Jeremiah 44

1 [This is] the message that Yahweh gave me concerning the Jews who were living in [northern] Egypt—in Migdol, Tahpenes, and Memphis [cities], and in the Pathros [region in southern Egypt]:

הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ אֶ֚ל כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הַיֹּשְׁבִ֤ים בְּמִגְדֹּל֙ וּבְתַחְפַּנְחֵ֣ס וּבְנֹ֔ף וּבְאֶ֥רֶץ פַּתְרֹ֖וס לֵאמֹֽר׃ ס

2 “This is what [I], the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom [you] Israelis [say you belong to], say: ‘You saw the disaster that I caused [the people in] Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah to experience. Those towns are now ruined and deserted.

כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאֹות֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתֶּ֣ם רְאִיתֶ֗ם אֵ֤ת כָּל־הָֽרָעָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֵבֵ֙אתִי֙ עַל־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְעַ֖ל כָּל־עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וְהִנָּ֤ם חָרְבָּה֙ הַיֹּ֣ום הַזֶּ֔ה וְאֵ֥ין בָּהֶ֖ם יֹושֵֽׁב׃

3 [That happened] because I was extremely angry with them on account of their being very wicked. They burned incense to other gods and worshiped them. They were gods that you [previously] did not know about, and your ancestors also [did not know about them].

מִפְּנֵ֣י רָעָתָ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשׂוּ֙ לְהַכְעִסֵ֔נִי לָלֶ֣כֶת לְקַטֵּ֔ר לַעֲבֹ֖ד לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יְדָע֔וּם הֵ֖מָּה אַתֶּ֥ם וַאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

4 Many times I sent my prophets who served me, to say to them, “Do not do those abominable things that I hate!”

וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֲלֵיכֶם֙ אֶת־כָּל־עֲבָדַ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים הַשְׁכֵּ֥ים וְשָׁלֹ֖חַ לֵאמֹ֑ר אַל־נָ֣א תַעֲשׂ֗וּ אֵ֛ת דְּבַֽר־הַתֹּעֵבָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׂנֵֽאתִי׃

5 But my people would not pay any attention [DOU] [to what I said to them]. They would not turn away from their wicked behavior, or stop burning incense to [worship/honor] other gods.

וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ וְלֹא־הִטּ֣וּ אֶת־אָזְנָ֔ם לָשׁ֖וּב מֵרָֽעָתָ֑ם לְבִלְתִּ֥י קַטֵּ֖ר לֵאלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִֽים׃

6 So I poured out my anger [MTY] on them. I punished people on the streets of Jerusalem and on the [other] towns in Judah. It caused those towns to be ruined and deserted, and they are still like that.’

וַתִּתַּ֤ךְ חֲמָתִי֙ וְאַפִּ֔י וַתִּבְעַר֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וּבְחֻצֹ֖ות יְרֽוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַתִּהְיֶ֛ינָה לְחָרְבָּ֥ה לִשְׁמָמָ֖ה כַּיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃ ס

7 So now [I], the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom [you] Israelis [say you belong to], ask you: ‘Why are you causing yourselves to experience these disasters? [Do you not realize that because of what you are doing], soon there will be no more men or women or children or infants left among you [who have come here to Egypt] from Judah?

וְעַתָּ֡ה כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָה֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י צְבָאֹ֜ות אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לָמָה֩ אַתֶּ֨ם עֹשִׂ֜ים רָעָ֤ה גְדֹולָה֙ אֶל־נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵכֶ֔ם לְהַכְרִ֨ית לָכֶ֧ם אִישׁ־וְאִשָּׁ֛ה עֹולֵ֥ל וְיֹונֵ֖ק מִתֹּ֣וךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה לְבִלְתִּ֛י הֹותִ֥יר לָכֶ֖ם שְׁאֵרִֽית׃

8 Why are you [RHQ] provoking me and causing me to be very angry by burning incense to the idols that you have made here in Egypt? [If you continue doing this, ] you will destroy yourselves, and you will cause yourselves to be people whom all the nations on the earth will curse and despise.

לְהַכְעִסֵ֙נִי֙ בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י יְדֵיכֶ֔ם לְקַטֵּ֞ר לֵאלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם בָּאִ֖ים לָג֣וּר שָׁ֑ם לְמַ֙עַן֙ הַכְרִ֣ית לָכֶ֔ם וּלְמַ֤עַן הֱיֹֽותְכֶם֙ לִקְלָלָ֣ה וּלְחֶרְפָּ֔ה בְּכֹ֖ל גֹּויֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ׃

9 Have you forgotten [how I punished] your ancestors for the wicked things that they did, and [how I punished] the kings and queens of Judah for what they did, and you and your wives for the sins that you committed in the streets of Jerusalem and [the other towns] in Judah?

הַֽשְׁכַחְתֶּם֩ אֶת־רָעֹ֨ות אֲבֹותֵיכֶ֜ם וְאֶת־רָעֹ֣ות ׀ מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה וְאֵת֙ רָעֹ֣ות נָשָׁ֔יו וְאֵת֙ רָעֹ֣תֵכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת רָעֹ֣ת נְשֵׁיכֶ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשׂוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָ֔ה וּבְחֻצֹ֖ות יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

10 Up until this day you have not humbled yourselves or revered me. You have not obeyed the laws and decrees [DOU] that I gave to you and your ancestors.’

לֹ֣א דֻכְּא֔וּ עַ֖ד הַיֹּ֣ום הַזֶּ֑ה וְלֹ֣א יָרְא֗וּ וְלֹֽא־הָלְכ֤וּ בְתֹֽורָתִי֙ וּבְחֻקֹּתַ֔י אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תִּי לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם וְלִפְנֵ֥י אֲבֹותֵיכֶֽם׃ ס

11 Therefore, this is what [I], the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom [you] Israelis [say you belong to], say: ‘I am determined to cause all of you to experience disasters and to get rid of every one of you.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאֹות֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הִנְנִ֨י שָׂ֥ם פָּנַ֛י בָּכֶ֖ם לְרָעָ֑ה וּלְהַכְרִ֖ית אֶת־כָּל־יְהוּדָֽה׃

12 [You] people from Judah who have survived were determined to come and live here in Egypt. So I will get rid of all of you here in Egypt. Every one of you will die, including those who are important and those who are not important. [Some of] you will be killed by [your enemies’] swords, [some will die] from famines. You will become [people whom others] curse, be horrified about, and make fun of.

וְלָקַחְתִּ֞י אֶת־שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְהוּדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֨מוּ פְנֵיהֶ֜ם לָבֹ֣וא אֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם֮ לָג֣וּר שָׁם֒ וְתַ֨מּוּ כֹ֜ל בְּאֶ֧רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם יִפֹּ֗לוּ בַּחֶ֤רֶב בָּֽרָעָב֙ יִתַּ֔מּוּ מִקָּטֹן֙ וְעַד־גָּדֹ֔ול בַּחֶ֥רֶב וּבָרָעָ֖ב יָמֻ֑תוּ וְהָיוּ֙ לְאָלָ֣ה לְשַׁמָּ֔ה וְלִקְלָלָ֖ה וּלְחֶרְפָּֽה׃

13 I will punish you here in Egypt like I punished [others in] Jerusalem, [some of whom were killed] by [their enemies’] swords and [some of whom] died from famines or diseases.

וּפָקַדְתִּ֗י עַ֤ל הַיֹּֽושְׁבִים֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר פָּקַ֖דְתִּי עַל־יְרֽוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם בַּחֶ֥רֶב בָּרָעָ֖ב וּבַדָּֽבֶר׃

14 You people who did not die in Judah fled here to Egypt, hoping that [some day] you would return to Judah. But very few [HYP] of you will survive and escape. You are longing/wanting to remain alive and return to Judah, but only a very few of you will escape and be able to do that.’”

וְלֹ֨א יִהְיֶ֜ה פָּלִ֤יט וְשָׂרִיד֙ לִשְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה הַבָּאִ֥ים לָגֽוּר־שָׁ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלָשׁ֣וּב ׀ אֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֜מָּה מְנַשְּׂאִ֤ים אֶת־נַפְשָׁם֙ לָשׁוּב֙ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת שָׁ֔ם כִּ֥י לֹֽא־יָשׁ֖וּבוּ כִּ֥י אִם־פְּלֵטִֽים׃ ס

15 Then a large group of the people who had started to live in northern Egypt and southern Egypt, including all the men who knew that their wives had been burning incense to other gods, and all the women who were standing there, said this to me:

וַיַּעֲנ֣וּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ כָּל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הַיֹּֽדְעִים֙ כִּֽי־מְקַטְּרֹ֤ות נְשֵׁיהֶם֙ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְכָל־הַנָּשִׁ֥ים הָעֹמְדֹ֖ות קָהָ֣ל גָּדֹ֑ול וְכָל־הָעָ֛ם הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֖יִם בְּפַתְרֹ֥וס לֵאמֹֽר׃

16 “You are saying that [MTY] Yahweh gave messages to you, but we will not pay any attention to your messages!

הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֥רְתָּ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁמְעִ֖ים אֵלֶֽיךָ׃

17 We will certainly do everything that we said that we would do. We will burn incense to [worship our goddess Astarte, ] the Queen of Heaven, and we will pour out offerings [of wine] to her, just like we and our ancestors and our kings and [their] officials have [always] done in the streets of Jerusalem and in the [other] towns in Judah. At that time, we had plenty of food, and we were prosperous and we did not have any troubles.

כִּ֩י עָשֹׂ֨ה נַעֲשֶׂ֜ה אֶֽת־כָּל־הַדָּבָ֣ר ׀ אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֣א מִפִּ֗ינוּ לְקַטֵּ֞ר לִמְלֶ֣כֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם֮ וְהַסֵּֽיךְ־לָ֣הּ נְסָכִים֒ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשִׂ֜ינוּ אֲנַ֤חְנוּ וַאֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ מְלָכֵ֣ינוּ וְשָׂרֵ֔ינוּ בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וּבְחֻצֹ֖ות יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַנִּֽשְׂבַּֽע־לֶ֙חֶם֙ וַנִּֽהְיֶ֣ה טֹובִ֔ים וְרָעָ֖ה לֹ֥א רָאִֽינוּ׃

18 But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and giving her offerings [of wine], we have had many troubles, and [some of our people] have been killed by [our enemies’] swords and [some have died] from hunger.”

וּמִן־אָ֡ז חָדַ֜לְנוּ לְקַטֵּ֨ר לִמְלֶ֧כֶת הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהַסֵּֽךְ־לָ֥הּ נְסָכִ֖ים חָסַ֣רְנוּ כֹ֑ל וּבַחֶ֥רֶב וּבָרָעָ֖ב תָּֽמְנוּ׃

19 And [the women said], “[Furthermore], we burned incense and poured out [wine] offerings to the Queen of Heaven, and we also made small cakes that resembled her idol, to offer to her. But our husbands certainly knew about [and approved of] [RHQ] what we were doing!”

וְכִֽי־אֲנַ֤חְנוּ מְקַטְּרִים֙ לִמְלֶ֣כֶת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּלְהַסֵּ֥ךְ לָ֖הּ נְסָכִ֑ים הֲמִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י אֲנָשֵׁ֗ינוּ עָשִׂ֨ינוּ לָ֤הּ כַּוָּנִים֙ לְהַ֣עֲצִבָ֔ה וְהַסֵּ֥ךְ לָ֖הּ נְסָכִֽים׃ פ

20 Then I said to all the men and women who had answered me,

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֑ם עַל־הַגְּבָרִ֤ים וְעַל־הַנָּשִׁים֙ וְעַל־כָּל־הָעָ֔ם הָעֹנִ֥ים אֹתֹ֛ו דָּבָ֖ר לֵאמֹֽר׃

21 “Do not think [RHQ] that Yahweh did not know that you and your ancestors and your kings and their officials and all the other people in Judah were burning incense to [worship/honor] idols in the streets of Jerusalem and in the [other] towns in Judah!

הֲלֹ֣וא אֶת־הַקִּטֵּ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר קִטַּרְתֶּ֜ם בְּעָרֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ וּבְחֻצֹ֣ות יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם אַתֶּ֧ם וַאֲבֹֽותֵיכֶ֛ם מַלְכֵיכֶ֥ם וְשָׂרֵיכֶ֖ם וְעַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ אֹתָם֙ זָכַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה וַֽתַּעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־לִבֹּֽו׃

22 It was because Yahweh could no longer endure/tolerate your wicked actions and the detestable things that you were doing that he caused your land to be [a place whose name people say when they] curse someone, a land that is ruined and which has no one living in it. And your land is still like that.

וְלֹֽא־יוּכַל֩ יְהוָ֨ה עֹ֜וד לָשֵׂ֗את מִפְּנֵי֙ רֹ֣עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם מִפְּנֵ֥י הַתֹּועֵבֹ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֑ם וַתְּהִ֣י אַ֠רְצְכֶם לְחָרְבָּ֨ה וּלְשַׁמָּ֧ה וְלִקְלָלָ֛ה מֵאֵ֥ין יֹושֵׁ֖ב כְּהַיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃

23 It is because you burned incense to [worship/honor] idols and committed [other] sins against Yahweh that you experienced [all] those disasters. It is because you have not obeyed him or his laws and decrees and commandments.”

מִפְּנֵי֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר קִטַּרְתֶּ֜ם וַאֲשֶׁ֧ר חֲטָאתֶ֣ם לַיהוָ֗ה וְלֹ֤א שְׁמַעְתֶּם֙ בְּקֹ֣ול יְהוָ֔ה וּבְתֹרָתֹ֧ו וּבְחֻקֹּתָ֛יו וּבְעֵדְוֹתָ֖יו לֹ֣א הֲלַכְתֶּ֑ם עַל־כֵּ֞ן קָרָ֥את אֶתְכֶ֛ם הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את כַּיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃ ס

24 [Then] I said to all of them, including the women, “All you [people of] Judah who are [here] in Egypt, listen to this message from Yahweh.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֔ם וְאֶ֖ל כָּל־הַנָּשִׁ֑ים שִׁמְעוּ֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה כָּל־יְהוּדָ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ ס

25 This is what the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom [we] Israelis [worship], says [to you Israeli men]: ‘You and your wives have said that you would continue to do what you promised, to burn incense and pour out wine to the [goddess whom you call] the Queen of Heaven. [And you have proved by your actions that you intend to continue to do that]. So go ahead and continue doing what you have promised to do [for her].’

כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָֽה־צְבָאֹות֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל לֵאמֹ֗ר אַתֶּ֨ם וּנְשֵׁיכֶ֜ם וַתְּדַבֵּ֣רְנָה בְּפִיכֶם֮ וּבִידֵיכֶ֣ם מִלֵּאתֶ֣ם ׀ לֵאמֹר֒ עָשֹׂ֨ה נַעֲשֶׂ֜ה אֶת־נְדָרֵ֗ינוּ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָדַ֙רְנוּ֙ לְקַטֵּר֙ לִמְלֶ֣כֶת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּלְהַסֵּ֥ךְ לָ֖הּ נְסָכִ֑ים הָקֵ֤ים תָּקִ֙ימְנָה֙ אֶת־נִדְרֵיכֶ֔ם וְעָשֹׂ֥ה תַעֲשֶׂ֖ינָה אֶת־נִדְרֵיכֶֽם׃ פ

26 But now, all you people from Judah who are [now] living [here] in Egypt, listen to this message from Yahweh. He says, ‘I have solemnly declared, using my great name, that [soon] none of [you] people from Judah who are here in Egypt will ever again use my name. [There will be none of you who, when you solemnly promise to do something, ] will ever again say, “[I will do it as surely] as Yahweh lives.”

לָכֵן֙ שִׁמְע֣וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֔ה כָּל־יְהוּדָ֕ה הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הִנְנִ֨י נִשְׁבַּ֜עְתִּי בִּשְׁמִ֤י הַגָּדֹול֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אִם־יִהְיֶה֩ עֹ֨וד שְׁמִ֜י נִקְרָ֣א ׀ בְּפִ֣י ׀ כָּל־אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֗ה אֹמֵ֛ר חַי־אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

27 Because I will be watching over you, not to cause good things to happen to you but to cause things to happen that will harm you. [Almost] everyone [HYP] from Judah who is [now here] in Egypt will experience being [killed by their enemies’] swords, or dying from famine.

הִנְנִ֨י שֹׁקֵ֧ד עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם לְרָעָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א לְטֹובָ֑ה וְתַמּוּ֩ כָל־אִ֨ישׁ יְהוּדָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֛יִם בַּחֶ֥רֶב וּבָרָעָ֖ב עַד־כְּלֹותָֽם׃

28 [Only a very] few [of you] will not die, and will return to Judah. [When that happens], all those who came to Egypt will find out whose words (were true/were fulfilled), theirs or mine.’

וּפְלִיטֵ֨י חֶ֜רֶב יְשֻׁב֨וּן מִן־אֶ֧רֶץ מִצְרַ֛יִם אֶ֥רֶץ יְהוּדָ֖ה מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֑ר וְֽיָדְע֞וּ כָּל־שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְהוּדָ֗ה הַבָּאִ֤ים לְאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לָג֣וּר שָׁ֔ם דְּבַר־מִ֥י יָק֖וּם מִמֶּ֥נִּי וּמֵהֶֽם׃

29 And Yahweh [also] says, ‘I will do something that will prove to you that everything that I have said will happen, and that I will punish you [here] in this place.

וְזֹאת־לָכֶ֤ם הָאֹות֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה כִּֽי־פֹקֵ֥ד אֲנִ֛י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בַּמָּקֹ֣ום הַזֶּ֑ה לְמַ֙עַן֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּ כִּי֩ קֹ֨ום יָק֧וּמוּ דְבָרַ֛י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם לְרָעָֽה׃ ס

30 I will cause Hophra, the king of Egypt, to be captured by his enemies who want to kill him, just like I caused King Zedekiah of Judah to be captured by [the soldiers of] King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.’” [And that is what happened several years later].

כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה הִנְנִ֣י נֹ֠תֵן אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֨ה חָפְרַ֤ע מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ בְּיַ֣ד אֹֽיְבָ֔יו וּבְיַ֖ד מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י נַפְשֹׁ֑ו כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֜תִּי אֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה בְּיַ֨ד נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֧ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל אֹיְבֹ֖ו וּמְבַקֵּ֥שׁ נַפְשֹֽׁו׃ ס