנִ֔ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּ֑ם פָּרָשִׁ֕ים רֹכְבֵ֖י סוּסִֽים׃ clothed in blue, governors and prefects, cavalry troops—all of them handsome young fellows.

וַתִּתֵּ֤ן תַּזְנוּתֶ֙יהָ֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מִבְחַ֥ר בְּנֵֽי־אַשּׁ֖וּר כֻּלָּ֑ם וּבְכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־עָגְבָ֛ה בְּכׇל־גִּלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם נִטְמָֽאָה׃ She bestowed her favors upon them—upon all the pick of the Assyrians—and defiled herself with all their fetishes after which she lusted.

וְאֶת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֤יהָ מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ לֹ֣א עָזָ֔בָה כִּ֤י אוֹתָהּ֙ שָׁכְב֣וּ בִנְעוּרֶ֔יהָ וְהֵ֥מָּה עִשּׂ֖וּ דַּדֵּ֣י בְתוּלֶ֑יהָ וַיִּשְׁפְּכ֥וּ תַזְנוּתָ֖ם עָלֶֽיהָ׃ She did not give up the whoring she had begun with the Egyptians; for they had lain with her in her youth, and they had handled her virgin nipples and had poured out their lust upon her.

לָכֵ֥ן נְתַתִּ֖יהָ בְּיַד־מְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָ בְּיַד֙ בְּנֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָגְבָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands of the Assyrians after whom she lusted.

הֵ֘מָּה֮ גִּלּ֣וּ עֶרְוָתָהּ֒ בָּנֶ֤יהָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ לָקָ֔חוּ וְאוֹתָ֖הּ בַּחֶ֣רֶב הָרָ֑גוּ וַתְּהִי־שֵׁם֙ לַנָּשִׁ֔ים וּשְׁפוּטִ֖ים עָ֥שׂוּ בָֽהּ׃ {ס}         They exposed her nakedness; they seized her sons and daughters, and she herself was put to the sword. And because of the punishment inflicted upon her, she became a byword among women.

וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ אֲחוֹתָ֣הּ אׇהֳלִיבָ֔ה וַתַּשְׁחֵ֥ת עַגְבָתָ֖הּ מִמֶּ֑נָּה וְאֶ֨ת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ מִזְּנוּנֵ֖י אֲחוֹתָֽהּ׃ Her sister Oholibah saw this; yet her lusting was more depraved than her sister’s, and her whoring more debased.

אֶל־בְּנֵי֩ אַשּׁ֨וּר עָגָ֜בָה פַּח֨וֹת וּסְגָנִ֤ים קְרֹבִים֙ לְבֻשֵׁ֣י מִכְל֔וֹל פָּרָשִׁ֖ים רֹכְבֵ֣י סוּסִ֑ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּֽם׃ She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and prefects, warriors^dwarriors Meaning of Heb. uncertain. gorgeously clad, horsemen mounted on steeds—all of them handsome young fellows.

וָאֵ֖רֶא כִּ֣י נִטְמָ֑אָה דֶּ֥רֶךְ אֶחָ֖ד לִשְׁתֵּיהֶֽן׃ And I saw how she had defiled herself. Both of them followed the same course,

וַתּ֖וֹסֶף אֶל־תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ וַתֵּ֗רֶא אַנְשֵׁי֙ מְחֻקֶּ֣ה עַל־הַקִּ֔יר צַלְמֵ֣י (כשדיים) [כַשְׂדִּ֔ים] חֲקֻקִ֖ים בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃ but she carried her whoring further. For she saw men sculptured upon the walls, figures of Chaldeans drawn in vermilion,

חֲגוֹרֵ֨י אֵז֜וֹר בְּמׇתְנֵיהֶ֗ם סְרוּחֵ֤י טְבוּלִים֙ בְּרָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔ם מַרְאֵ֥ה שָֽׁלִשִׁ֖ים כֻּלָּ֑ם דְּמ֤וּת בְּנֵֽי־בָבֶל֙ כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים אֶ֖רֶץ מוֹלַדְתָּֽם׃ girded with belts round their waists, and with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers—a picture of Babylonians whose native land was Chaldea.

(ותעגב) [וַתַּעְגְּבָ֥ה] עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַרְאֵ֣ה עֵינֶ֑יהָ וַתִּשְׁלַ֧ח מַלְאָכִ֛ים אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם כַּשְׂדִּֽימָה׃ At the very sight of them she lusted after them, and she sent messengers for them to Chaldea.

וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ אֵלֶ֤יהָ בְנֵֽי־בָבֶל֙ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב דֹּדִ֔ים וַיְטַמְּא֥וּ אוֹתָ֖הּ בְּתַזְנוּתָ֑ם וַתִּ֨טְמָא־בָ֔ם וַתֵּ֥קַע נַפְשָׁ֖הּ מֵהֶֽם׃ So the Babylonians came to her for lovemaking and defiled her with their whoring; and she defiled herself with them until she turned from them in disgust.

וַתְּגַל֙ תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ וַתְּגַ֖ל אֶת־עֶרְוָתָ֑הּ וַתֵּ֤קַע נַפְשִׁי֙ מֵעָלֶ֔יהָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י מֵעַ֥ל אֲחוֹתָֽהּ׃ She flaunted her whoring and exposed her nakedness, and I turned from her in disgust, as I had turned disgusted from her sister.

וַתַּרְבֶּ֖ה אֶת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ לִזְכֹּר֙ אֶת־יְמֵ֣י נְעוּרֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָנְתָ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ But she whored still more, remembering how in her youth she had played the whore in the land of Egypt;

וַֽתַּעְגְּבָ֔ה עַ֖ל פִּֽלַגְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּשַׂר־חֲמוֹרִים֙ בְּשָׂרָ֔ם וְזִרְמַ֥ת סוּסִ֖ים זִרְמָתָֽם׃ she lusted for concubinage with them, whose members were like those of donkeys and whose organs^eorgans Meaning of Heb. uncertain. were like those of stallions.

וַֽתִּפְקְדִ֔י אֵ֖ת זִמַּ֣ת נְעוּרָ֑יִךְ בַּעְשׂ֤וֹת מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ דַּדַּ֔יִךְ לְמַ֖עַן שְׁדֵ֥י נְעוּרָֽיִךְ׃ {ס}         Thus you reverted to the wantonness of your youth, remembering^fremembering Lit. “for the sake of.” your youthful breasts, when the men of Egypt handled your nipples.

לָכֵ֣ן אׇהֳלִיבָ֗ה כֹּה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ הִנְנִ֨י מֵעִ֤יר אֶת־מְאַהֲבַ֙יִךְ֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶ֑ם וַהֲבֵאתִ֥ים עָלַ֖יִךְ מִסָּבִֽיב׃ Assuredly, Oholibah, thus said the Sovereign GOD: I am going to rouse against you the lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will bring them upon you from all around—

בְּנֵ֧י בָבֶ֣ל וְכׇל־כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים פְּק֤וֹד וְשׁ֙וֹעַ֙ וְק֔וֹעַ כׇּל־בְּנֵ֥י אַשּׁ֖וּר אוֹתָ֑ם בַּח֨וּרֵי חֶ֜מֶד פַּח֤וֹת וּסְגָנִים֙ כֻּלָּ֔ם שָֽׁלִשִׁים֙ וּקְרוּאִ֔ים רֹכְבֵ֥י סוּסִ֖ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, [the people of] Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, all of them handsome young fellows, governors and prefects, officers and warriors,^gwarriors Meaning of Heb. uncertain. all of them riding on horseback.

וּבָ֣אוּ עָלַ֡יִךְ הֹ֠צֶן רֶ֤כֶב וְגַלְגַּל֙ וּבִקְהַ֣ל עַמִּ֔ים צִנָּ֤ה וּמָגֵן֙ וְקוֹבַ֔ע יָשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלַ֖יִךְ סָבִ֑יב וְנָתַתִּ֤י לִפְנֵיהֶם֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּשְׁפָט֖וּךְ בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶֽם׃ They shall attack you with fleets^hfleets Meaning of Heb. uncertain. of wheeled chariots and a host of troops; they shall set themselves against you on all sides with bucklers, shields, and helmets. And I will entrust your punishment to them, and they shall inflict their punishments on you.

וְנָתַתִּ֨י קִנְאָתִ֜י בָּ֗ךְ וְעָשׂ֤וּ אוֹתָךְ֙ בְּחֵמָ֔ה אַפֵּ֤ךְ וְאׇזְנַ֙יִךְ֙ יָסִ֔ירוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ בַּחֶ֣רֶב תִּפּ֑וֹל הֵ֗מָּה בָּנַ֤יִךְ וּבְנוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ יִקָּ֔חוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ תֵּאָכֵ֥ל בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ I will direct My passion against you, and they shall deal with you in fury: They shall cut off your nose and ears;ⁱcut off your nose and ears A typical way of punishing a faithless subordinate in the ancient Near East. the last of you shall fall by the sword. They shall take away your sons and daughters, and your remnant shall be devoured by fire.

וְהִפְשִׁיט֖וּךְ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֑יִךְ וְלָקְח֖וּ כְּלֵ֥י תִפְאַרְתֵּֽךְ׃ They shall strip you of your clothing and take away your dazzling jewels.

וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י זִמָּתֵךְ֙ מִמֵּ֔ךְ וְאֶת־זְנוּתֵ֖ךְ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־תִשְׂאִ֤י עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וּמִצְרַ֖יִם לֹ֥א תִזְכְּרִי־עֽוֹד׃ {פ}
I will put an end to your wantonness and to your whoring in the land of Egypt, and you shall not long for them or remember Egypt anymore.

כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הִנְנִי֙ נֹֽתְנָ֔ךְ בְּיַ֖ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׂנֵ֑את בְּיַ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶֽם׃ For thus said the Sovereign GOD: I am going to deliver you into the hands of those you hate, into the hands of those from whom you turned in disgust.

וְעָשׂ֨וּ אוֹתָ֜ךְ בְּשִׂנְאָ֗ה וְלָֽקְחוּ֙ כׇּל־יְגִיעֵ֔ךְ וַעֲזָב֖וּךְ עֵירֹ֣ם וְעֶרְיָ֑ה וְנִגְלָה֙ עֶרְוַ֣ת זְנוּנַ֔יִךְ וְזִמָּתֵ֖ךְ וְתַזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃ They shall treat you with hate, and they shall take away all you have toiled for, and leave you naked and bare; your naked licentiousness, wantonness, and whoredom will be exposed.

עָשֹׂ֥ה אֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ בִּזְנוֹתֵךְ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י גוֹיִ֔ם עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־נִטְמֵ֖את בְּגִלּוּלֵיהֶֽם׃ These things shall be done to you for your whoring with the nations, for defiling yourself with their fetishes.