Jerusalem’s Final Warning

1  הָעִ֣זוּ׀ (Seek refuge) בְּנֵ֣י (O sons) בִניָמִ֗ן (of Benjamin),

מִקֶּ֙רֶב֙ (from the midst) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (of Jerusalem),

וּבִתְק֙וֹעַ֙ (and in Tekoa), תִּקְע֣וּ (blow) שׁוֹפָ֔ר (the shofar)

וְעַל־ (and in) בֵּ֥ית (in Beth-) הַכֶּ֖רֶם (haccherem); שְׂא֣וּ (lift up) מַשְׂאֵ֑ת (a signal)

כִּ֥י (for) רָעָ֛ה (disaster) נִשְׁקְפָ֥ה (looks down) מִצָּפ֖וֹן (from the north),

וְשֶׁ֥בֶר (destruction) גָּדֽוֹל׃ (even great).

2  הַנָּוָה֙ (Though a beautiful) וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָ֔ה (and delicate woman)

דָּמִ֖יתִי (I will destroy) בַּת־ (the daughter) צִיּֽוֹן׃ (of Zion).

3  אֵלֶ֛יהָ (To her) יָבֹ֥אוּ (shall come)

רֹעִ֖ים (the shepherds) וְעֶדְרֵיהֶ֑ם (and their flocks)

תָּקְע֨וּ (and they shall pitch) עָלֶ֤יהָ (against her) אֹהָלִים֙ (the tents) סָבִ֔יב (all around);

רָע֖וּ (and shall feed) אִ֥ישׁ (each man) אֶת־ (-) יָדֽוֹ׃ (with his own hand).

4  קַדְּשׁ֤וּ (Be sanctified) עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ (against her) מִלְחָמָ֔ה (for war)

ק֖וּמוּ (arise), וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה (and let us go up) בַֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם (at noon).

א֥וֹי (Woe) לָ֙נוּ֙ (to us) כִּי־ (for) פָנָ֣ה (turns away), הַיּ֔וֹם (the day)

כִּ֥י (for) יִנָּט֖וּ (are stretched out) צִלְלֵי־ (the shadows) עָֽרֶב׃ (of the evening).

5  ק֚וּמוּ (Arise), וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה (and let us go up) בַלָּ֔יְלָה (in the night),

וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה (and let us destroy) אַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ס (her fortresses).

6  כִּ֣י (For) כֹ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says), יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֔וֹת (Hosts)

כִּרְת֣וּ (Cut down) עֵצָ֔ה (trees),

וְשִׁפְכ֥וּ (and pour out) עַל־ (against) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (Jerusalem). סֹלְלָ֑ה (A siege mound)

הִ֚יא (She is) הָעִ֣יר (the city) הָפְקַ֔ד (to be punished);

כֻּלָּ֖הּ (all of her) עֹ֥שֶׁק (of oppression) בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃ (in her midst).

7  כְּהָקִ֥יר (Wells up) בְּוֵר (As a fountain) מֵימֶ֔יהָ (with water),

כֵּ֖ן (so) הֵקֵ֣רָה (she has dug up) רָעָתָ֑הּ (her evil);

חָמָ֣ס (violence) וָ֠שֹׁד (and destruction) יִשָּׁ֨מַע (are heard) בָּ֧הּ (in her)

עַל־ (before) פָּנַ֛י (My face) תָּמִ֖יד (continually) חֳלִ֥י (are sickness) וּמַכָּֽה׃ (and wounds).

8  הִוָּסְרִי֙ (Be warned), יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (O Jerusalem),

פֶּן־ (lest) תֵּקַ֥ע (should separate) נַפְשִׁ֖י (My soul) מִמֵּ֑ךְ (from you)

פֶּן־ (lest) אֲשִׂימֵ֣ךְ (I make you) שְׁמָמָ֔ה (a desolation),

אֶ֖רֶץ (a land) ל֥וֹא (not) נוֹשָֽׁבָה׃פ (inhabited).

9  כֹּ֤ה (Thus) אָמַר֙ (says) יְהֹוָ֣ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֔וֹת (Hosts),

עוֹלֵ֛ל (They shall thoroughly) יְעוֹלְל֥וּ (glean)

כַגֶּ֖פֶן (as a vine); שְׁאֵרִ֣ית (the remnant) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel)

הָשֵׁב֙ (turn back) יָדְךָ֔ (your hand) כְּבוֹצֵ֖ר (like a grape-gatherer)

עַל־ (over) סַלְסִלּֽוֹת׃ (the branches).

10  עַל־ (To) מִ֨י (whom) אֲדַבְּרָ֤ה (shall I speak), וְאָעִ֙ידָה֙ (and testify),

וְיִשְׁמָ֔עוּ (that they may hear)?

הִנֵּה֙ (Behold), עֲרֵלָ֣ה (is uncircumcised), אָזְנָ֔ם (their ear)

וְלֹ֥א (and not) יוּכְל֖וּ (they are able) לְהַקְשִׁ֑יב (to hear).

הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold), דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH) הָיָ֥ה (is) לָהֶ֛ם (to them) לְחֶרְפָּ֖ה (a reproach);

לֹ֥א (they do not) יַחְפְּצוּ־ (take delight) בֽוֹ׃ (in it).

11  וְאֵת֩ (Therefore) חֲמַ֨ת (of the fury) יְהוָ֤ה׀ (of YHWH); מָלֵ֙אתִי֙ (I am full)

נִלְאֵ֣יתִי (I grow weary) הָכִ֔יל (of holding it in)

שְׁפֹ֤ךְ (Pour it out) עַל־ (on) עוֹלָל֙ (the sons) בַּח֔וּץ (outside),

וְעַ֛ל (and on) ס֥וֹד (the assembly) בַּחוּרִ֖ים (of young men) יַחְדָּ֑ו (together);

כִּֽי־ (for) גַם־ (even) אִ֤ישׁ (the husband) עִם־ (with) אִשָּׁה֙ (his wife) יִלָּכֵ֔דוּ (will be captured),

זָקֵ֖ן (the aged) עִם־ (with) מְלֵ֥א (the one full) יָמִֽים׃ (of days).

12  וְנָסַ֤בּוּ (And will be turned over) בָֽתֵּיהֶם֙ (their houses) לַאֲחֵרִ֔ים (to others),

שָׂד֥וֹת (the fields) וְנָשִׁ֖ים (and wives) יַחְדָּ֑ו (together);

כִּֽי־ (for) אַטֶּ֧ה (I will stretch out) אֶת־ (-) יָדִ֛י (My hand)

עַל־ (against) יֹשְׁבֵ֥י (the dwellers) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the land),

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

13  כִּ֤י (For) מִקְּטַנָּם֙ (from the least of them) וְעַד־ (even unto) גְּדוֹלָ֔ם (the greatest of them)

כֻּלּ֖וֹ (everyone) בּוֹצֵ֣עַ (is gaining) בָּ֑צַע (dishonest gain);

וּמִנָּבִיא֙ (and from the prophet) וְעַד־ (even to) כֹּהֵ֔ן (the priest)

כֻּלּ֖וֹ (everyone) עֹ֥שֶׂה (is dealing) שָּֽׁקֶר׃ (falsely).

14  וַֽיְרַפְּא֞וּ (And they have healed) אֶת־ (-) שֶׁ֤בֶר (the breach)

עַמִּי֙ (of My people) עַל־ (-) נְקַלָּ֔ה (lightly),

לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), שָׁל֣וֹם׀ (Peace), שָׁל֑וֹם (peace);

וְאֵ֖ין (and there is no) שָׁלֽוֹם׃ (peace).

15  הֹבִ֕ישׁוּ (Were they ashamed) כִּ֥י (when) תוֹעֵבָ֖ה (an abomination)? עָשׂ֑וּ (They did)

גַּם־ (No), בּ֣וֹשׁ (being shamed) לֹֽא־ (not) יֵב֗וֹשׁוּ (were ashamed),

גַּם־ (even) הַכְלִים֙ (how to blush). לֹ֣א (They did not) יָדָ֔עוּ (know)

לָכֵ֞ן (therefore) יִפְּל֧וּ (they shall fall) בַנֹּפְלִ֛ים (among those falling);

בְּעֵת־ (at the time) פְּקַדְתִּ֥ים (I visit them) יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ (they will stumble),

אָמַ֥ר (says) יְהוָֽה׃ס (YHWH).

16  כֹּ֣ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֡ה (YHWH),

עִמְדוּ֩ (Stand) עַל־ (along) דְּרָכִ֨ים (the pathways), וּרְא֜וּ (and see),

וְשַׁאֲל֣וּ׀ (and ask) לִנְתִב֣וֹת (for the paths), עוֹלָ֗ם (of old) אֵי־ (Where) זֶ֨ה (is this) דֶ֤רֶךְ (way), הַטּוֹב֙ (good)

וּלְכוּ־ (and walk) בָ֔הּ (in it) וּמִצְא֥וּ (and you will find) מַרְגּ֖וֹעַ (rest) לְנַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם (for your⁺ souls).

וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (And they said), לֹ֥א (Not) נֵלֵֽךְ׃ (we will walk).

17  וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י (And I set) עֲלֵיכֶם֙ (over you⁺) צֹפִ֔ים (watchmen)

הַקְשִׁ֖יבוּ (Listen) לְק֣וֹל (to the voice) שׁוֹפָ֑ר (of the shofar).

וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (And they said), לֹ֥א (Not) נַקְשִֽׁיב׃ (we will listen).

18  לָכֵ֖ן (Therefore) שִׁמְע֣וּ (hear), הַגּוֹיִ֑ם (O nations),

וּדְעִ֥י (and know), עֵדָ֖ה (O congregation), אֶת־ (-)

אֲשֶׁר־ (what is) בָּֽם׃ (among them).

19  שִׁמְעִ֣י (Hear), הָאָ֔רֶץ (O earth); הִנֵּ֨ה (behold), אָנֹכִ֜י (I) מֵבִ֥יא (am bringing) רָעָ֛ה (evil) אֶל־ (upon) הָעָ֥ם (the people), הַזֶּ֖ה (this)

פְּרִ֣י (the fruit) מַחְשְׁבוֹתָ֑ם (of their thoughts),

כִּ֤י (because) עַל־ (to) דְּבָרַי֙ (My words), לֹ֣א (not) הִקְשִׁ֔יבוּ (they have paid attention)

וְתוֹרָתִ֖י (and My law), וַיִּמְאֲסוּ־ (they have rejected) בָֽהּ׃ (it).

20  לָמָּה־ (For what) זֶּ֨ה (is this) לִ֤י (to Me) לְבוֹנָה֙ (the frankincense) מִשְּׁבָ֣א (from Sheba) תָב֔וֹא (that comes)

וְקָנֶ֥ה (cane) הַטּ֖וֹב (and the sweet) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from a land)? מֶרְחָ֑ק (Far away)

עֹלֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ (Your⁺ burnt offerings) לֹ֣א (not) לְרָצ֔וֹן (are acceptable),

וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם (and your⁺ sacrifices) לֹא־ (not) עָ֥רְבוּ (are sweet) לִֽי׃ס (to Me).

21  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּ֚ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), הִנְנִ֥י (Behold)

נֹתֵ֛ן (I am giving) אֶל־ (to) הָעָ֥ם (people), הַזֶּ֖ה (this) מִכְשֹׁלִ֑ים (stumbling blocks)

וְכָ֣שְׁלוּ (will stumble) בָ֠ם (over them) אָב֨וֹת (and the fathers) וּבָנִ֥ים (and the sons) יַחְדָּ֛ו (together)

שָׁכֵ֥ן (and the neighbor) וְרֵע֖וֹ (and his companion) יֹאבֵדוּ׃פ (will perish)

An Invasion from the North

22  כֹּ֚ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH),

הִנֵּ֛ה (Behold), עַ֥ם (a people) בָּ֖א (is coming)

מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land), צָפ֑וֹן (of the north)

וְג֣וֹי (nation) גָּד֔וֹל (and a great) יֵע֖וֹר (shall be roused)

מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־ (from the sides) אָֽרֶץ׃ (of the earth).

23  קֶ֣שֶׁת (Bow) וְכִיד֞וֹן (and spear); יַחֲזִ֗יקוּ (they hold firmly)

אַכְזָרִ֥י (cruel), הוּא֙ (they are) וְלֹ֣א (and they do not have) יְרַחֵ֔מוּ (compassion);

קוֹלָם֙ (their voice) כַּיָּ֣ם (like the sea); יֶהֱמֶ֔ה (roars)

וְעַל־ (on) סוּסִ֖ים (horses), יִרְכָּ֑בוּ (and they ride)

עָר֗וּךְ (arrayed) כְּאִישׁ֙ (as men) לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (for the battle)

עָלַ֖יִךְ (against you) בַּת־ (O daughter) צִיּֽוֹן׃ (of Zion).

24  שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ (We have heard) אֶת־ (-) שָׁמְע֖וֹ (the report of it)

רָפ֣וּ (grow feeble). יָדֵ֑ינוּ (Our hands)

צָרָה֙ (distress) הֶחֱזִיקַ֔תְנוּ (has taken hold of us)

חִ֖יל (writhing), כַּיּוֹלֵדָֽה׃ (as a woman giving birth).

25  אַל־ (Not) תֵּצְאִי (shall you⁺ go out) הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה (to the field),

וּבַדֶּ֖רֶךְ (and on the road); אַל־ (not) תֵּלֵכִי (shall you⁺ walk)

כִּ֚י (because) חֶ֣רֶב (of the sword) לְאֹיֵ֔ב (of the enemy)

מָג֖וֹר (terror is) מִסָּבִֽיב׃ (all around).

26  בַּת־ (O Daughter) עַמִּ֤י (of my people),

חִגְרִי־ (put on) שָׂק֙ (sackcloth), וְהִתְפַּלְּשִׁ֣י (and roll) בָאֵ֔פֶר (in ashes);

אֵ֤בֶל (mourning), יָחִיד֙ (as for an only son), עֲשִׂ֣י (make) לָ֔ךְ (for yourself)

מִסְפַּ֖ד (lamentation); תַּמְרוּרִ֑ים (most bitter)

כִּ֣י (for) פִתְאֹ֔ם (suddenly) יָבֹ֥א (will come)

הַשֹּׁדֵ֖ד (the destroyer) עָלֵֽינוּ׃ (upon us).

27  בָּח֛וֹן (An examiner) נְתַתִּ֥יךָ (I have appointed you) בְעַמִּ֖י (among My people), מִבְצָ֑ר (like ore)

וְתֵדַ֕ע (that you may know) וּבָחַנְתָּ֖ (and examine) אֶת־ (-) דַּרְכָּֽם׃ (their way).

28  כֻּלָּם֙ (All of them) סָרֵ֣י (are turning aside) סֽוֹרְרִ֔ים (rebelling),

הֹלְכֵ֥י (walking) רָכִ֖יל (in slander).

נְחֹ֣שֶׁת (They are bronze) וּבַרְזֶ֑ל (and iron);

כֻּלָּ֥ם (all of them) מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ים (acting corruptly) הֵֽמָּה׃ (are they).

29  נָחַ֣ר (Are burned) מַפֻּ֔חַ (the bellows).

מֵאִשְׁתַּם (By the fire) עֹפָ֑רֶת (the lead);

לַשָּׁוְא֙ (in vain) צָרַ֣ף (has a refiner) צָר֔וֹף (refined)

וְרָעִ֖ים (and the wicked) לֹ֥א (not) נִתָּֽקוּ׃ (have been drawn away).

30  כֶּ֣סֶף (Silver) נִמְאָ֔ס (rejected) קָרְא֖וּ (they call) לָהֶ֑ם (them)

כִּֽי־ (because) מָאַ֥ס (has rejected) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בָּהֶֽם׃פ (them).