The Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 23ירמיהו 23

ה֣וֹי רֹעִ֗ים מְאַבְּדִ֧ים וּמְפִצִ֛ים אֶת צֹ֥אן מַרְעִיתִ֖י נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

Woe be to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says YHWH.

לָ֠כֵן כֹּֽה אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל עַֽל הָרֹעִים֮ הָרֹעִ֣ים אֶת עַמִּי֒ אַתֶּ֞ם הֲפִצֹתֶ֤ם אֶת צֹאנִי֙ וַתַּדִּח֔וּם וְלֹ֥א פְקַדְתֶּ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם הִנְנִ֨י פֹקֵ֧ד עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם אֶת רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

Therefore thus says YHWH God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, says YHWH.

וַאֲנִ֗י אֲקַבֵּץ֙ אֶת שְׁאֵרִ֣ית צֹאנִ֔י מִכֹּל֙ הָאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר הִדַּ֥חְתִּי אֹתָ֖ם שָׁ֑ם וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֥י אֶתְהֶ֛ן עַל נְוֵהֶ֖ן וּפָר֥וּ וְרָבֽוּ

And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

וַהֲקִמֹתִ֧י עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם רֹעִ֖ים וְרָע֑וּם וְלֹא יִֽירְא֨וּ ע֧וֹד וְלֹא יֵחַ֛תּוּ וְלֹ֥א יִפָּקֵ֖דוּ נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, says YHWH.

הִנֵּ֨ה יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙ נְאֻם יְהוָ֔ה וַהֲקִמֹתִ֥י לְדָוִ֖ד צֶ֣מַח צַדִּ֑יק וּמָ֤לַךְ מֶ֨לֶךְ֙ וְהִשְׂכִּ֔יל וְעָשָׂ֛ה מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ

Behold, the days come, says YHWH, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

בְּיָמָיו֙ תִּוָּשַׁ֣ע יְהוּדָ֔ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִשְׁכֹּ֣ן לָבֶ֑טַח וְזֶה שְּׁמ֥וֹ אֲֽשֶׁר יִקְרְא֖וֹ יְהוָ֥ה צִדְקֵֽנוּ

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this his name whereby he shall be called, YHWH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

לָכֵ֛ן הִנֵּֽה יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹא יֹ֤אמְרוּ עוֹד֙ חַי יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֶעֱלָ֛ה אֶת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם

Therefore, behold, the days come, says YHWH, that they shall no more say, YHWH liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

כִּ֣י אִם חַי יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶעֱלָה֩ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵבִ֜יא אֶת זֶ֨רַע בֵּ֤ית יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹנָה וּמִכֹּל֙ הָֽאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִדַּחְתִּ֖ים שָׁ֑ם וְיָשְׁב֖וּ עַל אַדְמָתָֽם

But, YHWH liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

לַנְּבִאִ֞ים נִשְׁבַּ֧ר לִבִּ֣י בְקִרְבִּ֗י רָֽחֲפוּ֙ כָּל עַצְמוֹתַ֔י הָיִ֨יתִי֙ כְּאִ֣ישׁ שִׁכּ֔וֹר וּכְגֶ֖בֶר עֲבָ֣רוֹ יָ֑יִן מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וּמִפְּנֵ֖י דִּבְרֵ֥י קָדְשֽׁוֹ

Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of YHWH, and because of the words of his holiness.

כִּ֤י מְנָֽאֲפִים֙ מָלְאָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּֽי מִפְּנֵ֤י אָלָה֙ אָבְלָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ יָבְשׁ֖וּ נְא֣וֹת מִדְבָּ֑ר וַתְּהִ֤י מְרֽוּצָתָם֙ רָעָ֔ה וּגְבוּרָתָ֖ם לֹא כֵֽן

For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force not right.

כִּֽי גַם נָבִ֥יא גַם כֹּהֵ֖ן חָנֵ֑פוּ גַּם בְּבֵיתִ֛י מָצָ֥אתִי רָעָתָ֖ם נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, says YHWH.

לָכֵן֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה דַרְכָּ֜ם לָהֶ֗ם כַּחֲלַקְלַקּוֹת֙ בָּֽאֲפֵלָ֔ה יִדַּ֖חוּ וְנָ֣פְלוּ בָ֑הּ כִּֽי אָבִ֨יא עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם רָעָ֛ה שְׁנַ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

Wherefore their way shall be to them as slippery in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, the year of their visitation, says YHWH.

וּבִנְבִיאֵ֥י שֹׁמְר֖וֹן רָאִ֣יתִי תִפְלָ֑ה הִנַּבְּא֣וּ בַבַּ֔עַל וַיַּתְע֥וּ אֶת עַמִּ֖י אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.

וּבִנְבִאֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם רָאִ֣יתִי שַׁעֲרוּרָ֗ה נָא֞וֹף וְהָלֹ֤ךְ בַּשֶּׁ֨קֶר֙ וְחִזְּקוּ֙ יְדֵ֣י מְרֵעִ֔ים לְבִ֨לְתִּי שָׁ֔בוּ אִ֖ישׁ מֵרָֽעָת֑וֹ הָֽיוּ לִ֤י כֻלָּם֙ כִּסְדֹ֔ם וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כַּעֲמֹרָֽה

I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none does return from his wickedness: they are all of them to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

לָכֵ֞ן כֹּֽה אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ עַל הַנְּבִאִ֔ים הִנְנִ֨י מַאֲכִ֤יל אוֹתָם֙ לַֽעֲנָ֔ה וְהִשְׁקִתִ֖ים מֵי רֹ֑אשׁ כִּ֗י מֵאֵת֙ נְבִיאֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם יָצְאָ֥ה חֲנֻפָּ֖ה לְכָל הָאָֽרֶץ

Therefore thus says YHWH of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.

כֹּֽה אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת אַֽל תִּשְׁמְע֞וּ עַל דִּבְרֵ֤י הַנְּבִאִים֙ הַנִּבְּאִ֣ים לָכֶ֔ם מַהְבִּלִ֥ים הֵ֖מָּה אֶתְכֶ֑ם חֲז֤וֹן לִבָּם֙ יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ לֹ֖א מִפִּ֥י יְהוָֽה

Thus says YHWH of hosts, Hearken not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, not out of the mouth of YHWH.

אֹמְרִ֤ים אָמוֹר֙ לִֽמְנַאֲצַ֔י דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שָׁל֖וֹם יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם וְ֠כֹל הֹלֵ֞ךְ בִּשְׁרִר֤וּת לִבּוֹ֙ אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹֽא תָב֥וֹא עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם רָעָֽה

They say still to them that despise me, YHWH has said, You shall have peace; and they say to every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

כִּ֣י מִ֤י עָמַד֙ בְּס֣וֹד יְהוָ֔ה וְיֵ֖רֶא וְיִשְׁמַ֣ע אֶת דְּבָר֑וֹ מִֽי הִקְשִׁ֥יב דברי דְּבָר֖וֹ וַיִּשְׁמָֽע

For who has stood in the counsel of YHWH, and has perceived and heard his word? who has marked his word, and heard ?

הִנֵּ֣ה סַעֲרַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה חֵמָה֙ יָֽצְאָ֔ה וְסַ֖עַר מִתְחוֹלֵ֑ל עַ֛ל רֹ֥אשׁ רְשָׁעִ֖ים יָחֽוּל

Behold, a whirlwind of YHWH is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

לֹ֤א יָשׁוּב֙ אַף יְהוָ֔ה עַד עֲשֹׂת֥וֹ וְעַד הֲקִימ֖וֹ מְזִמּ֣וֹת לִבּ֑וֹ בְּאַֽחֲרִית֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים תִּתְבּ֥וֹנְנוּ בָ֖הּ בִּינָֽה

The anger of YHWH shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days you shall consider it perfectly.

לֹא שָׁלַ֥חְתִּי אֶת הַנְּבִאִ֖ים וְהֵ֣ם רָ֑צוּ לֹא דִבַּ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְהֵ֥ם נִבָּֽאוּ

I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

וְאִֽם עָמְד֖וּ בְּסוֹדִ֑י וְיַשְׁמִ֤עוּ דְבָרַי֙ אֶת עַמִּ֔י וִֽישִׁבוּם֙ מִדַּרְכָּ֣ם הָרָ֔ע וּמֵרֹ֖עַ מַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם

But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

הַאֱלֹהֵ֧י מִקָּרֹ֛ב אָ֖נִי נְאֻם יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א אֱלֹהֵ֖י מֵרָחֹֽק

I a God at hand, says YHWH, and not a God afar off?

אִם יִסָּתֵ֨ר אִ֧ישׁ בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֛ים וַאֲנִ֥י לֹֽא אֶרְאֶ֖נּוּ נְאֻם יְהוָ֑ה הֲל֨וֹא אֶת הַשָּׁמַ֧יִם וְאֶת הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲנִ֥י מָלֵ֖א נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? says YHWH. Do not I fill heaven and earth? says YHWH.

שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר אָֽמְרוּ֙ הַנְּבִאִ֔ים הַֽנִּבְּאִ֥ים בִּשְׁמִ֛י שֶׁ֖קֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר חָלַ֖מְתִּי חָלָֽמְתִּי

I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

עַד מָתַ֗י הֲיֵ֛שׁ בְּלֵ֥ב הַנְּבִאִ֖ים נִבְּאֵ֣י הַשָּׁ֑קֶר וּנְבִיאֵ֖י תַּרְמִ֥ת לִבָּֽם

How long shall be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, prophets of the deceit of their own heart;

הַחֹשְׁבִ֗ים לְהַשְׁכִּ֤יחַ אֶת עַמִּי֙ שְׁמִ֔י בַּחֲל֣וֹמֹתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְסַפְּר֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁכְח֧וּ אֲבוֹתָ֛ם אֶת שְׁמִ֖י בַּבָּֽעַל

Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.

הַנָּבִ֞יא אֲשֶׁר אִתּ֤וֹ חֲלוֹם֙ יְסַפֵּ֣ר חֲל֔וֹם וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר דְּבָרִי֙ אִתּ֔וֹ יְדַבֵּ֥ר דְּבָרִ֖י אֱמֶ֑ת מַה לַתֶּ֥בֶן אֶת הַבָּ֖ר נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

The prophet that has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What the chaff to the wheat? says YHWH.

הֲל֨וֹא כֹ֧ה דְבָרִ֛י כָּאֵ֖שׁ נְאֻם יְהוָ֑ה וּכְפַטִּ֖ישׁ יְפֹ֥צֵֽץ סָֽלַע

not my word like as a fire? says YHWH; and like a hammer breaketh the rock in pieces?

לָכֵ֛ן הִנְנִ֥י עַל הַנְּבִאִ֖ים נְאֻם יְהוָ֑ה מְגַנְּבֵ֣י דְבָרַ֔י אִ֖ישׁ מֵאֵ֥ת רֵעֵֽהוּ

Therefore, behold, I against the prophets, says YHWH, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

הִנְנִ֥י עַל הַנְּבִיאִ֖ם נְאֻם יְהוָ֑ה הַלֹּקְחִ֣ים לְשׁוֹנָ֔ם וַֽיִּנְאֲמ֖וּ נְאֻֽם

Behold, I against the prophets, says YHWH, that use their tongues, and say, He says.

הִ֠נְנִי עַֽל נִבְּאֵ֞י חֲלֹמ֥וֹת שֶׁ֨קֶר֙ נְאֻם יְהוָ֔ה וַֽיְסַפְּרוּם֙ וַיַּתְע֣וּ אֶת עַמִּ֔י בְּשִׁקְרֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְפַחֲזוּתָ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֨י לֹֽא שְׁלַחְתִּ֜ים וְלֹ֣א צִוִּיתִ֗ים וְהוֹעֵ֛יל לֹֽא יוֹעִ֥ילוּ לָֽעָם הַזֶּ֖ה נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

Behold, I against them that prophesy false dreams, says YHWH, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, says YHWH.

וְכִי יִשְׁאָלְךָ֩ הָעָ֨ם הַזֶּ֜ה אֽוֹ הַנָּבִ֤יא אֽוֹ כֹהֵן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה מַשָּׂ֖א יְהוָ֑ה וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֶת מַה מַשָּׂ֔א וְנָטַשְׁתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask you, saying, What the burden of YHWH? you shall then say to them, What burden? I will even forsake you, says YHWH.

וְהַנָּבִ֤יא וְהַכֹּהֵן֙ וְהָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאמַ֖ר מַשָּׂ֣א יְהוָ֑ה וּפָקַדְתִּ֛י עַל הָאִ֥ישׁ הַה֖וּא וְעַל בֵּיתֽוֹ

And the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of YHWH, I will even punish that man and his house.

כֹּ֥ה תֹאמְר֛וּ אִ֥ישׁ עַל רֵעֵ֖הוּ וְאִ֣ישׁ אֶל אָחִ֑יו מֶה עָנָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה וּמַה דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהוָֽה

Thus shall you say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What has YHWH answered? and, What has YHWH spoken?

וּמַשָּׂ֥א יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֣א תִזְכְּרוּ ע֑וֹד כִּ֣י הַמַּשָּׂ֗א יִֽהְיֶה֙ לְאִ֣ישׁ דְּבָר֔וֹ וַהֲפַכְתֶּ֗ם אֶת דִּבְרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַיִּ֔ים יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ

And the burden of YHWH shall you mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of YHWH of hosts our God.

כֹּ֥ה תֹאמַ֖ר אֶל הַנָּבִ֑יא מֶה עָנָ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה וּמַה דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהוָֽה

Thus shall you say to the prophet, What has YHWH answered you? and, What has YHWH spoken?

וְאִם מַשָּׂ֣א יְהוָה֮ תֹּאמֵרוּ֒ לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה יַ֧עַן אֲמָרְכֶ֛ם אֶת הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה מַשָּׂ֣א יְהוָ֑ה וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֲלֵיכֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֥א תֹאמְר֖וּ מַשָּׂ֥א יְהוָֽה

But since you say, The burden of YHWH; therefore thus says YHWH; Because you say this word, The burden of YHWH, and I have sent to you, saying, You shall not say, The burden of YHWH;

לָכֵ֣ן הִנְנִ֔י וְנָשִׁ֥יתִי אֶתְכֶ֖ם נָשֹׁ֑א וְנָטַשְׁתִּ֣י אֶתְכֶ֗ם וְאֶת הָעִיר֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֧תִּי לָכֶ֛ם וְלַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם מֵעַ֥ל פָּנָֽי

Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, out of my presence:

וְנָתַתִּ֥י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם חֶרְפַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם וּכְלִמּ֣וּת עוֹלָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ

And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.