יִרְמְיָהוּ 6

1 הָעִ֣זוּ ׀ בְּנֵ֣י בִניָמִ֗ן מִקֶּ֙רֶב֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וּבִתְק֙וֹעַ֙ תִּקְע֣וּ שׁוֹפָ֔ר וְעַל־בֵּ֥ית הַכֶּ֖רֶם שְׂא֣וּ מַשְׂאֵ֑ת כִּ֥י רָעָ֛ה נִשְׁקְפָ֥ה מִצָּפ֖וֹן וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֽוֹל׃

Flee for safety, ye sons of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem. And blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth-haccherem. For evil looks forth from the north, and a great destruction.

2 הַנָּוָה֙ וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָ֔ה דָּמִ֖יתִי בַּת־צִיּֽוֹן׃

The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion, I will cut off.

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

Shepherds with their flocks shall come to her. They shall pitch their tents against her round about. They shall feed every one in his place.

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

Prepare ye war against her. Arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us! For the day declines; for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

5 ק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַלָּ֔יְלָה וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה אַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ ס

Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

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

For thus has Jehovah of hosts said: Hew ye down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem. This is the city to be visited. She has oppression completely in the midst of her.

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

As a well casts forth its waters, so she casts forth her wickedness. Violence and destruction is heard in her. Continually before me is sickness and wounds.

8 הִוָּסְרִי֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם פֶּן־תֵּקַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֖י מִמֵּ֑ךְ פֶּן־אֲשִׂימֵ֣ךְ שְׁמָמָ֔ה אֶ֖רֶץ ל֥וֹא נוֹשָֽׁבָה׃ פ

Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from thee, lest I make thee a desolation, a land not inhabited.

9 כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת עוֹלֵ֛ל יְעוֹלְל֥וּ כַגֶּ֖פֶן שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הָשֵׁב֙ יָדְךָ֔ כְּבוֹצֵ֖ר עַל־סַלְסִלּֽוֹת׃

Thus says Jehovah of hosts: They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine. Turn again thy hand as a grape gatherer into the baskets.

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

To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken. Behold, the word of Jehovah has become to them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

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

Therefore I am full of the wrath of Jehovah. I am weary with holding in. Pour it out upon the sons in the street, and upon the assembly of young men together. For even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him who is full of days.

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

And their houses shall be turned to others, their fields and their wives together. For I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, says Jehovah.

13 כִּ֤י מִקְּטַנָּם֙ וְעַד־גְּדוֹלָ֔ם כֻּלּ֖וֹ בּוֹצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע וּמִנָּבִיא֙ וְעַד־כֹּהֵ֔ן כֻּלּ֖וֹ עֹ֥שֶׂה שָּֽׁקֶר׃

For from the least of them even to the greatest of them everyone is given to covetousness. And from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely.

14 וַֽיְרַפְּא֞וּ אֶת־שֶׁ֤בֶר עַמִּי֙ עַל־נְקַלָּ֔ה לֵאמֹ֖ר שָׁל֣וֹם ׀ שָׁל֑וֹם וְאֵ֖ין שָׁלֽוֹם׃

They have also lightly healed the hurt of my people, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace.

15 הֹבִ֕ישׁוּ כִּ֥י תוֹעֵבָ֖ה עָשׂ֑וּ גַּם־בּ֣וֹשׁ לֹֽא־יֵב֗וֹשׁוּ גַּם־הַכְלִים֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ לָכֵ֞ן יִפְּל֧וּ בַנֹּפְלִ֛ים בְּעֵת־פְּקַדְתִּ֥ים יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ ס

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed, nor could they blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall. At the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, says Jehovah.

16 כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֡ה עִמְדוּ֩ עַל־דְּרָכִ֨ים וּרְא֜וּ וְשַׁאֲל֣וּ ׀ לִנְתִב֣וֹת עוֹלָ֗ם אֵי־זֶ֨ה דֶ֤רֶךְ הַטּוֹב֙ וּלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּמִצְא֥וּ מַרְגּ֖וֹעַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נֵלֵֽךְ׃

Thus says Jehovah, Stand ye in the ways and see. And ask for the old paths where is the good way. And walk in it, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk.

17 וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י עֲלֵיכֶם֙ צֹפִ֔ים הַקְשִׁ֖יבוּ לְק֣וֹל שׁוֹפָ֑ר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נַקְשִֽׁיב׃

And I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

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

Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

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

Hear, O earth: Behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened to my words. And as for my law, they have rejected it.

20 לָמָּה־זֶּ֨ה לִ֤י לְבוֹנָה֙ מִשְּׁבָ֣א תָב֔וֹא וְקָנֶ֥ה הַטּ֖וֹב מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֶרְחָ֑ק עֹלֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ לֹ֣א לְרָצ֔וֹן וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם לֹא־עָ֥רְבוּ לִֽי׃ ס

To what purpose does there come to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me.

21 לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֥י נֹתֵ֛ן אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה מִכְשֹׁלִ֑ים וְכָ֣שְׁלוּ בָ֠ם אָב֨וֹת וּבָנִ֥ים יַחְדָּ֛ו שָׁכֵ֥ן וְרֵע֖וֹ וְאָבָֽדוּ׃ פ

Therefore thus says Jehovah: Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them. The neighbor and his friend shall perish.

22 כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנֵּ֛ה עַ֥ם בָּ֖א מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֑וֹן וְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל יֵע֖וֹר מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

Thus says Jehovah, Behold, a people comes from the north country, and a great nation shall be stirred up from the outermost parts of the earth.

23 קֶ֣שֶׁת וְכִיד֞וֹן יַחֲזִ֗יקוּ אַכְזָרִ֥י הוּא֙ וְלֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔מוּ קוֹלָם֙ כַּיָּ֣ם יֶהֱמֶ֔ה וְעַל־סוּסִ֖ים יִרְכָּ֑בוּ עָר֗וּךְ כְּאִישׁ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עָלַ֖יִךְ בַּת־צִיּֽוֹן׃

They lay hold on bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses. Each one set in array, as a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Zion.

24 שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ אֶת־שָׁמְע֖וֹ רָפ֣וּ יָדֵ֑ינוּ צָרָה֙ הֶחֱזִיקַ֔תְנוּ חִ֖יל כַּיּוֹלֵדָֽה׃

We have heard the report of it. Our hands grow feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, and pangs as of a woman in travail.

25 אַל־תֵּֽצְאוּ֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וּבַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אַל־תֵּלֵ֑כוּ כִּ֚י חֶ֣רֶב לְאֹיֵ֔ב מָג֖וֹר מִסָּבִֽיב׃

Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way, for the sword of the enemy, and terror, are on every side.

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

O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes. Make thee mourning, as for an only son, a most bitter lamentation. For the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us.

27 בָּח֛וֹן נְתַתִּ֥יךָ בְעַמִּ֖י מִבְצָ֑ר וְתֵדַ֕ע וּבָחַנְתָּ֖ אֶת־דַּרְכָּֽם׃

I have made thee a prover and a fortress among my people, that thou may know and try their way.

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

They are all grievous revolters, going about with slanders. They are brass and iron. They all of them deal corruptly.

29 נָחַ֣ר מַפֻּ֔חַ מֵאֵ֖שׁ תַּ֣ם עֹפָ֑רֶת לַשָּׁוְא֙ צָרַ֣ף צָר֔וֹף וְרָעִ֖ים לֹ֥א נִתָּֽקוּ׃

The bellows blow fiercely, the lead is consumed of the fire. In vain do they go on refining, for the wicked are not plucked away.

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

Waste silver, men shall call them, because Jehovah has rejected them.