Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1If you return, Israel--this is the LORD's declaration--you will return to me, if you remove your abhorrent idols from my presence and do not waver,

1אִם־ תָּשׁ֨וּב יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀ נְאֻם־ יְהוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י תָּשׁ֑וּב וְאִם־ תָּסִ֧יר שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָ מִפָּנַ֖י וְלֹ֥א תָנֽוּד׃

2then you can swear, "As the LORD lives," in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by him and will pride themselves in him.

2וְנִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ חַי־ יְהוָ֔ה בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט וּבִצְדָקָ֑ה וְהִתְבָּ֥רְכוּ ב֛וֹ גּוֹיִ֖ם וּב֥וֹ יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃ ס

3For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up the unplowed ground; do not sow among the thorns.

3כִּי־ כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה לְאִ֤ישׁ יְהוּדָה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם נִ֥ירוּ לָכֶ֖ם נִ֑יר וְאַֽל־ תִּזְרְע֖וּ אֶל־ קוֹצִֽים׃

4Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem. Otherwise, my wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it because of your evil deeds.

4הִמֹּ֣לוּ לַיהֹוָ֗ה וְהָסִ֙רוּ֙ עָרְל֣וֹת לְבַבְכֶ֔ם אִ֥ישׁ יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם פֶּן־ תֵּצֵ֨א כָאֵ֜שׁ חֲמָתִ֗י וּבָעֲרָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין מְכַבֶּ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃

5Declare in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: Blow the ram's horn throughout the land. Cry out loudly and say: Assemble yourselves, and let's flee to the fortified cities.

5הַגִּ֣ידוּ בִֽיהוּדָ֗ה וּבִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ הַשְׁמִ֔יעוּ וְאִמְר֕וּ [ותקעו] (תִּקְע֥וּ) שׁוֹפָ֖ר בָּאָ֑רֶץ קִרְא֤וּ מַלְאוּ֙ וְאִמְר֔וּ הֵאָסְפ֥וּ וְנָב֖וֹאָה אֶל־ עָרֵ֥י הַמִּבְצָֽר׃

6Lift up a signal flag toward Zion. Run for cover! Don't stand still! For I am bringing disaster from the north--a crushing blow.

6שְׂאוּ־ נֵ֣ס צִיּ֔וֹנָה הָעִ֖יזוּ אַֽל־ תַּעֲמֹ֑דוּ כִּ֣י רָעָ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י מֵבִ֥יא מִצָּפ֖וֹן וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֽוֹל׃

7A lion has gone up from his thicket; a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to make your land a waste. Your cities will be reduced to uninhabited ruins.

7עָלָ֤ה אַרְיֵה֙ מִֽסֻּבְּכ֔וֹ וּמַשְׁחִ֣ית גּוֹיִ֔ם נָסַ֖ע יָצָ֣א מִמְּקֹמ֑וֹ לָשׂ֤וּם אַרְצֵךְ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה עָרַ֥יִךְ תִּצֶּ֖ינָה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃

8Because of this, put on sackcloth; mourn and wail, for the LORD's burning anger has not turned away from us.

8עַל־ זֹ֛את חִגְר֥וּ שַׂקִּ֖ים סִפְד֣וּ וְהֵילִ֑ילוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־ שָׁ֛ב חֲר֥וֹן אַף־ יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ פ

9"On that day"--this is the LORD's declaration--"the king and the officials will lose their courage. The priests will tremble in fear, and the prophets will be scared speechless."

9וְהָיָ֤ה בַיּוֹם־ הַהוּא֙ נְאֻם־ יְהוָ֔ה יֹאבַ֥ד לֵב־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְלֵ֣ב הַשָּׂרִ֑ים וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וְהַנְּבִיאִ֖ים יִתְמָֽהוּ׃

10I said, "Oh no, Lord GOD, you have certainly deceived this people and Jerusalem, by announcing, 'You will have peace,' while a sword is at our throats."

10וָאֹמַ֞ר אֲהָ֣הּ ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה אָכֵן֩ הַשֵּׁ֨א הִשֵּׁ֜אתָ לָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ וְלִירוּשָׁלִַ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר שָׁל֖וֹם יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם וְנָגְעָ֥ה חֶ֖רֶב עַד־ הַנָּֽפֶשׁ׃

11"At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, 'A searing wind blows from the barren heights in the wilderness on the way to my dear people. It comes not to winnow or to sift;

11בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא יֵאָמֵ֤ר לָֽעָם־ הַזֶּה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם ר֣וּחַ צַ֤ח שְׁפָיִים֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר דֶּ֖רֶךְ בַּת־ עַמִּ֑י ל֥וֹא לִזְר֖וֹת וְל֥וֹא לְהָבַֽר׃

12a wind too strong for this comes at my call. Now I will also pronounce judgments against them.'"

12ר֧וּחַ מָלֵ֛א מֵאֵ֖לֶּה יָ֣בוֹא לִ֑י עַתָּ֕ה גַּם־ אֲנִ֛י אֲדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּטִ֖ים אוֹתָֽם׃

13Look, he advances like clouds; his chariots are like a storm. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are ruined!

13הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ כַּעֲנָנִ֣ים יַעֲלֶ֗ה וְכַסּוּפָה֙ מַרְכְּבוֹתָ֔יו קַלּ֥וּ מִנְּשָׁרִ֖ים סוּסָ֑יו א֥וֹי לָ֖נוּ כִּ֥י שֻׁדָּֽדְנוּ׃

14Wash the evil from your heart, Jerusalem, so that you will be delivered. How long will you harbor malicious thoughts?

14כַּבְּסִ֨י מֵרָעָ֤ה לִבֵּךְ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם לְמַ֖עַן תִּוָּשֵׁ֑עִי עַד־ מָתַ֛י תָּלִ֥ין בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְ מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת אוֹנֵֽךְ׃

15For a voice announces from Dan, proclaiming malice from Mount Ephraim.

15כִּ֛י ק֥וֹל מַגִּ֖יד מִדָּ֑ן וּמַשְׁמִ֥יעַ אָ֖וֶן מֵהַ֥ר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

16Warn the nations: Look! Proclaim to Jerusalem: Those who besiege are coming from a distant land; they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.

16הַזְכִּ֣ירוּ לַגּוֹיִ֗ם הִנֵּה֙ הַשְׁמִ֣יעוּ עַל־ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם נֹצְרִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים מֵאֶ֣רֶץ הַמֶּרְחָ֑ק וַֽיִּתְּנ֛וּ עַל־ עָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה קוֹלָֽם׃

17They have her surrounded like those who guard a field, because she has rebelled against me. This is the LORD's declaration.

17כְּשֹׁמְרֵ֣י שָׂדַ֔י הָי֥וּ עָלֶ֖יהָ מִסָּבִ֑יב כִּי־ אֹתִ֥י מָרָ֖תָה נְאֻם־ יְהוָֽה׃

18Your way and your actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. It is very bitter, because it has reached your heart!

18דַּרְכֵּךְ֙ וּמַ֣עֲלָלַ֔יִךְ עָשׂ֥וֹ אֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ זֹ֤את רָעָתֵךְ֙ כִּ֣י מָ֔ר כִּ֥י נָגַ֖ע עַד־ לִבֵּֽךְ׃ ס

19My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in agony! Oh, the pain in my heart! My heart pounds; I cannot be silent. For you, my soul, have heard the sound of the ram's horn--the shout of battle.

19מֵעַ֣י ׀ מֵעַ֨י ׀ [אחולה] (אוֹחִ֜ילָה) קִיר֥וֹת לִבִּ֛י הֹֽמֶה־ לִּ֥י לִבִּ֖י לֹ֣א אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ כִּ֣י ק֤וֹל שׁוֹפָר֙ [שמעתי] (שָׁמַ֣עַתְּ) נַפְשִׁ֔י תְּרוּעַ֖ת מִלְחָמָֽה׃

20Disaster after disaster is reported because the whole land is destroyed. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my tent curtains, in a moment.

20שֶׁ֤בֶר עַל־ שֶׁ֙בֶר֙ נִקְרָ֔א כִּ֥י שֻׁדְּדָ֖ה כָּל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ פִּתְאֹם֙ שֻׁדְּד֣וּ אֹהָלַ֔י רֶ֖גַע יְרִיעֹתָֽי׃

21How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the ram's horn?

21עַד־ מָתַ֖י אֶרְאֶה־ נֵּ֑ס אֶשְׁמְעָ֖ה ק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃ ס

22"For my people are fools; they do not know me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing what is evil, but they do not know how to do what is good."

22כִּ֣י ׀ אֱוִ֣יל עַמִּ֗י אוֹתִי֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ בָּנִ֤ים סְכָלִים֙ הֵ֔מָּה וְלֹ֥א נְבוֹנִ֖ים הֵ֑מָּה חֲכָמִ֥ים הֵ֙מָּה֙ לְהָרַ֔ע וּלְהֵיטִ֖יב לֹ֥א יָדָֽעוּ׃

23I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty. I looked to the heavens, and their light was gone.

23רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־ הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהִנֵּה־ תֹ֖הוּ וָבֹ֑הוּ וְאֶל־ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ין אוֹרָֽם׃

24I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills shook.

24רָאִ֙יתִי֙ הֶֽהָרִ֔ים וְהִנֵּ֖ה רֹעֲשִׁ֑ים וְכָל־ הַגְּבָע֖וֹת הִתְקַלְקָֽלוּ׃

25I looked, and there was no human being, and all the birds of the sky had fled.

25רָאִ֕יתִי וְהִנֵּ֖ה אֵ֣ין הָאָדָ֑ם וְכָל־ ע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם נָדָֽדוּ׃

26I looked, and the fertile field was a wilderness. All its cities were torn down because of the LORD and his burning anger.

26רָאִ֕יתִי וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַכַּרְמֶ֖ל הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְכָל־ עָרָ֗יו נִתְּצוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ׃ ס

27For this is what the LORD says: The whole land will be a desolation, but I will not finish it off.

27כִּי־ כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שְׁמָמָ֥ה תִהְיֶ֖ה כָּל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכָלָ֖ה לֹ֥א אֶעֱשֶֽׂה׃

28Because of this, the earth will mourn; the skies above will grow dark. I have spoken; I have planned, and I will not relent or turn back from it.

28עַל־ זֹאת֙ תֶּאֱבַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ וְקָדְר֥וּ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם מִמָּ֑עַל עַ֤ל כִּי־ דִבַּ֙רְתִּי֙ זַמֹּ֔תִי וְלֹ֥א נִחַ֖מְתִּי וְלֹא־ אָשׁ֥וּב מִמֶּֽנָּה׃

29Every city flees at the sound of the horseman and the archer. They enter the thickets and climb among the rocks. Every city is abandoned; no inhabitant is left.

29מִקּ֨וֹל פָּרָ֜שׁ וְרֹ֣מֵה קֶ֗שֶׁת בֹּרַ֙חַת֙ כָּל־ הָעִ֔יר בָּ֚אוּ בֶּעָבִ֔ים וּבַכֵּפִ֖ים עָל֑וּ כָּל־ הָעִ֣יר עֲזוּבָ֔ה וְאֵין־ יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בָּהֵ֖ן אִֽישׁ׃

30And you, devastated one, what are you doing that you dress yourself in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, that you enhance your eyes with makeup? You beautify yourself for nothing. Your lovers reject you; they intend to take your life.

30[ואתי] (וְאַ֨תְּ) שָׁד֜וּד מַֽה־ תַּעֲשִׂ֗י כִּֽי־ תִלְבְּשִׁ֨י שָׁנִ֜י כִּי־ תַעְדִּ֣י עֲדִי־ זָהָ֗ב כִּֽי־ תִקְרְעִ֤י בַפּוּךְ֙ עֵינַ֔יִךְ לַשָּׁ֖וְא תִּתְיַפִּ֑י מָאֲסוּ־ בָ֥ךְ עֹגְבִ֖ים נַפְשֵׁ֥ךְ יְבַקֵּֽשׁוּ׃

31I hear a cry like a woman in labor, a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child. The cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands: "Woe is me, for my life is weary because of the murderers!"

31כִּי֩ ק֨וֹל כְּחוֹלָ֜ה שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי צָרָה֙ כְּמַבְכִּירָ֔ה ק֧וֹל בַּת־ צִיּ֛וֹן תִּתְיַפֵּ֖חַ תְּפָרֵ֣שׂ כַּפֶּ֑יהָ אֽוֹי־ נָ֣א לִ֔י כִּֽי־ עָיְפָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י לְהֹרְגִֽים׃ פ

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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