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A Letter to the Exiles

29 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin[a] and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 3 He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to youand fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

15 You may say, “The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,” 16 but this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David's throne and all the people who remain in this city, your fellow citizens who did not go with you into exile— 17 yes, this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague against them and I will make them like figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse[c] and an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. 19 For they have not listened to my words,” declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again by my servants the prophets. And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the Lord.

20 Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies to you in my name: “I will deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will put them to death before your very eyes.22 Because of them, all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the Lordtreat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned in the fire.' 23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know it and am a witness to it,” declares the Lord.

Message to Shemaiah

24 Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite, 25 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah,26 ‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the Lord; you should put any maniac who acts like a prophet into the stocks and neck-irons. 27 So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you? 28 He has sent this message to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.Therefore build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.'”

29 Zephaniah the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then the word of the Lordcame to Jeremiah: 31 “Send this message to all the exiles: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiahthe Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies, 32 this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the goodthings I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion against me.'”

Restoration of Israel

30 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. 3 The days are coming,' declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity[d] and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,' says the Lord.”

4 These are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: 5 “This is what the Lord says:

“‘Cries of fear are heard— terror, not peace.6 Ask and see: Can a man bear children?Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor, every face turned deathly pale?7 How awful that day will be! No other will be like it.It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.

8 “‘In that day,' declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will break the yoke off their necksand will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them.9 Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

10 “‘So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel,'declares the Lord.‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile.Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.11 I am with you and will save you,' declares the Lord.‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you.I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.'

12 “This is what the Lord says:

“‘Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing.13 There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you.14 All your allies have forgotten you; they care nothing for you.I have struck you as an enemy would and punished you as would the cruel,because your guilt is so great and your sins so many.15 Why do you cry out over your wound, your pain that has no cure?Because of your great guilt and many sins I have done these things to you.

16 “‘But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile.Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil.17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,'declares the Lord,‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.'

18 “This is what the Lord says:

“‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents and have compassion on his dwellings;the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place.19 From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing.I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased;I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained.20 Their children will be as in days of old, and their community will be establishedbefore me; I will punish all who oppress them.21 Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them.I will bring him near and he will come close to me— for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?'declares the Lord.22 “‘So you will be my people, and I will be your God.'”

23 See, the storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath,a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked.24 The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart.In days to come you will understand this.

31 “At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”

2 This is what the Lord says:

“The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.”

3 The Lord appeared to us in the past,[e] saying:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.4 I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt.Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful.5 Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria;the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit.6 There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim,‘Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.'”

7 This is what the Lord says:

“Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations.Make your praises heard, and say, ‘Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.'8 See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth.Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return.9 They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back.I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble,because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

10 “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands:‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.'11 For the Lord will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord—the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, the young of the flocks and herds.They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more.13 Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well.I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty,”declares the Lord.

15 This is what the Lord says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping,Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

16 This is what the Lord says:

“Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears,for your work will be rewarded,”declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy.17 So there is hope for your descendants,”declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land.

18 “I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined.Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God.19 After I strayed, I repented;after I came to understand, I beat my breast.I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.'20 Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight?Though I often speak against him, I still remember him.Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,”declares the Lord.

21 “Set up road signs; put up guideposts.Take note of the highway, the road that you take.Return, Virgin Israel, return to your towns.22 How long will you wander, unfaithful Daughter Israel?The Lord will create a new thing on earth— the woman will return to[f] the man.”

23 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity,[g] the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain.' 24 People will live together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks. 25 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

26 At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.

27 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will plant the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. 28 Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the Lord.29 “In those days people will no longer say,

‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'

30 Instead, everyone will die for their own sin;whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenantwith the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestorswhen I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt,because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to[h] them,[i]”declares the Lord.33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.I will be their God, and they will be my people.34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,'because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,”declares the Lord.“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

35 This is what the Lord says,

he who appoints the sun to shine by day,who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night,who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord Almighty is his name:36 “Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the Lord,“will Israel ever cease being a nation before me.”

37 This is what the Lord says:

“Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched outwill I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,”declares the Lord.

38 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39 The measuring linewill stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. 40 The whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be holy to the Lord. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”

Jeremiah Buys a Field

32 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.2 The army of the king of Babylon was then besiegingJerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confinedin the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.

3 Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. 4 Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape the Babylonians[j] but will certainly be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes.5 He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will remain until I deal with him, declares the Lord. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.'”

6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me:7 Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth,because as nearest relative it is your right and dutyto buy it.'

8 “Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.'

“I knew that this was the word of the Lord; 9 so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels[k] of silver. 10 I signed and sealed the deed,had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales. 11 I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy— 12 and I gave this deed to Baruchson of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.

13 “In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: 14 ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time.15 For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.'

16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruchson of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:

17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.18 You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents' sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God,whose name is the Lord Almighty, 19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve. 20 You performed signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours. 21 You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. 22 You gave them this land you had sworn to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster on them.

24 “See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague,the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you saidhas happened, as you now see. 25 And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed.'”

26 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore this is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will capture it. 29 The Babylonians who are attacking this city will come in and set it on fire; they will burn it down, along with the houses where the people aroused my anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings to other gods.

30 “The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger with what their hands have made, declares the Lord. 31 From the day it was built until now, this cityhas so aroused my anger and wrath that I must remove it from my sight. 32 The people of Israel and Judah have provoked me by all the evil they have done—they, their kings and officials, their priests and prophets, the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. 33 They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.34 They set up their vile images in the house that bears my Name and defiled it. 35 They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molek, though I never commanded—nor did it enter my mind—that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.

36 “You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon'; but this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 37 I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious angerand great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. 38 They will be my people,and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singlenessof heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

42 “This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. 43 Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.' 44 Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes,[l]declares the Lord.”

we will continue on with the next four chapters starting with Jeremiah 25 and ending with 28.

Today we will continue on with the book of Jeremiah 22, 23, and 24.

Come with us as we continue on reading, chapter 19 chapter 20 in chapter 21.

Yirmeyah 16-18

Orthodox Jewish Bible

16 The Davar Hashem came also unto me, saying,

2 Thou shalt not take thee an isha, neither shalt thou have banim or banot in makom hazeh (this place).

3 For thus saith Hashem concerning the banim and concerning the banot that are born in makom hazeh, and concerning their immahot (mothers) that bore them, and concerning their avot that fathered them in ha'aretz hazot (this land);

4 The mot (death) they die will be of deadly diseases; they shall not be mourned; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as refuse upon the face of ha'adamah; and they shall be consumed by the cherev, and by ra'av (famine); and their nevelot (dead bodies) shall be food for the oph haShomayim, and for the behemat ha'aretz.

5 For thus saith Hashem, Enter not into the bais marzeach (house of mourning), neither go to lament nor mourn them; for I have withdrawn away My shalom from HaAm Hazeh, saith Hashem, even chesed and rachamim.

6 Both the gedolim and the ketanim shall die in ha'aretz hazot; they shall not be buried, neither shall men mourn for them, nor make [pagan] cuttings on themselves, nor make themselves [like pagan mourners] bald for them [See Dt 14:1]:

7 Neither shall men break bread for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the kos tanechumim (cup of consolation) to drink for their av or for their em.

8 Thou shalt not go into the bais mishteh (house of feasting), to sit with them to eat and to drink.

9 For thus saith Hashem Tzva'os Elohei Yisroel: Behold, I will cause to cease out of hamakom hazeh before your eyes, and in your days, the voice of sasson, and the voice of simcha, the voice of the choson, and the voice of the kallah.

10 And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt tell this people all these Devarim, and they shall say unto thee, Why hath Hashem pronounced all this ra'ah hagedolah against us? Or what is avonenu (our iniquity)? Or what is chattatenu (our sin) that we have committed against Hashem Eloheinu?

11 Then shalt thou say unto them, Because avoteichem have forsaken Me, saith Hashem, and have walked after acharei elohim, and have served them, and have worshiped them, and have forsaken Me, and have not been shomer over My torah;

12 And ye have done more wickedly than avoteichem; for, behold, ye walk every one after the sherirut (stubbornness) of his lev harah, that they may not pay heed unto Me:

13 Therefore will I cast you out of ha'aretz hazot into ha'aretz that ye know not, neither ye nor avoteichem; and there shall ye serve elohim acherim yomam valailah; for I will not show you [plural] chaninah (favor).

14 Therefore, hinei, the days come, saith Hashem, that it shall no more be said, Hashem liveth, that brought up the Bnei Yisroel out of Eretz Mitzrayim;

15 But, Hashem liveth, that brought up the Bnei Yisroel from the eretz tzaphon, and from kol ha'aratz where He had dispersed them; and I will bring them again into their adamah that I gave unto their avot.

16 Behold, I will send for many dayagim (fisherman), saith Hashem, and they shall fish them out; and after that will I send for many tzayadim (hunters), and they shall hunt them from every har (mountain), and from every givah (hill), and out of the crevices of the sela'im (rocks).

17 For Mine eyes are upon all their drakhim; they are not hid from My face, neither is their avon (iniquity) hid from Mine eyes.

18 And first I will recompense their avon (iniquity) and their sin mishneh (double); because they have defiled My Eretz (land), they have filled Mine nachalah with the nevelot (lifeless forms, carcasses) of their detestable and abominable idols.

19 Hashem, my strength, and my ma'oz (fortress), and my refuge in the yom tzarah, the Goyim shall come unto Thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely Avoteinu have inherited sheker, hevel, and things wherein there is no profit.

20 Shall man make elohim unto himself and they are not Elohim?

21 Therefore, Behold, I will this time cause them to know, I will cause them to know Mine yad and My gevurah; and they shall know that My Shem is Hashem.

17 The chattat Yehudah is written with an et barzel (iron pen), and with the tzipporen shamir (point of a diamond); it is engraved upon the luach (tablet) of their lev, and upon the karenot (horns) of your mizbechot (altars);

2 Whilst their banim remember their mizbechot and their asherim by the leafy trees upon the high hills.

3 O My mountain in the sadeh, I will give over thy wealth and all thy otzerot (treasures) as plunder, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy territories.

4 And thou, even thyself, shalt let go of thine nachalah that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine oyevim in ha'aretz which thou knowest not; for ye have kindled an eish in Mine anger, which shall burn ad-olam (forever).

5 Thus saith Hashem: Arur (cursed) be the gever that trusteth in adam, and maketh basar his zero'a, and whose lev turneth away from Hashem.

6 For he shall be like the shrub in the aravah (desert), and shall not see when tov cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the midbar, in an eretz melechah (salt land) and not inhabited.

7 Baruch hagever asher yivtach baHashem (Blessed is the man that trusteth in Hashem), and whose mivtach (confidence) Hashem is.

8 For he shall be as an etz planted by the mayim, and that spreadeth out her shorashim (roots) by the brook, and shall not fear when chom (heat) cometh, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be anxious in the shenat batzoret (year of drought), neither shall cease from yielding p'ri (fruit).

9 The lev (heart, mind) akov (is deceitful) above all things, and anush (incurable [in wickedness]); who can know it?

10 I, Hashem, search the lev, I test the kelayot (kidneys, i.e., most inward parts), requiting to every ish according to his drakhim, and according to the p'ri of his deeds.

11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth osher (riches), and not by mishpat, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a naval (fool).

12 A glorious high kisse from the beginning is the place of Mikdasheinu (our Beis HaMikdash).

13 Hashem, the Mikveh Yisroel, all that forsake Thee shall be put to shame, and they that turn away from Me shall be written down in ha'aretz, because they have forsaken Hashem, the Makor Mayim Chayyim (Fountain of Living Waters).

14 Heal me, Hashem, and I shall be healed; hoshi'eini (save me), and I shall be saved; for Thou art my tehillah (praise).

15 Hinei, they say unto me, Where is the Devar Hashem? Let it come now.

16 As for me, I have not hastened away from being a ro'eh (shepherd) to follow Thee; neither did I lust for the woeful day; Thou knowest; that which came out of my lips was before Thee.

17 Be not a mechittah (terror) unto me; Thou art my refuge in the Yom Ra'ah (Day of Evil, Day of Disaster, Day of Doom).

18 Let them be ashamed that persecute me, but let not me be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed; bring upon them the Yom Ra'ah, and destroy them with mishneh (double) destruction.

19 Thus said Hashem unto me; Go and stand in the Sha'ar Bnei HaAm, whereby the melachim of Yehudah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the Sha'arei Yerushalayim;

20 And say unto them, Hear ye the Devar Hashem, ye melachim of Yehudah, and all Yehudah, and all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, that enter in by these she'arim (gates);

21 Thus saith Hashem: Be shomer over your nefashot, and bear no massa (burden) on Shabbos, nor bring through the Sha'arei Yerushalayim;

22 Neither carry forth a massa (burden) out of your batim (houses) on Shabbos, neither do ye any melachah (work), but keep Shabbos set apart as kodesh, just as I commanded Avoteichem.

23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ozen (ear), but made their stubborn neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive musar (discipline).

24 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently pay heed unto Me, saith Hashem, to bring in no massa (burden) through the she'arim (gates) of this city on the day of Shabbos, but keep the day of Shabbos holy, to do no melachah (work) therein;

25 Then shall there enter into the she'arim (gates) of this city melachim and sarim sitting upon the kisse Dovid, riding in chariots and on susim, they, and their sarim, the Ish Yehudah, and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim; and this city shall be inhabited l'olam (forever).

26 And they shall come from the towns of Yehudah, and from the places around Yerushalayim, and from Eretz Binyamin, and from the Shephalah (Lowlands), and from the har (hill country), and from the Negev bringing olah (burnt offering), and zevach (sacrifice), and minchah (grain offering), and levonah (frankincense), and bringing todah (thank offering), unto the Bais Hashem.

27 But if ye will not pay heed unto Me to keep the day of Shabbos holy, and not to bear a massa (burden), when entering in at the She'arim of Yerushalayim on the day of Shabbos; then will I kindle an eish in the she'arim thereof, and it shall devour the fortresses of Yerushalayim, and it shall not be quenched.

18 The Davar which came to Yirmeyah from Hashem, saying,

2 Arise, and go down to the bais hayotzer (the house of the potter, Creator), and there I will cause thee to hear My Devar.

3 Then I went down to the bais hayotzer, and, behold, he wrought a work on the [potter's] wheel.

4 And the keli (vessel) that he was making of khomer (clay) was marred in the yad of the yotzer; so he made it again keli acher (another vessel, a different vessel), as seemed good to the eyes of the yotzer to make it.

5 Then the Devar Hashem came to me, saying,

6 O Bais Yisroel, cannot I do with you as this yotzer? saith Hashem. Hinei, as the khomer (clay) is in the yotzer's yad, so are ye in Mine yad, O Bais Yisroel.

7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a Goy (nation), and concerning a mamlachah (kingdom), to uproot, and to pull down, and to destroy it;

8 If that Goy, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their ra'ah, I will relent of the ra'ah that I planned to do unto them.

9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a Goy, and concerning a mamlachah, to build and to plant it;

10 If it do ra'ah in My sight, that it obey not My voice, then I will relent of the tov, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

11 Now therefore go to, speak to the Ish Yehudah, and to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, saying, Thus saith Hashem; Hinei, I yotzer (mold as a potter) ra'ah against you, and devise a plan against you; return ye now every ish from his derech ra'ah, and make your ways and your doings good.

12 And they said, It is useless; but we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every ish do the sherirut (stubbornness) of his lev ra'ah.

13 Therefore thus saith Hashem, Ask ye now among the Goyim, Who hath heard such things? The Betulat Yisroel hath done a most horrible thing.

14 Does the sheleg (snow) of Levanon vanish from the tzur of the slope? Or shall the cold flowing mayim that come from distant sources cease?

15 Because My people hath forgotten Me, they have burned ketoret to worthless idols, and they have caused them to stumble in their drakhim from the ancient paths, to walk in bypaths, and not on the derech built up;

16 To make their eretz desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and shall shake his rosh.

17 I will scatter them as with an east ruach (wind) before the oyev; I will show them My oref (back), and not My panim (face), in the day of their calamity.

18 Then said they, Come and let us devise plans against Yirmeyah; for the torah shall not perish from the kohen, nor etzah from the chacham, nor the davar from the navi. Come, and let us attack him with the lashon, and let us not give heed to any of his devarim.

19 Give heed to me, Hashem, and take notice of the voice of them that contend with me.

20 Shall ra'ah be repaid for tovah? For they have dug a pit for my nefesh. Remember that I stood before Thee to speak tovah concerning them, and to turn away Thy wrath from them.

21 Therefore deliver up their banim to the ra'av (famine), and pour out their dahm by the force of the cherev; and let their nashim be bereaved as childless, and be almanot (widows); and let their anashim be put to death; let their bochurim be slain by the cherev in milchamah.

22 Let a cry be heard from their batim (houses), when Thou shalt bring a gedud (troop) suddenly upon them; for they have dug a pit to take me, and hid pachim (snares) for my raglayim.

23 Yet, Hashem, Thou knowest all their etzah against me to slay me; do not make kapporah for their avon, neither blot out their chattat from Thy sight, but let them be overthrown before Thee; deal thus with them in the time of Thine anger. #Jeremiah #Hebrew #ivri

Yirmeyah 13-15

Orthodox Jewish Bible

13 Thus saith Hashem unto me, Go and buy thee a linen [i.e., priestly] ezor (belt) and put it around thy waist, and put it not in mayim.

2 So I bought the ezor (belt) according to the Devar Hashem, and put it around my waist.

3 And the Devar Hashem came unto me the second time, saying,

4 Take the ezor that thou hast bought, which is around thy waist, and arise, go to Parah (Josh 18:23[Hebrew for Euphrates is Perat]), and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.

5 So I went, and hid it in Parah, as Hashem commanded me.

6 And it came to pass at the end of yamim rabbim, that Hashem said unto me, Arise, go to Parah, and take the ezor from there, which I commanded thee to hide there.

7 Then I went to Parah, and dug, and took the ezor from the makom where I had hid it; and, hinei, the ezor was marred, it was profitable for nothing.

8 Then the Devar Hashem came unto me, saying,

9 Thus saith Hashem, After this manner will I mar the ga'on Yehudah (pride of Judah), and the great ga'on of Yerushalayim.

10 This evil people, which refuse to listen to My words, which walk in the sherirut (stubbornness) of their lev, and walk after elohim acharim, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this ezor, which is good for nothing.

11 For as the ezor has deveykus with the waist of an ish, so have I caused to have deveykus unto Me kol Bais Yisroel and kol Bais Yehudah, saith Hashem; that they might be unto Me for a People, and for Shem, and for Tehillah, and for Teferet: but they would not hear.

12 Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this Davar; Thus saith Hashem Elohei Yisroel, Every wine jar shall be filled with yayin; and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every wine jar shall be filled with yayin?

13 Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith Hashem, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of HaAretz Hazot, even the melachim that sit upon the kisse Dovid, and the Kohanim, and the Nevi'im, and all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, with shikkaron (drunkenness).

14 And I will dash them one against another, even the avot and the banim together, saith Hashem; I will not pity, nor spare, nor have rachamim, but destroy them.

15 Hear ye, and give ozen (ear); be not proud: for Hashem hath spoken.

16 Give kavod to Hashem Eloheichem, before He cause darkness, and before your raglayim stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for ohr, He turn it into the tzalmavet (shadow of death), and make it gross darkness.

17 But if ye will not listen, my nefesh shall weep in secret places for your ga'avah (pride); and mine eye shall weep profusely, and run down with tears, because the Eder Hashem (Flock of Hashem) is carried away captive.

18 Say unto HaMelech and to the Gevirah (Queen mother), Humble yourselves, sit down; for your rule shall come down, even the ateret (crown) of your tiferet (glory).

19 The cities of the Negev shall be shut up, and none shall open them; Yehudah shall be all carried away into the Golus, it shall be wholly carried away into the Golus.

20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the tzafon (north). Where is the eder (flock) that was given thee, thy tzon tiferet?

21 What wilt thou say when He appoints over thy leaders those whom thou thyself has taught, to be thy rosh? Shall not chavalim (pangs) seize thee, as a woman in travail?

22 And if thou say in thine lev, Why come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine avon (iniquity) are thy skirts uncovered, and thy heels violated.

23 Can the Kushi (Ethiopian) change his ohr (skin), or the namer (leopard) his spots? Then may ye also do tov, that are accustomed to do rah.

24 Therefore will I scatter them as the chaff driven by the ruach of the midbar.

25 This is thy goral (lot), the portion of thy measures from Me, saith Hashem; because thou hast forgotten Me, and trusted in sheker (falsehood).

26 Therefore will I uncover thy skirts over thy panim, that thy shame may appear.

27 I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy zenut (whoredom), and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Yerushalayim! Wilt thou not be made tahor (clean)? Until when?

14 The Davar Hashem that came to Yirmeyah concerning the batzorot (droughts).

2 Yehudah mourneth, and the she'arim (gates, i.e., towns) thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Yerushalayim is gone up.

3 And their nobles have sent their servants for mayim; they came to the cisterns, and found no mayim; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and dismayed, and covered their rosh.

4 Because the adamah is cracked, for there was no geshem in the earth, the ikkarim (plowmen) were ashamed, they covered their rosh.

5 Indeed, the deer also calved in the sadeh, and forsook it, because there was no desheh (grass).

6 And the pera'im (wild donkeys) did stand on the bare heights, they pant for ruach like jackals; their eyes did fail, because there was no esev (grass).

7 Hashem, though avoneinu (our iniquities) testify against us, do Thou it l'ama'an (for the sake of) Shemecha (Thy Name); for meshuvoteinu (our backslidings) are great; we have sinned against Thee.

8 O Mikveh Yisroel, the Moshi'a thereof in time of tzoros, why shouldest Thou be as a ger (stranger) in HaAretz, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?

9 Why shouldest Thou be as an ish astonished, as a gibbor that cannot save? Yet Thou, Hashem, art in the midst of us, and we are called by Thy Shem; forsake us not.

10 Thus saith Hashem unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not restrained their raglayim, therefore Hashem doth not accept them; He will now remember their avon (iniquity), and visit their sins.

11 Then said Hashem unto me, Pray not for HaAm Hazeh for their tovah (well-being).

12 When they undergo a tzom, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer olah (burnt offering) and minchah (grain offering), I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the cherev, and by the ra'av (famine), and by dever (pestilence).

13 Then said I, Ah, Adonoi Hashem! Hinei, the nevi'im say unto them, Ye shall not see the cherev, neither shall ye have ra'av (famine); but I will give you shalom emes in this makom.

14 Then Hashem said unto me, The nevi'im prophesy sheker in My Shem; I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke unto them; they prophesy unto you a chazon sheker (false vision) and kesem (divination, pagan fortunetelling), and a worthless thing, and the delusion of their lev.

15 Therefore thus saith Hashem concerning the nevi'im that prophesy in My Shem, and I sent them not, yet they say, Cherev and ra'av (famine) shall not be in HaAretz Hazot; By cherev and ra'av (famine) shall those nevi'im be consumed.

16 And HaAm to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Yerushalayim because of the ra'av (famine) and the cherev; and they shall have none to bury them—them, their nashim, nor their banim, nor their banot; for I will pour out their ra'ah (wickedness, disaster) upon them.

17 Therefore thou shalt say this davar unto them, Let mine eyes run down with tears lailah and yomam, and let them not cease: for the Betulat Bat Ami is broken with a shever gadol (great calamity), with a severe wound.

18 If I go forth into the sadeh, then hinei! The slain with the cherev! And if I enter into the Ir, then hinei them that are ravaged with ra'av (famine)! Indeed, both the navi and the kohen go roaming to a land that they know not.

19 Hast Thou utterly rejected Yehudah? Hath Thy nefesh loathed Tziyon? Why hast Thou afflicted us, and there is no healing for us? We hoped for shalom, and there is no tov; and for the time of healing, and hinei terror!

20 We acknowledge, Hashem, our wickedness, and the avon Avoteinu; for we have sinned against Thee.

21 Do not abhor us, for the sake of Shimecha, do not disgrace the Kisse Kevodecha (throne of Thy glory); remember, annul not Thy Brit with us.

22 Are there any among the havalim (vanities, false g-ds) of the Goyim that can cause geshem? Or can HaShomayim give showers? Art not Thou He, Hashem Eloheinu? Therefore we will hope in and wait upon Thee; for Thou hast made all these things.

15 Then said Hashem unto me, Though Moshe and Shmuel stood before Me, yet My Nefesh could not be toward HaAm Hazeh; cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth.

2 And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Where shall we go forth? Then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith Hashem: Such as are for mavet, to mavet; and such as are for the cherev, to the cherev; and such as are for the ra'av (famine), to the ra'av (famine); and such as are for shevi (captivity, Golus) to the shevi.

3 And I will appoint over them four mishpechot (families, categories [of covenant reprisal]), saith Hashem; the cherev to slay, and the kelevim to drag off, and the oph HaShomayim, and the behemat ha'aretz, to devour and destroy.

4 And I will cause them to be a horrific sight to kol mamlechot ha'aretz, because of Menasheh Ben Chizkiyah Melech Yehudah, for that which he did in Yerushalayim.

5 For who shall have pity upon thee, O Yerushalayim? Or who shall mourn thee? Or who shall go aside to inquire regarding the shalom of thee?

6 Thou hast forsaken Me, saith Hashem, thou keepeth going backward; therefore will I stretch out My yad against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with relenting.

7 And I will winnow them with a mizreh (winnowing fork) in the sha'arei ha'aretz; I will bereave them, I will destroy My people since they turn not from their drakhim.

8 Their almanot (widows) are increased before Me above the chol (sand) of the seas; I have brought upon them, against the em bochur (mother of youth), a shoded (plunderer) at noonday; I let fall upon her suddenly, Ir and terrors.

9 She that bore shivah (seven [sons]) languisheth; she hath gasped for her nefesh; her shemesh is gone down while it was yet day; she hath been humiliated and disgraced; and the she'erit (remnant) of them will I deliver to the cherev before their oyevim, saith Hashem.

10 Oy li, immi, that thou bore me, an ish riv (a man of strife) and an ish madon (a man of contention) to kol ha'aretz (the whole land)! I have neither lent, neither have any lent to me; yet every one of them doth curse me.

11 Hashem said, Verily I will deliver thee for tov; verily I will cause the oyev (enemy) to supplicate thee in the time of ra'ah and in the time of tzarah (distress).

12 Shall barzel (iron) break, barzel (iron) from tzafon (north)? Or nechoshet?

13 Thy wealth and thy otzerot (treasures) will I give as plunder without mekhir (price), and that for all thy chataim (sins), even in all thy territories.

14 And I will make thee to pass over thine oyevim (enemies) into an eretz which thou knowest not; for eish is kindled in Mine anger, which shall burn against you [plural].

15 Hashem, Thou knowest; remember me, and visit me, and take vengeance for me of my [pursuing] persecutors; in Thy patient forbearance take me not away; know that for Thy sake I have suffered cherpah (reproach).

16 Thy Devarim were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Davar was unto me the sasson and simchat levavi; for I am called by Thy Shem, Hashem Elohei Tzva'os.

17 I sat not in the sod (company) of merrymakers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of Thy yad; for Thou hast filled me with za'am (indignation).

18 Why is my pain netzach (perpetual, never ending) and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? Wilt Thou be altogether unto me like achzav (deception) and mayim lo ne'emanu (waters that have not proved reliable)?

19 Therefore thus saith Hashem, If thou make teshuva (repentance), then will I restore thee, and thou shalt stand before Me [for service, ministry]; and if thou bring forth [utterance] of the precious rather than the worthless, thou shalt be as My Peh (Mouth): let them turn unto thee; but turn not thou unto them.

20 And I will make thee unto HaAm Hazeh (this people) a fortified chomat nechoshet; and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith Hashem.

21 And I will save thee out of the yad of the ra'im (wicked), and I will redeem thee out of the clutches of the ruthless.

#Prophecy #hebrews #Israelite #shalom #shama

Yirmeyah 10-12

Orthodox Jewish Bible

10 Hear ye the Davar which Hashem speaketh unto you, O Bais Yisroel.

2 Thus saith Hashem, Learn not the Derech HaGoyim, and be not in awe of the otot HaShomayim; though the Goyim are in awe of them.

3 For the [religious] chukkot (customs, statutes) of the nations are vain delusions; for one cutteth etz out of the ya'ar (forest), the ma'aseh (handiwork) of the hands of the charash (workman, artisan), with the axe.

4 They deck it with kesef and with zahav; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it topple not.

5 They [the idols] are upright as the tomer (palm tree], but speak not; they must needs be carried, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do rah, neither also is it in them to do tov.

6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto Thee, Hashem; Thou art gadol, and Thy Shem is gadol in gevurah.

7 Who would not fear thee, O Melech HaGoyim? For this is Thy due; forasmuch as among all the chachamim of the Goyim, and in kol malchut of them, there is none like unto Thee.

8 But they are altogether stupid and foolish; the etz is a musar havalim (discipline of delusions).

9 Hammered kesef is brought from Tarshish, and zahav from Uphaz, the ma'aseh (work, handiwork) of the charash (workman, artisan), and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple is their [the idols'] clothing; they are all the ma'aseh (work) of cunning men.

10 But Hashem is the Elohim Emes, He is the Elohim Chayyim, and the Melech Olam; at His wrath ha'aretz shall tremble, and the Goyim shall not be able to endure His indignation.

11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The g-ds that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and min techot (from under) these heavens.

12 He hath made eretz by His ko'ach, He hath established the tevel (world) by His chochmah, and hath stretched out Shomayim by His understanding.

13 When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of mayim in Shomayim, and He causeth the clouds to ascend from the ends of ha'aretz; He maketh lightnings with matar (rain), and bringeth forth the ruach (wind) out of His Otzerot.

14 Kol Adam is stupid in his da'as; every goldsmith is shamed by the pesel (idol); for his nesekh (molten image) is sheker, and there is no ruach in them.

15 They are hevel (vanity, delusion), and the ma'aseh (work) of delusion; in the time of their pekudat (visitation, punishment) they shall perish.

16 The chelek of Ya'akov is not like them; for the Yotzer HaKol (Maker of All, Creator of All) is He; and Yisroel is the shevet (rod) of His nachalah; Hashem Tzva'os Shmo.

17 Gather up thy gear [for Exile] meEretz (from the Land), O besieged inhabitant.

18 For thus saith Hashem, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of HaAretz at this time, and will bring distress upon them, so that find they may [i.e., what they deserve].

19 Oy li! (woe is me) for my disaster! My wound is grievous; but I said, Truly this is a sickness, and I must bear it.

20 My ohel is destroyed, and all my tent cords are broken; my banim are gone forth of me, and are no more; there is none to pitch any more my ohel, and to hang up my tent curtains.

21 For the ro'im (shepherds, pastors) are become stupid, and inquire not of Hashem; therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flock shall be scattered.

22 Hinei, the noise! The report is come, and a great commotion out of Eretz Tzafon, to make the towns of Yehudah desolate, and a haunt of jackals.

23 Hashem, I know that the derech of adam (man) is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

24 Hashem, correct me, but with mishpat; not in Thine anger, lest Thou bring me to nothing.

25 Pour out Thy fury upon the Goyim that know Thee not, and upon the mishpekhot that call not on Shimecha (Thy Name) [See Joel 2:32(3:5); Ac 2:21; Ro 10:13]; for they have eaten up Ya'akov, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

11 The Davar that came to Yirmeyah from Hashem saying,

2 Hear ye the Divrei HaBrit Hazot, and speak unto the Ish Yehudah, and to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim;

3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith Hashem Elohei Yisroel; Arur (cursed) be the ish that obeyeth not the Divrei HaBrit Hazot,

4 Which I commanded Avoteichem in the day that I brought them forth out from Eretz Mitzrayim, from the kur habarzel (the furnace of iron), saying, Obey My voice, and do all which I command you; so shall ye be My people, and I will be your Elohim;

5 That I may perform the shevuah (oath) which I have sworn unto Avoteichem to give them an Eretz zavat cholov udevash as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, Omein, Hashem.

6 Then Hashem said unto me, Proclaim all these Devarim in the towns of Yehudah, and in the streets of Yerushalayim, saying, Hear ye the Divrei HaBrit Hazot, and do them.

7 For I earnestly warned Avoteichem in the day that I brought them up out of Eretz Mitzrayim, even unto this day, rising early and warning, saying, Obey My voice.

8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ozen (ear), but walked every one in the sherirut (stubbornness) of their lev harah; therefore I brought upon them all the Divrei HaBrit Hazot, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.

9 And Hashem said unto me, A kesher (conspiracy) is found among the Ish Yehudah, and among the inhabitants of Yerushalayim.

10 They are turned back to the avonot Avotam HaRishonim, which refused to hear My words; and they went after elohim acherim to serve them; Bais Yisroel and Bais Yehudah have broken My Brit which I cut with Avotam.

11 Therefore thus saith Hashem, Look! I will bring ra'ah (evil, disaster) upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry out unto Me, I will not pay heed unto them.

12 Then shall the towns of Yehudah and inhabitants of Yerushalayim go, and cry out unto the elohim unto whom they offer ketoret; but they shall not save them at all in the time of their ra'ah (disaster).

13 For as many as the mispar (number) of thy towns were thy elohim, O Yehudah; and according to the mispar (number) of the streets of Yerushalayim have ye set up mizbechot to that boshet (shameful [idol]), even mizbechot to burn ketoret unto Ba'al.

14 Therefore pray not thou for HaAm Hazot, neither lift up a rinnah (entreaty) or tefillah on their behalf; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto Me for their ra'ah (disaster).

15 What hath My yadid (beloved [See 12:7] to do in Mine Bais [HaMikdash], seeing she hath with rabbim (many) wrought clever [ritual] schemes—can basar kodesh turn away from thee thy disaster, that thou can rejoice?

16 Hashem called thy shem, A green zayit (olive tree), yafeh, and of goodly pri (fruit); with the noise of a great tumult He hath kindled eish upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

17 For Hashem Tzva'os, that planted thee, hath pronounced ra'ah against thee, for the evil of Bais Yisroel and of Bais Yehudah, which they have done against themselves to provoke Me to anger in offering ketoret (incense) unto Ba'al.

18 And Hashem hath given me da'as (knowledge) of it, and I know it; then Thou opened my eyes to their deeds.

19 But I was like an innocent keves (lamb) that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised machashavot (plots) against me, saying, Let us destroy the etz (tree) with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from Eretz Chayyim, that shmo may be no more remembered.

20 But, Hashem Tzva'os, Shofet Tzedek, that testeth the kelayot (kidneys) and the lev, let me see Thy vengeance on them; for unto Thee have I committed my cause.

21 Therefore thus saith Hashem of the anshei Anatot, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not B'Shem Hashem, that thou die not by our yad;

22 Therefore thus saith Hashem Tzva'os, Look! I will punish them; the bochurim shall die by the cherev; their banim and their banot shall die by ra'av (famine);

23 And there shall be no she'erit (remnant) of them; for I will bring ra'ah (evil) upon the Anshei Anatot, even the year of their visitation [i.e., divine visitation for punishment].

12 Tzaddik art Thou, Hashem, when I make legal pleading of my case before Thee; yet mishpatim (justice) I would speak with Thee: Why doth the Derech Rasha'im prosper? Why live they all at ease whose dealings are that of the boged (traitor, treacherous)?

2 Thou hast planted them, and they take root; they grow, and they bring forth pri; Thou art karov (near) in their mouth, and rachok (far) from their heart.

3 But Thou, Hashem, knowest me; Thou hast seen me, and tested mine lev toward Thee; pull them out like tzon for the tevakh (slaughter), and prepare them for the Yom Haregah (Day of Slaughter, Killing).

4 Ad mosai (until when) shall HaAretz mourn, and the esev kol hasadeh (grass of every field) wither, because of the wickedness of them that dwell therein? The behemot are consumed, and the oph; because they said, He [G-d] is blind to our future.

5 If thou hast run with the ragelim (footmen), and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with susim? And if in the eretz shalom thou art complacent, then how wilt thou do in the thickets of the Yarden?

6 For even acheicha (thy brethren), and the bais avicha, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; even they are in full cry behind thee; trust them not, though they speak unto thee tovot.

7 I have forsaken Mine Bais, I have abandoned Mine nachalah; I have given the yedidut nafshi (the beloved of My soul) into the palm of her enemies.

8 Mine nachalah is unto Me as an aryeh in the ya'ar (forest); it roareth out against Me; therefore have I hated it.

9 Mine nachalah is unto Me as a speckled bird of prey, the birds of prey round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the chayyat hasadeh (beasts of the field), come to devour.

10 Ro'im rabbim (many shepherds) have destroyed My kerem (vineyard), they have trodden My chelek under foot, they have made My chelet chemdat (portion desired) a desolate midbar.

11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto Me; kol HaAretz is made desolate, but no ish taketh it to heart.

12 The plunderers are come upon all barren heights in the midbar; for the Cherev Hashem shall devour from the one end of the Eretz even to the other end of HaAretz; no basar shall have shalom.

13 They have sown chittim (wheat), but shall reap kotzim (thorns); they have tired themselves out, but shall not profit; and they shall be ashamed of your harvests because of the Charon Af Hashem (burning furious wrath of Hashem).

14 Thus saith Hashem: Concerning all Mine evil shchenim (neighbors), that touch the nachalah which I have caused My people Yisroel to inherit: See, I will uproot them out of their adamah, and uproot the Bais Yehudah from among them.

15 And it shall come to pass, after that I uproot them I will return, and have rachamim (compassion) on them, and will bring them back again, every ish to his nachalah, and every ish to his eretz.

16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the darkhei Ami (ways of My people [i.e., Israel's Biblical faith]), to swear in My Shem, As Hashem liveth; even as they taught My people to make avowal in Ba'al; then shall they be built up in the midst of My People.

17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly uproot and destroy that Goy (Nation), saith Hashem.

#Hebrew #Jeremiah10_12 #ivri

False Religion Worthless

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Stand at the gate of the Lord's house and there proclaim this message:

“‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord.3 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptivewords and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.

9 “‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,[a] burn incense to Baal and follow other godsyou have not known, 10 and then come and standbefore me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? 11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.

12 “‘Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel.13 While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.14 Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors. 15 I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim.'

16 “So do not pray for this people nor offer any pleaor petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you. 17 Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to arouse my anger. 19 But am I the one they are provoking?declares the Lord. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame?

20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: My anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place—on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the crops of your land—and it will burn and not be quenched.

21 “‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commandsabout burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. 24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.They went backward and not forward. 25 From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their ancestors.'

27 “When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer.28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.

29 “‘Cut off your hair and throw it away; take up a lament on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned this generation that is under his wrath.

The Valley of Slaughter

30 “‘The people of Judah have done evil in my eyes, declares the Lord. They have set up their detestable idols in the house that bears my Name and have defiled it. 31 They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind. 32 So beware, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when people will no longer call it Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter, for they will burythe dead in Topheth until there is no more room.33 Then the carcasses of this people will become food for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away. 34 I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate.

8 “‘At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings and officials of Judah, the bones of the priests and prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves. 2 They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens, which they have loved and served and which they have followed and consulted and worshiped. They will not be gathered up or buried, but will be like dung lying on the ground.3 Wherever I banish them, all the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life, declares the LordAlmighty.'

Sin and Punishment

4 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘When people fall down, do they not get up? When someone turns away, do they not return?5 Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away?They cling to deceit; they refuse to return.6 I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right.None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?”Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.7 Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons,and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration.But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.

8 “‘How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the Lord,”when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?9 The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped.Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?10 Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners.From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain;prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.11 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.“Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace.12 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished,says the Lord.

13 “‘I will take away their harvest,declares the Lord. There will be no grapes on the vine.There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither.What I have given them will be taken from them.[b]'”

14 Why are we sitting here? Gather together!Let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there!For the Lord our God has doomed us to perish and given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against him.15 We hoped for peace but no good has come,for a time of healing but there is only terror.16 The snorting of the enemy's horses is heard from Dan;at the neighing of their stallions the whole land trembles.They have come to devour the land and everything in it, the city and all who live there.

17 “See, I will send venomous snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you,”declares the Lord.

18 You who are my Comforter[c] in sorrow, my heart is faint within me.19 Listen to the cry of my people from a land far away:“Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King no longer there?”

“Why have they aroused my anger with their images, with their worthless foreign idols?”

20 “The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.”

21 Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me.22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?

9 [d]1 Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears!I would weep day and night for the slain of my people.2 Oh, that I had in the desert a lodging place for travelers,so that I might leave my people and go away from them;for they are all adulterers, a crowd of unfaithful people.

3 “They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies;it is not by truth that they triumph[e] in the land.They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me,”declares the Lord.4 “Beware of your friends; do not trust anyone in your clan.For every one of them is a deceiver,[f] and every friend a slanderer.5 Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth.They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning.6 You[g] live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,”declares the Lord.

7 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says:

“See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people?8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully.With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps for them.9 Should I not punish them for this?” declares the Lord.“Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?”

10 I will weep and wail for the mountains and take up a lament concerning the wilderness grasslands.They are desolate and untraveled, and the lowing of cattle is not heard.The birds have all fled and the animals are gone.

11 “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals;and I will lay waste the towns of Judah so no one can live there.”

12 Who is wise enough to understand this? Who has been instructed by the Lord and can explain it? Why has the land been ruined and laid waste like a desert that no one can cross?

13 The Lord said, “It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my law. 14 Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts; they have followed the Baals, as their ancestors taught them.”15 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “See, I will make this people eat bitter food and drink poisoned water. 16 I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known, and I will pursue them with the sworduntil I have made an end of them.”

17 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Consider now! Call for the wailing women to come; send for the most skillful of them.18 Let them come quickly and wail over ustill our eyes overflow with tears and water streams from our eyelids.19 The sound of wailing is heard from Zion: ‘How ruined we are! How great is our shame!We must leave our land because our houses are in ruins.'”

20 Now, you women, hear the word of the Lord; open your ears to the words of his mouth.Teach your daughters how to wail; teach one another a lament.21 Death has climbed in through our windows and has entered our fortresses;it has removed the children from the streets and the young men from the public squares.

22 Say, “This is what the Lord declares:

“‘Dead bodies will lie like dung on the open field,like cut grain behind the reaper, with no one to gather them.'”

23 This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches,24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to knowme,that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,”declares the Lord.

25 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh—26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the wilderness in distant places.[h] For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”

Yirmeyah 4-6

Orthodox Jewish Bible

4 If thou wilt make teshuvah, O Yisroel, saith Hashem, return unto Me; and if thou wilt put away thine shikkutzim (abominations) out of My sight, then shalt thou not be moved [to wander].

2 And thou shalt swear, Chai Hashem, in emes, in mishpat, and in tzedakah; and the Goyim shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory.

3 For thus saith Hashem to Ish Yehudah and Yerushalayim, Break up your unplowed ground, and sow not among kotzim (thorns).

4 Circumcise yourselves to Hashem, and take the mohel knife to the arelot of your levav, ye Ish Yehudah and inhabitants of Yerushalayim: lest My fury break out like eish, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.

5 Declare ye in Yehudah, and publish in Yerushalayim; and say, Blow ye the shofar in HaAretz. Cry out, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities.

6 Raise up a nes (a banner, a flag pointing to the place of refuge) over Tziyon; take refuge, delay not; for I will bring ra'ah (evil, disaster) from the tzafon (north), and shever gadol (great destruction).

7 The aryeh (lion) is come up from his thicket, and the Mashkhit Goyim (Destroyer of the Nations, i.e., Babylon) is on his way, he is gone forth from his place to make thy eretz desolate; and thy cities shall be made to lie in ruins, without an inhabitant.

8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and wail; for the charon af Hashem is not turned away from us.

9 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith Hashem, that the lev HaMelech shall be disheartened, and the lev hasarim; and the kohanim shall be horror-struck, and the nevi'im dumbfounded.

10 Then said I, Adonoi Hashem! Surely Thou hast greatly misled HaAm HaZeh and Yerushalayim, saying, Shalom yeheyeh lachem (Ye shall have shalom); whereas the cherev is near unto the nefesh.

11 At that time shall it be told HaAm HaZeh and Yerushalayim, A ruach tzach (a dry wind, sirocco) from the high places in the midbar toward the Bat Ami [i.e., Yisroel], not to winnow, nor to cleanse,

12 Even a ruach maleh (strong wind) from those places shall come from Me; now also I will pronounce mishpatim against them.

13 Hinei, he [the approaching foe] shall come up like ananim (clouds), and his merkavot shall be like the whirlwind; his susim are swifter than nesharim (eagles). Oy lanu! (Woe unto us!) For we are ruined.

14 O Yerushalayim, wash thine lev from rah, that thou mayest be saved. Ad mosai (how long, how much longer) shall thy sinful machsh'vot lodge within thee?

15 For a kol (voice) declareth from Dan, and publisheth evil tidings from Mt Ephrayim.

16 Tell the Goyim; hinei, spread the news to Yerushalayim, that notzrim (besiegers) come from a far country, and raise their voice against the cities of Yehudah.

17 As shomrim of a sadeh, they are against her all around; because she hath been rebellious against Me, saith Hashem.

18 Thy derech and thy deeds have brought these things upon thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is mar (bitter), for it hath touched upon thine lev.

19 My innards, my innards! I am pained at my very lev; my lev is pounding in me; I cannot keep silent, because thou hast heard, O my nefesh, the kol shofar (sound of the shofar), the teru'at milchamah (battle alarm of war).

20 Shever (destruction) follows after shever; for the whole land lies in ruins; suddenly are my ohalim destroyed, and my canopies rega.

21 Ad mosai (how long) shall I see the nes (banner), and hear the kol shofar?

22 For Ami is foolish, they have not known Me; they are stupid banim, and they have no understanding; they are chachamim to do evil, but to do good they have no da'as.

23 I beheld ha'aretz, and, hinei, it was tohu vavohu [Genesis 1:2]; and HaShomayim—there was no ohr.

24 I beheld the mountains, and, hinei, they quaked, and all the hills had crumbled.

25 I beheld, and, hinei, there was no adam, and kol oph HaShomayim fled away.

26 I beheld, and, hinei, the carmel was a midbar, and all the cities thereof lay in ruins before Hashem, before the charon af Hashem.

27 For thus hath Hashem said, A wasteland shall be kol HaAretz; yet I will not make a complete end of it.

28 For this reason HaAretz shall mourn, and HaShomayim above turn black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not relent, neither will I turn back from it.

29 Kol HaIr shall flee at the noise of the parash and the romeh keshet (the archer); they shall run into thickets, and climb up among the kefim (rocks); every city shall be deserted, and not an ish dwell therein.

30 And thou, O plundered one [Jerusalem], what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with scarlet, though thou deckest thee with jewelry of zahav, though thou paintest thy eyes with cosmetics, in vain thou adornest thyself; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy nefesh.

31 For I have heard a kol (outcry) like that of a woman in travail, and in labor pain like that of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of Bat Tziyon, that waileth, that stretcheth out her hands, saying, Oy nah li (Woe is me now)! for my nefesh is weary because of murderers.

5 Run ye to and fro through the chutzot Yerushalayim (streets of Jerusalem), and see now, and know, and seek in the rechovot thereof, if ye can find an ish, if there be any that dispenseth mishpat (justice), that seeketh the emunah (faith); and I will forgive her [Jerusalem].

2 And though they say, Chai Hashem; surely they swear lasheker (falsely).

3 Hashem, are not Thine eyes upon emunah? Thou hast struck them, but they felt no anguish; Thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to accept musar [cf Isa 53:5]; they have made their faces harder than stone; they have refused to make teshuvah.

4 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish; for they know not the Derech Hashem, nor the Mishpat Eloheihem.

5 I will get me unto the Gedolim, and will speak unto them; for they have known the Derech Hashem, and the Mishpat Eloheihem; but these have altogether broken off the ol (yoke), and burst the bonds.

6 Therefore an aryeh (lion) out of the forest shall slay them, and a ze'ev (wolf) of the deserts shall destroy them, a namer (leopard) shall prowl near their towns; every one that ventureth out from there shall be torn to pieces; because their peysha'im (rebellions) are many, and their meshuvot (backslidings) are increased.

7 How shall I forgive thee for this? Thy banim have forsaken Me, and sworn by them that are no elohim; when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and trooped to the bais zonah.

8 They were like well-fed, lusty susim: every one neighed after the isha of his neighbor.

9 Shall I not visit [to punish] for these things? saith Hashem; and shall not My Nefesh be avenged on such a Goy as this?

10 Go ye up through her rows of vines, and cut down; but make not a full end; take away her branches; for they are not Hashem's.

11 For Bais Yisroel and Bais Yehudah have dealt very treacherously against Me, saith Hashem.

12 They have spoken lies about Hashem, and said, Lo hu (not He); neither shall ra'ah come upon us; neither shall we see cherev nor ra'av (famine);

13 And the nevi'im shall become ru'ach, and the Devar is not in them; thus shall it be done unto them.

14 Therefore thus saith Hashem Elohei Tzva'os, Because ye speak this devar, hinei, I will make My Devarim in thy mouth an eish, and HaAm HaZeh etzim (wood), and it shall consume them.

15 Hineni, I will bring a Goy (Nation) upon you from afar, O Bais Yisroel, saith Hashem; it is a powerful nation, a goy me'olam (an ancient nation), a nation whose leshon thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

16 Their quiver is as an open kever (grave), they are all gibborim.

17 And they shall devour thine katzir (harvest), and thy lechem, which thy banim and thy banot should eat; they shall devour thy tzon and thine bakar; they shall eat up thy gefen and thy te'enah (fig tree); they shall impoverish thy fortified cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the cherev.

18 Nevertheless in those days, saith Hashem, I will not make a full end with you.

19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Why doeth Hashem Eloheinu all these things unto us? Then shalt thou answer them, As ye have forsaken Me, and served elohei nechar (foreign g-ds, strange g-ds) in your land, so shall ye serve zarim in an eretz not your own.

20 Declare this in Bais Ya'akov, and publish it in Yehudah, saying,

21 Hear now this, O Am Sakhal (foolish people) without understanding; which have eynayim (eyes), and see not; which have oznayim (ears), and hear not;

22 Fear ye not Me? saith Hashem; will ye not tremble at My Presence, Who hath placed the chol (sand) as the boundary of the yam by a chok olam, that it cannot transgress; and though the waves thereof toss, yet they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

23 But HaAm Hazeh hath a lev sorer (stubborn heart) and moreh (rebellious); they have revolted and departed.

24 Neither say they in their lev, Let us now fear Hashem Eloheinu, that giveth geshem, both the yoreh (former rain, autumn rain) and the malkosh (latter rain, spring rain) in season; He secureth unto us shavu'ot chukkot katzir (the appointed weeks of the harvest).

25 Your avonot (iniquities) have turned away these things, and your chatta'ot (sins) have deprived hatov from you.

26 For among Ami are found resha'im; they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a mashkhit (trap), they catch anashim.

27 As a cage is full of oph, so are their batim (houses) full of mirmah; therefore they are become powerful and oshir (rich, wealthy).

28 They have grown fat and sleek; yea, their wicked deeds are without limit; the cause of the yatom they do not plead, yet they prosper; and the mishpat evyonim (right of the poor people) they do not defend.

29 Shall I not visit [to punish] for these things? saith Hashem; shall not My nefesh be avenged on such a Goy (Nation) as this?

30 An astonishing and horrible thing is committed in HaAretz;

31 The nevi'im prophesy falsely, and the kohanim rule at their direction; and My people love to have it this way; but what will ye do in the end?

6 O ye Bnei Binyamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Yerushalayim, and blow the shofar in Tekoa, and kindle the fire signal on Beit HaKerem; for ra'ah (evil, disaster) appeareth out of the tzafon (north), and shever gadol (great destruction).

2 Bat Tziyon, so beautiful and delicate, I will destroy.

3 The ro'im (shepherds) with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their ohalim against her all around; they shall pasture each his portion.

4 Prepare ye milchamah against her; arise, and let us go up to attack at noon. Oy unto us! For the yom fadeth away, for the shadows of erev are lengthening.

5 Arise, and let us attack ba'lailah, and let us destroy her fortresses.

6 For thus hath Hashem Tzva'os said, Cut ye down trees, and throw up a solelah (siege ramp) against Yerushalayim; this is the Ir that must be visited [for punishment]; oshek (oppression) is rampant within her.

7 As a well casteth afresh her waters, so she [Jerusalem] casteth afresh her rah (wickedness); chamas and shod (destruction) is heard in her; before Me tamid (continually) is sickness and wounds.

8 Be thou warned, O Yerushalayim, lest My nefesh depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, an eretz not inhabited.

9 Thus saith Hashem Tzva'os, They shall thoroughly glean the She'erit Yisroel (the Remnant of Israel) as a gefen (vine); turn back thine yad once again like a grape gatherer over the vine tendrils.

10 To whom can I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? Hinei, their ear is arelah (uncircumcised), and to pay heed is beyond them; hinei, the Devar Hashem is unto them a reproach; they find no pleasure in it.

11 Therefore I am full of the chamat Hashem; I am weary with holding in; I will pour it out upon the olal in the street, and upon the assembly of bocherim together; for even the ish with the isha shall be caught, the zaken, those weighed down with yamim (days).

12 And their batim (houses) shall be turned over unto others, with their sadot and nashim together; for I will stretch out My yad upon the Yoshvei HaAretz (Inhabitants of the Land), saith Hashem.

13 For from the katan of them even unto the gadol of them, every one is given to greediness for unjust gain; and from the navi even unto the kohen, every one doeth sheker (deceit, falsehood).

14 They have provided superficial treatment for Ami, saying, Shalom, shalom; v'ein shalom.

15 Were they ashamed when they had committed to'evah (abomination)? They were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush; therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them [in punishment] they shall be brought down, saith Hashem.

16 Thus saith Hashem, Stand ye in the derakhim (crossroads), and look, and ask for the netivot olam (old paths), where is the derech hatov (good road, way), and walk therein, and ye shall find margo'a (rest) for your nefashot. But they said, We will not walk therein.

17 Also I set tzofim (watchmen) over you, saying, Pay heed to the kol shofar (sound of the shofar). But they said, We will not pay heed.

18 Therefore hear, ye Goyim, and know, O Edah (Congregation), what will happen to them.

19 Hear, HaAretz (O Earth); hinei, I will bring ra'ah (evil, disaster) upon HaAm Hazeh, even the p'ri (fruit) of their machsh'vot (schemes), because they have not paid heed unto My devarim, nor to My torah, but rejected it.

20 To what purpose cometh there to Me frankincense from Sheva [i.e., southwest Arabia], and the sweet cane from a far country? Your olot (burnt offerings) are not acceptable, nor your zevakhim pleasing unto Me.

21 Therefore thus saith Hashem, Hineni, I will lay michsholim (stumblingblocks) before HaAm HaZeh, and the Avot and the Banim together shall stumble upon them; the shakhen (neighbor) and his re'a (neighbor, friend) shall perish.

22 Thus saith Hashem, Hinei, Am (an Army, a people) cometh from the eretz tzafon, and a Goy Gadol is aroused from the ends of the earth.

23 They shall lay hold of keshet (bow) and kidon (spear); they are cruel, and have no mercy; their kol (voice) roareth like the yam; and they ride upon susim, set in array as ish for milchamah against thee, O Bat Tziyon.

24 We have heard the fame thereof; our hands hang limp; tzarah (anguish) hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in labor.

25 Go not forth into the sadeh, nor walk by the derech; for the cherev of the oyev (enemy) and magur (fear, terror) is on every side.

26 O Bat Ami, gird thee with sackcloth, and roll thyself in ashes; make thee evel (mourning), as for a yachid (only son), most bitter lamentation; for the shoded (destroyer) shall suddenly come upon us.

27 I have set thee for a bachon (tester, assayer) of Ami (My People); that thou mayest know and test their derech (way, conduct).

28 They are all maximum rebels, going about as rachil (talebearers, slanderers); they are nechoshet and barzel; they are all corrupt.

29 The bellows blow, the oferet (lead) is consumed by the eish; the smelter's refining is in vain; for the ra'im are not drawn off.

30 Nimas kesef (reprobate silver, rejected silver) shall men call them, because Hashem hath rejected them

1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

The Call of Jeremiah

4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a]you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touchedmy mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nationsand kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching[b] to see that my word is fulfilled.”

13 The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”

“I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”

14 The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord.

“Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah.16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me,in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.

17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Israel Forsakes God

2 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

“This is what the Lord says:

“‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved meand followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.3 Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest;all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,'”declares the Lord.

4 Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel.

5 This is what the Lord says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me?They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egyptand led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines,a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?'7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce.But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?'Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me.The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.

9 “Therefore I bring charges against you again,”declares the Lord. “And I will bring charges against your children's children.10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar[c] and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this:11 Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.)But my people have exchanged their gloriousGod for worthless idols.12 Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,”declares the Lord.13 “My people have committed two sins:They have forsaken me, the spring of living water,and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.14 Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become plunder?15 Lions have roared; they have growled at him.They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted.16 Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skull.17 Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord your God when he led you in the way?18 Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile[d]?And why go to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates?19 Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you.Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for youwhen you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,”declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

20 “Long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off your bonds; you said, ‘I will not serve you!'Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute.21 I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock.How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?22 Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me,”declares the Sovereign Lord.23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals'?See how you behaved in the valley; consider what you have done.You are a swift she-camel running here and there,24 a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her craving— in her heat who can restrain her?Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves; at mating time they will find her.25 Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry.But you said, ‘It's no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.'

26 “As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the people of Israel are disgraced—they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets.27 They say to wood, ‘You are my father,' and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.'They have turned their backs to me and not their faces;yet when they are in trouble, they say, ‘Come and save us!'28 Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble!For you, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns.

29 “Why do you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me,”declares the Lord.30 “In vain I punished your people; they did not respond to correction.Your sword has devoured your prophets like a ravenous lion.

31 “You of this generation, consider the word of the Lord:

“Have I been a desert to Israel or a land of great darkness?Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to you no more'?32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments?Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.33 How skilled you are at pursuing love! Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.34 On your clothes is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in.Yet in spite of all this35 you say, ‘I am innocent; he is not angry with me.'But I will pass judgment on you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.'36 Why do you go about so much, changing your ways?You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria.37 You will also leave that place with your hands on your head,for the Lord has rejected those you trust; you will not be helped by them.

3 “If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man,should he return to her again? Would not the land be completely defiled?But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers— would you now return to me?”declares the Lord.2 “Look up to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been ravished?By the roadside you sat waiting for lovers, sat like a nomad in the desert.You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness.3 Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen.Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to blush with shame.4 Have you not just called to me: ‘My Father, my friend from my youth,5 will you always be angry? Will your wrath continue forever?'This is how you talk, but you do all the evil you can.”

Unfaithful Israel

6 During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. 7 I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sisterJudah saw it. 8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. 9 Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. 10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the Lord.

11 The Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah. 12 Go, proclaim this message toward the north:

“‘Return, faithless Israel,' declares the Lord, ‘I will frown on you no longer,for I am faithful,' declares the Lord, ‘I will not be angry forever.13 Only acknowledge your guilt— you have rebelled against the Lord your God,you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,'”declares the Lord.

14 “Return, faithless people,” declares the Lord, “for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion.15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart,who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.16 In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the Lord, “people will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made.17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. 18 In those days the people of Judah will join the people of Israel, and together they will come from a northernland to the land I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.

19 “I myself said,

“‘How gladly would I treat you like my children and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.'I thought you would call me ‘Father' and not turn away from following me.20 But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me,”declares the Lord.

21 A cry is heard on the barren heights, the weeping and pleading of the people of Israel,because they have perverted their ways and have forgotten the Lord their God.

22 “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.”

“Yes, we will come to you, for you are the Lord our God.23 Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception;surely in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.24 From our youth shameful gods have consumed the fruits of our ancestors' labor—their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.25 Let us lie down in our shame, and let our disgrace cover us.We have sinned against the Lord our God, both we and our ancestors;from our youth till this day we have not obeyed the Lord our God.”#Jeremiah1 #Jeremiah2 #Jeremiah3