The Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 2ירמיהו 2

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר

Moreover the word of YHWH came to me, saying,

הָלֹ֡ךְ וְקָֽרָאתָ֩ בְאָזְנֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה זָכַ֤רְתִּי לָךְ֙ חֶ֣סֶד נְעוּרַ֔יִךְ אַהֲבַ֖ת כְּלוּלֹתָ֑יִךְ לֶכְתֵּ֤ךְ אַחֲרַי֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר בְּאֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥א זְרוּעָֽה

Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says YHWH; I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your espousals, when you wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

קֹ֤דֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לַיהוָ֔ה רֵאשִׁ֖ית תְּבוּאָתֹ֑ה כָּל אֹכְלָ֣יו יֶאְשָׁ֔מוּ רָעָ֛ה תָּבֹ֥א אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

Israel holiness to YHWH, the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, says YHWH.

שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר יְהוָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְכָֽל מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

Hear you the word of YHWH, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה מַה מָּצְא֨וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֥ם בִּי֙ עָ֔וֶל כִּ֥י רָחֲק֖וּ מֵעָלָ֑י וַיֵּֽלְכ֛וּ אַחֲרֵ֥י הַהֶ֖בֶל וַיֶּהְבָּֽלוּ

Thus says YHWH, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

וְלֹ֣א אָמְר֔וּ אַיֵּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה הַמַּעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖נוּ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הַמּוֹלִ֨יךְ אֹתָ֜נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר בְּאֶ֨רֶץ עֲרָבָ֤ה וְשׁוּחָה֙ בְּאֶ֨רֶץ֙ צִיָּ֣ה וְצַלְמָ֔וֶת בְּאֶ֗רֶץ לֹֽא עָ֤בַר בָּהּ֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹֽא יָשַׁ֥ב אָדָ֖ם שָֽׁם

Neither said they, Where YHWH that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

וָאָבִ֤יא אֶתְכֶם֙ אֶל אֶ֣רֶץ הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל לֶאֱכֹ֥ל פִּרְיָ֖הּ וְטוּבָ֑הּ וַתָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ וַתְּטַמְּא֣וּ אֶת אַרְצִ֔י וְנַחֲלָתִ֥י שַׂמְתֶּ֖ם לְתוֹעֵבָֽה

And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים לֹ֤א אָֽמְרוּ֙ אַיֵּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה וְתֹפְשֵׂ֤י הַתּוֹרָה֙ לֹ֣א יְדָע֔וּנִי וְהָרֹעִ֖ים פָּ֣שְׁעוּ בִ֑י וְהַנְּבִיאִים֙ נִבְּא֣וּ בַבַּ֔עַל וְאַחֲרֵ֥י לֹֽא יוֹעִ֖לוּ הָלָֽכוּ

The priests said not, Where YHWH? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after do not profit.

לָכֵ֗ן עֹ֛ד אָרִ֥יב אִתְּכֶ֖ם נְאֻם יְהוָ֑ה וְאֶת בְּנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אָרִֽיב

Wherefore I will yet plead with you, says YHWH, and with your children's children will I plead.

כִּ֣י עִבְר֞וּ אִיֵּ֤י כִתִּיִּים֙ וּרְא֔וּ וְקֵדָ֛ר שִׁלְח֥וּ וְהִֽתְבּוֹנְנ֖וּ מְאֹ֑ד וּרְא֕וּ הֵ֥ן הָיְתָ֖ה כָּזֹֽאת

For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

הַהֵימִ֥יר גּוֹי֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה לֹ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַמִּ֛י הֵמִ֥יר כְּבוֹד֖וֹ בְּל֥וֹא יוֹעִֽיל

Has a nation changed gods, which yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for does not profit.

שֹׁ֥מּוּ שָׁמַ֖יִם עַל זֹ֑את וְשַׂעֲר֛וּ חָרְב֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

Be astonished, O you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be you very desolate, says YHWH.

כִּֽי שְׁתַּ֥יִם רָע֖וֹת עָשָׂ֣ה עַמִּ֑י אֹתִ֨י עָזְב֜וּ מְק֣וֹר מַ֣יִם חַיִּ֗ים לַחְצֹ֤ב לָהֶם֙ בֹּאר֔וֹת בֹּארֹת֙ נִשְׁבָּרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא יָכִ֖לוּ הַמָּֽיִם

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

הַעֶ֨בֶד֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם יְלִ֥יד בַּ֖יִת ה֑וּא מַדּ֖וּעַ הָיָ֥ה לָבַֽז

Israel a servant? he a homeborn ? why is he spoiled?

עָלָיו֙ יִשְׁאֲג֣וּ כְפִרִ֔ים נָתְנ֖וּ קוֹלָ֑ם וַיָּשִׁ֤יתוּ אַרְצוֹ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה עָרָ֥יו נצתה נִצְּת֖וּ מִבְּלִ֥י יֹשֵֽׁב

The young lions roared upon him, yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

גַּם בְּנֵי נֹ֖ף ותחפנס וְתַחְפַּנְחֵ֑ס יִרְע֖וּךְ קָדְקֹֽד

Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of your head.

הֲלוֹא זֹ֖את תַּעֲשֶׂה לָּ֑ךְ עָזְבֵךְ֙ אֶת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֔יִךְ בְּעֵ֖ת מוֹלִיכֵ֥ךְ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ

Hast you not procured this to thyself, in that you have forsaken YHWH your God, when he led you by the way?

וְעַתָּ֗ה מַה לָּךְ֙ לְדֶ֣רֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת מֵ֣י שִׁח֑וֹר וּמַה לָּךְ֙ לְדֶ֣רֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת מֵ֥י נָהָֽר

And now what have you to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what have you to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

תְּיַסְּרֵ֣ךְ רָעָתֵ֗ךְ וּמְשֻֽׁבוֹתַ֨יִךְ֙ תּוֹכִחֻ֔ךְ וּדְעִ֤י וּרְאִי֙ כִּי רַ֣ע וָמָ֔ר עָזְבֵ֖ךְ אֶת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יִךְ וְלֹ֤א פַחְדָּתִי֙ אֵלַ֔יִךְ נְאֻם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה צְבָאֽוֹת

Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backslidings shall reprove you: know therefore and see that an evil and bitter, that you have forsaken YHWH your God, and that my fear not in you, says YHWH YHWH of hosts.

כִּ֣י מֵעוֹלָ֞ם שָׁבַ֣רְתִּי עֻלֵּ֗ךְ נִתַּ֨קְתִּי֙ מוֹסְרֹתַ֔יִךְ וַתֹּאמְרִ֖י לֹ֣א אעבד אֶעֱב֑וֹר כִּ֣י עַֽל כָּל גִּבְעָ֞ה גְּבֹהָ֗ה וְתַ֨חַת֙ כָּל עֵ֣ץ רַעֲנָ֔ן אַ֖תְּ צֹעָ֥ה זֹנָֽה

For of old time I have broken your yoke, burst your bands; and you saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree you wanderest, playing the harlot.

וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ נְטַעְתִּ֣יךְ שֹׂרֵ֔ק כֻּלֹּ֖ה זֶ֣רַע אֱמֶ֑ת וְאֵיךְ֙ נֶהְפַּ֣כְתְּ לִ֔י סוּרֵ֖י הַגֶּ֥פֶן נָכְרִיָּֽה

Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then are you turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine to me?

כִּ֤י אִם תְּכַבְּסִי֙ בַּנֶּ֔תֶר וְתַרְבִּי לָ֖ךְ בֹּרִ֑ית נִכְתָּ֤ם עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ לְפָנַ֔י נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה

For though you wash you with nitre, and take you much soap, your iniquity is marked before me, says YHWH YHWH.

אֵ֣יךְ תֹּאמְרִ֞י לֹ֣א נִטְמֵ֗אתִי אַחֲרֵ֤י הַבְּעָלִים֙ לֹ֣א הָלַ֔כְתִּי רְאִ֤י דַרְכֵּךְ֙ בַּגַּ֔יְא דְּעִ֖י מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑ית בִּכְרָ֥ה קַלָּ֖ה מְשָׂרֶ֥כֶת דְּרָכֶֽיהָ

How canst you say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see your way in the valley, know what you have done: a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

פֶּ֣רֶה לִמֻּ֣ד מִדְבָּ֗ר בְּאַוַּ֤ת נפשו נַפְשָׁהּ֙ שָׁאֲפָ֣ה ר֔וּחַ תַּאֲנָתָ֖הּ מִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נָּה כָּל מְבַקְשֶׁ֨יהָ֙ לֹ֣א יִיעָ֔פוּ בְּחָדְשָׁ֖הּ יִמְצָאֽוּנְהָ

A wild ass used to the wilderness, snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

מִנְעִ֤י רַגְלֵךְ֙ מִיָּחֵ֔ף וגורנך וּגְרוֹנֵ֖ךְ מִצִּמְאָ֑ה וַתֹּאמְרִ֣י נוֹאָ֔שׁ ל֕וֹא כִּֽי אָהַ֥בְתִּי זָרִ֖ים וְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֥ם אֵלֵֽךְ

Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst: but you saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

כְּבֹ֤שֶׁת גַּנָּב֙ כִּ֣י יִמָּצֵ֔א כֵּ֥ן הֹבִ֖ישׁוּ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הֵ֤מָּה מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ שָֽׂרֵיהֶ֔ם וְכֹהֲנֵיהֶ֖ם וּנְבִיאֵיהֶֽם

As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

אֹמְרִ֨ים לָעֵ֜ץ אָ֣בִי אַ֗תָּה וְלָאֶ֨בֶן֙ אַ֣תְּ ילדתני יְלִדְתָּ֔נוּ כִּֽי פָנ֥וּ אֵלַ֛י עֹ֖רֶף וְלֹ֣א פָנִ֑ים וּבְעֵ֤ת רָֽעָתָם֙ יֹֽאמְר֔וּ ק֖וּמָה וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ

Saying to a stock, You my father; and to a stone, You have brought me forth: for they have turned back to me, and not face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

וְאַיֵּ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֔ךְ יָק֕וּמוּ אִם יוֹשִׁיע֖וּךָ בְּעֵ֣ת רָעָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֚י מִסְפַּ֣ר עָרֶ֔יךָ הָי֥וּ אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יְהוּדָֽה

But where your gods that you have made you? let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble: for the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah.

לָ֥מָּה תָרִ֖יבוּ אֵלָ֑י כֻּלְּכֶ֛ם פְּשַׁעְתֶּ֥ם בִּ֖י נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

Wherefore will you plead with me? you all have transgressed against me, says YHWH.

לַשָּׁוְא֙ הִכֵּ֣יתִי אֶת בְּנֵיכֶ֔ם מוּסָ֖ר לֹ֣א לָקָ֑חוּ אָכְלָ֧ה חַרְבְּכֶ֛ם נְבִֽיאֵיכֶ֖ם כְּאַרְיֵ֥ה מַשְׁחִֽית

In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

הַדּ֗וֹר אַתֶּם֙ רְא֣וּ דְבַר יְהוָ֔ה הֲמִדְבָּ֤ר הָיִ֨יתִי֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִ֛ם אֶ֥רֶץ מַאְפֵּ֖לְיָ֑ה מַדּ֜וּעַ אָמְר֤וּ עַמִּי֙ רַ֔דְנוּ לֽוֹא נָב֥וֹא ע֖וֹד אֵלֶֽיךָ

O generation, see you the word of YHWH. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more to you?

הֲתִשְׁכַּ֤ח בְּתוּלָה֙ עֶדְיָ֔הּ כַּלָּ֖ה קִשֻּׁרֶ֑יהָ וְעַמִּ֣י שְׁכֵח֔וּנִי יָמִ֖ים אֵ֥ין מִסְפָּֽר

Can a maid forget her ornaments, a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

מַה תֵּיטִ֥בִי דַּרְכֵּ֖ךְ לְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אַהֲבָ֑ה לָכֵן֙ גַּ֣ם אֶת הָרָע֔וֹת למדתי לִמַּ֖דְתְּ אֶת דְּרָכָֽיִךְ

Why trimmest you your way to seek love? therefore have you also taught the wicked ones your ways.

גַּ֤ם בִּכְנָפַ֨יִךְ֙ נִמְצְא֔וּ דַּ֛ם נַפְשׁ֥וֹת אֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים נְקִיִּ֑ים לֹֽא בַמַּחְתֶּ֥רֶת מְצָאתִ֖ים כִּ֥י עַל כָּל אֵֽלֶּה

Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

וַתֹּֽאמְרִי֙ כִּ֣י נִקֵּ֔יתִי אַ֛ךְ שָׁ֥ב אַפּ֖וֹ מִמֶּ֑נִּי הִנְנִי֙ נִשְׁפָּ֣ט אוֹתָ֔ךְ עַל אָמְרֵ֖ךְ לֹ֥א חָטָֽאתִי

Yet you sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with you, because you sayest, I have not sinned.

מַה תֵּזְלִ֥י מְאֹ֖ד לְשַׁנּ֣וֹת אֶת דַּרְכֵּ֑ךְ גַּ֤ם מִמִּצְרַ֨יִם֙ תֵּב֔וֹשִׁי כַּאֲשֶׁר בֹּ֖שְׁתְּ מֵאַשּֽׁוּר

Why gaddest you about so much to change your way? you also shall be ashamed of Egypt, as you wast ashamed of Assyria.

גַּ֣ם מֵאֵ֥ת זֶה֙ תֵּֽצְאִ֔י וְיָדַ֖יִךְ עַל רֹאשֵׁ֑ךְ כִּֽי מָאַ֤ס יְהֹוָה֙ בְּמִבְטַחַ֔יִךְ וְלֹ֥א תַצְלִ֖יחִי לָהֶֽם

Yea, you shall go forth from him, and your hands upon your head: for YHWH has rejected your confidences, and you shall not prosper in them.