ירמיה 23

1 הוֹי רֹעִים מְאַבְּדִים וּמְפִצִים אֶת־צֹאן מַרְעִיתִי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.

2 לָכֵן כֹּֽה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַֽל־הָרֹעִים הָרֹעִים אֶת־עַמִּי אַתֶּם הֲפִֽצֹתֶם אֶת־צֹאנִי וַתַּדִּחוּם וְלֹא פְקַדְתֶּם אֹתָם הִנְנִי פֹקֵד עֲלֵיכֶם אֶת־רֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says against the shepherds who feed my people: “You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not visited them. Behold, I will visit on you the evil of your doings,” says Yahweh.

3 וַאֲנִי אֲקַבֵּץ אֶת־שְׁאֵרִית צֹאנִי מִכֹּל הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר־הִדַּחְתִּי אֹתָם שָׁם וַהֲשִׁבֹתִי אֶתְהֶן עַל־נְוֵהֶן וּפָרוּ וְרָבֽוּ׃

“I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they will be fruitful and multiply.

4 וַהֲקִמֹתִי עֲלֵיהֶם רֹעִים וְרָעוּם וְלֹא־יִֽירְאוּ עוֹד וְלֹא־יֵחַתּוּ וְלֹא יִפָּקֵדוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them. They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, neither will any be lacking,” says Yahweh.

5 הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וַהֲקִמֹתִי לְדָוִד צֶמַח צַדִּיק וּמָלַךְ מֶלֶךְ וְהִשְׂכִּיל וְעָשָׂה מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch; and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.

6 בְּיָמָיו תִּוָּשַׁע יְהוּדָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל יִשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח וְזֶה־שְּׁמוֹ אֲֽשֶׁר־יִקְרְאוֹ יְהֹוָה ׀ צִדְקֵֽנוּ׃

In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. This is his name by which he will be called: Yahweh our righteousness.

7 לָכֵן הִנֵּה־יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וְלֹא־יֹאמְרוּ עוֹד חַי־יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָה אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

“Therefore, behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that they will no more say, ‘As Yahweh lives, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’

8 כִּי אִם־חַי־יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָה וַאֲשֶׁר הֵבִיא אֶת־זֶרַע בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ צָפוֹנָה וּמִכֹּל הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר הִדַּחְתִּים שָׁם וְיָשְׁבוּ עַל־אַדְמָתָֽם׃

but, ‘As Yahweh lives, who brought up and who led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ Then they will dwell in their own land.”

9 לַנְּבִאִים נִשְׁבַּר לִבִּי בְקִרְבִּי רָֽחֲפוּ כׇּל־עַצְמוֹתַי הָיִיתִי כְּאִישׁ שִׁכּוֹר וּכְגֶבֶר עֲבָרוֹ יָיִן מִפְּנֵי יְהֹוָה וּמִפְּנֵי דִּבְרֵי קׇדְשֽׁוֹ׃

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 has overcome, because of Yahweh, and because of his holy words.

10 כִּי מְנָֽאֲפִים מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ כִּֽי־מִפְּנֵי אָלָה אָבְלָה הָאָרֶץ יָבְשׁוּ נְאוֹת מִדְבָּר וַתְּהִי מְרֽוּצָתָם רָעָה וּגְבוּרָתָם לֹא־כֵֽן׃

“For the land is full of adulterers; for because of the curse the land mourns. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right;

11 כִּֽי־גַם־נָבִיא גַם־כֹּהֵן חָנֵפוּ גַּם־בְּבֵיתִי מָצָאתִי רָעָתָם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

for both prophet and priest are profane. Yes, in my house I have found their wickedness,” says Yahweh.

12 לָכֵן יִהְיֶה דַרְכָּם לָהֶם כַּחֲלַקְלַקּוֹת בָּאֲפֵלָה יִדַּחוּ וְנָפְלוּ בָהּ כִּֽי־אָבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם רָעָה שְׁנַת פְּקֻדָּתָם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

Therefore their way will be to them as slippery places in the darkness. They will be driven on, and fall therein; for I will bring evil on them, even the year of their visitation,” says Yahweh.

13 וּבִנְבִיאֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן רָאִיתִי תִפְלָה הִנַּבְּאוּ בַבַּעַל וַיַּתְעוּ אֶת־עַמִּי אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

“I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria. They prophesied by Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.

14 וּבִנְבִאֵי יְרֽוּשָׁלַ͏ִם רָאִיתִי שַׁעֲרוּרָה נָאוֹף וְהָלֹךְ בַּשֶּׁקֶר וְחִזְּקוּ יְדֵי מְרֵעִים לְבִלְתִּי־שָׁבוּ אִישׁ מֵרָעָתוֹ הָיוּ־לִי כֻלָּם כִּסְדֹם וְיֹשְׁבֶיהָ כַּעֲמֹרָֽה׃

In the prophets of Jerusalem I have also seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one returns from his wickedness. They have all become to me as Sodom, and its inhabitants as Gomorrah.”

15 לָכֵן כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עַל־הַנְּבִאִים הִנְנִי מַאֲכִיל אוֹתָם לַעֲנָה וְהִשְׁקִתִים מֵי־רֹאשׁ כִּי מֵאֵת נְבִיאֵי יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם יָצְאָה חֲנֻפָּה לְכׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Therefore Yahweh of Armies says concerning the prophets: “Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink poisoned water; for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone out into all the land.”

16 כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת אַֽל־תִּשְׁמְעוּ עַל־דִּבְרֵי הַנְּבִאִים הַנִּבְּאִים לָכֶם מַהְבִּלִים הֵמָּה אֶתְכֶם חֲזוֹן לִבָּם יְדַבֵּרוּ לֹא מִפִּי יְהֹוָֽה׃

Yahweh of Armies says, “Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh.

17 אֹמְרִים אָמוֹר לִֽמְנַאֲצַי דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה שָׁלוֹם יִהְיֶה לָכֶם וְכֹל הֹלֵךְ בִּשְׁרִרוּת לִבּוֹ אָֽמְרוּ לֹא־תָבוֹא עֲלֵיכֶם רָעָֽה׃

They say continually to those who despise me, ‘Yahweh has said, “You will have peace;”’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, ‘No evil will come on you.’

18 כִּי מִי עָמַד בְּסוֹד יְהֹוָה וְיֵרֶא וְיִשְׁמַע אֶת־דְּבָרוֹ מִי־הִקְשִׁיב (דברי) [דְּבָרוֹ] וַיִּשְׁמָֽע׃

For who has stood in the council of Yahweh, that he should perceive and hear his word? Who has listened to my word, and heard it?

19 הִנֵּה ׀ סַעֲרַת יְהֹוָה חֵמָה יָֽצְאָה וְסַעַר מִתְחוֹלֵל עַל רֹאשׁ רְשָׁעִים יָחֽוּל׃

Behold, Yahweh’s storm, his wrath, has gone out. Yes, a whirling storm! It will burst on the head of the wicked.

20 לֹא יָשׁוּב אַף־יְהֹוָה עַד־עֲשֹׂתוֹ וְעַד־הֲקִימוֹ מְזִמּוֹת לִבּוֹ בְּאַֽחֲרִית הַיָּמִים תִּתְבּוֹנְנוּ בָהּ בִּינָֽה׃

Yahweh’s anger will not return until he has executed and performed the intents of his heart. In the latter days, you will understand it perfectly.

21 לֹא־שָׁלַחְתִּי אֶת־הַנְּבִאִים וְהֵם רָצוּ לֹא־דִבַּרְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶם וְהֵם נִבָּֽאוּ׃

I didn’t send these prophets, yet they ran. I didn’t speak to them, yet they prophesied.

22 וְאִם־עָמְדוּ בְּסוֹדִי וְיַשְׁמִעוּ דְבָרַי אֶת־עַמִּי וִֽישִׁבוּם מִדַּרְכָּם הָרָע וּמֵרֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃

But if they had stood in my council, then they would have caused my people to hear my words, and would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

23 הַאֱלֹהֵי מִקָּרֹב אָנִי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וְלֹא אֱלֹהֵי מֵרָחֹֽק׃

“Am I a God at hand,” says Yahweh, “and not a God afar off?

24 אִם־יִסָּתֵר אִישׁ בַּמִּסְתָּרִים וַאֲנִי לֹֽא־אֶרְאֶנּוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה הֲלוֹא אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֲנִי מָלֵא נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I can’t see him?” says Yahweh. “Don’t I fill heaven and earth?” says Yahweh.

25 שָׁמַעְתִּי אֵת אֲשֶׁר־אָֽמְרוּ הַנְּבִאִים הַֽנִּבְּאִים בִּשְׁמִי שֶׁקֶר לֵאמֹר חָלַמְתִּי חָלָֽמְתִּי׃

“I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’

26 עַד־מָתַי הֲיֵשׁ בְּלֵב הַנְּבִאִים נִבְּאֵי הַשָּׁקֶר וּנְבִיאֵי תַּרְמִת לִבָּֽם׃

How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, even the prophets of the deceit of their own heart?

27 הַחֹשְׁבִים לְהַשְׁכִּיחַ אֶת־עַמִּי שְׁמִי בַּחֲלוֹמֹתָם אֲשֶׁר יְסַפְּרוּ אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכְחוּ אֲבוֹתָם אֶת־שְׁמִי בַּבָּֽעַל׃

They intend to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they each tell his neighbor, as their fathers forgot my name because of Baal.

28 הַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ חֲלוֹם יְסַפֵּר חֲלוֹם וַאֲשֶׁר דְּבָרִי אִתּוֹ יְדַבֵּר דְּבָרִי אֱמֶת מַה־לַתֶּבֶן אֶת־הַבָּר נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat?” says Yahweh.

29 הֲלוֹא כֹה דְבָרִי כָּאֵשׁ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וּכְפַטִּישׁ יְפֹצֵֽץ סָֽלַע׃

“Isn’t my word like fire?” says Yahweh; “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

30 לָכֵן הִנְנִי עַל־הַנְּבִאִים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה מְגַנְּבֵי דְבָרַי אִישׁ מֵאֵת רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who each steal my words from his neighbor.

31 הִנְנִי עַל־הַנְּבִיאִם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה הַלֹּקְחִים לְשׁוֹנָם וַֽיִּנְאֲמוּ נְאֻֽם׃

Behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who use their tongues, and say, ‘He says.’

32 הִנְנִי עַֽל־נִבְּאֵי חֲלֹמוֹת שֶׁקֶר נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וַֽיְסַפְּרוּם וַיַּתְעוּ אֶת־עַמִּי בְּשִׁקְרֵיהֶם וּבְפַחֲזוּתָם וְאָנֹכִי לֹֽא־שְׁלַחְתִּים וְלֹא צִוִּיתִים וְהוֹעֵיל לֹא־יוֹעִילוּ לָעָם־הַזֶּה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams,” says Yahweh, “who tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting; yet I didn’t send them or command them. They don’t profit this people at all,” says Yahweh.

33 וְכִֽי־יִשְׁאָלְךָ הָעָם הַזֶּה אֽוֹ־הַנָּבִיא אֽוֹ־כֹהֵן לֵאמֹר מַה־מַּשָּׂא יְהֹוָה וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם אֶת־מַה־מַּשָּׂא וְנָטַשְׁתִּי אֶתְכֶם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

“When this people, or the prophet, or a priest, asks you, saying, ‘What is the message from Yahweh?’ Then you shall tell them, ‘“What message? I will cast you off,” says Yahweh.’

34 וְהַנָּבִיא וְהַכֹּהֵן וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר מַשָּׂא יְהֹוָה וּפָקַדְתִּי עַל־הָאִישׁ הַהוּא וְעַל־בֵּיתֽוֹ׃

As for the prophet, the priest, and the people, who say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ I will even punish that man and his household.

35 כֹּה תֹאמְרוּ אִישׁ עַל־רֵעֵהוּ וְאִישׁ אֶל־אָחִיו מֶה־עָנָה יְהֹוָה וּמַה־דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָֽה׃

You will say everyone to his neighbor, and everyone to his brother, ‘What has Yahweh answered?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh said?’

36 וּמַשָּׂא יְהֹוָה לֹא תִזְכְּרוּ־עוֹד כִּי הַמַּשָּׂא יִֽהְיֶה לְאִישׁ דְּבָרוֹ וַהֲפַכְתֶּם אֶת־דִּבְרֵי אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

You will mention the message from Yahweh no more, for every man’s own word has become his message; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of Yahweh of Armies, our God.

37 כֹּה תֹאמַר אֶל־הַנָּבִיא מֶה־עָנָךְ יְהֹוָה וּמַה־דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָֽה׃

You will say to the prophet, ‘What has Yahweh answered you?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’

38 וְאִם־מַשָּׂא יְהֹוָה תֹּאמֵרוּ לָכֵן כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה יַעַן אֲמׇרְכֶם אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה מַשָּׂא יְהֹוָה וָאֶשְׁלַח אֲלֵיכֶם לֵאמֹר לֹא תֹאמְרוּ מַשָּׂא יְהֹוָֽה׃

Although you say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ therefore Yahweh says: ‘Because you say this word, “The message from Yahweh,” and I have sent to you, telling you not to say, “The message from Yahweh,”

39 לָכֵן הִנְנִי וְנָשִׁיתִי אֶתְכֶם נָשֹׁא וְנָטַשְׁתִּי אֶתְכֶם וְאֶת־הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לָכֶם וְלַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶם מֵעַל פָּנָֽי׃

therefore behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off with the city that I gave to you and to your fathers, away from my presence.

40 וְנָתַתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם חֶרְפַּת עוֹלָם וּכְלִמּוּת עוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר לֹא תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ׃

I will bring an everlasting reproach on you, and a perpetual shame, which will not be forgotten.’”