יִרְמְיָהוּ 6

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

Strengthen yourselves, ye sons of Benjamin, in the midst of Jerusalem, and sound the trumpet in Thecua, and set up the standard over Bethacarem: for evil is seen out of the north, and a great destruction.

2 הַנָּוָה֙ וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָ֔ה דָּמִ֖יתִי בַּת־צִיּֽוֹן׃

I have likened the daughter of Sion to a beautiful and delicate woman.

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

The shepherds shall come to her with their flocks: they have pitched their tents against her round about: every one shall feed them that are under his hand.

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 midday: woe unto us, for the day is declined, for the shadows of the evening are grown longer.

5 ק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַלָּ֔יְלָה וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה אַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ ס

Arise, and let us go up in the night, and destroy her houses.

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

For thus saith the Lord of hosts: Hew down her trees, cast up a trench about Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited, all oppression is in the midst of her.

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

As a cistern maketh its water cold, so hath she made her wickedness cold: violence and spoil shall be heard in her, infirmity and stripes are continually before me.

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

Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee, lest I make thee desolate, a land uninhabited.

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

Thus saith the Lord of hosts: They shall gather the remains of Israel, as in a vine, even to one cluster: turn back thy hand, as a grape gatherer into the basket.

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 to whom shall I testify, that he may hear? behold, their ears are uncircumcised, and they cannot hear: behold the word of the Lord is become unto them a reproach: and and they will not receive 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 am I full of the fury of the Lord, I am weary with holding in: pour it out upon the child abroad, and upon the council of the young men together: for man and woman shall be taken, the ancient and he that 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 over to others, with their lands and their wives together: for I will stretch for my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord.

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

For from the least of them even to the greatest, all are given to covetousness: and from the prophet even to the priest, all are guilty of deceit.

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

And they healed the breach of the daughter of my people disgracefully, saying: Peace, peace: and there was no peace.

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

They were confounded, because they committed abomination: yea, rather they were not confounded with confusion, and they knew not how to blush: wherefore they shall fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall fall down, saith the Lord.

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

Thus saith the Lord: Stand ye on the ways, and see and ask for the old paths which is the good way, and walk ye in it: and you shall find refreshment for your souls. And they said: we will not walk.

17 וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י עֲלֵיכֶם֙ צֹפִ֔ים הַקְשִׁ֖יבוּ לְק֣וֹל שׁוֹפָ֑ר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נַקְשִֽׁיב׃

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

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

Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what great things I will do to 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 evils upon this people, the fruits of their own thoughts: because they have not heard my words, and they have cast away my law.

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

To what purpose do you bring me frankincense from Saba, and the sweet smelling cane from a far country? your holocausts are not acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing to me.

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

Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold, I will bring destruction upon this people, by which fathers and sons together shall fall, neighbor and kinsman shall perish.

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

Thus saith the Lord: Behold a people cometh from the land of the north, and a great nation shall rise up from the ends of the earth.

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

They shall lay hold on arrow and shield: they are cruel, and will have no mercy. Their voice shall roar like the sea: and they shall mount upon horses, prepared as men for war, against thee, O daughter of Sion.

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

We have heard the fame thereof, our hands grow feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, as a woman in labor.

25 אַל־תצאי הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וּבַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אַל־תלכי כִּ֚י חֶ֣רֶב לְאֹיֵ֔ב מָג֖וֹר מִסָּבִֽיב׃

Go not out into the fields, nor walk in the highway: for the sword of the enemy, and fear is on every side.

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

Gird thee with sackcloth, O daughter of my people, and sprinkle thee with ashes: make thee mourning as for an only son, a bitter lamentation, because the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us.

27 בָּח֛וֹן נְתַתִּ֥יךָ בְעַמִּ֖י מִבְצָ֑ר וְתֵדַ֕ע וּבָחַנְתָּ֖ אֶת־דַּרְכָּֽם׃

I have set thee for a strong trier among my people: and thou shalt know and prove their way.

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

All of these princes go out of the way, they walk deceitfully, they are brass and iron: they are all corrupted.

29 נָחַ֣ר מַפֻּ֔חַ מאשתם עֹפָ֑רֶת לַשָּׁוְא֙ צָרַ֣ף צָר֔וֹף וְרָעִ֖ים לֹ֥א נִתָּֽקוּ׃

The bellows have failed, the lead is consumed in the fire, the founder hath melted in vain: for their wicked deeds are not consumed.

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

Call them reprobate silver, for the Lord hath rejected them.