The Yoke of Nebuchadnezzar

1  בְּרֵאשִׁ֗ית (In the beginning) מַמְלֶ֛כֶת (of the reign) יְהוֹיָקִ֥ם (of Jehoiakim) בֶּן־ (son) יֹאושִׁיָּ֖הוּ (of Josiah) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah) הָיָ֞ה (came) הַדָּבָ֤ר (word) הַזֶּה֙ (this) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֔ה (Jeremiah) מֵאֵ֥ת (from) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֵלַ֔י (to me)

עֲשֵׂ֣ה (Make) לְךָ֔ (for yourself) מוֹסֵר֖וֹת (bonds) וּמֹט֑וֹת (and yokes), וּנְתַתָּ֖ם (and put them) עַל־ (upon) צַוָּארֶֽךָ׃ (your neck), 3  וְשִׁלַּחְתָּם֩ (and send them) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֨לֶךְ (the king) אֱד֜וֹם (of Edom), וְאֶל־ (and to) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) מוֹאָ֗ב (of Moab), וְאֶל־ (and to) מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) עַמּ֔וֹן (of Ammon) וְאֶל־ (and to) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) צֹ֖ר (of Tyre), וְאֶל־ (and to) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) צִיד֑וֹן (of Sidon), בְּיַ֤ד (by the hand) מַלְאָכִים֙ (of the messengers) הַבָּאִ֣ים (having come) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (to Jerusalem) אֶל־ (to) צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Zedekiah) מֶ֥לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah); 4  וְצִוִּיתָ֣ (and command) אֹתָ֔ם (them) אֶל־ (toward) אֲדֹֽנֵיהֶ֖ם (their masters), לֵאמֹ֑ר (to say) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֞ר (says) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH of) צְבָאוֹת֙ (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel); כֹּ֥ה (thus) תֹֽאמְר֖וּ (you⁺ shall say) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹֽנֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ masters):

5  אָנֹכִ֞י (I) עָשִׂ֣יתִי (have made) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֗רֶץ (the earth), אֶת־ (-) הָאָדָ֤ם (the man) וְאֶת־ (and) הַבְּהֵמָה֙ (the beast) אֲשֶׁר֙ (that are) עַל־ (on) פְּנֵ֣י (the faceof) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the earth), בְּכֹחִי֙ (power) הַגָּד֔וֹל (by My great) וּבִזְרוֹעִ֖י (arm), הַנְּטוּיָ֑ה (and by My outstretched) וּנְתַתִּ֕יהָ (and I have given it) לַאֲשֶׁ֖ר (to those whom) יָשַׁ֥ר (it seemed right) בְּעֵינָֽי׃ (in My eyes). 6  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) אָֽנֹכִי֙ (I have) נָתַ֙תִּי֙ (given) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָאֲרָצ֣וֹת (lands) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) בְּיַ֛ד (into the hand) נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֥ר (of Nebuchadnezzar) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon), עַבְדִּ֑י (My servant); וְגַם֙ (and also) אֶת־ (-) חַיַּ֣ת (the beasts) הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה (of the field) נָתַ֥תִּי (I have given) ל֖וֹ (to him) לְעָבְדֽוֹ׃ (to serve him). 7  וְעָבְד֤וּ (Will serve) אֹתוֹ֙ (him) כָּל־ (and all) הַגּוֹיִ֔ם (the nations) וְאֶת־ (and) בְּנ֖וֹ (his son), וְאֶֽת־ (and) בֶּן־ (the son) בְּנ֑וֹ (of his son), עַ֣ד (until) בֹּא־ (comes); עֵ֤ת (the time) אַרְצוֹ֙ (of his own land) גַּם־ (even) ה֔וּא (it). וְעָ֤בְדוּ (Will enslave) בוֹ֙ (him) גּוֹיִ֣ם (nations) רַבִּ֔ים (and many) וּמְלָכִ֖ים (kings) גְּדֹלִֽים׃ (and great).

8  וְהָיָ֨ה (And it will come to pass), הַגּ֜וֹי (that the nation) וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֗ה (and the kingdom) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) לֹֽא־ (not) יַעַבְד֤וּ (does serve) אֹתוֹ֙ (-) אֶת־ (-) נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֣ר (Nebuchadnezzar) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon), וְאֵ֨ת (and) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) לֹֽא־ (will not) יִתֵּן֙ (put) אֶת־ (-) צַוָּאר֔וֹ (its neck) בְּעֹ֖ל (under the yoke) מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) בָּבֶ֑ל (of Babylon), בַּחֶרֶב֩ (with the sword), וּבָרָעָ֨ב (and with the famine), וּבַדֶּ֜בֶר (and with the pestilence), אֶפְקֹ֨ד (I will punish), עַל־ (-) הַגּ֤וֹי (nation) הַהוּא֙ (that) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), עַד־ (until) תֻּמִּ֥י (I have finished) אֹתָ֖ם (them) בְּיָדֽוֹ׃ (by his hand).

9  וְ֠אַתֶּם (And you⁺) אַל־ (do not) תִּשְׁמְע֨וּ (listen) אֶל־ (to) נְבִיאֵיכֶ֜ם (your⁺ prophets), וְאֶל־ (and to) קֹֽסְמֵיכֶ֗ם (your⁺ diviners), וְאֶל֙ (and to) חֲלֹמֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ dreamers), וְאֶל־ (and to) עֹֽנְנֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ soothsayers), וְאֶל־ (and to) כַּשָּׁפֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ sorcerers), אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) הֵ֞ם (they) אֹמְרִ֤ים (speak) אֲלֵיכֶם֙ (to you⁺) לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לֹ֥א (Not) תַעַבְד֖וּ (you⁺ shall serve) אֶת־ (-) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶֽל׃ (of Babylon); 10  כִּ֣י (for) שֶׁ֔קֶר (a lie) הֵ֖ם (they) נִבְּאִ֣ים (prophesy) לָכֶ֑ם (to you⁺) לְמַ֨עַן (so as) הַרְחִ֤יק (to remove far) אֶתְכֶם֙ (you⁺) מֵעַ֣ל (from) אַדְמַתְכֶ֔ם (your⁺ land); וְהִדַּחְתִּ֥י (and I will drive) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺ out) וַאֲבַדְתֶּֽם׃ (and you⁺ will perish). 11  וְהַגּ֗וֹי (And the nation) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) יָבִ֧יא (brings) אֶת־ (-) צַוָּאר֛וֹ (their necks) בְּעֹ֥ל (under the yoke) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon), וַֽעֲבָד֑וֹ (and serves him) וְהִנַּחְתִּ֤יו (and will I let them rest) עַל־ (upon) אַדְמָתוֹ֙ (their own land), נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH); וַֽעֲבָדָ֖הּ (and they shall work it) וְיָ֥שַׁב (and dwell) בָּֽהּ׃ (in it).

12  וְאֶל־ (And to) צִדְקִיָּ֤ה (Zedekiah) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָה֙ (of Judah) דִּבַּ֔רְתִּי (I spoke) כְּכָל־ (according to all) הַדְּבָרִ֥ים (words), הָאֵ֖לֶּה (these) לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הָבִ֨יאוּ (Bring) אֶת־ (-) צַוְּארֵיכֶ֜ם (your⁺ necks) בְּעֹ֣ל (under the yoke) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶ֗ל (of Babylon), וְעִבְד֥וּ (and serve) אֹת֛וֹ (him) וְעַמּ֖וֹ (and his people), וִֽחְיֽוּ׃ (and live). 13  לָ֤מָּה (Why) תָמ֙וּתוּ֙ (should you⁺ die), אַתָּ֣ה (you) וְעַמֶּ֔ךָ (and your people), בַּחֶ֖רֶב (by the sword), בָּרָעָ֣ב (by the famine), וּבַדָּ֑בֶר֙ (and by the pestilence), כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ (as) דִּבֶּ֣ר (has spoken) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (against) הַגּ֕וֹי (the nation) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לֹֽא־ (not) יַעֲבֹ֖ד (does serve) אֶת־ (-) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶֽל׃ (of Babylon)?

14  וְאַֽל־ (And not) תִּשְׁמְע֞וּ (do listen) אֶל־ (to) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) הַנְּבִאִ֗ים (of the prophets) הָאֹמְרִ֤ים (who speak) אֲלֵיכֶם֙ (to you⁺) לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לֹ֥א (Not) תַעַבְד֖וּ (you⁺ shall serve) אֶת־ (-) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶ֑ל (of Babylon); כִּ֣י (for) שֶׁ֔קֶר (a lie) הֵ֖ם (they) נִבְּאִ֥ים (prophesy) לָכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺). 15  כִּ֣י (For) לֹ֤א (not) שְׁלַחְתִּים֙ (I have sent them) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְהֵ֛ם (and they) נִבְּאִ֥ים (prophesy) בִּשְׁמִ֖י (in My name); לַשָּׁ֑קֶר (a lie) לְמַ֨עַן (that) הַדִּיחִ֤י (I might drive) אֶתְכֶם֙ (you⁺ out) וַאֲבַדְתֶּ֔ם (and you⁺ may perish), אַתֶּ֕ם (you⁺), וְהַנְּבִאִ֖ים (and the prophets) הַֽנִּבְּאִ֥ים (prophesying) לָכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺).

16  וְאֶל־ (And to) הַכֹּהֲנִים֩ (the priests) וְאֶל־ (and to) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֨ם (the people), הַזֶּ֜ה (this) דִּבַּ֣רְתִּי (I spoke) לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), כֹּה֮ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָה֒ (YHWH); אַֽל־ (do not) תִּשְׁמְע֞וּ (listen) אֶל־ (to) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) נְבִֽיאֵיכֶ֗ם (of your⁺ prophets) הַֽנִּבְּאִ֤ים (prophesying) לָכֶם֙ (to you⁺) לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), כְלֵ֧י (the vessels) בֵית־ (of the house) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) מוּשָׁבִ֥ים (will be brought back) מִבָּבֶ֖לָה (from Babylon) עַתָּ֣ה (now) מְהֵרָ֑ה (shortly) כִּ֣י (for) שֶׁ֔קֶר (a lie) הֵ֖מָּה (they) נִבְּאִ֥ים (are prophesying) לָכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺). 17  אַל־ (Do not) תִּשְׁמְע֣וּ (listen) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them) עִבְד֥וּ (serve) אֶת־ (-) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon), וִֽחְי֑וּ (and live)! לָ֧מָּה (Why) תִֽהְיֶ֛ה (should) הָעִ֥יר (city) הַזֹּ֖את (this) חָרְבָּֽה׃ (be laid waste)?

18  וְאִם־ (And if) נְבִאִ֣ים (prophets), הֵ֔ם (they are) וְאִם־ (and if) יֵ֥שׁ (is) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אִתָּ֑ם (with them) יִפְגְּעוּ־ (let them intercede) נָא֙ (now) בַּֽיהוָ֣ה (with YHWH) צְבָא֔וֹת (of Hosts), לְבִלְתִּי־ (not) בֹ֜אוּ (go) הַכֵּלִ֣ים׀ (that the vessels) הַנּוֹתָרִ֣ים (remaining) בְּבֵית־ (in the house) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), וּבֵ֨ית (and in the house) מֶ֧לֶךְ (of the king) יְהוּדָ֛ה (of Judah), וּבִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (in Jerusalem), בָּבֶֽלָה׃פ (to Babylon).

19  כִּ֣י (For) כֹ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֔וֹת (Hosts) אֶל־ (concerning) הָֽעַמֻּדִ֔ים (the pillars), וְעַל־ (and concerning) הַיָּ֖ם (the Sea), וְעַל־ (and concerning) הַמְּכֹנ֑וֹת (the carts), וְעַל֙ (and concerning) יֶ֣תֶר (the remainder) הַכֵּלִ֔ים (of the vessels) הַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים (that remain) בָּעִ֥יר (in the city), הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this). 20  אֲשֶׁ֣ר (Nebuchadnezzar) לֹֽא־ (not), לְקָחָ֗ם (did take) נְבֽוּכַדְנֶאצַּר֙ (Nebuchadnezzar) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon) בַּ֠גְלוֹתוֹ (when he removed) אֶת־ (-) יְכָונְיָ֨ה (Jeconiah) בֶן־ (son) יְהוֹיָקִ֧ים (of Jehoiakim) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֛ה (of Judah) מִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (from Jerusalem); בָּבֶ֑לָה (to Babylon), וְאֵ֛ת (and) כָּל־ (all) חֹרֵ֥י (the nobles) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) וִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס (and Jerusalem). 21  כִּ֣י (For), כֹ֥ה (thus) אָמַ֛ר (says) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֖וֹת (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), עַל־ (concerning) הַכֵּלִ֗ים (the vessels) הַנּֽוֹתָרִים֙ (remaining) בֵּ֣ית (in the house) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וּבֵ֥ית (and in the house) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) וִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (and in Jerusalem); 22  בָּבֶ֥לָה (To Babylon), יוּבָ֖אוּ (they shall be carried) וְשָׁ֣מָּה (there) יִֽהְי֑וּ (and they shall be) עַ֠ד (until) י֣וֹם (the day) פָּקְדִ֤י (I attend to) אֹתָם֙ (them) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH); וְהַֽעֲלִיתִים֙ (And I will bring them up), וַהֲשִׁ֣יבֹתִ֔ים (and I will restore them) אֶל־ (to) הַמָּק֖וֹם (place) הַזֶּֽה׃פ (this).