Signs of the Coming Captivity

1  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֕ם (of man), בְּת֥וֹךְ (in the midst) בֵּית־ (of the house), הַמֶּ֖רִי (of rebellion) אַתָּ֣ה (you) יֹשֵׁ֑ב (are dwelling) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which has) עֵינַיִם֩ (eyes) לָהֶ֨ם (unto them) לִרְא֜וֹת (to see), וְלֹ֣א (not); רָא֗וּ (do they see) אָזְנַ֨יִם (and ears) לָהֶ֤ם (unto them) לִשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ (to hear), וְלֹ֣א (not); שָׁמֵ֔עוּ (do they hear) כִּ֛י (for) בֵּ֥ית (a house) מְרִ֖י (of rebellion) הֵֽם׃ (they are).

3  וְאַתָּ֣ה (And you) בֶן־ (son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), עֲשֵׂ֤ה (take up) לְךָ֙ (for yourself) כְּלֵ֣י (vessels) גוֹלָ֔ה (for exile), וּגְלֵ֥ה (and go into exile) יוֹמָ֖ם (by day) לְעֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם (before their eyes); וְגָלִ֨יתָ (and you will go into exile) מִמְּקוֹמְךָ֜ (from your place) אֶל־ (to) מָק֤וֹם (a place) אַחֵר֙ (another) לְעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם (before their eyes). אוּלַ֣י (Perhaps) יִרְא֔וּ (they will see), כִּ֛י (though) בֵּ֥ית (a house) מְרִ֖י (of rebellion) הֵֽמָּה׃ (they are). 4  וְהוֹצֵאתָ֨ (And you shall bring out) כֵלֶ֜יךָ (your vessels) כִּכְלֵ֥י (like vessels) גוֹלָ֛ה (for exile). יוֹמָ֖ם (By day) לְעֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם (before their eyes), וְאַתָּ֗ה (and you) תֵּצֵ֤א (shall go out) בָעֶ֙רֶב֙ (in the evening) לְעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם (before their eyes), כְּמוֹצָאֵ֖י (like those going) גּוֹלָֽה׃ (into captivity).

5  לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם (Before their eyes), חֲתָר־ (you shall dig) לְךָ֣ (for yourself) בַקִּ֑יר (through the wall) וְהוֹצֵאתָ֖ (and go out) בּֽוֹ׃ (through it). 6  לְעֵ֨ינֵיהֶ֜ם (Before their eyes) עַל־ (on) כָּתֵ֤ף (your shoulders), תִּשָּׂא֙ (you will carry the baggage) בָּעֲלָטָ֣ה (in the darkness). תוֹצִ֔יא (And carry them out) פָּנֶ֣יךָ (your face), תְכַסֶּ֔ה (you shall cover) וְלֹ֥א (so that not) תִרְאֶ֖ה (you see) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land), כִּֽי־ (for) מוֹפֵ֥ת (as a sign) נְתַתִּ֖יךָ (I have given you) לְבֵ֥ית (for the house) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

7  וָאַ֣עַשׂ (And I did) כֵּן֮ (-) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (as) צֻוֵּיתִי֒ (I was commanded). כֵּ֠לַי (My vessels) הוֹצֵ֜אתִי (I brought out) כִּכְלֵ֤י (as vessels) גוֹלָה֙ (for captivity), יוֹמָ֔ם (by day), וּבָעֶ֛רֶב (and in the evening) חָתַֽרְתִּי־ (I dug) לִ֥י (for myself) בַקִּ֖יר (through the wall) בְּיָ֑ד (with my hand); בָּעֲלָטָ֥ה (in the darkness), הוֹצֵ֛אתִי (I brought them out) עַל־ (on) כָּתֵ֥ף (my shoulder) נָשָׂ֖אתִי (I bore them) לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃פ (before their eyes).

8  וַיְהִ֧י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֖י (to me) בַּבֹּ֥קֶר (in the morning) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 9  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֕ם (of man), הֲלֹ֨א (have not) אָמְר֥וּ (they said) אֵלֶ֛יךָ (to you) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), בֵּ֣ית (this house), הַמֶּ֑רִי (of rebellion) מָ֖ה (What) אַתָּ֥ה (are you) עֹשֶֽׂה׃ (doing)? 10  אֱמֹ֣ר (Say) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them) כֹּ֥ה (thus) אָמַ֖ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהֹוִ֑ה (YHWH); הַנָּשִׂ֞יא (Concerns the prince) הַמַּשָּׂ֤א (burden) הַזֶּה֙ (this) בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (in Jerusalem), וְכָל־ (and all) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) הֵ֥מָּה (are) בְתוֹכָֽם׃ (in their midst).

11  אֱמֹ֖ר (Say), אֲנִ֣י (I am) מֽוֹפֶתְכֶ֑ם (a sign to you⁺); כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (as) עָשִׂ֗יתִי (I have done), כֵּ֚ן (so) יֵעָשֶׂ֣ה (will it be done) לָהֶ֔ם (to them) בַּגּוֹלָ֥ה (into exile) בַשְּׁבִ֖י (into captivity) יֵלֵֽכוּ׃ (they will go). 12  וְהַנָּשִׂ֨יא (And the prince) אֲשֶׁר־ (who is) בְּתוֹכָ֜ם (in their midst) אֶל־ (on) כָּתֵ֤ף (his shoulder) יִשָּׂא֙ (he will bear it) בָּעֲלָטָ֣ה (in the darkness), וְיֵצֵ֔א (and he will go out); בַּקִּ֥יר (through the wall) יַחְתְּר֖וּ (they will dig) לְה֣וֹצִיא (to bring them out) ב֑וֹ (through it) פָּנָ֣יו (his face), יְכַסֶּ֔ה (he will cover) יַ֗עַן (so) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) לֹא־ (not) יִרְאֶ֥ה (he might see) לַעַ֛יִן (with his eyes). ה֖וּא (He) אֶת־ (-) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the land). 13  וּפָרַשְׂתִּ֤י (And I will spread) אֶת־ (-) רִשְׁתִּי֙ (My net) עָלָ֔יו (over him) וְנִתְפַּ֖שׂ (and he will be caught) בִּמְצֽוּדָתִ֑י (in My snare). וְהֵבֵאתִ֨י (And I will bring) אֹת֤וֹ (him) בָבֶ֙לָה֙ (to Babylon) אֶ֣רֶץ (to the land) כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (of the Chaldeans); וְאוֹתָ֥הּ (and it) לֹֽא־ (not) יִרְאֶ֖ה (he will see) וְשָׁ֥ם (and there) יָמֽוּת׃ (he will die).

14  וְכֹל֩ (And all) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who are) סְבִיבֹתָ֥יו (around him) עֶזְרֹה (as his help) וְכָל־ (and all) אֲגַפָּ֖יו (his troops); אֱזָרֶ֣ה (I will scatter) לְכָל־ (to every) ר֑וּחַ (wind) וְחֶ֖רֶב (and the sword) אָרִ֥יק (I will unsheath) אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ (after them). 15  וְיָדְע֖וּ (And they will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֣י (I am) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), בַּהֲפִיצִ֤י (in My dispersing) אוֹתָם֙ (them) בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם (among the nations), וְזֵרִיתִ֥י (and I scatter) אוֹתָ֖ם (them) בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ (throughout the lands).

16  וְהוֹתַרְתִּ֤י (And I will spare) מֵהֶם֙ (from their) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (people) מִסְפָּ֔ר (a few) מֵחֶ֖רֶב (from the sword), מֵרָעָ֣ב (from famine), וּמִדָּ֑בֶר (and from pestilence); לְמַ֨עַן (so that) יְסַפְּר֜וּ (they may recount) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) תּוֹעֲבֽוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם (their abominations) בַּגּוֹיִם֙ (among the nations) אֲשֶׁר־ (to which) בָּ֣אוּ (they go); שָׁ֔ם (there) וְיָדְע֖וּ (and they will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֥י (I am) יְהוָֽה׃פ (YHWH).

17  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 18  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֕ם (of man), לַחְמְךָ֖ (your bread) בְּרַ֣עַשׁ (with quaking), תֹּאכֵ֑ל (eat) וּמֵימֶ֕יךָ (and your water) בְּרָגְזָ֥ה (with trembling) וּבִדְאָגָ֖ה (and with anxiety); תִּשְׁתֶּֽה׃ (drink). 19  וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (And say) אֶל־ (to) עַ֣ם (the people) הָאָ֡רֶץ (of the land) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַר֩ (says) אֲדֹנָ֨י (the Lord) יְהוִ֜ה (YHWH) לְיוֹשְׁבֵ֤י (to the dwellers) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (of Jerusalem), אֶל־ (and to) אַדְמַ֣ת (the land), יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel); לַחְמָם֙ (Their bread) בִּדְאָגָ֣ה (with anxiety), יֹאכֵ֔לוּ (they will eat) וּמֵֽימֵיהֶ֖ם (and their water) בְּשִׁמָּמ֣וֹן (with dread), יִשְׁתּ֑וּ (they will drink) לְמַ֜עַן (so that) תֵּשַׁ֤ם (may be emptied) אַרְצָהּ֙ (her land) מִמְּלֹאָ֔הּ (of all her fullness), מֵחֲמַ֖ס (because of the violence) כָּֽל־ (of all) הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים (those dwelling) בָּֽהּ׃ (in her). 20  וְהֶעָרִ֤ים (And the cities) הַנּֽוֹשָׁבוֹת֙ (that were inhabited) תֶּחֱרַ֔בְנָה (will be dried up), וְהָאָ֖רֶץ (and the land) שְׁמָמָ֣ה (a desolation); תִֽהְיֶ֑ה (will become) וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם (and you⁺ will know) כִּֽי־ (that am) אֲנִ֥י (I) יְהוָֽה׃פ (YHWH).

The Presumptuous Proverb

21  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 22  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), מָֽה־ (what is) הַמָּשָׁ֤ל (the proverb) הַזֶּה֙ (this) לָכֶ֔ם (for you⁺ all) עַל־ (over) אַדְמַ֥ת (the land) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying),

יַֽאַרְכוּ֙ (Are prolonged), הַיָּמִ֔ים (the days)

וְאָבַ֖ד (and perishes)? כָּל־ (Every) חָזֽוֹן׃ (vision).

23  לָכֵ֞ן (Therefore), אֱמֹ֣ר (say) אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (to them) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַר֮ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִה֒ (YHWH) הִשְׁבַּ֙תִּי֙ (I will put an end), אֶת־ (-) הַמָּשָׁ֣ל (proverb) הַזֶּ֔ה (to this) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִמְשְׁל֥וּ (will they use as a proverb) אֹת֛וֹ (it) ע֖וֹד (anymore) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (in Israel);

כִּ֚י (but) אִם־ (rather) דַּבֵּ֣ר (speak) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them thus) קָֽרְבוּ֙ (Are near), הַיָּמִ֔ים (the days) וּדְבַ֖ר (and the word) כָּל־ (of every) חָזֽוֹן׃ (vision). 24  כִּ֠י (For) לֹ֣א (not) יִֽהְיֶ֥ה (will there be) ע֛וֹד (longer) כָּל־ (any) חֲז֥וֹן (vision) שָׁ֖וְא (of emptiness) וּמִקְסַ֣ם (or of divination) חָלָ֑ק (smooth) בְּת֖וֹךְ (in the midst) בֵּ֥ית (of the house) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 25  כִּ֣י׀ (For) אֲנִ֣י (I am) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH); אֲדַבֵּר֙ (I speak), אֵת֩ (-) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that which) אֲדַבֵּ֤ר (I speak) דָּבָר֙ (the word) וְיֵ֣עָשֶׂ֔ה (and will come to pass); לֹ֥א (not) תִמָּשֵׁ֖ךְ (will it drag out), ע֑וֹד (any longer) כִּ֣י (but) בִֽימֵיכֶ֞ם (in your⁺ days), בֵּ֣ית (O house), הַמֶּ֗רִי (of rebellion) אֲדַבֵּ֤ר (I will speak) דָּבָר֙ (the word), וַעֲשִׂיתִ֔יו (and will do it) נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהוִֽה׃פ (YHWH).

26  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 27  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), הִנֵּ֤ה (behold), בֵֽית־ (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) אֹֽמְרִ֔ים (is saying), הֶחָז֛וֹן (The vision) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) ה֥וּא (he) חֹזֶ֖ה (sees) לְיָמִ֣ים (is days) רַבִּ֑ים (many) וּלְעִתִּ֥ים (and times) רְחוֹק֖וֹת (far off) ה֥וּא (he) נִבָּֽא׃ (is prophesying).

28  לָכֵ֞ן (Therefore) אֱמֹ֣ר (say) אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (to them) כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH); לֹא־ (Not) תִמָּשֵׁ֥ךְ (will be drawn out) ע֖וֹד (anymore), כָּל־ (any) דְּבָרָ֑י (of My words) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (of which) אֲדַבֵּ֤ר (I speak) דָּבָר֙ (the word) וְיֵ֣עָשֶׂ֔ה (and it will be done), נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהוִֽה׃ס (YHWH).