ירמיה 18

1 הדבר אשר היה אל ירמיהו מאת יהוה לאמר

Yahweh gave another message to me. [He said],

2 קום וירדת בית היוצר ושמה אשמיעך את דברי

“Go to the shop of the man who makes clay pots. I will give you a message there.”

3 וארד בית היוצר והנהו (והנה הוא) עשה מלאכה על האבנים

So I went to that shop, and I saw the man who makes pots. He was working at the wheel [that he uses to form pots].

4 ונשחת הכלי אשר הוא עשה בחמר--ביד היוצר ושב ויעשהו כלי אחר כאשר ישר בעיני היוצר לעשות

But when he finished making one jar, it was not as good as he hoped/wanted it to be. [So], he took that clay and formed it into another jar, shaping it as he desired.

5 ויהי דבר יהוה אלי לאמור

Then Yahweh gave me this message:

6 הכיוצר הזה לא אוכל לעשות לכם בית ישראל--נאם יהוה הנה כחמר ביד היוצר כן אתם בידי בית ישראל

“Perhaps the people of Israel [think that] I cannot do to them like this man who makes pots has done [RHQ]. [But what they think is wrong]. I [can control what happens to them like] this man [controls what he does with the clay] in his hands.

7 רגע אדבר על גוי ועל ממלכה לנתוש ולנתוץ ולהאביד

There may be a time when I proclaim that I will get rid of a nation or kingdom, [like someone] pulls up [a plant with its roots], and smashes it, and destroys it.

8 ושב הגוי ההוא מרעתו אשר דברתי עליו--ונחמתי על הרעה אשר חשבתי לעשות לו

But if [the people of] that nation repent of doing evil things, I will not send to them the disasters that I planned to send.

9 ורגע אדבר על גוי ועל ממלכה לבנות ולנטוע

And there may be a time when I proclaim that I will establish a nation or kingdom and cause it to be strong [MET].

10 ועשה הרעה (הרע) בעיני לבלתי שמע בקולי--ונחמתי על הטובה אשר אמרתי להיטיב אותו

But if [the people of] that nation [start to] do evil things and refuse to obey me, then I will not bless them as I said that I would do.

11 ועתה אמר נא אל איש יהודה ועל יושבי ירושלם לאמר כה אמר יהוה הנה אנכי יוצר עליכם רעה וחשב עליכם מחשבה שובו נא איש מדרכו הרעה והיטיבו דרכיכם ומעלליכם

Therefore, [Jeremiah, go and warn all] the people in Jerusalem and [in other places] in Judah. Say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh says: “I am planning to cause you to experience a disaster [DOU]. [So], each of you should turn from your evil behavior and start doing what is right, [in order that you will not experience that disaster].”’’”

12 ואמרו נואש כי אחרי מחשבותינו נלך ואיש שררות לבו הרע נעשה

[So I told that message to the people], but they replied, “It is useless [for you to tell us that]. We will [continue to] be stubborn and behave as we want to.”

13 לכן כה אמר יהוה שאלו נא בגוים מי שמע כאלה שעררת עשתה מאד בתולת ישראל

So, this is what Yahweh says: “Ask the [people who live in other] nations if they have [RHQ] ever heard of such a thing. My Israeli people, who [have been pure like] [MET] virgins, have done a terrible thing!

14 היעזב מצור שדי שלג לבנון אם ינתשו מים זרים קרים--נוזלים

The snow certainly never [RHQ] completely disappears/melts from the rocky slopes of the mountains in Lebanon. The cold streams that flow down from those distant mountains never [RHQ] cease flowing.

15 כי שכחני עמי לשוא יקטרו ויכשלום בדרכיהם שבילי עולם ללכת נתיבות דרך לא סלולה

But my people [are not as reliable as those streams: ] They have abandoned me. They burn incense to [honor/worship] worthless idols. [It is as though] they have stumbled as they walked along very old roads that are good roads, and now, instead, they are walking on dirt paths.

16 לשום ארצם לשמה שרוקת (שריקת) עולם כל עובר עליה ישם ויניד בראשו

Therefore, their land will become desolate, and people who see it will hiss [to ridicule it]. Everyone who passes by will be appalled; they will shake their heads [to show that they are shocked].

17 כרוח קדים אפיצם לפני אויב ערף ולא פנים אראם ביום אידם

I will scatter the people when their enemies [attack them] like dust is scattered by an east wind. And when they experience all those difficulties/disasters, I will turn my back on them [and refuse] to help them.”

18 ויאמרו לכו ונחשבה על ירמיהו מחשבות--כי לא תאבד תורה מכהן ועצה מחכם ודבר מנביא לכו ונכהו בלשון ואל נקשיבה אל כל דבריו

Then some of the people said, “Come, let’s plan to attack Jeremiah. We have [many] priests who teach us God’s laws, and wise men who give us good advice, and prophets who tell us [what will happen. We do not need Jeremiah!] So, let’s slander him and not pay attention to anything that he says.”

19 הקשיבה יהוה אלי ושמע לקול יריבי

[Then I prayed], “Yahweh, [please] listen to me! And listen to what my enemies are saying about me.

20 הישלם תחת טובה רעה כי כרו שוחה לנפשי זכר עמדי לפניך לדבר עליהם טובה להשיב את חמתך מהם

I am doing things that are good, so it is disgusting that [RHQ] they are paying me back by doing evil [things to me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into] and die. Do not forget that [one time] I stood in front of you and pleaded for you [to help them], and I tried to prevent you from [punishing them] [MTY], even though you were very angry with them.

21 לכן תן את בניהם לרעב והגרם על ידי חרב ותהינה נשיהם שכלות ואלמנות ואנשיהם יהיו הרגי מות בחוריהם מכי חרב במלחמה

So [now], allow their children to die from hunger! Or cause them to be killed by [their enemies’] swords! Cause their wives to become widows, whose children are all dead! Cause their [old] men to die in a plague, and cause their young men to be killed in battles!

22 תשמע זעקה מבתיהם כי תביא עליהם גדוד פתאם כי כרו שיחה (שוחה) ללכדני ופחים טמנו לרגלי

Cause people to scream in their homes when enemy soldiers suddenly come into their houses! [Cause all those things to happen to them] because they [want to kill me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into], and they have hidden traps along my path.

23 ואתה יהוה ידעת את כל עצתם עלי למות--אל תכפר על עונם וחטאתם מלפניך אל תמחי והיו (ויהיו) מכשלים לפניך בעת אפך עשה בהם

Yahweh, you know all the things that they are planning to do to kill me. Do not forgive them for their crimes or blot out [the record of] their sins. Cause them to be destroyed; punish them because of your being angry [with them]!”