יִרְמְיָהוּ 23

1 הֹ֣וי רֹעִ֗ים מְאַבְּדִ֧ים וּמְפִצִ֛ים אֶת־צֹ֥אן מַרְעִיתִ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

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

2 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׃

Therefore the LORD, 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 the LORD.

3 וַאֲנִ֗י אֲקַבֵּץ֙ אֶת־שְׁאֵרִ֣ית צֹאנִ֔י מִכֹּל֙ הָאֲרָצֹ֔ות אֲשֶׁר־הִדַּ֥חְתִּי אֹתָ֖ם שָׁ֑ם וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֥י אֶתְהֶ֛ן עַל־נְוֵהֶ֖ן וּפָר֥וּ 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 וַהֲקִמֹתִ֧י עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם רֹעִ֖ים וְרָע֑וּם וְלֹא־יִֽירְא֨וּ עֹ֧וד וְלֹא־יֵחַ֛תּוּ וְלֹ֥א יִפָּקֵ֖דוּ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ ס

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 the LORD.

5 הִנֵּ֨ה יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וַהֲקִמֹתִ֥י לְדָוִ֖ד צֶ֣מַח צַדִּ֑יק וּמָ֤לַךְ מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ וְהִשְׂכִּ֔יל וְעָשָׂ֛ה מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

“Behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “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 בְּיָמָיו֙ תִּוָּשַׁ֣ע יְהוּדָ֔ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִשְׁכֹּ֣ן לָבֶ֑טַח וְזֶה־שְּׁמֹ֥ו אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־יִקְרְאֹ֖ו יְהוָ֥ה ׀ צִדְקֵֽנוּ׃ ס

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

7 לָכֵ֛ן הִנֵּֽה־יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹא־יֹ֤אמְרוּ עֹוד֙ חַי־יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֶעֱלָ֛ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

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

8 כִּ֣י אִם־חַי־יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶעֱלָה֩ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵבִ֜יא אֶת־זֶ֨רַע בֵּ֤ית יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפֹ֔ונָה וּמִכֹּל֙ הָֽאֲרָצֹ֔ות אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִדַּחְתִּ֖ים שָׁ֑ם וְיָשְׁב֖וּ עַל־אַדְמָתָֽם׃ ס

but, ‘As the LORD 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 לַנְּבִאִ֞ים נִשְׁבַּ֧ר לִבִּ֣י בְקִרְבִּ֗י רָֽחֲפוּ֙ כָּל־עַצְמֹותַ֔י הָיִ֙יתִי֙ כְּאִ֣ישׁ שִׁכֹּ֗ור וּכְגֶ֖בֶר עֲבָ֣רֹו יָ֑יִן מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וּמִפְּנֵ֖י דִּבְרֵ֥י קָדְשֹֽׁו׃

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 the LORD, and because of his holy words.

10 כִּ֤י מְנָֽאֲפִים֙ מָלְאָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּֽי־מִפְּנֵ֤י אָלָה֙ אָבְלָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ יָבְשׁ֖וּ נְאֹ֣ות מִדְבָּ֑ר וַתְּהִ֤י מְרֽוּצָתָם֙ רָעָ֔ה וּגְבוּרָתָ֖ם 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־נָבִ֥יא גַם־כֹּהֵ֖ן חָנֵ֑פוּ גַּם־בְּבֵיתִ֛י מָצָ֥אתִי רָעָתָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

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

12 לָכֵן֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה דַרְכָּ֜ם לָהֶ֗ם כַּחֲלַקְלַקֹּות֙ בָּֽאֲפֵלָ֔ה יִדַּ֖חוּ וְנָ֣פְלוּ בָ֑הּ כִּֽי־אָבִ֨יא עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם רָעָ֛ה שְׁנַ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

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 the LORD.

13 וּבִנְבִיאֵ֥י שֹׁמְרֹ֖ון רָאִ֣יתִי תִפְלָ֑ה הִנַּבְּא֣וּ בַבַּ֔עַל וַיַּתְע֥וּ אֶת־עַמִּ֖י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס

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

14 וּבִנְבִאֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם רָאִ֣יתִי שַׁעֲרוּרָ֗ה נָאֹ֞וף וְהָלֹ֤ךְ בַּשֶּׁ֙קֶר֙ וְחִזְּקוּ֙ יְדֵ֣י מְרֵעִ֔ים לְבִ֨לְתִּי־שָׁ֔בוּ אִ֖ישׁ מֵרָֽעָתֹ֑ו הָֽיוּ־לִ֤י כֻלָּם֙ כִּסְדֹ֔ם וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כַּעֲמֹרָֽה׃ ס

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 לָכֵ֞ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאֹות֙ עַל־הַנְּבִאִ֔ים הִנְנִ֨י מַאֲכִ֤יל אֹותָם֙ לַֽעֲנָ֔ה וְהִשְׁקִתִ֖ים מֵי־רֹ֑אשׁ כִּ֗י מֵאֵת֙ נְבִיאֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם יָצְאָ֥ה חֲנֻפָּ֖ה לְכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ פ

Therefore the LORD 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 כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֗ות אַֽל־תִּשְׁמְע֞וּ עַל־דִּבְרֵ֤י הַנְּבִאִים֙ הַנִּבְּאִ֣ים לָכֶ֔ם מַהְבִּלִ֥ים הֵ֖מָּה אֶתְכֶ֑ם חֲזֹ֤ון לִבָּם֙ יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ לֹ֖א מִפִּ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

The LORD 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 the LORD.

17 אֹמְרִ֤ים אָמֹור֙ לִֽמְנַאֲצַ֔י דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שָׁלֹ֖ום יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם וְ֠כֹל הֹלֵ֞ךְ בִּשְׁרִר֤וּת לִבֹּו֙ אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹֽא־תָבֹ֥וא עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם רָעָֽה׃

They say continually to those who despise me, ‘The LORD 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 כִּ֣י מִ֤י עָמַד֙ בְּסֹ֣וד יְהוָ֔ה וְיֵ֖רֶא וְיִשְׁמַ֣ע אֶת־דְּבָרֹ֑ו מִֽי־הִקְשִׁ֥יב דְּבָרִי (דְּבָרֹ֖ו) וַיִּשְׁמָֽע׃ ס

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

19 הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ סַעֲרַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה חֵמָה֙ יָֽצְאָ֔ה וְסַ֖עַר מִתְחֹולֵ֑ל עַ֛ל רֹ֥אשׁ רְשָׁעִ֖ים יָחֽוּל׃

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

20 לֹ֤א יָשׁוּב֙ אַף־יְהוָ֔ה עַד־עֲשֹׂתֹ֥ו וְעַד־הֲקִימֹ֖ו מְזִמֹּ֣ות לִבֹּ֑ו בְּאַֽחֲרִית֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים תִּתְבֹּ֥ונְנוּ בָ֖הּ בִּינָֽה׃

The LORD’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־שָׁלַ֥חְתִּי אֶת־הַנְּבִאִ֖ים וְהֵ֣ם רָ֑צוּ לֹא־דִבַּ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְהֵ֥ם נִבָּֽאוּ׃

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

22 וְאִֽם־עָמְד֖וּ בְּסֹודִ֑י וְיַשְׁמִ֤עוּ דְבָרַי֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וִֽישִׁבוּם֙ מִדַּרְכָּ֣ם הָרָ֔ע וּמֵרֹ֖עַ מַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ ס

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 הַאֱלֹהֵ֧י מִקָּרֹ֛ב אָ֖נִי נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א אֱלֹהֵ֖י מֵרָחֹֽק׃

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

24 אִם־יִסָּתֵ֨ר אִ֧ישׁ בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֛ים וַאֲנִ֥י לֹֽא־אֶרְאֶ֖נּוּ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה הֲלֹ֨וא אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֧יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲנִ֥י מָלֵ֖א נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

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

25 שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־אָֽמְרוּ֙ הַנְּבִאִ֔ים הַֽנִּבְּאִ֥ים בִּשְׁמִ֛י שֶׁ֖קֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר חָלַ֖מְתִּי 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־מָתַ֗י הֲיֵ֛שׁ בְּלֵ֥ב הַנְּבִאִ֖ים נִבְּאֵ֣י הַשָּׁ֑קֶר וּנְבִיאֵ֖י תַּרְמִ֥ת 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 הַחֹשְׁבִ֗ים לְהַשְׁכִּ֤יחַ אֶת־עַמִּי֙ שְׁמִ֔י בַּחֲלֹ֣ומֹתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְסַפְּר֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁכְח֧וּ אֲבֹותָ֛ם אֶת־שְׁמִ֖י 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 הַנָּבִ֞יא אֲשֶׁר־אִתֹּ֤ו חֲלֹום֙ יְסַפֵּ֣ר חֲלֹ֔ום וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר דְּבָרִי֙ אִתֹּ֔ו יְדַבֵּ֥ר דְּבָרִ֖י אֱמֶ֑ת מַה־לַתֶּ֥בֶן אֶת־הַבָּ֖ר נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

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 the LORD.

29 הֲלֹ֨וא כֹ֧ה דְבָרִ֛י כָּאֵ֖שׁ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וּכְפַטִּ֖ישׁ יְפֹ֥צֵֽץ סָֽלַע׃ ס

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

30 לָכֵ֛ן הִנְנִ֥י עַל־הַנְּבִאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה מְגַנְּבֵ֣י דְבָרַ֔י אִ֖ישׁ מֵאֵ֥ת רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

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

31 הִנְנִ֥י עַל־הַנְּבִיאִ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה הַלֹּקְחִ֣ים לְשֹׁונָ֔ם וַֽיִּנְאֲמ֖וּ נְאֻֽם׃

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

32 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׃

Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams,” says the LORD, “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 the LORD.

33 וְכִי־יִשְׁאָלְךָ֩ הָעָ֨ם הַזֶּ֜ה אֹֽו־הַנָּבִ֤יא אֹֽו־כֹהֵן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה־מַשָּׂ֖א יְהוָ֑ה וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־מַה־מַשָּׂ֔א וְנָטַשְׁתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

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

34 וְהַנָּבִ֤יא וְהַכֹּהֵן֙ וְהָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאמַ֖ר מַשָּׂ֣א יְהוָ֑ה וּפָקַדְתִּ֛י עַל־הָאִ֥ישׁ הַה֖וּא וְעַל־בֵּיתֹֽו׃

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

35 כֹּ֥ה תֹאמְר֛וּ אִ֥ישׁ עַל־רֵעֵ֖הוּ וְאִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו מֶה־עָנָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה וּמַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהוָֽה׃

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

36 וּמַשָּׂ֥א יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֣א תִזְכְּרוּ־עֹ֑וד כִּ֣י הַמַּשָּׂ֗א יִֽהְיֶה֙ לְאִ֣ישׁ דְּבָרֹ֔ו וַהֲפַכְתֶּ֗ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַיִּ֔ים יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹ֖ות אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

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

37 כֹּ֥ה תֹאמַ֖ר אֶל־הַנָּבִ֑יא מֶה־עָנָ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה וּמַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהוָֽה׃

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

38 וְאִם־מַשָּׂ֣א יְהוָה֮ תֹּאמֵרוּ֒ לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה יַ֧עַן אֲמָרְכֶ֛ם אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה מַשָּׂ֣א יְהוָ֑ה וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֲלֵיכֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֥א תֹאמְר֖וּ מַשָּׂ֥א יְהוָֽה׃

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

39 לָכֵ֣ן הִנְנִ֔י וְנָשִׁ֥יתִי אֶתְכֶ֖ם נָשֹׁ֑א וְנָטַשְׁתִּ֣י אֶתְכֶ֗ם וְאֶת־הָעִיר֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֧תִּי לָכֶ֛ם וְלַאֲבֹותֵיכֶ֖ם מֵעַ֥ל 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 וְנָתַתִּ֥י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם חֶרְפַּ֣ת עֹולָ֑ם וּכְלִמּ֣וּת עֹולָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ׃ ס

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