The Broken Covenant

1  הַדָּבָר֙ (The word) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הָיָ֣ה (came) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (Jeremiah) מֵאֵ֥ת (from) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  שִׁמְע֕וּ (Hear) אֶת־ (-) דִּבְרֵ֖י (the words) הַבְּרִ֣ית (of the covenant), הַזֹּ֑את (this) וְדִבַּרְתָּם֙ (and speak) אֶל־ (to) אִ֣ישׁ (the men) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), וְעַל־ (and to) יֹשְׁבֵ֖י (the dwellers) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (of Jerusalem); 3  וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (and say) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֥ר (says) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel); אָר֣וּר (Cursed is) הָאִ֔ישׁ (the man) אֲשֶׁר֙ (who) לֹ֣א (does not) יִשְׁמַ֔ע (obey) אֶת־ (-) דִּבְרֵ֖י (the words) הַבְּרִ֥ית (of the covenant), הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this). 4  אֲשֶׁ֣ר (Which) צִוִּ֣יתִי (I commanded) אֶת־ (-) אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֡ם (your⁺ fathers) בְּי֣וֹם (in the day) הוֹצִיאִֽי־ (I brought) אוֹתָ֣ם (them) מֵאֶֽרֶץ־ (from the land) מִצְרַיִם֩ (of Egypt), מִכּ֨וּר (from the furnace), הַבַּרְזֶ֜ל (iron) לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), שִׁמְע֤וּ (Listen) בְקוֹלִי֙ (to My voice), וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם (and do) אוֹתָ֔ם (-) כְּכֹ֥ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) אֲצַוֶּ֖ה (I command) אֶתְכֶ֑ם (you⁺) וִהְיִ֤יתֶם (and you⁺ shall be) לִי֙ (My) לְעָ֔ם (people), וְאָ֣נֹכִ֔י (and I) אֶהְיֶ֥ה (shall be) לָכֶ֖ם (your⁺) לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ (God); 5  לְמַעַן֩ (so that) הָקִ֨ים (I may establish) אֶת־ (-) הַשְּׁבוּעָ֜ה (the oath) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי (I swore) לַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם (to your⁺ fathers), לָתֵ֤ת (to give) לָהֶם֙ (to them) אֶ֣רֶץ (a land) זָבַ֥ת (flowing with) חָלָ֛ב (milk) וּדְבַ֖שׁ (and honey), כַּיּ֣וֹם (day). הַזֶּ֑ה (As this)

וָאַ֥עַן (and I answered) וָאֹמַ֖ר (and said), אָמֵ֥ן׀ (Amen), יְהוָֽה׃ס (YHWH).

6  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֵלַ֔י (to me) קְרָ֨א (Proclaim) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הַדְּבָרִ֤ים (the words) הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (these) בְּעָרֵ֣י (in the cities) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), וּבְחֻצ֥וֹת (and in the streets) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (of Jerusalem), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), שִׁמְע֗וּ (Hear) אֶת־ (-) דִּבְרֵי֙ (the words) הַבְּרִ֣ית (of the covenant), הַזֹּ֔את (this) וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם (and do) אוֹתָֽם׃ (them). 7  כִּי֩ (For) הָעֵ֨ד (testifying), הַעִדֹ֜תִי (I warned) בַּאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם (against your⁺ fathers) בְּיוֹם֩ (in the day) הַעֲלוֹתִ֨י (I brought) אוֹתָ֜ם (them) מֵאֶ֤רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ (of Egypt), וְעַד־ (and until) הַיּ֣וֹם (day), הַזֶּ֔ה (this) הַשְׁכֵּ֥ם (rising early) וְהָעֵ֖ד (and warning) לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), שִׁמְע֖וּ (Listen) בְּקוֹלִֽי׃ (to My voice). 8  וְלֹ֤א (And not), שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ (they did hear) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) הִטּ֣וּ (they did incline) אֶת־ (-) אָזְנָ֔ם (their ear), וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ (followed) אִ֕ישׁ (each man) בִּשְׁרִיר֖וּת (in the stubborness) לִבָּ֣ם (their heart); הָרָ֑ע (of evil) וָאָבִ֨יא (and I brought) עֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (upon them) אֶֽת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) דִּבְרֵ֧י (the words) הַבְּרִית־ (covenant), הַזֹּ֛את (of this) אֲשֶׁר־ (which) צִוִּ֥יתִי (I commanded them) לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת (to do); וְלֹ֥א (and not) עָשֽׂוּ׃ס (they have done).

9  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (Said) יְהוָ֖ה (and YHWH) אֵלָ֑י (to me) נִֽמְצָא־ (Has been found out) קֶ֙שֶׁר֙ (a conspiracy) בְּאִ֣ישׁ (among the men) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), וּבְיֹשְׁבֵ֖י (and among the dwellers) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (of Jerusalem). 10  שָׁ֩בוּ֩ (They have turned back) עַל־ (to) עֲוֺנֹ֨ת (the iniquities) אֲבוֹתָ֜ם (their fathers) הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֗ים (of first), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) מֵֽאֲנוּ֙ (refused) לִשְׁמ֣וֹעַ (to hear) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָרַ֔י (My words); וְהֵ֣מָּה (and they) הָלְכ֗וּ (have gone) אַחֲרֵ֛י (after) אֱלֹהִ֥ים (gods) אֲחֵרִ֖ים (other) לְעָבְדָ֑ם (to serve them) הֵפֵ֤רוּ (have broken) בֵֽית־ (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) וּבֵ֣ית (and the house) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah) אֶת־ (-) בְּרִיתִ֕י (My covenant) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) כָּרַ֖תִּי (I made) אֶת־ (with) אֲבוֹתָֽם׃ס (their fathers).

11  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּ֚ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), הִנְנִ֨י (Behold, I) מֵבִ֤יא (am bringing) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (on them) רָעָ֔ה (calamity) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לֹֽא־ (not) יוּכְל֖וּ (they will be able) לָצֵ֣את (to escape) מִמֶּ֑נָּה (from it) וְזָעֲק֣וּ (and they will call out) אֵלַ֔י (to Me) וְלֹ֥א (and not) אֶשְׁמַ֖ע (I will listen) אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (to them). 12  וְהָֽלְכ֞וּ (And will go), עָרֵ֣י (the cities) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah) וְיֹשְׁבֵי֙ (and the dwellers) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (of Jerusalem) וְזָֽעֲקוּ֙ (and they will cry out) אֶל־ (to) הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים (the gods) אֲשֶׁ֛ר (to which) הֵ֥ם (they) מְקַטְּרִ֖ים (offer incense); לָהֶ֑ם (to them) וְהוֹשֵׁ֛עַ (at all) לֹֽא־ (not) יוֹשִׁ֥יעוּ (they will save) לָהֶ֖ם (them) בְּעֵ֥ת (in the time) רָעָתָֽם׃ (of their calamity). 13  כִּ֚י (For) מִסְפַּ֣ר (to the number) עָרֶ֔יךָ (of your cities) הָי֥וּ (are) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your gods), יְהוּדָ֑ה (O Judah); וּמִסְפַּ֞ר (and to the number) חֻצ֣וֹת (of the streets) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם (of Jerusalem) שַׂמְתֶּ֤ם (you⁺ have appointed) מִזְבְּחוֹת֙ (altars) לַבֹּ֔שֶׁת (of shame), מִזְבְּח֖וֹת (altars) לְקַטֵּ֥ר (for burning incense) לַבָּֽעַל׃ס (to Baal).

14  וְאַתָּ֗ה (And you) אַל־ (not) תִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ (do pray) בְּעַד־ (for) הָעָ֣ם (the people), הַזֶּ֔ה (this) וְאַל־ (or) תִּשָּׂ֥א (lift up) בַעֲדָ֖ם (for them) רִנָּ֣ה (a cry) וּתְפִלָּ֑ה (or prayer) כִּ֣י (for) אֵינֶ֣נִּי (not) שֹׁמֵ֗עַ (I will hear them) בְּעֵ֛ת (in the time) קָרְאָ֥ם (of their crying out) אֵלַ֖י (to Me) בְּעַ֥ד (on account) רָעָתָֽם׃ס (of their calamity).

15  מֶ֣ה (What is) לִֽידִידִ֞י (unto my beloved one) בְּבֵיתִ֗י (in My house),

עֲשׂוֹתָ֤הּ (her having done) הַֽמְזִמָּ֙תָה֙ (evil scheming) הָֽרַבִּ֔ים (much),

וּבְשַׂר־ (flesh) קֹ֖דֶשׁ (and the holy) יַעַבְר֣וּ (has passed over) מֵֽעָלָ֑יִךְ (from you)

כִּ֥י (when) רָעָתֵ֖כִי (you are evil), אָ֥ז (then) תַּעֲלֹֽזִי׃ (you rejoice).

16  זַ֤יִת (Olive tree), רַֽעֲנָן֙ (a green) יְפֵ֣ה (lovely), פְרִי־ (fruit); תֹ֔אַר (and of good)

קָרָ֥א (has called) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) שְׁמֵ֑ךְ (your name),

לְק֣וֹל׀ (with the noise) הֲמוּלָּ֣ה (tumult) גְדֹלָ֗ה (of a great) הִצִּ֥ית (He has kindled) אֵשׁ֙ (fire) עָלֶ֔יהָ (on it)

וְרָע֖וּ (are broken) דָּלִיּוֹתָֽיו׃ (and its branches).

17  וַיהוָ֤ה (And YHWH of) צְבָאוֹת֙ (Hosts), הַנּוֹטֵ֣עַ (the One having planted) אוֹתָ֔ךְ (you) דִּבֶּ֥ר (has spoken) עָלַ֖יִךְ (against you) רָעָ֑ה (evil) בִּ֠גְלַל (on account) רָעַ֨ת (of the evil) בֵּֽית־ (of the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (of Israel) וּבֵ֣ית (and of the house) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (which) עָשׂ֥וּ (they have done) לָהֶ֛ם (themselves) לְהַכְעִסֵ֖נִי (provoking Me to anger) לְקַטֵּ֥ר (by burning incense) לַבָּֽעַל׃ס (to Baal).

A Plot against Jeremiah
(Jeremiah 18:18–23)

18  וַֽיהוָ֥ה (And YHWH) הֽוֹדִיעַ֖נִי (has cause me to know), וָֽאֵדָ֑עָה (and I know it).

אָ֖ז (Then) הִרְאִיתַ֥נִי (You showed me) מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ (their deeds).

19  וַאֲנִ֕י (And I was) כְּכֶ֥בֶשׂ (like a lamb) אַלּ֖וּף (docile) יוּבַ֣ל (brought) לִטְב֑וֹחַ (to the slaughter);

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יָדַ֜עְתִּי (I did know) כִּֽי־ (that) עָלַ֣י׀ (against me) חָשְׁב֣וּ (they had devised) מַחֲשָׁב֗וֹת (schemes)

נַשְׁחִ֨יתָה (Let us destroy) עֵ֤ץ (the tree) בְּלַחְמוֹ֙ (with its fruit)

וְנִכְרְתֶ֙נּוּ֙ (and let us cut him off) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) חַיִּ֔ים (of the living),

וּשְׁמ֖וֹ (that his name) לֹֽא־ (not) יִזָּכֵ֥ר (will be remembered) עֽוֹד׃ (anymore).

20  וַֽיהוָ֤ה (And YHWH) צְבָאוֹת֙ (of Hosts is), שֹׁפֵ֣ט (the One judging) צֶ֔דֶק (in righteousness),

בֹּחֵ֥ן (examining) כְּלָי֖וֹת (the kidneys) וָלֵ֑ב (and heart),

אֶרְאֶ֤ה (let me see) נִקְמָֽתְךָ֙ (Your vengeance) מֵהֶ֔ם (on them)

כִּ֥י (for) אֵלֶ֖יךָ (to You) גִּלִּ֥יתִי (I have uncovered) אֶת־ (-) רִיבִֽי׃ס (my dispute).

21  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) עַל־ (concerning) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) עֲנָת֔וֹת (of Anathoth), הַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֥ים (those seeking) אֶֽת־ (-) נַפְשְׁךָ֖ (your soul), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), לֹ֤א (Do not) תִנָּבֵא֙ (prophesy) בְּשֵׁ֣ם (in the name) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְלֹ֥א (and not) תָמ֖וּת (you will die) בְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃ס (by our hand); 22  לָכֵ֗ן (therefore) כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֔וֹת (Hosts), הִנְנִ֥י (Behold, I) פֹקֵ֖ד (will punish) עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (them) הַבַּֽחוּרִים֙ (the young men) יָמֻ֣תוּ (will die) בַחֶ֔רֶב (by the sword); בְּנֵיהֶם֙ (their sons) וּבְנ֣וֹתֵיהֶ֔ם (and their daughters) יָמֻ֖תוּ (will die) בָּרָעָֽב׃ (by famine); 23  וּשְׁאֵרִ֕ית (remnant) לֹ֥א (no) תִֽהְיֶ֖ה (and there will be) לָהֶ֑ם (for them) כִּֽי־ (for) אָבִ֥יא (I will bring) רָעָ֛ה (disaster) אֶל־ (to) אַנְשֵׁ֥י (the men) עֲנָת֖וֹת (of Anathoth), שְׁנַ֥ת (the year) פְּקֻדָּתָֽם׃ס (of their punishment).