< Jeremiah 23 >

1 Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! saith the LORD.
הֹ֣וי רֹעִ֗ים מְאַבְּדִ֧ים וּמְפִצִ֛ים אֶת־צֹ֥אן מַרְעִיתִ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
2 Therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds that feed My people: Ye have scattered My flock, and driven them away, and have not taken care of them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
לָ֠כֵן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל עַֽל־הָרֹעִים֮ הָרֹעִ֣ים אֶת־עַמִּי֒ אַתֶּ֞ם הֲפִצֹתֶ֤ם אֶת־צֹאנִי֙ וַתַּדִּח֔וּם וְלֹ֥א פְקַדְתֶּ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם הִנְנִ֨י פֹקֵ֧ד עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם אֶת־רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
3 And I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and multiply.
וַאֲנִ֗י אֲקַבֵּץ֙ אֶת־שְׁאֵרִ֣ית צֹאנִ֔י מִכֹּל֙ הָאֲרָצֹ֔ות אֲשֶׁר־הִדַּ֥חְתִּי אֹתָ֖ם שָׁ֑ם וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֥י אֶתְהֶ֛ן עַל־נְוֵהֶ֖ן וּפָר֥וּ וְרָבֽוּ׃
4 And I will set up shepherds over them, who shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be lacking, saith the LORD.
וַהֲקִמֹתִ֧י עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם רֹעִ֖ים וְרָע֑וּם וְלֹא־יִֽירְא֨וּ עֹ֧וד וְלֹא־יֵחַ֛תּוּ וְלֹ֥א יִפָּקֵ֖דוּ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ ס
5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous shoot, and he shall reign as king and prosper, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
הִנֵּ֨ה יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וַהֲקִמֹתִ֥י לְדָוִ֖ד צֶ֣מַח צַדִּ֑יק וּמָ֤לַךְ מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ וְהִשְׂכִּ֔יל וְעָשָׂ֛ה מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The LORD is our righteousness.
בְּיָמָיו֙ תִּוָּשַׁ֣ע יְהוּדָ֔ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִשְׁכֹּ֣ן לָבֶ֑טַח וְזֶה־שְּׁמֹ֥ו אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־יִקְרְאֹ֖ו יְהוָ֥ה ׀ צִדְקֵֽנוּ׃ ס
7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say: 'As the LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt';
לָכֵ֛ן הִנֵּֽה־יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹא־יֹ֤אמְרוּ עֹוד֙ חַי־יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֶעֱלָ֛ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
8 but: 'As the LORD liveth, that brought up and that led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries whither I had driven them'; and they shall dwell in their own land.
כִּ֣י אִם־חַי־יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶעֱלָה֩ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵבִ֜יא אֶת־זֶ֨רַע בֵּ֤ית יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפֹ֔ונָה וּמִכֹּל֙ הָֽאֲרָצֹ֔ות אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִדַּחְתִּ֖ים שָׁ֑ם וְיָשְׁב֖וּ עַל־אַדְמָתָֽם׃ ס
9 Concerning the prophets. My heart within me is broken, all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome; because of the LORD, and because of His holy words.
לַנְּבִאִ֞ים נִשְׁבַּ֧ר לִבִּ֣י בְקִרְבִּ֗י רָֽחֲפוּ֙ כָּל־עַצְמֹותַ֔י הָיִ֙יתִי֙ כְּאִ֣ישׁ שִׁכֹּ֗ור וּכְגֶ֖בֶר עֲבָ֣רֹו יָ֑יִן מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וּמִפְּנֵ֖י דִּבְרֵ֥י קָדְשֹֽׁו׃
10 For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth, the pastures of the wilderness are dried up; and their course is evil, and their force is not right.
כִּ֤י מְנָֽאֲפִים֙ מָלְאָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּֽי־מִפְּנֵ֤י אָלָה֙ אָבְלָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ יָבְשׁ֖וּ נְאֹ֣ות מִדְבָּ֑ר וַתְּהִ֤י מְרֽוּצָתָם֙ רָעָ֔ה וּגְבוּרָתָ֖ם לֹא־כֵֽן׃
11 For both prophet and priest are ungodly; yea, in My house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
כִּֽי־גַם־נָבִ֥יא גַם־כֹּהֵ֖ן חָנֵ֑פוּ גַּם־בְּבֵיתִ֛י מָצָ֥אתִי רָעָתָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
12 Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery places in the darkness, they shall be thrust, and fall therein; for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.
לָכֵן֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה דַרְכָּ֜ם לָהֶ֗ם כַּחֲלַקְלַקֹּות֙ בָּֽאֲפֵלָ֔ה יִדַּ֖חוּ וְנָ֣פְלוּ בָ֑הּ כִּֽי־אָבִ֨יא עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם רָעָ֛ה שְׁנַ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
13 And I have seen unseemliness in the prophets of Samaria: they prophesied by Baal, and caused My people Israel to err.
וּבִנְבִיאֵ֥י שֹׁמְרֹ֖ון רָאִ֣יתִי תִפְלָ֑ה הִנַּבְּא֣וּ בַבַּ֔עַל וַיַּתְע֥וּ אֶת־עַמִּ֖י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס
14 But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies, and they strengthen the hands of evil-doers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them become unto Me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
וּבִנְבִאֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם רָאִ֣יתִי שַׁעֲרוּרָ֗ה נָאֹ֞וף וְהָלֹ֤ךְ בַּשֶּׁ֙קֶר֙ וְחִזְּקוּ֙ יְדֵ֣י מְרֵעִ֔ים לְבִ֨לְתִּי־שָׁ֔בוּ אִ֖ישׁ מֵרָֽעָתֹ֑ו הָֽיוּ־לִ֤י כֻלָּם֙ כִּסְדֹ֔ם וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כַּעֲמֹרָֽה׃ ס
15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem is ungodliness gone forth into all the land.
לָכֵ֞ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאֹות֙ עַל־הַנְּבִאִ֔ים הִנְנִ֨י מַאֲכִ֤יל אֹותָם֙ לַֽעֲנָ֔ה וְהִשְׁקִתִ֖ים מֵי־רֹ֑אשׁ כִּ֗י מֵאֵת֙ נְבִיאֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם יָצְאָ֥ה חֲנֻפָּ֖ה לְכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ פ
16 Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you, they lead you unto vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֗ות אַֽל־תִּשְׁמְע֞וּ עַל־דִּבְרֵ֤י הַנְּבִאִים֙ הַנִּבְּאִ֣ים לָכֶ֔ם מַהְבִּלִ֥ים הֵ֖מָּה אֶתְכֶ֑ם חֲזֹ֤ון לִבָּם֙ יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ לֹ֖א מִפִּ֥י יְהוָֽה׃
17 They say continually unto them that despise Me: 'The LORD hath said: Ye shall have peace'; and unto every one that walketh in the stubbornness of his own heart they say: 'No evil shall come upon you';
אֹמְרִ֤ים אָמֹור֙ לִֽמְנַאֲצַ֔י דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שָׁלֹ֖ום יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם וְ֠כֹל הֹלֵ֞ךְ בִּשְׁרִר֤וּת לִבֹּו֙ אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹֽא־תָבֹ֥וא עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם רָעָֽה׃
18 For who hath stood in the council of the LORD, that he should perceive and hear His word? Who hath attended to His word, and heard it?
כִּ֣י מִ֤י עָמַד֙ בְּסֹ֣וד יְהוָ֔ה וְיֵ֖רֶא וְיִשְׁמַ֣ע אֶת־דְּבָרֹ֑ו מִֽי־הִקְשִׁ֥יב דְּבָרִי (דְּבָרֹ֖ו) וַיִּשְׁמָֽע׃ ס
19 Behold, a storm of the LORD is gone forth in fury, yea, a whirling storm; it shall whirl upon the head of the wicked.
הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ סַעֲרַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה חֵמָה֙ יָֽצְאָ֔ה וְסַ֖עַר מִתְחֹולֵ֑ל עַ֛ל רֹ֥אשׁ רְשָׁעִ֖ים יָחֽוּל׃
20 The anger of the LORD shall not return, until He have executed, and till He have performed the purposes of His heart; in the end of days ye shall consider it perfectly.
לֹ֤א יָשׁוּב֙ אַף־יְהוָ֔ה עַד־עֲשֹׂתֹ֥ו וְעַד־הֲקִימֹ֖ו מְזִמֹּ֣ות לִבֹּ֑ו בְּאַֽחֲרִית֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים תִּתְבֹּ֥ונְנוּ בָ֖הּ בִּינָֽה׃
21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
לֹא־שָׁלַ֥חְתִּי אֶת־הַנְּבִאִ֖ים וְהֵ֣ם רָ֑צוּ לֹא־דִבַּ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְהֵ֥ם נִבָּֽאוּ׃
22 But if they have stood in My council, then let them cause My people to hear My words, and turn them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
וְאִֽם־עָמְד֖וּ בְּסֹודִ֑י וְיַשְׁמִ֤עוּ דְבָרַי֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וִֽישִׁבוּם֙ מִדַּרְכָּ֣ם הָרָ֔ע וּמֵרֹ֖עַ מַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ ס
23 Am I a God near at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
הַאֱלֹהֵ֧י מִקָּרֹ֛ב אָ֖נִי נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א אֱלֹהֵ֖י מֵרָחֹֽק׃
24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
אִם־יִסָּתֵ֨ר אִ֧ישׁ בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֛ים וַאֲנִ֥י לֹֽא־אֶרְאֶ֖נּוּ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה הֲלֹ֨וא אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֧יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲנִ֥י מָלֵ֖א נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
25 I have heard what the prophets have said, that prophesy lies in My name, saying: 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed.'
שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־אָֽמְרוּ֙ הַנְּבִאִ֔ים הַֽנִּבְּאִ֥ים בִּשְׁמִ֛י שֶׁ֖קֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר חָלַ֖מְתִּי חָלָֽמְתִּי׃
26 How long shall this be? Is it in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies, and the prophets of the deceit of their own heart?
עַד־מָתַ֗י הֲיֵ֛שׁ בְּלֵ֥ב הַנְּבִאִ֖ים נִבְּאֵ֣י הַשָּׁ֑קֶר וּנְבִיאֵ֖י תַּרְמִ֥ת לִבָּֽם׃
27 That think to cause My people to forget My name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal.
הַחֹשְׁבִ֗ים לְהַשְׁכִּ֤יחַ אֶת־עַמִּי֙ שְׁמִ֔י בַּחֲלֹ֣ומֹתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְסַפְּר֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁכְח֧וּ אֲבֹותָ֛ם אֶת־שְׁמִ֖י בַּבָּֽעַל׃
28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath My word; let him speak My word faithfully. What hath the straw to do with the wheat? saith the LORD.
הַנָּבִ֞יא אֲשֶׁר־אִתֹּ֤ו חֲלֹום֙ יְסַפֵּ֣ר חֲלֹ֔ום וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר דְּבָרִי֙ אִתֹּ֔ו יְדַבֵּ֥ר דְּבָרִ֖י אֱמֶ֑ת מַה־לַתֶּ֥בֶן אֶת־הַבָּ֖ר נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
29 Is not My word like as fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
הֲלֹ֨וא כֹ֧ה דְבָרִ֛י כָּאֵ֖שׁ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וּכְפַטִּ֖ישׁ יְפֹ֥צֵֽץ סָֽלַע׃ ס
30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal My words every one from his neighbour.
לָכֵ֛ן הִנְנִ֥י עַל־הַנְּבִאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה מְגַנְּבֵ֣י דְבָרַ֔י אִ֖ישׁ מֵאֵ֥ת רֵעֵֽהוּ׃
31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues and say: 'He saith.'
הִנְנִ֥י עַל־הַנְּבִיאִ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה הַלֹּקְחִ֣ים לְשֹׁונָ֔ם וַֽיִּנְאֲמ֖וּ נְאֻֽם׃
32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy lying dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies, and by their wantonness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them; neither can they profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
הִ֠נְנִי עַֽל־נִבְּאֵ֞י חֲלֹמֹ֥ות שֶׁ֙קֶר֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וַֽיְסַפְּרוּם֙ וַיַּתְע֣וּ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י בְּשִׁקְרֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְפַחֲזוּתָ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֨י לֹֽא־שְׁלַחְתִּ֜ים וְלֹ֣א צִוִּיתִ֗ים וְהֹועֵ֛יל לֹֽא־יֹועִ֥ילוּ לָֽעָם־הַזֶּ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
33 And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying: 'What is the burden of the LORD?' then shalt thou say unto them: 'What burden! I will cast you off, saith the LORD.'
וְכִי־יִשְׁאָלְךָ֩ הָעָ֨ם הַזֶּ֜ה אֹֽו־הַנָּבִ֤יא אֹֽו־כֹהֵן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה־מַשָּׂ֖א יְהוָ֑ה וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־מַה־מַשָּׂ֔א וְנָטַשְׁתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
34 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say: 'The burden of the LORD', I will even punish that man and his house.
וְהַנָּבִ֤יא וְהַכֹּהֵן֙ וְהָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאמַ֖ר מַשָּׂ֣א יְהוָ֑ה וּפָקַדְתִּ֛י עַל־הָאִ֥ישׁ הַה֖וּא וְעַל־בֵּיתֹֽו׃
35 Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother: 'What hath the LORD answered?' and: 'What hath the LORD spoken?'
כֹּ֥ה תֹאמְר֛וּ אִ֥ישׁ עַל־רֵעֵ֖הוּ וְאִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו מֶה־עָנָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה וּמַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהוָֽה׃
36 And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more; for every man's own word shall be his burden; and would ye pervert the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God?
וּמַשָּׂ֥א יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֣א תִזְכְּרוּ־עֹ֑וד כִּ֣י הַמַּשָּׂ֗א יִֽהְיֶה֙ לְאִ֣ישׁ דְּבָרֹ֔ו וַהֲפַכְתֶּ֗ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַיִּ֔ים יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹ֖ות אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
37 Thus shalt thou say to the prophet: 'What hath the LORD answered thee?' and: 'What hath the LORD spoken?'
כֹּ֥ה תֹאמַ֖ר אֶל־הַנָּבִ֑יא מֶה־עָנָ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה וּמַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהוָֽה׃
38 But if ye say: 'The burden of the LORD'; therefore thus saith the LORD: Because ye say this word: 'The burden of the LORD', and I have sent unto you, saying: 'Ye shall not say: The burden of the LORD';
וְאִם־מַשָּׂ֣א יְהוָה֮ תֹּאמֵרוּ֒ לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה יַ֧עַן אֲמָרְכֶ֛ם אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה מַשָּׂ֣א יְהוָ֑ה וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֲלֵיכֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֥א תֹאמְר֖וּ מַשָּׂ֥א יְהוָֽה׃
39 therefore, behold, I will utterly tear you out, and I will cast you off, and the city that I gave unto you and to your fathers, away from My presence;
לָכֵ֣ן הִנְנִ֔י וְנָשִׁ֥יתִי אֶתְכֶ֖ם נָשֹׁ֑א וְנָטַשְׁתִּ֣י אֶתְכֶ֗ם וְאֶת־הָעִיר֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֧תִּי לָכֶ֛ם וְלַאֲבֹותֵיכֶ֖ם מֵעַ֥ל פָּנָֽי׃
40 and I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
וְנָתַתִּ֥י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם חֶרְפַּ֣ת עֹולָ֑ם וּכְלִמּ֣וּת עֹולָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ׃ ס

< Jeremiah 23 >