إِرْمِيَا 38

١ 1 وَسَمِعَ شَفَطْيَا بْنُ مَتَّانَ، وَجَدَلْيَا بْنُ فَشْحُورَ، وَيُوخَلُ بْنُ شَلَمْيَا، وَفَشْحُورُ بْنُ مَلْكِيَّا، ٱلْكَلَامَ ٱلَّذِي كَانَ إِرْمِيَا يُكَلِّمُ بِهِ كُلَّ ٱلشَّعْبِ قَائِلًا:

And, when Shephatiah son of Mattan and Gedaliah son of Pashhur and Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchiah, heard the words which Jeremiah was speaking unto all the people saying:

٢ 2 «هَكَذَا قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: ٱلَّذِي يُقِيمُ فِي هَذِهِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ يَمُوتُ بِٱلسَّيْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَٱلْوَبَإِ. أَمَّا ٱلَّذِي يَخْرُجُ إِلَى ٱلْكَلْدَانِيِّينَ فَإِنَّهُ يَحْيَا وَتَكُونُ لَهُ نَفْسُهُ غَنِيمَةً فَيَحْيَا.

Thus saith Yahweh, He that remaineth in this city shall die, by sword by famine, or by pestilence, —whereas, he that goeth forth unto the Chaldeans, shall live, so shall he have his life for a spoil, and shall live.

٣ 3 هَكَذَا قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: هَذِهِ ٱلْمَدِينَةُ سَتُدْفَعُ دَفْعًا لِيَدِ جَيْشِ مَلِكِ بَابِلَ فَيَأْخُذُهَا».

Thus, saith Yahweh, —This city shall surely be given, into the hand of the force of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it.

٤ 4 فَقَالَ ٱلرُّؤَسَاءُ لِلْمَلِكِ: «لِيُقْتَلْ هَذَا ٱلرَّجُلُ، لِأَنَّهُ بِذَلِكَ يُضْعِفُ أَيَادِيَ رِجَالِ ٱلْحَرْبِ ٱلْبَاقِينَ فِي هَذِهِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ، وَأَيَادِيَ كُلِّ ٱلشَّعْبِ، إِذْ يُكَلِّمُهُمْ بِمِثْلِ هَذَا ٱلْكَلَامِ. لِأَنَّ هَذَا ٱلرَّجُلَ لَا يَطْلُبُ ٱلسَّلَامَ لِهَذَا ٱلشَّعْبِ بَلِ ٱلشَّرَّ».

Then said the princes unto the king, —Let this man we pray thee, be put to death, for in this way, is he weakening the hands of the men of war who are left in this, city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking unto them such words as these; for, this man, is not seeking prosperity for this people but misfortune.

٥ 5 فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ صِدْقِيَّا: «هَا هُوَ بِيَدِكُمْ، لِأَنَّ ٱلْمَلِكَ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ».

Then said King Zedekiah, —Lo! he is in your hand; for the king is not one who is able to do anything against you.

٦ 6 فَأَخَذُوا إِرْمِيَا وَأَلْقُوْهُ فِي جُبِّ مَلْكِيَّا ٱبْنِ ٱلْمَلِكِ، ٱلَّذِي فِي دَارِ ٱلسِّجْنِ، وَدَلُّوا إِرْمِيَا بِحِبَالٍ. وَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِي ٱلْجُبِّ مَاءٌ بَلْ وَحْلٌ، فَغَاصَ إِرْمِيَا فِي ٱلْوَحْلِ.

Then took they Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah son of the king, which was in the guard-court, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes, —now, in the dungeon, was no water only mire, so Jeremiah sank in the mire.

٧ 7 فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ عَبْدَ مَلِكُ ٱلْكُوشِيُّ، رَجُلٌ خَصِيٌّ، وَهُوَ فِي بَيْتِ ٱلْمَلِكِ، أَنَّهُمْ جَعَلُوا إِرْمِيَا فِي ٱلْجُبِّ، وَٱلْمَلِكُ جَالِسٌ فِي بَابِ بَنْيَامِينَ،

When Ebed-melech the Ethiopian one of the eunuchs, he being in the house of the king, heard that they had delivered Jeremiah into the dungeon, —the king being seated in the gate of Benjamin,

٨ 8 خَرَجَ عَبْدَ مَلِكُ مِنْ بَيْتِ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَكَلَّمَ ٱلْمَلِكَ قَائِلًا:

then went forth Ebed-melech out of the house of the king, and spake unto the king, saying:

٩ 9 «يَا سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكَ، قَدْ أَسَاءَ هَؤُلَاءِ ٱلرِّجَالُ فِي كُلِّ مَا فَعَلُوا بِإِرْمِيَا ٱلنَّبِيِّ، ٱلَّذِي طَرَحُوهُ فِي ٱلْجُبِّ، فَإِنَّهُ يَمُوتُ فِي مَكَانِهِ بِسَبَبِ ٱلْجُوعِ، لِأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَعْدُ خُبْزٌ فِي ٱلْمَدِينَةِ».

My lord, O King! wickedly, have these men done all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom indeed they have cast into the dungeon, —since he would have died where he was because of the famine, for there is no bread any longer, in the city.

١٠ 10 فَأَمَرَ ٱلْمَلِكُ عَبْدَ مَلِكَ ٱلْكُوشِيَّ قَائِلًا: «خُذْ مَعَكَ مِنْ هُنَا ثَلَاثِينَ رَجُلًا، وَأَطْلِعْ إِرْمِيَا مِنَ ٱلْجُبِّ قَبْلَمَا يَمُوتُ».

Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian saying, —Take with thee from hence thirty men, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he die.

١١ 11 فَأَخَذَ عَبْدَ مَلِكُ ٱلرِّجَالَ مَعَهُ، وَدَخَلَ إِلَى بَيْتِ ٱلْمَلِكِ، إِلَى أَسْفَلِ ٱلْمَخْزَنِ، وَأَخَذَ مِنْ هُنَاكَ ثِيَابًا رِثَّةً وَمَلَابِسَ بَالِيَةً وَدَلَّاهَا إِلَى إِرْمِيَا إِلَى ٱلْجُبِّ بِحِبَالٍ.

So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence pieces of cast-off clothes, and old rags, —and let them down unto Jeremiah in the dungeon with the ropes.

١٢ 12 وَقَالَ عَبْدَ مَلِكُ ٱلْكُوشِيُّ لِإِرْمِيَا: «ضَعِ ٱلثِّيَابَ ٱلرِّثَّةَ وَٱلْمَلَابِسَ ٱلْبَالِيَةَ تَحْتَ إِبْطَيْكَ تَحْتَ ٱلْحِبَالِ». فَفَعَلَ إِرْمِيَا كَذَلِكَ.

Then said Ebed-melech the Ethiopian unto Jeremiah, —Put, I pray thee the pieces of cast-off clothes and the old rags under thine arm-joints, under the ropes, And Jeremiah did so,

١٣ 13 فَجَذَبُوا إِرْمِيَا بِٱلْحِبَالِ وَأَطْلَعُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْجُبِّ. فَأَقَامَ إِرْمِيَا فِي دَارِ ٱلسِّجْنِ.

Then drew they Jeremiah with the ropes, and lifted him up out of the dungeon, —and Jeremiah remained in the guard-court.

١٤ 14 فَأَرْسَلَ ٱلْمَلِكُ صِدْقِيَّا وَأَخَذَ إِرْمِيَا ٱلنَّبِيَّ إِلَيْهِ، إِلَى ٱلْمَدْخَلِ ٱلثَّالِثِ ٱلَّذِي فِي بَيْتِ ٱلرَّبِّ، وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ لِإِرْمِيَا: «أَنَا أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ أَمْرٍ. لَا تُخْفِ عَنِّي شَيْئًا».

Then King Zedekiah sent and fetched Jeremiah the prophet unto him, in the third entrance, which is in the house of Yahweh, —and the king said unto Jeremiah—I am going to ask thee a thing, do not hide anything from me.

١٥ 15 فَقَالَ إِرْمِيَا لِصِدْقِيَّا: «إِذَا أَخْبَرْتُكَ أَفَمَا تَقْتُلُنِي قَتْلًا؟ وَإِذَا أَشَرْتُ عَلَيْكَ فَلَا تَسْمَعُ لِي!»

Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, When I tell thee, wilt thou not, surely put me to death? And when I counsel thee, thou wilt not hearken unto me.

١٦ 16 فَحَلَفَ ٱلْمَلِكُ صِدْقِيَّا لِإِرْمِيَا سِرًّا قَائِلًا: «حَيٌّ هُوَ ٱلرَّبُّ ٱلَّذِي صَنَعَ لَنَا هَذِهِ ٱلنَّفْسَ، إِنِّي لَا أَقْتُلُكَ وَلَا أَدْفَعُكَ لِيَدِ هَؤُلَاءِ ٱلرِّجَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَطْلُبُونَ نَفْسَكَ».

So King Zedekiah aware unto Jeremiah secretly saying, —By the life of Yahweh who made for us, this soul, I will in no wise put thee to death, Neither will I deliver thee into the hand of these men who are seeking thy life.

١٧ 17 فَقَالَ إِرْمِيَا لِصِدْقِيَّا: «هَكَذَا قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ إِلَهُ ٱلْجُنُودِ إِلَهُ إِسْرَائِيلَ: إِنْ كُنْتَ تَخْرُجُ خُرُوجًا إِلَى رُؤَسَاءِ مَلِكِ بَابِلَ، تَحْيَا نَفْسُكَ وَلَا تُحْرَقُ هَذِهِ ٱلْمَدِينَةُ بِٱلنَّارِ، بَلْ تَحْيَا أَنْتَ وَبَيْتُكَ.

Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah—Thus, saith Yahweh God of hosts, God of Israel—If thou wilt, indeed go forth, unto the princes of the king of Babylon, then shall thine own soul live, and, this city, shall not be burned with fire, —but thou shalt live, thou and thy house.

١٨ 18 وَلَكِنْ إِنْ كُنْتَ لَا تَخْرُجُ إِلَى رُؤَسَاءِ مَلِكِ بَابِلَ، تُدْفَعُ هَذِهِ ٱلْمَدِينَةُ لِيَدِ ٱلْكَلْدَانِيِّينَ فَيُحْرِقُونَهَا بِٱلنَّارِ، وَأَنْتَ لَا تُفْلِتُ مِنْ يَدِهِمْ».

But, if thou wilt not go forth unto the princes of the king of Babylon, then shall this city be delivered into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and, thou, shalt not escape out of their hand.

١٩ 19 فَقَالَ صِدْقِيَّا ٱلْمَلِكُ لِإِرْمِيَا: «إِنِّي أَخَافُ مِنَ ٱلْيَهُودِ ٱلَّذِينَ قَدْ سَقَطُوا لِلْكَلْدَانِيِّينَ لِئَلَّا يَدْفَعُونِي لِيَدِهِمْ فَيَزْدَرُوا بِي».

Then said King Zedekiah unto Jeremiah: I am afraid of the Jews who have fallen away unto the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me, into their hand, and they maltreat me.

٢٠ 20 فَقَالَ إِرْمِيَا: «لَا يَدْفَعُونَكَ. ٱسْمَعْ لِصَوْتِ ٱلرَّبِّ فِي مَا أُكَلِّمُكَ أَنَا بِهِ، فَيُحْسَنَ إِلَيْكَ وَتَحْيَا نَفْسُكَ.

But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver!—Hearken I pray thee unto the voice of Yahweh in what I am speaking unto thee, that it may be well with thee and thy soul live.

٢١ 21 وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَأْبَى ٱلْخُرُوجَ، فَهَذِهِ هِيَ ٱلْكَلِمَةُ ٱلَّتِي أَرَانِي ٱلرَّبُّ إِيَّاهَا:

But if thou art refusing to go forth, this, is the thing which Yahweh hath shewed me: —

٢٢ 22 هَا كُلُّ ٱلنِّسَاءِ ٱللَّوَاتِي بَقِينَ فِي بَيْتِ مَلِكِ يَهُوذَا، يُخْرَجْنَ إِلَى رُؤَسَاءِ مَلِكِ بَابِلَ وَهُنَّ يَقُلْنَ: قَدْ خَدَعَكَ وَقَدِرَ عَلَيْكَ مُسَالِمُوكَ. غَاصَتْ فِي ٱلْحَمْأَةِ رِجْلَاكَ وَٱرْتَدَّتَا إِلَى ٱلْوَرَاءِ.

behold, then, all the women that are left in the house of the king of Judah, brought forth unto the princes of the king of Babylon, —and, those very women, saying, The men thou wast wont to salute, have goaded thee on and prevailed upon thee, —Thy foot having sunk in the mire, they have turned away back.

٢٣ 23 وَيُخْرِجُونَ كُلَّ نِسَائِكَ وَبَنِيكَ إِلَى ٱلْكَلْدَانِيِّينَ، وَأَنْتَ لَا تُفْلِتُ مِنْ يَدِهِمْ، لِأَنَّكَ أَنْتَ تُمْسَكُ بِيَدِ مَلِكِ بَابِلَ، وَهَذِهِ ٱلْمَدِينَةُ تُحْرَقُ بِٱلنَّارِ».

Yea thou shalt behold all thy wives and thy children brought forth unto the Chaldeans, and thou, shalt not escape out of their hand, —but by the hand of the king of Babylon, shalt thou be taken, and, this city, shall be burned with fire.

٢٤ 24 فَقَالَ صِدْقِيَّا لِإِرْمِيَا: «لَا يَعْلَمْ أَحَدٌ بِهَذَا ٱلْكَلَامِ، فَلَا تَمُوتَ.

Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah—Do not let, any man, know of these words, and thou shalt not die.

٢٥ 25 وَإِذَا سَمِعَ ٱلرُّؤَسَاءُ أَنِّي كَلَّمْتُكَ، وَأَتَوْا إِلَيْكَ وَقَالُوا لَكَ: أَخْبِرْنَا بِمَاذَا كَلَّمْتَ ٱلْمَلِكَ، لَا تُخْفِ عَنَّا فَلَا نَقْتُلَكَ، وَمَاذَا قَالَ لَكَ ٱلْمَلِكُ.

But, when the princes hear that I have spoken with thee and they come in unto thee and say unto thee—Do tell us we pray thee what thou didst speak unto the king, do not hide it from us so will we not put thee to death, —and what spake the king unto, thee?

٢٦ 26 فَقُلْ لَهُمْ: إِنِّي أَلْقَيْتُ تَضَرُّعِي أَمَامَ ٱلْمَلِكِ حَتَّى لَا يَرُدَّنِي إِلَى بَيْتِ يُونَاثَانَ لِأَمُوتَ هُنَاكَ».

Then shalt thou say unto them, —I was causing my supplication to fall prostrate before the king, —that he would not cause me to return to the house of Jonathan, to die there.

٢٧ 27 فَأَتَى كُلُّ ٱلرُّؤَسَاءِ إِلَى إِرْمِيَا وَسَأَلُوهُ، فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ حَسَبَ كُلِّ هَذَا ٱلْكَلَامِ ٱلَّذِي أَوْصَاهُ بِهِ ٱلْمَلِكُ. فَسَكَتُوا عَنْهُ لِأَنَّ ٱلْأَمْرَ لَمْ يُسْمَعْ.

Then came in all the princes unto Jeremiah and asked him, and he told them according to all these words which the king, had commanded, —so they turned in silence from him, for the matter, had not been reported.

٢٨ 28 فَأَقَامَ إِرْمِيَا فِي دَارِ ٱلسِّجْنِ إِلَى ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلَّذِي أُخِذَتْ فِيهِ أُورُشَلِيمَ.

So Jeremiah remained in the guard-court, until the day when Jerusalem, was captured; thus it fell out when Jerusalem, was captured.