יִרְמְיָהוּ 6

1 הָעִ֣זוּ ׀ בְּנֵ֣י בִניָמִ֗ן מִקֶּ֙רֶב֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וּבִתְקֹ֙ועַ֙ תִּקְע֣וּ שֹׁופָ֔ר וְעַל־בֵּ֥ית הַכֶּ֖רֶם שְׂא֣וּ מַשְׂאֵ֑ת כִּ֥י רָעָ֛ה נִשְׁקְפָ֥ה מִצָּפֹ֖ון וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֹֽול׃

Run and hide, descendants of Benjamin, get out of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa; light a signal fire in Beth-haccherem, for disaster and terrible destruction is arriving from the north.

2 הַנָּוָה֙ וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָ֔ה דָּמִ֖יתִי בַּת־צִיֹּֽון׃

Even though she is pretty and delightful, I will destroy the Daughter of Zion.

3 אֵלֶ֛יהָ יָבֹ֥אוּ רֹעִ֖ים וְעֶדְרֵיהֶ֑ם תָּקְע֨וּ עָלֶ֤יהָ אֹהָלִים֙ סָבִ֔יב רָע֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־יָדֹֽו׃

“Shepherds” and their “flocks” will come to attack her; they will set up their tents all around her, each one looking after his own.

4 קַדְּשׁ֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה ק֖וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם אֹ֥וי לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּי־פָנָ֣ה הַיֹּ֔ום כִּ֥י יִנָּט֖וּ צִלְלֵי־עָֽרֶב׃

They get ready for battle against her, saying, “Come on, we'll attack at noon! Oh no, the day is almost over, the evening shadows are growing long.

5 ק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַלָּ֔יְלָה וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה אַרְמְנֹותֶֽיהָ׃ ס

Come on, we'll attack at night instead and destroy her fortresses!”

6 כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות כִּרְת֣וּ עֵצָ֔ה וְשִׁפְכ֥וּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם סֹלְלָ֑ה הִ֚יא הָעִ֣יר הָפְקַ֔ד כֻּלָּ֖הּ עֹ֥שֶׁק בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃

This is what the Lord Almighty says: Cut down the trees and make a siege ramp to use against Jerusalem. This city needs to be punished because it's full of people mistreating one another.

7 כְּהָקִ֥יר בְּוֵר (בַּ֙יִר֙) מֵימֶ֔יהָ כֵּ֖ן הֵקֵ֣רָה רָעָתָ֑הּ חָמָ֣ס וָ֠שֹׁד יִשָּׁ֨מַע בָּ֧הּ עַל־פָּנַ֛י תָּמִ֖יד חֳלִ֥י וּמַכָּֽה׃

Like a spring gushing out water, so she pours out her evil. The sounds of violence and abuse echo inside her. I see people sick and wounded everywhere.

8 הִוָּסְרִי֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם פֶּן־תֵּקַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֖י מִמֵּ֑ךְ פֶּן־אֲשִׂימֵ֣ךְ שְׁמָמָ֔ה אֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥וא נֹושָֽׁבָה׃ פ

I'm warning you, people of Jerusalem, I'm going to give up on you in disgust. I will destroy you and leave your country uninhabited.

9 כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות עֹולֵ֛ל יְעֹולְל֥וּ כַגֶּ֖פֶן שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הָשֵׁב֙ יָדְךָ֔ כְּבֹוצֵ֖ר עַל־סַלְסִלֹּֽות׃

This is what the Lord Almighty says: Even those left in Israel will be taken, just as grapes left on a vine are taken by the one harvesting the grapes who checks the branches again.

10 עַל־מִ֨י אֲדַבְּרָ֤ה וְאָעִ֙ידָה֙ וְיִשְׁמָ֔עוּ הִנֵּה֙ עֲרֵלָ֣ה אָזְנָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א יוּכְל֖וּ לְהַקְשִׁ֑יב הִנֵּ֣ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה הָיָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם לְחֶרְפָּ֖ה לֹ֥א יַחְפְּצוּ־בֹֽו׃

Who can I give this warning to? Who's going to listen to me? Can't you see that they refuse to listen? They can't hear what I'm saying. See how offensive the Lord's message is to them. They don't like it at all.

11 וְאֵת֩ חֲמַ֨ת יְהוָ֤ה ׀ מָלֵ֙אתִי֙ נִלְאֵ֣יתִי הָכִ֔יל שְׁפֹ֤ךְ עַל־עֹולָל֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְעַ֛ל סֹ֥וד בַּחוּרִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־גַם־אִ֤ישׁ עִם־אִשָּׁה֙ יִלָּכֵ֔דוּ זָקֵ֖ן עִם־מְלֵ֥א יָמִֽים׃

But as for me, I'm full of the Lord's anger; I have a hard time keeping it in. The Lord replies, Pour it out on children in the street, and on groups of young people, because both husband and wife are going to be captured—it's everyone, and it doesn't matter how old they are.

12 וְנָסַ֤בּוּ בָֽתֵּיהֶם֙ לַאֲחֵרִ֔ים שָׂדֹ֥ות וְנָשִׁ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־אַטֶּ֧ה אֶת־יָדִ֛י עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

Their houses will be given to others, their fields and wives too, because I'm going to punish everyone living in this country, declares the Lord.

13 כִּ֤י מִקְּטַנָּם֙ וְעַד־גְּדֹולָ֔ם כֻּלֹּ֖ו בֹּוצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע וּמִנָּבִיא֙ וְעַד־כֹּהֵ֔ן כֻּלֹּ֖ו עֹ֥שֶׂה שָּֽׁקֶר׃

Everyone cheats because they're greedy, poor and rich alike. Even prophets and priests—they are all dishonest liars!

14 וַֽיְרַפְּא֞וּ אֶת־שֶׁ֤בֶר עַמִּי֙ עַל־נְקַלָּ֔ה לֵאמֹ֖ר שָׁלֹ֣ום ׀ שָׁלֹ֑ום וְאֵ֖ין שָׁלֹֽום׃

They give my wounded people first aid, but they don't really care about them. They tell them, “Don't worry! We have peace!” even as war approaches.

15 הֹבִ֕ישׁוּ כִּ֥י תֹועֵבָ֖ה עָשׂ֑וּ גַּם־בֹּ֣ושׁ לֹֽא־יֵבֹ֗ושׁוּ גַּם־הַכְלִים֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ לָכֵ֞ן יִפְּל֧וּ בַנֹּפְלִ֛ים בְּעֵת־פְּקַדְתִּ֥ים יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ ס

Were they ashamed of the disgusting things they did? No, they weren't ashamed at all, they couldn't even blush. So they will fall just like the others, when I punish them; they will drop down dead, says the Lord.

16 כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֡ה עִמְדוּ֩ עַל־דְּרָכִ֨ים וּרְא֜וּ וְשַׁאֲל֣וּ ׀ לִנְתִבֹ֣ות עֹולָ֗ם אֵי־זֶ֨ה דֶ֤רֶךְ הַטֹּוב֙ וּלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּמִצְא֥וּ מַרְגֹּ֖ועַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נֵלֵֽךְ׃

This is what the Lord says: Go and stand where the roads divide, and look. Find out which are the old paths. Ask, “What's the right way?” Then follow it and you'll be content. But you refused, saying, “We won't go that way!”

17 וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י עֲלֵיכֶם֙ צֹפִ֔ים הַקְשִׁ֖יבוּ לְקֹ֣ול שֹׁופָ֑ר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נַקְשִֽׁיב׃

I put watchmen in charge of you and told you, make sure you listen for the trumpet call warning you of danger. But you answered, “We won't listen!”

18 לָכֵ֖ן שִׁמְע֣וּ הַגֹּויִ֑ם וּדְעִ֥י עֵדָ֖ה אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־בָּֽם׃

So now you other nations can listen and find out what's going to happen to them.

19 שִׁמְעִ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מֵבִ֥יא רָעָ֛ה אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה פְּרִ֣י מַחְשְׁבֹותָ֑ם כִּ֤י עַל־דְּבָרַי֙ לֹ֣א הִקְשִׁ֔יבוּ וְתֹורָתִ֖י וַיִּמְאֲסוּ־בָֽהּ׃

Earth, you listen too! I am bringing disaster down on this people, the end result of what they themselves planned. It's because they paid no attention to what I said, and rejected my instructions.

20 לָמָּה־זֶּ֨ה לִ֤י לְבֹונָה֙ מִשְּׁבָ֣א תָבֹ֔וא וְקָנֶ֥ה הַטֹּ֖וב מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֶרְחָ֑ק עֹלֹֽותֵיכֶם֙ לֹ֣א לְרָצֹ֔ון וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם לֹא־עָ֥רְבוּ לִֽי׃ ס

What's the point of offering me frankincense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a far-away land? I don't accept your burnt offerings; I'm not pleased with your sacrifices.

21 לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֥י נֹתֵ֛ן אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה מִכְשֹׁלִ֑ים וְכָ֣שְׁלוּ בָ֠ם אָבֹ֨ות וּבָנִ֥ים יַחְדָּ֛ו שָׁכֵ֥ן וְרֵעֹ֖ו יֹאבֵדוּ (וְאָבָֽדוּ)׃ פ

So this is what the Lord says: I'm going to put blocks in front of these people to trip them up. Fathers and sons will fall down dead, friends and neighbors too.

22 כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנֵּ֛ה עַ֥ם בָּ֖א מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפֹ֑ון וְגֹ֣וי גָּדֹ֔ול יֵעֹ֖ור מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

This is what the Lord says: Look! An army is invading from the north; a powerful nation is getting ready to attack all the way from the ends of the earth.

23 קֶ֣שֶׁת וְכִידֹ֞ון יַחֲזִ֗יקוּ אַכְזָרִ֥י הוּא֙ וְלֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔מוּ קֹולָם֙ כַּיָּ֣ם יֶהֱמֶ֔ה וְעַל־סוּסִ֖ים יִרְכָּ֑בוּ עָר֗וּךְ כְּאִישׁ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עָלַ֖יִךְ בַּת־צִיֹּֽון׃

They pick up their bows and spears. They are cruel and show no mercy. Their war-cries are like the sea roaring, and they ride horses lined up ready to attack you, Daughter of Zion.

24 שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ אֶת־שָׁמְעֹ֖ו רָפ֣וּ יָדֵ֑ינוּ צָרָה֙ הֶחֱזִיקַ֔תְנוּ חִ֖יל כַּיֹּולֵדָֽה׃

The people reply, “We've heard the news, and our hands are limp with shock! We're overcome with agony, suffering pain like a woman in labor.

25 אַל־תֵּצְאִי (תֵּֽצְאוּ֙) הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וּבַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אַל־תֵּלֵכִי (תֵּלֵ֑כוּ) כִּ֚י חֶ֣רֶב לְאֹיֵ֔ב מָגֹ֖ור מִסָּבִֽיב׃

Don't go to the field! Don't walk down the road! The enemy is armed with swords! Terror is everywhere!”

26 בַּת־עַמִּ֤י חִגְרִי־שָׂק֙ וְהִתְפַּלְּשִׁ֣י בָאֵ֔פֶר אֵ֤בֶל יָחִיד֙ עֲשִׂ֣י לָ֔ךְ מִסְפַּ֖ד תַּמְרוּרִ֑ים כִּ֣י פִתְאֹ֔ם יָבֹ֥א הַשֹּׁדֵ֖ד עָלֵֽינוּ׃

Oh my people, put on sackcloth and roll around in ashes. Mourn and cry bitterly like you would for an only son, because the destroyer will come down on you suddenly.

27 בָּחֹ֛ון נְתַתִּ֥יךָ בְעַמִּ֖י מִבְצָ֑ר וְתֵדַ֕ע וּבָחַנְתָּ֖ אֶת־דַּרְכָּֽם׃

Jeremiah, I have made you a tester of metals so you can test my people as if they were metal, so you can know what they're made of and how they act.

28 כֻּלָּם֙ סָרֵ֣י סֹֽורְרִ֔ים הֹלְכֵ֥י רָכִ֖יל נְחֹ֣שֶׁת וּבַרְזֶ֑ל כֻּלָּ֥ם מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה׃

They're all stubborn rebels going around talking slander. They are hard as bronze and iron; they are all corrupt.

29 נָחַ֣ר מַפֻּ֔חַ מֵאִשְׁתַּם (מֵאֵ֖שׁ תַּ֣ם) עֹפָ֑רֶת לַשָּׁוְא֙ צָרַ֣ף צָרֹ֔וף וְרָעִ֖ים לֹ֥א נִתָּֽקוּ׃

The bellows in the refiner's furnace blow powerfully, burning away the lead. But this refining is pointless, because the wicked are not purified.

30 כֶּ֣סֶף נִמְאָ֔ס קָרְא֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־מָאַ֥ס יְהוָ֖ה בָּהֶֽם׃ פ

They are identified as impure silver to be rejected, because the Lord has rejected them.