The Sins of Jerusalem

1  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  וְאַתָּ֣ה (And you) בֶן־ (son) אָדָ֔ם (of man), הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֥ט (will you judge), הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֖ט (will you judge) אֶת־ (-) עִ֣יר (this city)? הַדָּמִ֑ים (Of blood) וְה֣וֹדַעְתָּ֔הּ (Then make known to her) אֵ֖ת (-) כָּל־ (all) תּוֹעֲבוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ (her abominations). 3  וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ (And say) כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH), עִ֣יר (O city) שֹׁפֶ֥כֶת (pouring out) דָּ֛ם (blood) בְּתוֹכָ֖הּ (in her midst) לָב֣וֹא (that may come), עִתָּ֑הּ (her time) וְעָשְׂתָ֧ה (and she does make) גִלּוּלִ֛ים (idols) עָלֶ֖יהָ (upon herself) לְטָמְאָֽה׃ (to defile herself). 4  בְּדָמֵ֨ךְ (By the blood) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) שָׁפַ֜כְתְּ (you have poured out); אָשַׁ֗מְתְּ (you have become guilty) וּבְגִלּוּלַ֤יִךְ (and by the idols) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשִׂית֙ (you have made); טָמֵ֔את (you have defiled yourself) וַתַּקְרִ֣יבִי (and you have brought near), יָמַ֔יִךְ (your days) וַתָּב֖וֹא (and you have come) עַד־ (to) שְׁנוֹתָ֑יִךְ (your years); עַל־ (For) כֵּ֗ן (thus) נְתַתִּ֤יךְ (I have made you) חֶרְפָּה֙ (a reproach) לַגּוֹיִ֔ם (for the nations), וְקַלָּסָ֖ה (and of derision) לְכָל־ (for all) הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ (the lands). 5  הַקְּרֹב֛וֹת (Those near), וְהָרְחֹק֥וֹת (and those far) מִמֵּ֖ךְ (from you) יִתְקַלְּסוּ־ (will mock) בָ֑ךְ (you) טְמֵאַ֣ת (O unclean) הַשֵּׁ֔ם (of name) רַבַּ֖ת (full) הַמְּהוּמָֽה׃ (of turmoil).

6  הִנֵּה֙ (Behold), נְשִׂיאֵ֣י (the princes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), אִ֥ישׁ (each man) לִזְרֹע֖וֹ (to his arm) הָ֣יוּ (have come to be) בָ֑ךְ (among you) לְמַ֖עַן (in order) שְׁפָךְ־ (to pour out) דָּֽם׃ (blood). 7  אָ֤ב (The father) וָאֵם֙ (and mother); הֵקַ֣לּוּ (they have belittled) בָ֔ךְ (among you) לַגֵּ֛ר (against the sojourner); עָשׂ֥וּ (they have acted) בַעֹ֖שֶׁק (with oppression) בְּתוֹכֵ֑ךְ (in your midst) יָת֥וֹם (the fatherless) וְאַלְמָנָ֖ה (and the widow) ה֥וֹנוּ (they have mistreated) בָֽךְ׃ (among you).

8  קָדָשַׁ֖י (My holy things), בָּזִ֑ית (you have despised) וְאֶת־ (and) שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י (My Sabbaths) חִלָּֽלְתְּ׃ (you have profaned). 9  אַנְשֵׁ֥י (Men) רָכִ֛יל (of slander) הָ֥יוּ (are) בָ֖ךְ (among you) לְמַ֣עַן (in order) שְׁפָךְ־ (to pour out) דָּ֑ם (blood), וְאֶל־ (and on) הֶֽהָרִים֙ (the mountains); אָ֣כְלוּ (they eat) בָ֔ךְ (among you) זִמָּ֖ה (and wickedness) עָשׂ֥וּ (they do) בְתוֹכֵֽךְ׃ (in your midst).

10  עֶרְוַת־ (The nakedness); אָ֖ב (of their fathers) גִּלָּה־ (they uncover) בָ֑ךְ (among you) טְמֵאַ֥ת (the impurity). הַנִּדָּ֖ה (Of the women) עִנּוּ־ (they violate) בָֽךְ׃ (among you). 11  וְאִ֣ישׁ׀ (And a man) אֶת־ (with) אֵ֣שֶׁת (the wife); רֵעֵ֗הוּ (of his neighbor) עָשָׂה֙ (commits) תּֽוֹעֵבָ֔ה (an abomination) וְאִ֥ישׁ (and another man) אֶת־ (-) כַּלָּת֖וֹ (his daughter-in-law); טִמֵּ֣א (defiles) בְזִמָּ֑ה (in wickedness) וְאִ֛ישׁ (and a man) אֶת־ (-) אֲחֹת֥וֹ (his sister), בַת־ (the daughter). אָבִ֖יו (Of his father) עִנָּה־ (violates) בָֽךְ׃ (among you).

12  שֹׁ֥חַד (Bribes) לָֽקְחוּ־ (they take) בָ֖ךְ (among you) לְמַ֣עַן (in order) שְׁפָךְ־ (to pour out) דָּ֑ם (blood); נֶ֧שֶׁךְ (a bite of interest) וְתַרְבִּ֣ית (and unjust gain), לָקַ֗חַתְּ (you take) וַתְּבַצְּעִ֤י (and you cut off) רֵעַ֙יִךְ֙ (your neighbors) בַּעֹ֔שֶׁק (by extortion), וְאֹתִ֣י (and Me) שָׁכַ֔חַתְּ (you have forgotten) נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהוִֽה׃ (YHWH).

13  וְהִנֵּה֙ (So behold), הִכֵּ֣יתִי (I strike) כַפִּ֔י (My hands) אֶל־ (against) בִּצְעֵ֖ךְ (your dishonest gain) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) עָשִׂ֑ית (you have made), וְעַ֨ל־ (and over) דָּמֵ֔ךְ (the bloodshed) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הָי֖וּ (has come to be) בְּתוֹכֵֽךְ׃ (in your midst). 14  הֲיַעֲמֹ֤ד (Can stand), לִבֵּךְ֙ (your heart) אִם־ (or) תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה (can remain strong), יָדַ֔יִךְ (your hands) לַיָּמִ֕ים (in the days) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (when) אֲנִ֖י (I) עֹשֶׂ֣ה (will be dealing) אוֹתָ֑ךְ (with you) אֲנִ֥י (I) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי (have spoken) וְעָשִֽׂיתִי׃ (and I will act). 15  וַהֲפִיצוֹתִ֤י (And I will disperse) אוֹתָךְ֙ (you) בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם (among the nations), וְזֵרִיתִ֖יךְ (and I will scatter you) בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹת (among the lands), וַהֲתִמֹּתִ֥י (and I will finish off) טֻמְאָתֵ֖ךְ (your uncleanness) מִמֵּֽךְ׃ (from you). 16  וְנִחַ֥לְתְּ (And you will profane) בָּ֖ךְ (yourself) לְעֵינֵ֣י (before the eyes) גוֹיִ֑ם (of the nations), וְיָדַ֖עַתְּ (and you will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֥י (I am) יְהוָֽה׃פ (YHWH).

The Refining Furnace

17  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 18  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֕ם (of man), הָיוּ־ (has become) לִ֥י (to Me) בֵֽית־ (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) לְסוּג (as dross); כֻּלָּ֡ם (they are all) נְ֠חֹשֶׁת (bronze), וּבְדִ֨יל (and tin), וּבַרְזֶ֤ל (and iron), וְעוֹפֶ֙רֶת֙ (and lead), בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) כּ֔וּר (of a furnace); סִגִ֥ים (the dross) כֶּ֖סֶף (of silver) הָיֽוּ׃ס (they have become).

19  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH); יַ֛עַן (Because) הֱי֥וֹת (have become) כֻּלְּכֶ֖ם (all of you⁺) לְסִגִ֑ים (as dross), לָכֵן֙ (therefore) הִנְנִ֣י (behold—I) קֹבֵ֣ץ (am going to gather) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (you⁺) אֶל־ (into) תּ֖וֹךְ (the midst) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (of Jerusalem). 20  קְבֻ֣צַת (The gathering) כֶּ֡סֶף (of silver), וּ֠נְחֹשֶׁת (and bronze), וּבַרְזֶ֨ל (and iron), וְעוֹפֶ֤רֶת (and lead), וּבְדִיל֙ (and tin), אֶל־ (into) תּ֣וֹךְ (the midst) כּ֔וּר (of a furnace), לָפַֽחַת־ (to blow) עָלָ֥יו (on it) אֵ֖שׁ (fire) לְהַנְתִּ֑יךְ (to melt it) כֵּ֤ן (so) אֶקְבֹּץ֙ (I will gather you) בְּאַפִּ֣י (in My anger) וּבַחֲמָתִ֔י (and in My fury), וְהִנַּחְתִּ֥י (and I will leave you) וְהִתַּכְתִּ֖י (and I will melt) אֶתְכֶֽם׃ (you⁺).

21  וְכִנַּסְתִּ֣י (And I will gather) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (you⁺) וְנָפַחְתִּ֥י (and will blow) עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם (on you⁺) בְּאֵ֣שׁ (with the fire) עֶבְרָתִ֑י (of My wrath), וְנִתַּכְתֶּ֖ם (and you⁺ will be melted) בְּתוֹכָֽהּ׃ (in its midst). 22  כְּהִתּ֥וּךְ (As is melted) כֶּ֙סֶף֙ (silver) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) כּ֔וּר (of a furnace), כֵּ֖ן (so) תֻּתְּכ֣וּ (will you⁺ be melted) בְתוֹכָ֑הּ (in its midst) וִֽידַעְתֶּם֙ (and you⁺ will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֣י (I) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) שָׁפַ֥כְתִּי (have poured out) חֲמָתִ֖י (My fury) עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃פ (upon you⁺).

Israel’s Wicked Leaders

23  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 24  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֕ם (of man), אֱמָר־ (say) לָ֕הּ (to her) אַ֣תְּ (You are) אֶ֔רֶץ (a land) לֹ֥א (not) מְטֹהָרָ֖ה (is cleansed), הִ֑יא (that) לֹ֥א (nor) גֻשְׁמָ֖הּ (is rain on her) בְּי֥וֹם (in the day) זָֽעַם׃ (of anger).

25  קֶ֤שֶׁר (The conspiracy) נְבִיאֶ֙יהָ֙ (of her prophets) בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ (in her midst) כַּאֲרִ֥י (is like a lion) שׁוֹאֵ֖ג (roaring) טֹ֣רֵֽף (and tearing) טָ֑רֶף (the prey); נֶ֣פֶשׁ (the soul); אָכָ֗לוּ (they have devoured) חֹ֤סֶן (treasure) וִיקָר֙ (and precious things); יִקָּ֔חוּ (they have taken) אַלְמְנוֹתֶ֖יהָ (widows) הִרְבּ֥וּ (they have made many) בְתוֹכָֽהּ׃ (in her midst).

26  כֹּהֲנֶ֜יהָ (Her priests) חָמְס֣וּ (have done violence to) תוֹרָתִי֮ (My law), וַיְחַלְּל֣וּ (and have profaned) קָדָשַׁי֒ (My holy things); בֵּֽין־ (between) קֹ֤דֶשׁ (the holy) לְחֹל֙ (and the profane), לֹ֣א (not) הִבְדִּ֔ילוּ (do they separate) וּבֵין־ (and between) הַטָּמֵ֥א (the unclean) לְטָה֖וֹר (and the clean), לֹ֣א (not) הוֹדִ֑יעוּ (do they discern) וּמִשַׁבְּתוֹתַי֙ (and from My Sabbaths), הֶעְלִ֣ימוּ (they have hidden) עֵֽינֵיהֶ֔ם (their eyes) וָאֵחַ֖ל (and I am profaned) בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ (in their midst).

27  שָׂרֶ֣יהָ (Her princes) בְקִרְבָּ֔הּ (within her are) כִּזְאֵבִ֖ים (like wolves) טֹ֣רְפֵי (tearing) טָ֑רֶף (the prey), לִשְׁפָּךְ־ (to shed) דָּם֙ (blood), לְאַבֵּ֣ד (to destroy) נְפָשׁ֔וֹת (souls), לְמַ֖עַן (and) בְּצֹ֥עַ (to break off) בָּֽצַע׃ (dishonest gain).

28  וּנְבִיאֶ֗יהָ (And her prophets) טָח֤וּ (have covered) לָהֶם֙ (for them) תָּפֵ֔ל (with whitewash) חֹזִ֣ים (seeing) שָׁ֔וְא (falsehood), וְקֹסְמִ֥ים (and divining) לָהֶ֖ם (for them) כָּזָ֑ב (a lie) אֹמְרִ֗ים (saying), כֹּ֤ה (Thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH), וַֽיהוָ֖ה (and YHWH) לֹ֥א (not) דִבֵּֽר׃ (has spoken).

29  עַ֤ם (The people) הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (of the land) עָ֣שְׁקוּ (have oppressed) עֹ֔שֶׁק (with oppression), וְגָזְל֖וּ (and have robbed) גָּזֵ֑ל (with robbery), וְעָנִ֤י (and the poor) וְאֶבְיוֹן֙ (and the needy); הוֹנ֔וּ (they have mistreated) וְאֶת־ (and) הַגֵּ֥ר (the sojourner) עָשְׁק֖וּ (they oppress) בְּלֹ֥א (without) מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ (justice).

30  וָאֲבַקֵּ֣שׁ (And I sought) מֵהֶ֡ם (from them) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) גֹּֽדֵר־ (walling up) גָּדֵר֩ (the wall), וְעֹמֵ֨ד (and standing) בַּפֶּ֧רֶץ (in the breach) לְפָנַ֛י (before Me) בְּעַ֥ד (on behalf) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the land), לְבִלְתִּ֣י (that I should not) שַׁחֲתָ֑הּ (destroy it) וְלֹ֖א (and no one) מָצָֽאתִי׃ (did I find). 31  וָאֶשְׁפֹּ֤ךְ (And I have poured out) עֲלֵיהֶם֙ (on them) זַעְמִ֔י (My anger) בְּאֵ֥שׁ (with the fire) עֶבְרָתִ֖י (of My wrath); כִּלִּיתִ֑ים (I have consumed them) דַּרְכָּם֙ (their deeds) בְּרֹאשָׁ֣ם (on their own heads), נָתַ֔תִּי (have I recompensed) נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהֹוִֽה׃פ (YHWH).