Jeremiah Cast into the Cistern

1  וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע (Heard) שְׁפַטְיָ֣ה (Then Shephatiah) בֶן־ (son) מַתָּ֗ן (of Mattan), וּגְדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ (and Gedaliah) בֶּן־ (son) פַּשְׁח֔וּר (of Pashhur), וְיוּכַל֙ (and Jucal) בֶּן־ (son) שֶׁ֣לֶמְיָ֔הוּ (of Shelemiah), וּפַשְׁח֖וּר (and Pashhur) בֶּן־ (son) מַלְכִּיָּ֑ה (of Malchijah), אֶ֨ת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֔ים (the words) אֲשֶׁ֧ר (that) יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ (Jeremiah) מְדַבֵּ֥ר (had spoken) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people), לֵאמֹֽר׃ס (saying), 2  כֹּה֮ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָה֒ (YHWH), הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ (He who remains) בָּעִ֣יר (city) הַזֹּ֔את (in this) יָמ֕וּת (will die) בַּחֶ֖רֶב (by the sword), בָּרָעָ֣ב (by the famine), וּבַדָּ֑בֶר (and by the pestilence), וְהַיֹּצֵ֤א (and the one going forth) אֶל־ (to) הַכַּשְׂדִּים֙ (the Chaldeans) יִחְיֶה (will live); וְהָיְתָה־ (will be) לּ֥וֹ (to him) נַפְשׁ֛וֹ (and his life) לְשָׁלָ֖ל (for a prey), וָחָֽי׃ס (and he will live). 3  כֹּ֖ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), הִנָּתֹ֨ן (Being given) תִּנָּתֵ֜ן (is given) הָעִ֣יר (city) הַזֹּ֗את (this) בְּיַ֛ד (into the hand) חֵ֥יל (of the army), מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon) וּלְכָדָֽהּ׃ (and he will capture it).

4  וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ (Said) הַשָּׂרִ֜ים (and the princes) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king), י֣וּמַת (Be put to death); נָא֮ (please), אֶת־ (-) הָאִ֣ישׁ (man) הַזֶּה֒ (let this) כִּֽי־ (for) עַל־ (by) כֵּ֡ן (this) הֽוּא־ (he) מְרַפֵּ֡א (is weakening) אֶת־ (-) יְדֵי֩ (the hands) אַנְשֵׁ֨י (of the men) הַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה (of war) הַֽנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים׀ (who remain) בָּעִ֣יר (city), הַזֹּ֗את (in this) וְאֵת֙ (and) יְדֵ֣י (the hands) כָל־ (of all) הָעָ֔ם (the people), לְדַבֵּ֣ר (speaking) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them) כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים (words) הָאֵ֑לֶּה (these) כִּ֣י׀ (for) הָאִ֣ישׁ (man) הַזֶּ֗ה (this) אֵינֶ֨נּוּ (not) דֹרֵ֧שׁ (is seeking) לְשָׁל֛וֹם (the well-being) לָעָ֥ם (people), הַזֶּ֖ה (of this) כִּ֥י (but) אִם־ (only) לְרָעָֽה׃ (the harm).

5  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (Said), הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (and the king) צִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ (Zedekiah) הִנֵּה־ (Behold), ה֖וּא (he is) בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם (in your⁺ hands); כִּֽי־ (for) אֵ֣ין (there is not) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) יוּכַ֥ל (can do) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (against you⁺) דָּבָֽר׃ (a thing).

6  וַיִּקְח֣וּ (And they took) אֶֽת־ (-) יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ (Jeremiah), וַיַּשְׁלִ֨כוּ (and cast) אֹת֜וֹ (him) אֶל־ (into) הַבּ֣וֹר׀ (the pit) מַלְכִּיָּ֣הוּ (of Malchiah) בֶן־ (son) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (of the king), אֲשֶׁר֙ (that was) בַּחֲצַ֣ר (in the court) הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה (of the guard); וַיְשַׁלְּח֥וּ (and they sent down) אֶֽת־ (-) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah) בַּחֲבָלִ֑ים (with the ropes). וּבַבּ֤וֹר (And in the cistern) אֵֽין־ (there was not) מַ֙יִם֙ (water), כִּ֣י (but) אִם־ (only) טִ֔יט (mud), וַיִּטְבַּ֥ע (sank) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (and Jeremiah) בַּטִּֽיט׃ס (in the mud).

7  וַיִּשְׁמַ֡ע (Heard) עֶֽבֶד־ (and Ebed-) מֶ֨לֶךְ (melech) הַכּוּשִׁ֜י (the Cushite), אִ֣ישׁ (one) סָרִ֗יס (eunuch) וְהוּא֙ (who was) בְּבֵ֣ית (house), הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (in the king’s) כִּֽי־ (that) נָתְנ֥וּ (they had put) אֶֽת־ (-) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah) אֶל־ (into) הַבּ֑וֹר (the cistern); וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (and the king) יוֹשֵׁ֖ב (was sitting) בְּשַׁ֥עַר (at the Gate) בִּנְיָמִֽן׃ (of Benjamin); 8  וַיֵּצֵ֥א (went forth) עֶֽבֶד־ (and Ebed-) מֶ֖לֶךְ (melech) מִבֵּ֣ית (from the house), הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (and he spoke) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 9  אֲדֹנִ֣י (My lord) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king), הֵרֵ֜עוּ (have done evil) הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים (men) הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (these) אֵ֣ת (-) כָּל־ (in all) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) עָשׂוּ֙ (they have done) לְיִרְמְיָ֣הוּ (to Jeremiah) הַנָּבִ֔יא (the prophet), אֵ֥ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) הִשְׁלִ֖יכוּ (they have cast) אֶל־ (into) הַבּ֑וֹר (the cistern); וַיָּ֤מָת (and he is likely to die) תַּחְתָּיו֙ (in his place) מִפְּנֵ֣י (from) הָֽרָעָ֔ב (hunger) כִּ֣י (for) אֵ֥ין (there is no) הַלֶּ֛חֶם (bread) ע֖וֹד (more) בָּעִֽיר׃ (in the city).

10  וַיְצַוֶּ֣ה (Commanded) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (and the king) אֵ֛ת (-) עֶֽבֶד־ (Ebed-) מֶ֥לֶךְ (melech) הַכּוּשִׁ֖י (the Ethiopian), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), קַ֣ח (Take) בְּיָדְךָ֤ (with you) מִזֶּה֙ (from this place) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (thirty) אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (men) וְֽהַעֲלִ֜יתָ (and lift) אֶֽת־ (-) יִרְמְיָ֧הוּ (Jeremiah) הַנָּבִ֛יא (the prophet) מִן־ (out) הַבּ֖וֹר (the pit), בְּטֶ֥רֶם (before) יָמֽוּת׃ (he dies).

11  וַיִּקַּ֣ח׀ (Took) עֶֽבֶד־ (and Ebed-) מֶ֨לֶךְ (melech) אֶת־ (-) הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים (the men) בְּיָד֗וֹ (with him) וַיָּבֹ֤א (and he went) בֵית־ (the house) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (of the king) אֶל־ (into) תַּ֣חַת (under) הָאוֹצָ֔ר (the treasury), וַיִּקַּ֤ח (and he took) מִשָּׁם֙ (from there) בְּלוֹיֵ֣ (worn-out) הַסְּחָבוֹת (clothes) וּבְלוֹיֵ֖ (and worn-out) מְלָחִ֑ים (rags), וַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֧ם (and let them down) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ (Jeremiah). אֶל־ (Into) הַבּ֖וֹר (the cistern) בַּחֲבָלִֽים׃ (by cords).

12  וַיֹּ֡אמֶר (Said) עֶבֶד־ (and Ebed-) מֶ֨לֶךְ (melech) הַכּוּשִׁ֜י (the Ethiopian) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ (Jeremiah), שִׂ֣ים (Put) נָ֠א (Please) בְּלוֹאֵ֨י (worn-out) הַסְּחָב֤וֹת (clothes) וְהַמְּלָחִים֙ (and rags) תַּ֚חַת (under) אַצִּל֣וֹת (the joints) יָדֶ֔יךָ (of your arms) מִתַּ֖חַת (under) לַחֲבָלִ֑ים (the cords). וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (Did) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (and Jeremiah) כֵּֽן׃ (so). 13  וַיִּמְשְׁכ֤וּ (And they drew up) אֶֽת־ (-) יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ (Jeremiah) בַּֽחֲבָלִ֔ים (with the cords), וַיַּעֲל֥וּ (and they lifted) אֹת֖וֹ (him) מִן־ (from) הַבּ֑וֹר (the cistern), וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב (remained) יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (and Jeremiah) בַּחֲצַ֖ר (in the court) הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ס (of the guard).

14  וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח (Sent), הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (and the king) צִדְקִיָּ֗הוּ (Zedekiah) וַיִּקַּ֞ח (and he took) אֶֽת־ (-) יִרְמְיָ֤הוּ (Jeremiah) הַנָּבִיא֙ (the prophet) אֵלָ֔יו (to him) אֶל־ (at) מָבוֹא֙ (entrance) הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י (the third) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (-) בְּבֵ֣ית (of the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH); וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (said) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (and the king) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ (Jeremiah), שֹׁאֵ֨ל (Am going to ask) אֲנִ֤י (I) אֹֽתְךָ֙ (you) דָּבָ֔ר (a thing); אַל־ (do not) תְּכַחֵ֥ד (hide) מִמֶּ֖נִּי (from me) דָּבָֽר׃ (a thing).

15  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (Said) יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ (and Jeremiah) אֶל־ (to) צִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ (Zedekiah), כִּ֚י (If) אַגִּ֣יד (I declare it) לְךָ֔ (to you) הֲל֖וֹא (not) הָמֵ֣ת (killing) תְּמִיתֵ֑נִי (will you put me to death)? וְכִי֙ (And if) אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ (I should advise you), לֹ֥א (not) תִשְׁמַ֖ע (you will listen) אֵלָֽי׃ (to me).

16  וַיִּשָּׁבַ֞ע (And swore) הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ (the king) צִדְקִיָּ֛הוּ (Zedekiah) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah), בַּסֵּ֣תֶר (in secret) לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), חַי־ (Lives), יְהוָ֞ה (as YHWH) את (-) אֲשֶׁר֩ (who) עָשָׂה־ (made) לָ֨נוּ (for us) אֶת־ (-) הַנֶּ֤פֶשׁ (soul), הַזֹּאת֙ (this) אִם־ (not) אֲמִיתֶ֔ךָ (I will put you to death), וְאִם־ (nor) אֶתֶּנְךָ֗ (will I give you) בְּיַד֙ (into the hand) הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים (men) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (of these) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) מְבַקְשִׁ֖ים (are seeking) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ס (your soul).

17  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (Said) יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ (and Jeremiah) אֶל־ (to) צִדְקִיָּ֡הוּ (Zedekiah), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָה֩ (YHWH), אֱלֹהֵ֨י (the God) צְבָא֜וֹת (of Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel); אִם־ (If) יָצֹ֨א (going forth) תֵצֵ֜א (you will go forth) אֶל־ (to) שָׂרֵ֤י (the princes), מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶל֙ (of Babylon) וְחָיְתָ֣ה (will live), נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ (then your soul) וְהָעִ֣יר (city) הַזֹּ֔את (and this) לֹ֥א (will not) תִשָּׂרֵ֖ף (be burned) בָּאֵ֑שׁ (with fire); וְחָיִ֖תָה (and you will live), אַתָּ֥ה (you) וּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃ (and your house); 18  וְאִ֣ם (and if) לֹֽא־ (not) תֵצֵ֗א (you do go forth) אֶל־ (to) שָׂרֵי֙ (the princes), מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon) וְנִתְּנָ֞ה (will be given) הָעִ֤יר (city) הַזֹּאת֙ (then this) בְּיַ֣ד (into the hand) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (of the Chaldeans), וּשְׂרָפ֖וּהָ (and they will burn it) בָּאֵ֑שׁ (with fire), וְאַתָּ֖ה (and you) לֹֽא־ (not) תִמָּלֵ֥ט (will escape) מִיָּדָֽם׃ס (from their hands).

19  וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (Said) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (and the king) צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Zedekiah) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ (Jeremiah), אֲנִ֧י (I) דֹאֵ֣ג (am afraid of) אֶת־ (-) הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים (the Jews) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) נָֽפְלוּ֙ (have fallen away) אֶל־ (to) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (the Chaldeans), פֶּֽן־ (lest) יִתְּנ֥וּ (they give) אֹתִ֛י (me) בְּיָדָ֖ם (into their hand), וְהִתְעַלְּלוּ־ (and they heap abuse) בִֽי׃פ (on me).

20  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said), יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah) לֹ֣א (Not) יִתֵּ֑נוּ (they will give) שְֽׁמַֽע־ (Hear), נָ֣א׀ (now), בְּק֣וֹל (the voice) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), לַאֲשֶׁ֤ר (which) אֲנִי֙ (I) דֹּבֵ֣ר (am going to speak) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you) וְיִ֥יטַב (that it may go well) לְךָ֖ (with you) וּתְחִ֥י (may live) נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ (and your soul). 21  וְאִם־ (If) מָאֵ֥ן (refuse) אַתָּ֖ה (you) לָצֵ֑את (to go out), זֶ֣ה (this is) הַדָּבָ֔ר (the word) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הִרְאַ֖נִי (has shown me) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 22  וְהִנֵּ֣ה (And behold), כָל־ (all) הַנָּשִׁ֗ים (the women) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) נִשְׁאֲרוּ֙ (are remaining) בְּבֵ֣ית (in the house) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah) מוּצָא֕וֹת (are being brought out) אֶל־ (to) שָׂרֵ֖י (the princes), מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) בָּבֶ֑ל (of Babylon) וְהֵ֣נָּה (and they) אֹמְר֗וֹת (will say),

הִסִּית֜וּךָ (They have deceived you) וְיָכְל֤וּ (and prevailed) לְךָ֙ (against you)

אַנְשֵׁ֣י (men) שְׁלֹמֶ֔ךָ (of your well-being)

הָטְבְּע֥וּ (have sunk) בַבֹּ֛ץ (in the mire), רַגְלֶ֖ךָ (your feet)

נָסֹ֥גוּ (they have turned) אָחֽוֹר׃ (the back).

23  וְאֶת־ (And) כָּל־ (all) נָשֶׁ֣יךָ (your wives) וְאֶת־ (and) בָּנֶ֗יךָ (children) מֽוֹצִאִים֙ (will be brought out) אֶל־ (to) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (the Chaldeans), וְאַתָּ֖ה (and you) לֹא־ (will not) תִמָּלֵ֣ט (escape) מִיָּדָ֑ם (from their hand), כִּ֣י (for) בְיַ֤ד (by the hand) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶל֙ (of Babylon), תִּתָּפֵ֔שׂ (you will be seized) וְאֶת־ (and) הָעִ֥יר (city) הַזֹּ֖את (this) תִּשְׂרֹ֥ף (will burn) בָּאֵֽשׁ׃פ (with fire).

24  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (Said) צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ (and Zedekiah) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ (Jeremiah), אִ֛ישׁ (Man) אַל־ (no) יֵדַ֥ע (let know) בַּדְּבָֽרִים־ (words), הָאֵ֖לֶּה (of these) וְלֹ֥א (and not) תָמֽוּת׃ (you will die). 25  וְכִֽי־ (And when) יִשְׁמְע֣וּ (hear) הַשָּׂרִים֮ (the princes) כִּֽי־ (that) דִבַּ֣רְתִּי (I have spoken) אִתָּךְ֒ (with you) וּבָ֣אוּ (and they come) אֵלֶ֣יךָ (to you) וְֽאָמְר֪וּ (and say) אֵלֶ֟יךָ (to you) הַגִּֽידָה־ (Declare) נָּ֨א (now) לָ֜נוּ (to us) מַה־ (what) דִּבַּ֧רְתָּ (you have said) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king), אַל־ (do not) תְּכַחֵ֥ד (hide it) מִמֶּ֖נּוּ (from us) וְלֹ֣א (and not) נְמִיתֶ֑ךָ (we will put you to death); וּמַה־ (and what) דִּבֶּ֥ר (said) אֵלֶ֖יךָ (to you) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king). 26  וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (And you shall say) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them) מַפִּיל־ (Caused to fall) אֲנִ֥י (I) תְחִנָּתִ֖י (my supplication) לִפְנֵ֣י (before) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king), לְבִלְתִּ֧י (that he would not) הֲשִׁיבֵ֛נִי (make me return) בֵּ֥ית (to the house), יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן (of Jonathan) לָמ֥וּת (to die) שָֽׁם׃פ (there).

27  וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ (Came) כָל־ (and all) הַשָּׂרִ֤ים (the princes) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ (Jeremiah), וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ (and asked) אֹת֔וֹ (him) וַיַּגֵּ֤ד (and he declared) לָהֶם֙ (to them) כְּכָל־ (according to all) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (words) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) צִוָּ֖ה (had commanded). הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (The king) וַיַּחֲרִ֣שׁוּ (so they stopped speaking) מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (with him) כִּ֥י (for) לֹֽא־ (not) נִשְׁמַ֖ע (had been heard) הַדָּבָֽר׃פ (the matter). 28  וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב (Dwelt) יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ (and Jeremiah) בַּחֲצַ֣ר (in the court) הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה (of the guard) עַד־ (until) י֖וֹם (the day) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נִלְכְּדָ֣ה (was captured). יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םס (Jerusalem) וְהָיָ֕ה (and he was there) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (when) נִלְכְּדָ֖ה (was captured) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃פ (Jerusalem).