< Jeremiah 51 >

1 This is what Yahweh says: “I will inspire/motivate [an army] to destroy Babylon [like a powerful] wind [MET], and [also] to destroy the people of Babylonia.
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִי֙ מֵעִ֣יר עַל־בָּבֶ֔ל וְאֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י לֵ֣ב קָמָ֑י ר֖וּחַ מַשְׁחִֽית׃
2 I will send a foreign army to come to get rid of Babylonia [like a strong wind] that blows away chaff. They will attack from every direction on that day of disaster.
וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֨י לְבָבֶ֤ל ׀ זָרִים֙ וְזֵר֔וּהָ וִיבֹקְק֖וּ אֶת־אַרְצָ֑הּ כִּֽי־הָי֥וּ עָלֶ֛יהָ מִסָּבִ֖יב בְּיֹ֥ום רָעָֽה׃
3 [I will tell them, ] ‘Do not allow the archers [of Babylon] to [have time to] put on their armor or draw their bows. Do not spare the young men of Babylon. Completely destroy their army.’
אֶֽל־יִדְרֹ֤ךְ יִדְרֹךְ הַדֹּרֵךְ֙ קַשְׁתֹּ֔ו וְאֶל־יִתְעַ֖ל בְּסִרְיֹנֹ֑ו וְאַֽל־תַּחְמְלוּ֙ אֶל־בַּ֣חֻרֶ֔יהָ הַחֲרִ֖ימוּ כָּל־צְבָאָֽהּ׃
4 Their soldiers will fall dead in Babylonia; [they will die after being] wounded in the streets.
וְנָפְל֥וּ חֲלָלִ֖ים בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים וּמְדֻקָּרִ֖ים בְּחוּצֹותֶֽיהָ׃
5 [I, ] the Commander of the armies of angels, the Israelis’ God, have not abandoned Israel and Judah. [Even though] their land was full of people who sinned against [me], the Holy God of Israel, I am still their God.
כִּ֠י לֹֽא־אַלְמָ֨ן יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל וִֽיהוּדָה֙ מֵֽאֱלֹהָ֔יו מֵֽיְהוָ֖ה צְבָאֹ֑ות כִּ֤י אַרְצָם֙ מָלְאָ֣ה אָשָׁ֔ם מִקְּדֹ֖ושׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
6 [You people of Israel and Judah, ] flee from Babylon! Run away from there! Do not stay there and be killed when I punish [the people of Babylon]! It will be the time when I will get revenge; I will do to them what they deserve.
נֻ֣סוּ ׀ מִתֹּ֣וךְ בָּבֶ֗ל וּמַלְּטוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ נַפְשֹׁ֔ו אַל־תִּדַּ֖מּוּ בַּעֲוֹנָ֑הּ כִּי֩ עֵ֨ת נְקָמָ֥ה הִיא֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה גְּמ֕וּל ה֥וּא מְשַׁלֵּ֖ם לָֽהּ׃
7 Babylon has been [like] [MET] a gold cup in my hand, [a cup that is full of wine] that caused people all over the earth [who drank some of it to become] drunk. [It is as though] the [rulers of] the nations drank the wine from Babylon, and it caused them to become crazy.
כֹּוס־זָהָ֤ב בָּבֶל֙ בְּיַד־יְהוָ֔ה מְשַׁכֶּ֖רֶת כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ מִיֵּינָהּ֙ שָׁת֣וּ גֹויִ֔ם עַל־כֵּ֖ן יִתְהֹלְל֥וּ גֹויִֽם׃
8 But suddenly Babylon will be conquered. [You foreigners who live in Babylon, ] weep for its people. Give them medicine for their wounds; perhaps they can be healed.”
פִּתְאֹ֛ם נָפְלָ֥ה בָבֶ֖ל וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֑ר הֵילִ֣ילוּ עָלֶ֗יהָ קְח֤וּ צֳרִי֙ לְמַכְאֹובָ֔הּ אוּלַ֖י תֵּרָפֵֽא׃
9 We [foreigners] would have [tried to] heal them, but [now] they cannot be healed. [So we will not try to help them; ] we will abandon them, and return to our own lands, because [it is as though] the punishment they are receiving is so great that it reaches up to the clouds in sky, [so great that no one can measure it].
רִפִּאנוּ (רִפִּ֣ינוּ) אֶת־בָּבֶל֙ וְלֹ֣א נִרְפָּ֔תָה עִזְב֕וּהָ וְנֵלֵ֖ךְ אִ֣ישׁ לְאַרְצֹ֑ו כִּֽי־נָגַ֤ע אֶל־הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ מִשְׁפָּטָ֔הּ וְנִשָּׂ֖א עַד־שְׁחָקִֽים׃
10 Yahweh has (vindicated us/shown that we were right); [so] let’s proclaim in Jerusalem everything that Yahweh our God has done [for us].
הֹוצִ֥יא יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־צִדְקֹתֵ֑ינוּ בֹּ֚אוּ וּנְסַפְּרָ֣ה בְצִיֹּ֔ון אֶֽת־מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
11 [You enemy soldiers, ] sharpen your arrows! Lift up your shields, [because] Yahweh has incited your kings of Media [and Persia to march with their armies] to Babylon and to destroy it. That is how Yahweh will get revenge on [those foreigners who entered] his temple [in Jerusalem] and defiled it.
הָבֵ֣רוּ הַחִצִּים֮ מִלְא֣וּ הַשְּׁלָטִים֒ הֵעִ֣יר יְהוָ֗ה אֶת־ר֙וּחַ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י מָדַ֔י כִּֽי־עַל־בָּבֶ֥ל מְזִמָּתֹ֖ו לְהַשְׁחִיתָ֑הּ כִּֽי־נִקְמַ֤ת יְהוָה֙ הִ֔יא נִקְמַ֖ת הֵיכָלֹֽו׃
12 Lift up a battle flag close to the walls of Babylon! (Reinforce the/Appoint more) guards, and tell the watchmen to stand [in their positions]! Prepare an ambush, because Yahweh is about to accomplish all that he has planned to do to the people of Babylon.
אֶל־חֹומֹ֨ת בָּבֶ֜ל שְׂאוּ־נֵ֗ס הַחֲזִ֙יקוּ֙ הַמִּשְׁמָ֔ר הָקִ֙ימוּ֙ שֹֽׁמְרִ֔ים הָכִ֖ינוּ הָאֹֽרְבִ֑ים כִּ֚י גַּם־זָמַ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה גַּם־עָשָׂ֕ה אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֖ר אֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י בָבֶֽל׃
13 Babylon is [a city] near the great [Euphrates] River, a city in which there are many rich people, but it is time for Babylon to be finished; the time [for the city] to exist is ended.
שֹׁכַנְתִּי (שֹׁכַנְתְּ֙) עַל־מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֔ים רַבַּ֖ת אֹֽוצָרֹ֑ת בָּ֥א קִצֵּ֖ךְ אַמַּ֥ת בִּצְעֵֽךְ׃
14 The Commander of the armies of angels has solemnly promised, using his own name, “Your cities will be filled with your enemies; I will cause them to be like [SIM] a swarm of locusts; and they will shout triumphantly [when they conquer your city].”
נִשְׁבַּ֛ע יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹ֖ות בְּנַפְשֹׁ֑ו כִּ֣י אִם־מִלֵּאתִ֤יךְ אָדָם֙ כַּיֶּ֔לֶק וְעָנ֥וּ עָלַ֖יִךְ הֵידָֽד׃ ס
15 Yahweh created the earth by his power; he established it by his wisdom, and he stretched out the sky by his understanding.
עֹשֵׂ֥ה אֶ֙רֶץ֙ בְּכֹחֹ֔ו מֵכִ֥ין תֵּבֵ֖ל בְּחָכְמָתֹ֑ו וּבִתְבוּנָתֹ֖ו נָטָ֥ה שָׁמָֽיִם׃
16 When he speaks loudly, there is thunder in the sky; he causes clouds to form in every part of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and releases the winds from his storehouses.
לְקֹ֨ול תִּתֹּ֜ו הֲמֹ֥ון מַ֙יִם֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיַּ֥עַל נְשִׂאִ֖ים מִקְצֵה־אָ֑רֶץ בְּרָקִ֤ים לַמָּטָר֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וַיֹּ֥צֵא ר֖וּחַ מֵאֹצְרֹתָֽיו׃
17 People are senseless, and they know very little [HYP]; those who make idols are [always] disappointed, because their idols [do nothing for them]. The images/statues that they make are not real [gods]; they are lifeless.
נִבְעַ֤ר כָּל־אָדָם֙ מִדַּ֔עַת הֹבִ֥ישׁ כָּל־צֹרֵ֖ף מִפָּ֑סֶל כִּ֛י שֶׁ֥קֶר נִסְכֹּ֖ו וְלֹא־ר֥וּחַ בָּֽם׃
18 Idols are worthless; they deserve to be ridiculed; there will be a time when they will [all] be destroyed.
הֶ֣בֶל הֵ֔מָּה מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה תַּעְתֻּעִ֑ים בְּעֵ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם יֹאבֵֽדוּ׃
19 But the God whom [we] Israelis [worship] is not like those [idols]; he is the one who created everything [that exists]; [we], the people of Israel, belong to him; his name is ‘the Commander of the armies of angels’.
לֹֽא־כְאֵ֜לֶּה חֵ֣לֶק יַעֲקֹ֗וב כִּֽי־יֹוצֵ֤ר הַכֹּל֙ ה֔וּא וְשֵׁ֖בֶט נַחֲלָתֹ֑ו יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹ֖ות שְׁמֹֽו׃ ס
20 Yahweh says [about the army of Babylonia] (OR, [about a nation that will attack Babylonia)], “You have been [like] [MET] my battle-axe and war-club; with your [power] I have shattered nations and destroyed [many] kingdoms.
מַפֵּץ־אַתָּ֣ה לִ֔י כְּלֵ֖י מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִפַּצְתִּ֤י בְךָ֙ גֹּויִ֔ם וְהִשְׁחַתִּ֥י בְךָ֖ מַמְלָכֹֽות׃
21 With your [power] I have shattered armies [of other nations]: I destroyed [their] horses and their riders, [their] chariots and [their] chariot-drivers.
וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ ס֖וּס וְרֹֽכְבֹ֑ו וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ רֶ֖כֶב וְרֹכְבֹֽו׃
22 With your [power] I shattered men and women, old people and children, young men and young women.
וְנִפַּצְתִּ֤י בְךָ֙ אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֔ה וְנִפַּצְתִּ֥י בְךָ֖ זָקֵ֣ן וָנָ֑עַר וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ בָּח֖וּר וּבְתוּלָֽה׃
23 With your [power] I shattered shepherds and their flocks [of sheep], farmers and their oxen, governors and [their] officials.”
וְנִפַּצְתִּ֤י בְךָ֙ רֹעֶ֣ה וְעֶדְרֹ֔ו וְנִפַּצְתִּ֥י בְךָ֖ אִכָּ֣ר וְצִמְדֹּ֑ו וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ פַּחֹ֖ות וּסְגָנִֽים׃
24 But, Yahweh [also] says, “[Soon] I will repay/punish [you] people in Babylon and in the rest of Babylonia for all the evil things that you have done in Jerusalem.
וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֨י לְבָבֶ֜ל וּלְכֹ֣ל ׀ יֹושְׁבֵ֣י כַשְׂדִּ֗ים אֵ֧ת כָּל־רָעָתָ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֥וּ בְצִיֹּ֖ון לְעֵֽינֵיכֶ֑ם נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃ ס
25 [Babylonia is] [APO] like [MET] a great mountain [from which bandits descend] to (plunder/steal things from) people all over the earth. But I, Yahweh, am the enemy of you [people of Babylonia]. I will raise my fist to strike you. I will knock you down from the cliffs and cause you to be [only] a huge pile of burned rubble.
הִנְנִ֨י אֵלֶ֜יךָ הַ֤ר הַמַּשְׁחִית֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה הַמַּשְׁחִ֖ית אֶת־כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְנָטִ֨יתִי אֶת־יָדִ֜י עָלֶ֗יךָ וְגִלְגַּלְתִּ֙יךָ֙ מִן־הַסְּלָעִ֔ים וּנְתַתִּ֖יךָ לְהַ֥ר שְׂרֵפָֽה׃
26 Your [city] will be abandoned forever; [even] the stones in your [city] will never [again] be used for buildings. [Your city will be completely destroyed].”
וְלֹֽא־יִקְח֤וּ מִמְּךָ֙ אֶ֣בֶן לְפִנָּ֔ה וְאֶ֖בֶן לְמֹֽוסָדֹ֑ות כִּֽי־שִׁמְמֹ֥ות עֹולָ֛ם תִּֽהְיֶ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
27 [Tell] the nations to lift up a battle flag! [Tell them to] shout the battle-cry! Gather all their armies to fight against Babylon! Prepare the nations to attack Babylon. Summon [the armies of] the kingdoms [north of Babylonia]—from Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a commander for them, and bring [a great number of] horses; [there must be a huge number of horses]; that [huge number] will resemble [SIM] a swarm of locusts.
שְׂאוּ־נֵ֣ס בָּאָ֗רֶץ תִּקְע֨וּ שֹׁופָ֤ר בַּגֹּויִם֙ קַדְּשׁ֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ גֹּויִ֔ם הַשְׁמִ֧יעוּ עָלֶ֛יהָ מַמְלְכֹ֥ות אֲרָרַ֖ט מִנִּ֣י וְאַשְׁכְּנָ֑ז פִּקְד֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ טִפְסָ֔ר הַֽעֲלוּ־ס֖וּס כְּיֶ֥לֶק סָמָֽר׃
28 Prepare the [armies of other nations], armies that will be led by the kings of Media [and Persia], their governors and [their] officials.
קַדְּשׁ֨וּ עָלֶ֤יהָ גֹויִם֙ אֶת־מַלְכֵ֣י מָדַ֔י אֶת־פַּחֹותֶ֖יהָ וְאֶת־כָּל־סְגָנֶ֑יהָ וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־אֶ֥רֶץ מֶמְשַׁלְתֹּֽו׃
29 [When they attack Babylon, it will be as though] the earth will shake and writhe [in pain], because [those armies] will accomplish everything that Yahweh has planned to do to Babylon; they will destroy it completely, [with the result that] no one will live there [again].
וַתִּרְעַ֥שׁ הָאָ֖רֶץ וַתָּחֹ֑ל כִּ֣י קָ֤מָה עַל־בָּבֶל֙ מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ות יְהוָ֔ה לָשׂ֞וּם אֶת־אֶ֧רֶץ בָּבֶ֛ל לְשַׁמָּ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין יֹושֵֽׁב׃
30 [When their enemies attack], the strongest warriors in Babylon will not fight. They will remain in their barracks, without any strength. They will be as timid/weak as [SIM] women. [The enemy soldiers] will burn the buildings in the city and pull down the bars [of the city gates].
חָדְלוּ֩ גִבֹּורֵ֨י בָבֶ֜ל לְהִלָּחֵ֗ם יָֽשְׁבוּ֙ בַּמְּצָדֹ֔ות נָשְׁתָ֥ה גְבוּרָתָ֖ם הָי֣וּ לְנָשִׁ֑ים הִצִּ֥יתוּ מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יהָ נִשְׁבְּר֥וּ בְרִיחֶֽיהָ׃
31 Messengers will go quickly, one after another, to tell the king that his city has been captured.
רָ֤ץ לִקְרַאת־רָץ֙ יָר֔וּץ וּמַגִּ֖יד לִקְרַ֣את מַגִּ֑יד לְהַגִּיד֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל כִּֽי־נִלְכְּדָ֥ה עִירֹ֖ו מִקָּצֶֽה׃
32 The places at which people can cross the river [to escape from the city] will be blocked. The dry reeds in the marshes/swamps will be set on fire, and the soldiers of Babylon will be terrified.
וְהַמַּעְבָּרֹ֣ות נִתְפָּ֔שׂוּ וְאֶת־הָאֲגַמִּ֖ים שָׂרְפ֣וּ בָאֵ֑שׁ וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה נִבְהָֽלוּ׃ ס
33 This is what the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom [we] Israelis [worship], says; “Babylon is like [SIM] wheat on the ground where it is about to be threshed by [animals] tramping on it. Very soon [their enemies] will trample on [the city of] Babylon [MET].”
כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאֹות֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בַּת־בָּבֶ֕ל כְּגֹ֖רֶן עֵ֣ת הִדְרִיכָ֑הּ עֹ֣וד מְעַ֔ט וּבָ֥אָה עֵֽת־הַקָּצִ֖יר לָֽהּ׃
34 [The army of] Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, has attacked and crushed us [Israeli people], and we have no strength [left]. [It is as though] they have swallowed us like a [great] monster that filled its belly with all our tasty parts, and then has spit out [what it did not like].
אֲכָלָנוּ (אֲכָלַ֣נִי) הֲמָמָנוּ (הֲמָמַ֗נִי) נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר֮ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶל֒ הִצִּיגָנוּ (הִצִּיגַ֙נִי֙) כְּלִ֣י רִ֔יק בְּלָעָנוּ (בְּלָעַ֙נִי֙) כַּתַּנִּ֔ין מִלָּ֥א כְרֵשֹׂ֖ו מֵֽעֲדָנָ֑י הֱדִיחָֽנוּ (הֱדִיחָֽנִי)׃
35 [So] the people of [PRS] Jerusalem say [to Yahweh], “Cause the people of Babylon to suffer like they caused us to suffer! Cause the people of Babylonia to be punished for killing [MTY] our people!”
חֲמָסִ֤י וּשְׁאֵרִי֙ עַל־בָּבֶ֔ל תֹּאמַ֖ר יֹשֶׁ֣בֶת צִיֹּ֑ון וְדָמִי֙ אֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י כַשְׂדִּ֔ים תֹּאמַ֖ר יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ ס
36 And this is what Yahweh replies to the people of Jerusalem: “I will [be like your lawyer to] defend you, and I will avenge you. I will dry up the river in Babylon and [all] the springs of water.
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִי־רָב֙ אֶת־רִיבֵ֔ךְ וְנִקַּמְתִּ֖י אֶת־נִקְמָתֵ֑ךְ וְהַחֲרַבְתִּי֙ אֶת־יַמָּ֔הּ וְהֹבַשְׁתִּ֖י אֶת־מְקֹורָֽהּ׃
37 Babylon will become a heap of ruins, a place where jackals/wolves live. It will become a place that people are horrified about and will ridicule; it will be a place where no one lives.
וְהָיְתָה֩ בָבֶ֨ל ׀ לְגַלִּ֧ים ׀ מְעֹון־תַּנִּ֛ים שַׁמָּ֥ה וּשְׁרֵקָ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין יֹושֵֽׁב׃
38 The people of Babylon will [all] roar like young lions; they will growl like baby lions.
יַחְדָּ֖ו כַּכְּפִרִ֣ים יִשְׁאָ֑גוּ נָעֲר֖וּ כְּגֹורֵ֥י אֲרָיֹֽות׃
39 But while they are extremely hungry, I will prepare a [different kind of] feast for them. [It is as though] I will cause them to drink wine until they are very drunk, [with the result that] they will fall asleep. But they will never wake up from that sleep!
בְּחֻמָּ֞ם אָשִׁ֣ית אֶת־מִשְׁתֵּיהֶ֗ם וְהִשְׁכַּרְתִּים֙ לְמַ֣עַן יַעֲלֹ֔זוּ וְיָשְׁנ֥וּ שְׁנַת־עֹולָ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יָקִ֑יצוּ נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃
40 I will bring them down to a place where they will be slaughtered, like [SIM] [someone who takes] lambs or rams or goats [to where they will be slaughtered for sacrifices].
אֹֽורִידֵ֖ם כְּכָרִ֣ים לִטְבֹ֑וחַ כְּאֵילִ֖ים עִם־עַתּוּדִֽים׃
41 People all over the earth [now] (honor/praise) Babylon; they say that it is a great city. But I will cause it to become a [place about which people of all] nations are horrified.
אֵ֚יךְ נִלְכְּדָ֣ה שֵׁשַׁ֔ךְ וַתִּתָּפֵ֖שׂ תְּהִלַּ֣ת כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֵ֣יךְ הָיְתָ֧ה לְשַׁמָּ֛ה בָּבֶ֖ל בַּגֹּויִֽם׃
42 The [enemies of Babylon] will cover the city [like] huge waves of the sea [DOU].
עָלָ֥ה עַל־בָּבֶ֖ל הַיָּ֑ם בַּהֲמֹ֥ון גַּלָּ֖יו נִכְסָֽתָה׃
43 The towns in Babylonia will become ruins, Babylonia will become a dry desert area. It will be a land in which no one lives and which no one walks through.
הָי֤וּ עָרֶ֙יהָ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה אֶ֖רֶץ צִיָּ֣ה וַעֲרָבָ֑ה אֶ֗רֶץ לֹֽא־יֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּהֵן֙ כָּל־אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹֽא־יַעֲבֹ֥ר בָּהֵ֖ן בֶּן־אָדָֽם׃
44 And I will punish Bel, [the god that the people] of Babylon [worship], and I will cause the people to give back what they have stolen [MET]. [People of other] nations will no longer come to [worship] Bel. And the walls of Babylon will collapse.”
וּפָקַדְתִּ֨י עַל־בֵּ֜ל בְּבָבֶ֗ל וְהֹצֵאתִ֤י אֶת־בִּלְעֹו֙ מִפִּ֔יו וְלֹֽא־יִנְהֲר֥וּ אֵלָ֛יו עֹ֖וד גֹּויִ֑ם גַּם־חֹומַ֥ת בָּבֶ֖ל נָפָֽלָה׃
45 [Yahweh also says, ] “My people, come out of Babylon! Run away from there! Run, because [I], Yahweh, am extremely angry [MTY] [with the people of Babylon, and I will get rid of them]!
צְא֤וּ מִתֹּוכָהּ֙ עַמִּ֔י וּמַלְּט֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־נַפְשֹׁ֑ו מֵחֲרֹ֖ון אַף־יְהוָֽה׃
46 Do not be discouraged/worried [IDM] or afraid when you hear reports [about what is happening in Babylon]. People will report rumors like that every year, rumors about violent things being done in the land, and rumors about leaders fighting against each other.
וּפֶן־יֵרַ֤ךְ לְבַבְכֶם֙ וְתִֽירְא֔וּ בַּשְּׁמוּעָ֖ה הַנִּשְׁמַ֣עַת בָּאָ֑רֶץ וּבָ֧א בַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁמוּעָ֗ה וְאַחֲרָ֤יו בַּשָּׁנָה֙ הַשְּׁמוּעָ֔ה וְחָמָ֣ס בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּמֹשֵׁ֖ל עַל־מֹשֵֽׁל׃
47 But it will soon be the time for me to get rid of the idols in Babylon. [People all over] the land will be ashamed [because of being defeated]; and the corpses of their [soldiers] will lie in the streets.
לָכֵן֙ הִנֵּ֣ה יָמִ֣ים בָּאִ֔ים וּפָקַדְתִּי֙ עַל־פְּסִילֵ֣י בָבֶ֔ל וְכָל־אַרְצָ֖הּ תֵּבֹ֑ושׁ וְכָל־חֲלָלֶ֖יהָ יִפְּל֥וּ בְתֹוכָֽהּ׃
48 Then all [the angels in] heaven and all the [people on] [PRS] the earth will rejoice, because from the north will come [armies] that will destroy Babylon.
וְרִנְּנ֤וּ עַל־בָּבֶל֙ שָׁמַ֣יִם וָאָ֔רֶץ וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם כִּ֧י מִצָּפֹ֛ון יָבֹוא־לָ֥הּ הַשֹּׁודְדִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
49 Like [the soldiers of Babylon] killed the people of Israel and [also] killed others all over the world [HYP], [the people of] Babylon must also be killed.
גַּם־בָּבֶ֕ל לִנְפֹּ֖ל חַֽלְלֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל גַּם־לְבָבֶ֥ל נָפְל֖וּ חַֽלְלֵ֥י כָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
50 You [Israeli people] who have not been killed [MTY], get out of Babylon! Do not wait! [Even though you are in a land] far away [from Israel], think about Yahweh, and think about Jerusalem!”
פְּלֵטִ֣ים מֵחֶ֔רֶב הִלְכ֖וּ אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹ֑דוּ זִכְר֤וּ מֵֽרָחֹוק֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה וִירֽוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם תַּעֲלֶ֥ה עַל־לְבַבְכֶֽם׃
51 [The Israeli people say], “We are ashamed. We are completely disgraced [DOU], because foreigners have entered Yahweh’s temple [and (defiled it/caused it to become unfit for worship)].”
בֹּ֚שְׁנוּ כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֣עְנוּ חֶרְפָּ֔ה כִּסְּתָ֥ה כְלִמָּ֖ה פָּנֵ֑ינוּ כִּ֚י בָּ֣אוּ זָרִ֔ים עַֽל־מִקְדְּשֵׁ֖י בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃ ס
52 Yahweh replies, “[That is true], but there will soon be a time when I will destroy the idols in Babylon, and throughout Babylonia there will be wounded people who will groan.
לָכֵ֞ן הִנֵּֽה־יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וּפָקַדְתִּ֖י עַל־פְּסִילֶ֑יהָ וּבְכָל־אַרְצָ֖הּ יֶאֱנֹ֥ק חָלָֽל׃
53 Even if [the walls around] Babylon could extend up to the sky, and if its walls/fortifications were extremely strong, I will send [armies] that will destroy the city. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.”
כִּֽי־תַעֲלֶ֤ה בָבֶל֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְכִ֥י תְבַצֵּ֖ר מְרֹ֣ום עֻזָּ֑הּ מֵאִתִּ֗י יָבֹ֧אוּ שֹׁדְדִ֛ים לָ֖הּ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ ס
54 Listen to [the people of] Babylon crying [for help]! And listen to the sounds of things being destroyed all over Babylonia!
קֹ֥ול זְעָקָ֖ה מִבָּבֶ֑ל וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֹ֖ול מֵאֶ֥רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃
55 Yahweh will be destroying Babylon. He will cause the loud noises in the city to cease.
כִּֽי־שֹׁדֵ֤ד יְהוָה֙ אֶת־בָּבֶ֔ל וְאִבַּ֥ד מִמֶּ֖נָּה קֹ֣ול גָּדֹ֑ול וְהָמ֤וּ גַלֵּיהֶם֙ כְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּ֔ים נִתַּ֥ן שְׁאֹ֖ון קֹולָֽם׃
56 Enemy troops will surge against the city like [SIM] a great wave. They will capture the city’s mighty soldiers and break their weapons. [That will happen] because Yahweh is a God who punishes [his enemies] justly; he will punish them as they deserve.
כִּי֩ בָ֨א עָלֶ֤יהָ עַל־בָּבֶל֙ שֹׁודֵ֔ד וְנִלְכְּדוּ֙ גִּבֹּורֶ֔יהָ חִתְּתָ֖ה קַשְּׁתֹותָ֑ם כִּ֣י אֵ֧ל גְּמֻלֹ֛ות יְהוָ֖ה שַׁלֵּ֥ם יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃
57 The king, the Commander of the armies of angels says, “I will cause the city officials and wise men, the army captains and soldiers [in Babylon] to become drunk. They will fall asleep, but they will never wake up [again]!”
וְ֠הִשְׁכַּרְתִּי שָׂרֶ֨יהָ וַחֲכָמֶ֜יהָ פַּחֹותֶ֤יהָ וּסְגָנֶ֙יהָ֙ וְגִבֹּורֶ֔יהָ וְיָשְׁנ֥וּ שְׁנַת־עֹולָ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יָקִ֑יצוּ נְאֻ֨ם־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹ֖ות שְׁמֹֽו׃ ס
58 Yahweh also says, “The thick walls around Babylon will be flattened to the ground. The city gates will be burned. People [from other countries] will work hard [to save the city], but it will be (in vain/useless), because everything [that they have built] will be destroyed by fire.”
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֗ות חֹ֠מֹות בָּבֶ֤ל הָֽרְחָבָה֙ עַרְעֵ֣ר תִּתְעַרְעָ֔ר וּשְׁעָרֶ֥יהָ הַגְּבֹהִ֖ים בָּאֵ֣שׁ יִצַּ֑תּוּ וְיִֽגְע֨וּ עַמִּ֧ים בְּדֵי־רִ֛יק וּלְאֻמִּ֥ים בְּדֵי־אֵ֖שׁ וְיָעֵֽפוּ׃ ס
59 Seraiah was the man who made arrangements for the King of Babylon [whenever he traveled]. He was the son of Neraiah and grandson of Mahseiah. When he was about to go to Babylon with King Zedekiah, after Zedekiah had been ruling Judah for almost four years, the prophet Jeremiah gave him a message.
הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֣ה ׀ יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֗יא אֶת־שְׂרָיָ֣ה בֶן־נֵרִיָּה֮ בֶּן־מַחְסֵיָה֒ בְּלֶכְתֹּ֞ו אֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֤הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ בָּבֶ֔ל בִּשְׁנַ֥ת הָרְבִעִ֖ית לְמָלְכֹ֑ו וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה שַׂ֥ר מְנוּחָֽה׃
60 Jeremiah had written on a scroll a list of all the disasters that he had written about, disasters that would soon occur in Babylon.
וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ אֵ֧ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־תָּבֹ֥וא אֶל־בָּבֶ֖ל אֶל־סֵ֣פֶר אֶחָ֑ד אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה הַכְּתֻבִ֖ים אֶל־בָּבֶֽל׃
61 He said to Seraiah, “When you arrive in Babylon, read [aloud] everything that I have written [on this scroll].
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־שְׂרָיָ֑ה כְּבֹאֲךָ֣ בָבֶ֔ל וְֽרָאִ֔יתָ וְֽקָרָ֔אתָ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
62 Then pray, ‘Yahweh, you said that you will thoroughly destroy Babylon, with the result that people and animals will no [longer] live there. You said that it will be desolate forever.’
וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ יְהוָה֙ אַתָּ֨ה דִבַּ֜רְתָּ אֶל־הַמָּקֹ֤ום הַזֶּה֙ לְהַכְרִיתֹ֔ו לְבִלְתִּ֤י הֱיֹֽות־בֹּו֙ יֹושֵׁ֔ב לְמֵאָדָ֖ם וְעַד־בְּהֵמָ֑ה כִּֽי־שִׁמְמֹ֥ות עֹולָ֖ם תִּֽהְיֶֽה׃
63 [Then], when you have finished reading [what I have written on] the scroll, tie it to a [heavy] stone and throw it into the Euphrates [River].
וְהָיָה֙ כְּכַלֹּ֣תְךָ֔ לִקְרֹ֖א אֶת־הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֑ה תִּקְשֹׁ֤ר עָלָיו֙ אֶ֔בֶן וְהִשְׁלַכְתֹּ֖ו אֶל־תֹּ֥וךְ פְּרָֽת׃
64 Then say, ‘In the same way, Babylon [and its people] will disappear and never exist again, because of the disasters that Yahweh will cause to occur there’” That is the end of Jeremiah’s messages.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ כָּ֠כָה תִּשְׁקַ֨ע בָּבֶ֤ל וְלֹֽא־תָקוּם֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מֵבִ֥יא עָלֶ֖יהָ וְיָעֵ֑פוּ עַד־הֵ֖נָּה דִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָֽהוּ׃ ס

< Jeremiah 51 >