Judah’s Sin and Punishment

1  בָּעֵ֣ת (Time), הַהִ֣יא (at that) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֡ה (of YHWH), וְיֹצִיאוּ (They shall bring out) אֶת־ (-) עַצְמ֣וֹת (the bones) מַלְכֵֽי־ (of the kings) יְהוּדָ֣ה (of Judah), וְאֶת־ (and) עַצְמוֹת־ (the bones) שָׂרָיו֩ (of its princes), וְאֶת־ (and) עַצְמ֨וֹת (the bones) הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים (of the priests), וְאֵ֣ת׀ (and) עַצְמ֣וֹת (the bones) הַנְּבִיאִ֗ים (of the prophets), וְאֵ֛ת (and) עַצְמ֥וֹת (the bones) יוֹשְׁבֵֽי־ (of the dwellers) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֖ם (of Jerusalem), מִקִּבְרֵיהֶֽם׃ (out from their graves). 2  וּשְׁטָחוּם֩ (And they will spread them out) לַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ (before the sun), וְלַיָּרֵ֜חַ (and before the moon), וּלְכֹ֣ל׀ (and before all) צְבָ֣א (the host) הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם (of the heavens), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (which) אֲהֵב֜וּם (they have loved), וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר (and which) עֲבָדוּם֙ (they have served), וַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ (and which) הָלְכ֣וּ (they have walked), אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם (after them) וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר (and which) דְּרָשׁ֔וּם (they have sought), וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (and which) הִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ (they have bowed down). לָהֶ֑ם (To them) לֹ֤א (not) יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ (they will be gathered), וְלֹ֣א (and not) יִקָּבֵ֔רוּ (will they be buried); לְדֹ֛מֶן (like dung) עַל־ (over) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) הָאֲדָמָ֖ה (of the land) יִֽהְיֽוּ׃ (they will be). 3  וְנִבְחַ֥ר (And they will choose) מָ֙וֶת֙ (death) מֵֽחַיִּ֔ים (life) לְכֹ֗ל (for all) הַשְּׁאֵרִית֙ (the remant) הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֔ים (those remaining) מִן־ (over) הַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֥ה (family), הָֽרָעָ֖ה (evil) הַזֹּ֑את (of this) בְּכָל־ (in all) הַמְּקֹמ֤וֹת (the places) הַנִּשְׁאָרִים֙ (remaining) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) הִדַּחְתִּ֣ים (I have driven them) שָׁ֔ם (there) נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) יְהוָ֥ה (of YHWH of) צְבָאֽוֹת׃ס (Hosts).

4  וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (And you shall say) אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (to them) כֹּ֚ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH);

הֲיִפְּל֖וּ (Will they fall), וְלֹ֣א (and not) יָק֑וּמוּ (rise)? אִם־ (Will)

יָשׁ֖וּב (they turn away), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יָשֽׁוּב׃ (return)?

5  מַדּ֨וּעַ (Why) שׁוֹבְבָ֜ה (turned away) הָעָ֥ם (people) הַזֶּ֛ה (is this) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (of Jerusalem)

מְשֻׁבָ֣ה (backsliding)? נִצַּ֑חַת (By a perpetual)

הֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙ (they hold firmly) בַּתַּרְמִ֔ית (to deceit),

מֵאֲנ֖וּ (they refuse) לָשֽׁוּב׃ (to return).

6  הִקְשַׁ֤בְתִּי (I paid attention) וָֽאֶשְׁמָע֙ (and listened),

לוֹא־ (they did not) כֵ֣ן (what is right); יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ (speak)

אֵ֣ין (there was no) אִ֗ישׁ (man) נִחָם֙ (repenting) עַל־ (over) רָ֣עָת֔וֹ (his wickedness),

לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), מֶ֣ה (What) עָשִׂ֑יתִי (have I done)?

כֻּלֹּ֗ה (Everyone) שָׁ֚ב (turned) בִּמְרֻצוֹתָם (to his own course),

כְּס֥וּס (like a horse) שׁוֹטֵ֖ף (rushing) בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (into the battle).

7  גַּם־ (Even), חֲסִידָ֣ה (the stork) בַשָּׁמַ֗יִם (in the heavens)

יָֽדְעָה֙ (knows) מֽוֹעֲדֶ֔יהָ (her appointed times);

וְתֹ֤ר (and the turtledove) וְסוּס (and the swift) וְעָג֔וּר (and the thrush)

שָׁמְר֖וּ (watch over) אֶת־ (-) עֵ֣ת (the time) בֹּאָ֑נָה (of their coming);

וְעַמִּ֕י (and My people) לֹ֣א (not) יָֽדְע֔וּ (do know) אֵ֖ת (-)

מִשְׁפַּ֥ט (the judgment) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

8  אֵיכָ֤ה (How) תֹֽאמְרוּ֙ (can you⁺ say), חֲכָמִ֣ים (Wise), אֲנַ֔חְנוּ (we are)

וְתוֹרַ֥ת (and the law) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אִתָּ֑נוּ (is with us)

אָכֵן֙ (truly) הִנֵּ֣ה (behold), לַשֶּׁ֣קֶר (in falsehood) עָשָׂ֔ה (he made it)

עֵ֖ט (the pen) שֶׁ֥קֶר (is false) סֹפְרִֽים׃ (of the scribes).

9  הֹבִ֣ישׁוּ (Have been put to shame), חֲכָמִ֔ים (the wise ones)

חַ֖תּוּ (they are dismayed) וַיִּלָּכֵ֑דוּ (and captured);

הִנֵּ֤ה (behold), בִדְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH); מָאָ֔סוּ (they have rejected)

וְחָכְמַֽת־ (wisdom) מֶ֖ה (what) לָהֶֽם׃ס (is unto them).

10  לָכֵן֩ (Therefore) אֶתֵּ֨ן (I will give) אֶת־ (-) נְשֵׁיהֶ֜ם (their wives) לַאֲחֵרִ֗ים (to others),

שְׂדֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ (and their fields) לְי֣וֹרְשִׁ֔ים (to those possessing them)

כִּ֤י (for) מִקָּטֹן֙ (from the least) וְעַד־ (and to) גָּד֔וֹל (the greatest)

כֻּלֹּ֖ה (everyone) בֹּצֵ֣עַ (is greedy for) בָּ֑צַע (dishonest gain),

מִנָּבִיא֙ (from the prophet) וְעַד־ (and to) כֹּהֵ֔ן (the priest)

כֻּלֹּ֖ה (everyone) עֹ֥שֶׂה (deals) שָּֽׁקֶר׃ (falsey).

11  וַיְרַפּ֞וּ (And they have healed) אֶת־ (-) שֶׁ֤בֶר (the breaking) בַּת־ (of the daughter) עַמִּי֙ (of My people)

עַל־ (upon) נְקַלָּ֔ה (being light),

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

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

12  הֹבִ֕שׁוּ (Were they ashamed) כִּ֥י (when) תוֹעֵבָ֖ה (the abomination)? עָשׂ֑וּ (They did)

גַּם־ (No), בּ֣וֹשׁ (at all) לֹֽא־ (they were) יֵבֹ֗שׁוּ (not ashamed),

וְהִכָּלֵם֙ (to blush); לֹ֣א (not) יָדָ֔עוּ (they did know)

לָכֵ֞ן (therefore) יִפְּל֣וּ (they shall fall) בַנֹּפְלִ֗ים (among those falling);

בְּעֵ֧ת (in the time) פְּקֻדָּתָ֛ם (of their punishment) יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ (they shall be cast down),

אָמַ֥ר (says) יְהוָֽה׃ס (YHWH).

13  אָסֹ֥ף (Surely) אֲסִיפֵ֖ם (I will consume them)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהֹוָ֑ה (of YHWH)

אֵין֩ (no) עֲנָבִ֨ים (grapes will be) בַּגֶּ֜פֶן (on the vine),

וְאֵ֧ין (and there are no) תְּאֵנִ֣ים (figs) בַּתְּאֵנָ֗ה (on the fig tree),

וְהֶֽעָלֶה֙ (and the leaf) נָבֵ֔ל (is withered);

וָאֶתֵּ֥ן (and the things I have given) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) יַעַבְרֽוּם׃ (pass away from them).

The People Respond

14  עַל־ (-) מָה֙ (Why) אֲנַ֣חְנוּ (are we) יֹֽשְׁבִ֔ים (sitting)

הֵֽאָסְפ֗וּ (Gather yourselves),

וְנָב֛וֹא (and let us go) אֶל־ (into) עָרֵ֥י (cities), הַמִּבְצָ֖ר (the fortified) וְנִדְּמָה־ (and let us be silent) שָּׁ֑ם (there),

כִּי֩ (for) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ (our God) הֲדִמָּ֙נוּ֙ (has made us perish),

וַיַּשְׁקֵ֣נוּ (and given us), מֵי־ (water) רֹ֔אשׁ (of gall)

כִּ֥י (because) חָטָ֖אנוּ (we have sinned) לַיהוָֽה׃ (against YHWH).

15  קַוֵּ֥ה (Looking) לְשָׁל֖וֹם (for peace),

וְאֵ֣ין (and no) ט֑וֹב (good has come)

לְעֵ֥ת (and for a time) מַרְפֵּ֖ה (of health),

וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold) בְעָתָֽה׃ (terror)!

16  מִדָּ֤ן (From Dan) נִשְׁמַע֙ (is heard)

נַחְרַ֣ת (the snorting) סוּסָ֗יו (of his horses)

מִקּוֹל֙ (from the voice) מִצְהֲל֣וֹת (of the neighing) אַבִּירָ֔יו (of His mighty ones);

רָעֲשָׁ֖ה (quakes) כָּל־ (the whole) הָאָ֑רֶץ (land)

וַיָּב֗וֹאוּ (and they will come), וַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙ (and consume) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land), וּמְלוֹאָ֔הּ (and its fullness)

עִ֖יר (the city), וְיֹ֥שְׁבֵי (and those dwelling) בָֽהּ׃ס (in it).

17  כִּי֩ (For), הִנְנִ֨י (behold, I) מְשַׁלֵּ֜חַ (am sending) בָּכֶ֗ם (you⁺ among) נְחָשִׁים֙ (serpents),

צִפְעֹנִ֔ים (vipers), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) אֵין־ (there is not) לָהֶ֖ם (unto them) לָ֑חַשׁ (a charm),

וְנִשְּׁכ֥וּ (and they shall bite) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺)

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

Jeremiah Weeps for His People

18  מַבְלִ֥יגִיתִ֖י (Healing) עֲלֵ֣י (is beyond) יָג֑וֹן (My sorrow),

עָלַ֖י (within me) לִבִּ֥י (My heart) דַוָּֽי׃ (is faint).

19  הִנֵּה־ (Behold) ק֞וֹל (the voice) שַֽׁוְעַ֣ת (of the outcry) בַּת־ (of the daughter) עַמִּ֗י (of my people)

מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙ (from a land); מַרְחַקִּ֔ים (far away)

הַֽיהוָה֙ (Is YHWH) אֵ֣ין (not) בְּצִיּ֔וֹן (in Zion)?

אִם־ (Is) מַלְכָּ֖הּ (her King) אֵ֣ין (not) בָּ֑הּ (in her)

מַדּ֗וּעַ (Why) הִכְעִס֛וּנִי (have they provoked Me)

בִּפְסִלֵיהֶ֖ם (with their carved images),

בְּהַבְלֵ֥י (with idols) נֵכָֽר׃ (foreign)?

20  עָבַ֥ר (Has passed), קָצִ֖יר (the harvest) כָּ֣לָה (has ended), קָ֑יִץ (the summer)

וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ (and we) ל֥וֹא (not) נוֹשָֽׁעְנוּ׃ (have been saved).

21  עַל־ (Because) שֶׁ֥בֶר (of the breaking) בַּת־ (of the daughter) עַמִּ֖י (of my people) הָשְׁבָּ֑רְתִּי (I am broken);

קָדַ֕רְתִּי (I am mourning); שַׁמָּ֖ה (dismay) הֶחֱזִקָֽתְנִי׃ (has seized me).

22  הַצֳרִי֙ (Balm) אֵ֣ין (is no) בְּגִלְעָ֔ד (in Gilead);

אִם־ (is) רֹפֵ֖א (a healer) אֵ֣ין (not) שָׁ֑ם (there)?

כִּ֗י (Then) מַדּ֙וּעַ֙ (why) לֹ֣א (does not) עָֽלְתָ֔ה (does go up)?

אֲרֻכַ֖ת (The health) בַּת־ (of the daughter) עַמִּֽי׃ (of my people).