إِرْمِيَا 23

١ 1 «وَيْلٌ لِلرُّعَاةِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُهْلِكُونَ وَيُبَدِّدُونَ غَنَمَ رَعِيَّتِي، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ.

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture—this is Yahweh's declaration.”

٢ 2 لِذَلِكَ هَكَذَا قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ إِلَهُ إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنِ ٱلرُّعَاةِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَرْعَوْنَ شَعْبِي: أَنْتُمْ بَدَّدْتُمْ غَنَمِي وَطَرَدْتُمُوهَا وَلَمْ تَتَعَهَّدُوهَا. هَأَنَذَا أُعَاقِبُكُمْ عَلَى شَرِّ أَعْمَالِكُمْ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ.

Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this concerning the shepherds who are shepherding his people, “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away. You have not cared for them. So I am about to punish you for the evil you have done—this is Yahweh's declaration.

٣ 3 وَأَنَا أَجْمَعُ بَقِيَّةَ غَنَمِي مِنْ جَمِيعِ ٱلْأَرَاضِي ٱلَّتِي طَرَدْتُهَا إِلَيْهَا، وَأَرُدُّهَا إِلَى مَرَابِضِهَا فَتُثْمِرُ وَتَكْثُرُ.

I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all of the lands where I have driven them, and I will return them to a grazing place, where they will be fruitful and increase.

٤ 4 وَأُقِيمُ عَلَيْهَا رُعَاةً يَرْعَوْنَهَا فَلَا تَخَافُ بَعْدُ وَلَا تَرْتَعِدُ وَلَا تُفْقَدُ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ.

Then I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them so they will no longer fear or be shattered. None of them will go missing—this is Yahweh's declaration.

٥ 5 «هَا أَيَّامٌ تَأْتِي، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ، وَأُقِيمُ لِدَاوُدَ غُصْنَ بِرٍّ، فَيَمْلِكُ مَلِكٌ وَيَنْجَحُ، وَيُجْرِي حَقًّا وَعَدْلًا فِي ٱلْأَرْضِ.

See, the days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will raise up for David a righteous branch. He will reign as king; he will act wisely and cause justice and righteousness in the land.

٦ 6 فِي أَيَّامِهِ يُخَلَّصُ يَهُوذَا، وَيَسْكُنُ إِسْرَائِيلُ آمِنًا، وَهَذَا هُوَ ٱسْمُهُ ٱلَّذِي يَدْعُونَهُ بِهِ: ٱلرَّبُّ بِرُّنَا.

In his days Judah will be rescued, and Israel will live in security. Then this is the name by which he will be called: Yahweh is our righteousness.

٧ 7 لِذَلِكَ هَا أَيَّامٌ تَأْتِي، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ، وَلَا يَقُولُونَ بَعْدُ: حَيٌّ هُوَ ٱلرَّبُّ ٱلَّذِي أَصْعَدَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنْ أَرْضِ مِصْرَ،

Therefore see, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when they will no longer say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought the people of Israel up from the land of Egypt.'

٨ 8 بَلْ: حَيٌّ هُوَ ٱلرَّبُّ ٱلَّذِي أَصْعَدَ وَأَتَى بِنَسْلِ بَيْتِ إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنْ أَرْضِ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَمِنْ جَمِيعِ ٱلْأَرَاضِي ٱلَّتِي طَرَدْتُهُمْ إِلَيْهَا فَيَسْكُنُونَ فِي أَرْضِهِمْ».

Instead they will say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought up and who led back the descendants of the house of Israel from the northern land and all the lands where they had been driven.' Then they will live in their own land.”

٩ 9 فِي ٱلْأَنْبِيَاءِ: اِنْسَحَقَ قَلْبِي فِي وَسَطِي. ٱرْتَخَتْ كُلُّ عِظَامِي. صِرْتُ كَإِنْسَانٍ سَكْرَانَ وَمِثْلَ رَجُلٍ غَلَبَتْهُ ٱلْخَمْرُ، مِنْ أَجْلِ ٱلرَّبِّ وَمِنْ أَجْلِ كَلَامِ قُدْسِهِ.

Regarding the prophets, my heart is broken in me, and all of my bones tremble. I have become like a drunk man, like a man whom wine has overpowered, because of Yahweh and his holy words.

١٠ 10 لِأَنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ ٱمْتَلَأَتْ مِنَ ٱلْفَاسِقِينَ. لِأَنَّهُ مِنْ أَجْلِ ٱللَّعْنِ نَاحَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ. جَفَّتْ مَرَاعِي ٱلْبَرِّيَّةِ، وَصَارَ سَعْيُهُمْ لِلشَّرِّ، وَجَبَرُوتُهُمْ لِلْبَاطِلِ.

For the land is full of adulterers. Because of these the land is dried up. The meadows in the wilderness dry up. These prophets' paths are wicked; their power is not used in a right manner.

١١ 11 «لِأَنَّ ٱلْأَنْبِيَاءَ وَٱلْكَهَنَةَ تَنَجَّسُوا جَمِيعًا، بَلْ فِي بَيْتِي وَجَدْتُ شَرَّهُمْ يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ.

“For both the prophets and the priests are polluted. I even found their wickedness in my house!—this is Yahweh's declaration—

١٢ 12 لِذَلِكَ يَكُونُ طَرِيقُهُمْ لَهُمْ كَمَزَالِقَ فِي ظَلَامٍ دَامِسٍ، فَيُطْرَدُونَ وَيَسْقُطُونَ فِيهَا، لِأَنِّي أَجْلِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَرًّا سَنَةَ عِقَابِهِمْ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ.

therefore their way will be like a slippery place in the darkness. They will be pushed down. They will fall in it. For I will send disaster against them in the year of their punishment—this is Yahweh's declaration.

١٣ 13 وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ فِي أَنْبِيَاءِ ٱلسَّامِرَةِ حَمَاقَةً. تَنَبَّأُوا بِٱلْبَعْلِ وَأَضَلُّوا شَعْبِي إِسْرَائِيلَ.

For I have seen the prophets in Samaria doing what is repulsive: They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.

١٤ 14 وَفِي أَنْبِيَاءِ أُورُشَلِيمَ رَأَيْتُ مَا يُقْشَعَرُّ مِنْهُ. يَفْسِقُونَ وَيَسْلُكُونَ بِٱلْكَذِبِ، وَيُشَدِّدُونَ أَيَادِيَ فَاعِلِي ٱلشَّرِّ حَتَّى لَا يَرْجِعُوا ٱلْوَاحِدُ عَنْ شَرِّهِ. صَارُوا لِي كُلُّهُمْ كَسَدُومَ، وَسُكَّانُهَا كَعَمُورَةَ.

Among the prophets in Jerusalem I have seen horrible things: They commit adultery and walk in deceit. They strengthen the hands of evildoers; no one turns back from his evildoing. All of them have become like Sodom to me and its inhabitants like Gomorrah!”

١٥ 15 لِذَلِكَ هَكَذَا قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلْجُنُودِ عَنِ ٱلْأَنْبِيَاءِ: هَأَنَذَا أُطْعِمُهُمْ أَفْسَنْتِينًا وَأَسْقِيهِمْ مَاءَ ٱلْعَلْقَمِ، لِأَنَّهُ مِنْ عِنْدِ أَنْبِيَاءِ أُورُشَلِيمَ خَرَجَ نِفَاقٌ فِي كُلِّ ٱلْأَرْضِ.

Therefore Yahweh of hosts says this concerning the prophets, “Look, I am about to make them eat wormwood and drink poisonous water, for pollution has gone out from the prophets of Jerusalem to all the land.”

١٦ 16 هَكَذَا قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلْجُنُودِ: لَا تَسْمَعُوا لِكَلَامِ ٱلْأَنْبِيَاءِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَنَبَّأُونَ لَكُمْ، فَإِنَّهُمْ يَجْعَلُونَكُمْ بَاطِلًا. يَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِرُؤْيَا قَلْبِهِمْ لَا عَنْ فَمِ ٱلرَّبِّ.

Yahweh of hosts says this, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They have deluded you! They are announcing visions from their own minds, not from Yahweh's mouth.

١٧ 17 قَائِلِينَ قَوْلًا لِمُحْتَقِرِيَّ: قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: يَكُونُ لَكُمْ سَلَامٌ! وَيَقُولُونَ لِكُلِّ مَنْ يَسِيرُ فِي عِنَادِ قَلْبِهِ: لَا يَأْتِي عَلَيْكُمْ شَرٌّ.

They are constantly saying to those who dishonor me, 'Yahweh declares there will be peace for you.' For everyone walking in the stubbornness of his own heart says, 'Disaster will not come upon you.'

١٨ 18 لِأَنَّهُ مَنْ وَقَفَ فِي مَجْلِسِ ٱلرَّبِّ وَرَأَى وَسَمِعَ كَلِمَتَهُ؟ مَنْ أَصْغَى لِكَلِمَتِهِ وَسَمِعَ؟».

Yet who has stood in Yahweh's council meeting? Who sees and hears his word? Who pays attention to his word and listens?

١٩ 19 هَا زَوْبَعَةُ ٱلرَّبِّ. غَيْظٌ يَخْرُجُ، وَنَوْءٌ هَائِجٌ. عَلَى رُؤُوسِ ٱلْأَشْرَارِ يَثُورُ.

See, there is a storm coming from Yahweh! His fury is going out, and a tempest is whirling about. It is whirling around the heads of the wicked.

٢٠ 20 لَا يَرْتَدُّ غَضَبُ ٱلرَّبِّ حَتَّى يُجْرِيَ وَيُقِيمَ مَقَاصِدَ قَلْبِهِ. فِي آخِرِ ٱلْأَيَّامِ تَفْهَمُونَ فَهْمًا.

Yahweh's wrath will not return until it has carried out and brought into being his heart's intentions. In the final days, you will understand it.

٢١ 21 «لَمْ أُرْسِلِ ٱلْأَنْبِيَاءَ بَلْ هُمْ جَرَوْا. لَمْ أَتَكَلَّمْ مَعَهُمْ بَلْ هُمْ تَنَبَّأُوا.

I did not send out these prophets. They just appeared. I did not proclaim anything to them, but they have still prophesied.

٢٢ 22 وَلَوْ وَقَفُوا فِي مَجْلِسِي لَأَخْبَرُوا شَعْبِي بِكَلَامِي وَرَدُّوهُمْ عَنْ طَرِيقِهِمِ ٱلرَّدِيءِ وَعَنْ شَرِّ أَعْمَالِهِمْ.

For if they had stood in my council meeting, they would have caused my people to hear my word; they would have caused them to turn from their wicked words and corrupt practices.

٢٣ 23 أَلَعَلِّي إِلَهٌ مِنْ قَرِيبٍ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ، وَلَسْتُ إِلَهًا مِنْ بَعِيدٍ.

Am I only a God nearby—this is Yahweh's declaration—and not also a God far away?

٢٤ 24 إِذَا ٱخْتَبَأَ إِنْسَانٌ فِي أَمَاكِنَ مُسْتَتِرَةٍ أَفَمَا أَرَاهُ أَنَا، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ؟ أَمَا أَمْلَأُ أَنَا ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ؟

Can anyone hide in a secret place so I cannot see him?—this is Yahweh's declaration— and do I not fill the heavens and the earth?—this is Yahweh's declaration.

٢٥ 25 قَدْ سَمِعْتُ مَا قَالَهُ ٱلْأَنْبِيَاءُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَنَبَّأُوا بِٱسْمِي بِٱلْكَذِبِ قَائِلِينَ: حَلِمْتُ، حَلِمْتُ.

I have heard what the prophets have said, those who were prophesying deceit in my name. They said, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!'

٢٦ 26 حَتَّى مَتَى يُوجَدُ فِي قَلْبِ ٱلْأَنْبِيَاءِ ٱلْمُتَنَبِّئِينَ بِٱلْكَذِبِ؟ بَلْ هُمْ أَنْبِيَاءُ خِدَاعِ قَلْبِهِمِ!

How long will this go on, prophets who prophesy lies from their minds, and who prophesy from the deceit in their hearts?

٢٧ 27 ٱلَّذِينَ يُفَكِّرُونَ أَنْ يُنَسُّوا شَعْبِي ٱسْمِي بِأَحْلَامِهِمِ ٱلَّتِي يَقُصُّونَهَا ٱلرَّجُلُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ، كَمَا نَسِيَ آبَاؤُهُمُ ٱسْمِي لِأَجْلِ ٱلْبَعْلِ.

They are planning on making my people forget my name with the dreams that they report, each one to his neighbor, just as their ancestors forgot my name in favor of Baal's name.

٢٨ 28 اَلنَّبِيُّ ٱلَّذِي مَعَهُ حُلْمٌ فَلْيَقُصَّ حُلْمًا، وَٱلَّذِي مَعَهُ كَلِمَتِي فَلْيَتَكَلَّمْ بِكَلِمَتِي بِٱلْحَقِّ. مَا لِلتِّبْنِ مَعَ ٱلْحِنْطَةِ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ.

The prophet who has a dream, let him report the dream. But the one to whom I have declared something, let him declare my word truthfully. What does straw have to do with grain?—this is Yahweh's declaration—

٢٩ 29 «أَلَيْسَتْ هَكَذَا كَلِمَتِي كَنَارٍ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ، وَكَمِطْرَقَةٍ تُحَطِّمُ ٱلصَّخْرَ؟

Is not my word like fire?—this is Yahweh's declaration—and like a hammer that shatters a rock into pieces?

٣٠ 30 لِذَلِكَ هَأَنَذَا عَلَى ٱلْأَنْبِيَاءِ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ، ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْرِقُونَ كَلِمَتِي بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ.

So see, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—anyone who steals words from another person and says they come from me.

٣١ 31 هَأَنَذَا عَلَى ٱلْأَنْبِيَاءِ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ، ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْخُذُونَ لِسَانَهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ: قَالَ.

See, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—who use their tongues to prophesy proclamations.

٣٢ 32 هَأَنَذَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَنَبَّأُونَ بِأَحْلَامٍ كَاذِبَةٍ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ، ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُصُّونَهَا وَيُضِلُّونَ شَعْبِي بِأَكَاذِيبِهِمْ وَمُفَاخَرَاتِهِمْ وَأَنَا لَمْ أُرْسِلْهُمْ وَلَا أَمَرْتُهُمْ. فَلَمْ يُفِيدُوا هَذَا ٱلشَّعْبَ فَائِدَةً، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ.

See, I am against the prophets who dream deceitfully—this is Yahweh's declaration—and then proclaim them and in this way mislead my people with their deceit and boasting. I am against them, for I have not sent them out nor given them commands. So they will certainly not help this people—this is Yahweh's declaration.

٣٣ 33 «وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ هَذَا ٱلشَّعْبُ أَوْ نَبِيٌّ أَوْ كَاهِنٌ قَائِلًا: مَا وَحْيُ ٱلرَّبِّ؟ فَقُلْ لَهُمْ: أَيُّ وَحْيٍ؟ إِنِّي أَرْفُضُكُمْ، هُوَ قَوْلُ ٱلرَّبِّ.

When these people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, 'What is the burden of Yahweh?' you will say to them, 'You are the burden, and I will cast you off'—this is Yahweh's declaration.

٣٤ 34 فَٱلنَّبِيُّ أَوِ ٱلْكَاهِنُ أَوِ ٱلشَّعْبُ ٱلَّذِي يَقُولُ: وَحْيُ ٱلرَّبِّ، أُعَاقِبُ ذَلِكَ ٱلرَّجُلَ وَبَيْتَهُ.

As for the prophets, priests, and people who are saying, 'This is the burden of Yahweh' I will punish that man and his house.

٣٥ 35 هَكَذَا تَقُولُونَ ٱلرَّجُلُ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَٱلرَّجُلُ لِأَخِيهِ: بِمَاذَا أَجَابَ ٱلرَّبُّ؟ وَمَاذَا تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ ٱلرَّبُّ؟

You continue to say, each person to his neighbor and each man to his brother, 'What did Yahweh answer?' and 'What did Yahweh declare?'

٣٦ 36 أَمَّا وَحْيُ ٱلرَّبِّ فَلَا تَذْكُرُوهُ بَعْدُ، لِأَنَّ كَلِمَةَ كُلِّ إِنْسَانٍ تَكُونُ وَحْيَهُ، إِذْ قَدْ حَرَّفْتُمْ كَلَامَ ٱلْإِلَهِ ٱلْحَيِّ رَبِّ ٱلْجُنُودِ إِلَهِنَا.

But you must no longer talk about the 'burden of Yahweh,' for the burden is every man's own word, and you have perverted the words of the living God, Yahweh of hosts, our God.

٣٧ 37 هَكَذَا تَقُولُ لِلنَّبِيِّ: بِمَاذَا أَجَابَكَ ٱلرَّبُّ؟ وَمَاذَا تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ ٱلرَّبُّ؟

This is what you will say to the prophet, 'What answer did Yahweh give you? or 'What did Yahweh say?'

٣٨ 38 وَإِذَا كُنْتُمْ تَقُولُونَ: وَحْيُ ٱلرَّبِّ، فَلِذَلِكَ هَكَذَا قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: مِنْ أَجْلِ قَوْلِكُمْ هَذِهِ ٱلْكَلِمَةَ: وَحْيُ ٱلرَّبِّ، وَقَدْ أَرْسَلْتُ إِلَيْكُمْ قَائِلًا لَا تَقُولُوا: وَحْيُ ٱلرَّبِّ،

But if you say, 'The burden of Yahweh', this is what Yahweh says: 'Because you have said these words, 'The burden of Yahweh,' when I sent to you, saying, 'You will not say, “The burden of Yahweh,”'

٣٩ 39 لِذَلِكَ هَأَنَذَا أَنْسَاكُمْ نِسْيَانًا، وَأَرْفُضُكُمْ مِنْ أَمَامِ وَجْهِي، أَنْتُمْ وَٱلْمَدِينَةَ ٱلَّتِي أَعْطَيْتُكُمْ وَآبَاءَكُمْ إِيَّاهَا.

therefore, behold, I am about to pick you up and throw you away from me, along with the city that I gave you and your ancestors.

٤٠ 40 وَأَجْعَلُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَارًا أَبَدِيًّا وَخِزْيًا أَبَدِيًّا لَا يُنْسَى».

Then I will put everlasting shame and insult on you that will not be forgotten.'”