A Warning to Judah’s Kings

1  כֹּ֚ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH); רֵ֖ד (Go down) בֵּֽית־ (to the house) מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah), וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ (and speak) שָׁ֔ם (there) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the word), הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 2  וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ (And you shall say), שְׁמַ֣ע (Hear) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), מֶ֣לֶךְ (O king) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), הַיֹּשֵׁ֖ב (who sits) עַל־ (on) כִּסֵּ֣א (the throne) דָוִ֑ד (of David), אַתָּ֤ה (you), וַעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ (and your servants), וְעַמְּךָ֔ (and your people) הַבָּאִ֖ים (who enter) בַּשְּׁעָרִ֥ים (gates) הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ס (at these). 3  כֹּ֣ה׀ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH); עֲשׂ֤וּ (Do) מִשְׁפָּט֙ (justice) וּצְדָקָ֔ה (and righteousness), וְהַצִּ֥ילוּ (and deliver) גָז֖וּל (the one plundered) מִיַּ֣ד (from the hand) עָשׁ֑וֹק (of the oppressor). וְגֵר֩ (To the sojourner), יָת֨וֹם (and the fatherless), וְאַלְמָנָ֤ה (and the widow), אַל־ (and no) תֹּנוּ֙ (do wrong), אַל־ (and not) תַּחְמֹ֔סוּ (do violence) וְדָ֣ם (blood) נָקִ֔י (innocent) אַֽל־ (and not) תִּשְׁפְּכ֖וּ (shed) בַּמָּק֥וֹם (place) הַזֶּֽה׃ (in this).

4  כִּ֤י (For) אִם־ (if) עָשׂוֹ֙ (doing) תַּֽעֲשׂ֔וּ (you⁺ shall do) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the word) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), וּבָ֣אוּ (then shall enter) בְשַׁעֲרֵ֣י (in the gates) הַבַּ֣יִת (house) הַזֶּ֡ה (of this) מְלָכִים֩ (kings) יֹשְׁבִ֨ים (sitting) לְדָוִ֜ד (of David), עַל־ (on) כִּסְא֗וֹ (the throne) רֹֽכְבִים֙ (riding) בָּרֶ֣כֶב (in chariots) וּבַסּוּסִ֔ים (and on horses), ה֥וּא (he), וְעַבְדּוֹ (and his servants), וְעַמּֽוֹ׃ (and his people). 5  וְאִם֙ (And if) לֹ֣א (not) תִשְׁמְע֔וּ (you⁺ do hear) אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (words), הָאֵ֑לֶּה (these) בִּ֤י (by Myself) נִשְׁבַּ֙עְתִּי֙ (I swear) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), כִּי־ (that) לְחָרְבָּ֥ה (as a desolation). יִֽהְיֶ֖ה (Will become) הַבַּ֥יִת (the house) הַזֶּֽה׃ס (this).

A Warning about the Palace

6  כִּֽי־ (For) כֹ֣ה׀ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) עַל־ (to) בֵּית֙ (the house) מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah);

גִּלְעָ֥ד (Gilead) אַתָּ֛ה (you are) לִ֖י (to Me)

רֹ֣אשׁ (the head) הַלְּבָנ֑וֹן (of Lebanon);

אִם־ (if) לֹ֤א (not) אֲשִֽׁיתְךָ֙ (I will make you) מִדְבָּ֔ר (a desert),

עָרִ֖ים (with cities) לֹ֥א (not) נוֹשָׁבָה׃ (inhabited).

7  וְקִדַּשְׁתִּ֥י (And I will prepare) עָלֶ֛יךָ (against you) מַשְׁחִתִ֖ים (destroyers)

אִ֣ישׁ (each man) וְכֵלָ֑יו (and with his weapons);

וְכָֽרְתוּ֙ (and they will cut down) מִבְחַ֣ר (your choice) אֲרָזֶ֔יךָ (cedars),

וְהִפִּ֖ילוּ (and cast them) עַל־ (into) הָאֵֽשׁ׃ (the fire).

8  וְעָֽבְרוּ֙ (Will pass) גּוֹיִ֣ם (nations) רַבִּ֔ים (and many) עַ֖ל (by) הָעִ֣יר (city), הַזֹּ֑את (this) וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ (and will say) אִ֣ישׁ (each man) אֶל־ (to) רֵעֵ֔הוּ (his neighbor), עַל־ (Upon) מֶ֨ה (what) עָשָׂ֤ה (done) יְהוָה֙ (has YHWH) כָּ֔כָה (thus) לָעִ֥יר (city)? הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה (Great) הַזֹּֽאת׃ (to this).

9  וְאָ֣מְר֔וּ (And they will say), עַ֚ל (Upon) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָֽזְב֔וּ (they have forsaken) אֶת־ (-) בְּרִ֥ית (the covenant) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֑ם (their God), וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֛וּ (and bowed down) לֵאלֹהִ֥ים (gods), אֲחֵרִ֖ים (to other) וַיַּעַבְדֽוּם׃ס (and served them).

A Warning about Shallum

10  אַל־ (Not) תִּבְכּ֣וּ (do weep) לְמֵ֔ת (for the one who is dead),

וְאַל־ (and not) תָּנֻ֖דוּ (bemoan) ל֑וֹ (him).

בְּכ֤וּ (Weeping) בָכוֹ֙ (weep) לַֽהֹלֵ֔ךְ (for the one going away);

כִּ֣י (because) לֹ֤א (not) יָשׁוּב֙ (he will return) ע֔וֹד (again),

וְרָאָ֖ה (and see) אֶת־ (-) אֶ֥רֶץ (the land) מוֹלַדְתּֽוֹ׃ס (of his birth).

11  כִּ֣י (For) כֹ֣ה (thus) אָֽמַר־ (says) יְ֠הוָה (YHWH) אֶל־ (concerning) שַׁלֻּ֨ם (Shallum) בֶּן־ (son) יֹאשִׁיָּ֜הוּ (of Josiah) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah), הַמֹּלֵךְ֙ (the one reigning) תַּ֚חַת (in place) יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ (of Josiah) אָבִ֔יו (his father), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) יָצָ֖א (went forth) מִן־ (from) הַמָּק֣וֹם (the place); הַזֶּ֑ה (this) לֹֽא־ (Not) יָשׁ֥וּב (he shall return) שָׁ֖ם (here) עֽוֹד׃ (anymore); 12  כִּ֗י (but) בִּמְק֛וֹם (in the place) אֲשֶׁר־ (where) הִגְל֥וּ (they have led) אֹת֖וֹ (him captive) שָׁ֣ם (there) יָמ֑וּת (he shall die) וְאֶת־ (and) הָאָ֥רֶץ (land) הַזֹּ֖את (this) לֹֽא־ (he shall not) יִרְאֶ֥ה (see) עֽוֹד׃ס (anymore).

A Warning about Jehoiakim

13  ה֣וֹי (Woe to) בֹּנֶ֤ה (the one building) בֵיתוֹ֙ (his house) בְּֽלֹא־ (by) צֶ֔דֶק (unrighteousness),

וַעֲלִיּוֹתָ֖יו (and his chambers) בְּלֹ֣א (by) מִשְׁפָּ֑ט (injustice);

בְּרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ (who by his neighbor) יַעֲבֹ֣ד (gains service) חִנָּ֔ם (for nothing),

וּפֹעֲל֖וֹ (and for his work); לֹ֥א (nothing) יִתֶּן־ (gives) לֽוֹ׃ (to him).

14  הָאֹמֵ֗ר (The one saying), אֶבְנֶה־ (I will build) לִּי֙ (for myself) בֵּ֣ית (house) מִדּ֔וֹת (a large)

וַעֲלִיּ֖וֹת (with upper rooms), מְרֻוָּחִ֑ים (and spacious)

וְקָ֤רַֽע (and who cuts out) לוֹ֙ (for it) חַלּוֹנָ֔י (windows);

וְסָפ֣וּן (and paneling it) בָּאָ֔רֶז (with cedar),

וּמָשׁ֖וֹחַ (and painting it) בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃ (with vermilion).

15  הֲתִֽמְלֹ֔ךְ (Shall you reign), כִּ֥י (because) אַתָּ֖ה (you) מְתַחֲרֶ֣ה (enclose yourself) בָאָ֑רֶז (in cedar)?

אָבִ֜יךָ (Did your father) הֲל֧וֹא (not) אָכַ֣ל (eat) וְשָׁתָ֗ה (and drink),

וְעָשָׂ֤ה (and do) מִשְׁפָּט֙ (justice) וּצְדָקָ֔ה (and righteousness),

אָ֖ז (then) ט֥וֹב (it was well) לֽוֹ׃ (with him).

16  דָּ֛ן (He judged) דִּין־ (the cause of) עָנִ֥י (the poor) וְאֶבְי֖וֹן (and needy);

אָ֣ז (then) ט֑וֹב (it was well)

הֲלוֹא־ (is not) הִ֛יא (this) הַדַּ֥עַת (to know) אֹתִ֖י (Me)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

17  כִּ֣י (Yet) אֵ֤ין (are on nothing) עֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ (your eyes) וְלִבְּךָ֔ (and your heart)

כִּ֖י (for) אִם־ (but) עַל־ (upon) בִּצְעֶ֑ךָ (your dishonest gain),

וְעַ֤ל (and upon) דַּֽם־ (blood), הַנָּקִי֙ (innocent) לִשְׁפּ֔וֹךְ (to shed)

וְעַל־ (and for) הָעֹ֥שֶׁק (oppression),

וְעַל־ (and upon) הַמְּרוּצָ֖ה (violence), לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ס (to do).

18  לָכֵ֞ן (Therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (concerning) יְהוֹיָקִ֤ים (Jehoiakim) בֶּן־ (son) יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ (of Josiah) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah);

לֹא־ (Not) יִסְפְּד֣וּ (they shall lament) ל֔וֹ (for him)

ה֥וֹי (Alas) אָחִ֖י (my brother)! וְה֣וֹי (Alas) אָח֑וֹת (my sister)!

לֹא־ (Not) יִסְפְּד֣וּ (they shall lament) ל֔וֹ (for him)

ה֥וֹי (Alas) אָד֖וֹן (my master)! וְה֥וֹי (Alas) הֹדֹֽה׃ (his majesty)!

19  קְבוּרַ֥ת (With the burial) חֲמ֖וֹר (of a donkey), יִקָּבֵ֑ר (he shall be buried)

סָח֣וֹב (dragged) וְהַשְׁלֵ֔ךְ (and cast out) מֵהָ֖לְאָה (beyond) לְשַׁעֲרֵ֥י (the gates) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס (of Jerusalem).

20  עֲלִ֤י (Go up) הַלְּבָנוֹן֙ (to Lebanon), וּֽצְעָ֔קִי (and cry out);

וּבַבָּשָׁ֖ן (and in Bashan), תְּנִ֣י (lift up) קוֹלֵ֑ךְ (your voice)

וְצַֽעֲקִי֙ (and cry out) מֵֽעֲבָרִ֔ים (from Abarim)

כִּ֥י (for) נִשְׁבְּר֖וּ (are destroyed) כָּל־ (all) מְאַהֲבָֽיִךְ׃ (your lovers).

21  דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי (I spoke) אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ (to you) בְּשַׁלְוֺתַ֔יִךְ (in your prosperity);

אָמַ֖רְתְּ (you said), לֹ֣א (Not) אֶשְׁמָ֑ע (I will listen).

זֶ֤ה (This is) דַרְכֵּךְ֙ (your way) מִנְּעוּרַ֔יִךְ (from your youth),

כִּ֥י (that) לֹֽא־ (you would not) שָׁמַ֖עַתְּ (listen) בְּקוֹלִֽי׃ (to My voice).

22  כָּל־ (All) רֹעַ֙יִךְ֙ (your shepherds) תִּרְעֶה־ (will shepherd) ר֔וּחַ (the wind).

וּֽמְאַהֲבַ֖יִךְ (And your lovers) בַּשְּׁבִ֣י (into captivity) יֵלֵ֑כוּ (will go)

כִּ֣י (surely) אָ֤ז (then) תֵּבֹ֙שִׁי֙ (you will feel shame) וְנִכְלַ֔מְתְּ (and be humiliated)

מִכֹּ֖ל (from all) רָעָתֵֽךְ׃ (your evil).

23  יֹשַׁבְתִּי (O dweller) בַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן (of Lebanon),

מְקֻנַּנְתִּי (nesting) בָּֽאֲרָזִ֑ים (in the cedars),

מַה־ (how) נֵּחַנְתְּ֙ (you will groan) בְּבֹא־ (when) לָ֣ךְ (come upon you) חֲבָלִ֔ים (pains)

חִ֖יל (writhing) כַּיֹּלֵדָֽה׃ (like a woman in labor)!

A Warning to Coniah

24  חַי־ (Live), אָנִי֮ (As I) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָה֒ (of YHWH), כִּ֣י (Even) אִם־ (if) יִהְיֶ֞ה (were) כָּנְיָ֤הוּ (Coniah) בֶן־ (son) יְהֽוֹיָקִים֙ (of Jehoiakim) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah) חוֹתָ֖ם (the signet) עַל־ (on) יַ֣ד (hand), יְמִינִ֑י (My right) כִּ֥י (yet) מִשָּׁ֖ם (from there); אֶתְּקֶֽנְךָּ׃ (I would tear you off). 25  וּנְתַתִּ֗יךָ (And I would give you) בְּיַד֙ (into the hand) מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י (of those seeking) נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ (your soul), וּבְיַ֛ד (and into the hand) אֲשֶׁר־ (of those whose) אַתָּ֥ה (you) יָג֖וֹר (fear), מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם (face) וּבְיַ֛ד (and into the hand) נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר (of Nebuchadnezzar) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon), וּבְיַ֥ד (and into the hand) הַכַּשְׂדִּֽים׃ (of the Chaldeans). 26  וְהֵֽטַלְתִּ֣י (And I will cast) אֹתְךָ֗ (you out) וְאֶֽת־ (and) אִמְּךָ֙ (your mother) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) יְלָדַ֔תְךָ (gave birth to you) עַ֚ל (upon) הָאָ֣רֶץ (land), אַחֶ֔רֶת (another) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (where) לֹֽא־ (you were not) יֻלַּדְתֶּ֖ם (born); שָׁ֑ם (there) וְשָׁ֖ם (and there) תָּמֽוּתוּ׃ (you⁺ shall die). 27  וְעַל־ (And upon) הָאָ֗רֶץ (the land) אֲשֶׁר־ (to which) הֵ֛ם (they) מְנַשְּׂאִ֥ים (are lifting up) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשָׁ֖ם (their souls) לָשׁ֣וּב (to return), שָׁ֑ם (there) שָׁ֖מָּה (to there) לֹ֥א (not) יָשֽׁוּבוּ׃ס (they shall return).

28  הַעֶ֨צֶב (Vessel)? נִבְזֶ֜ה (A despised) נָפ֗וּץ (and broken) הָאִ֤ישׁ (man) הַזֶּה֙ (is this) כָּנְיָ֔הוּ (Coniah)

אִ֨ם־ (or) כְּלִ֔י (a vessel) אֵ֥ין (is no) חֵ֖פֶץ (pleasure)? בּ֑וֹ (In it)

מַדּ֤וּעַ (Why) הֽוּטֲלוּ֙ (are they cast out), ה֣וּא (he) וְזַרְע֔וֹ (and his seed),

וְהֻ֨שְׁלְכ֔וּ (and cast) עַל־ (into) הָאָ֖רֶץ (a land) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לֹא־ (they do not) יָדָֽעוּ׃ (know)?

29  אֶ֥רֶץ (O earth), אֶ֖רֶץ (earth) אָ֑רֶץ (earth),

שִׁמְעִ֖י (hear) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

30  כֹּ֣ה׀ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH),

כִּתְב֞וּ (Enroll) אֶת־ (-) הָאִ֤ישׁ (man) הַזֶּה֙ (this) עֲרִירִ֔י (as childless),

גֶּ֖בֶר (a man) לֹא־ (who shall not) יִצְלַ֣ח (prosper) בְּיָמָ֑יו (in his days);

כִּי֩ (indeed) לֹ֨א (none) יִצְלַ֜ח (shall prosper), מִזַּרְע֗וֹ (of his) אִ֚ישׁ (seed)

יֹשֵׁב֙ (to sit) עַל־ (on) כִּסֵּ֣א (the throne) דָוִ֔ד (of David),

וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל (or to rule) ע֖וֹד (anymore) בִּיהוּדָֽה׃ (in Judah).