The Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 5ירמיהו 5

שׁוֹטְט֞וּ בְּחוּצ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם וּרְאוּ נָ֤א וּדְעוּ֙ וּבַקְשׁ֣וּ בִרְחוֹבוֹתֶ֔יהָ אִם תִּמְצְא֣וּ אִ֔ישׁ אִם יֵ֛שׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֱמוּנָ֑ה וְאֶסְלַ֖ח לָֽהּ

Run you to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if you can find a man, if there be that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

וְאִ֥ם חַי יְהֹוָ֖ה יֹאמֵ֑רוּ לָכֵ֥ן לַשֶּׁ֖קֶר יִשָּׁבֵֽעוּ

And though they say, YHWH liveth; surely they swear falsely.

יְהֹוָ֗ה עֵינֶיךָ֮ הֲל֣וֹא לֶאֱמוּנָה֒ הִכִּ֤יתָה אֹתָם֙ וְֽלֹא חָ֔לוּ כִּלִּיתָ֕ם מֵאֲנ֖וּ קַ֣חַת מוּסָ֑ר חִזְּק֤וּ פְנֵיהֶם֙ מִסֶּ֔לַע מֵאֲנ֖וּ לָשֽׁוּב

O YHWH, not your eyes upon the truth? you have stricken them, but they have not grieved; you have consumed them, they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

וַאֲנִ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי אַךְ דַּלִּ֖ים הֵ֑ם נוֹאֲל֕וּ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָדְעוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהוָ֔ה מִשְׁפַּ֖ט אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם

Therefore I said, Surely these poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of YHWH, the judgment of their God.

אֵֽלֲכָה לִּ֤י אֶל הַגְּדֹלִים֙ וַאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה אוֹתָ֔ם כִּ֣י הֵ֗מָּה יָדְעוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהוָ֔ה מִשְׁפַּ֖ט אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם אַ֣ךְ הֵ֤מָּה יַחְדָּו֙ שָׁ֣בְרוּ עֹ֔ל נִתְּק֖וּ מוֹסֵרֽוֹת

I will get me to the great men, and will speak to them; for they have known the way of YHWH, the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, burst the bonds.

עַל כֵּן֩ הִכָּ֨ם אַרְיֵ֜ה מִיַּ֗עַר זְאֵ֤ב עֲרָבוֹת֙ יְשָׁדְדֵ֔ם נָמֵ֤ר שֹׁקֵד֙ עַל עָ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם כָּל הַיּוֹצֵ֥א מֵהֵ֖נָּה יִטָּרֵ֑ף כִּ֤י רַבּוּ֙ פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֔ם עָצְמ֖וּ משבותיהם מְשׁוּבוֹתֵיהֶֽם

Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, their backslidings are increased.

אֵ֤י לָזֹאת֙ אסלוח אֶֽסְלַֽח לָ֔ךְ בָּנַ֣יִךְ עֲזָב֔וּנִי וַיִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ בְּלֹ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים וָאַשְׂבִּ֤עַ אוֹתָם֙ וַיִּנְאָ֔פוּ וּבֵ֥ית זוֹנָ֖ה יִתְגֹּדָֽדוּ

How shall I pardon you for this? your children have forsaken me, and sworn by no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.

סוּסִ֥ים מְיֻזָּנִ֖ים מַשְׁכִּ֣ים הָי֑וּ אִ֛ישׁ אֶל אֵ֥שֶׁת רֵעֵ֖הוּ יִצְהָֽלוּ

They were fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.

הַֽעַל אֵ֥לֶּה לוֹא אֶפְקֹ֖ד נְאֻם יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאִם֙ בְּג֣וֹי אֲשֶׁר כָּזֶ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם נַפְשִֽׁי

Shall I not visit for these ? says YHWH: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

עֲל֤וּ בְשָׁרוֹתֶ֨יהָ֙ וְשַׁחֵ֔תוּ וְכָלָ֖ה אַֽל תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ הָסִ֨ירוּ֙ נְטִ֣ישׁוֹתֶ֔יהָ כִּ֛י ל֥וֹא לַיהוָ֖ה הֵֽמָּה

Go you up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they not YHWH's.

כִּי֩ בָג֨וֹד בָּגְד֜וּ בִּ֗י בֵּ֧ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וּבֵ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, says YHWH.

כִּֽחֲשׁוּ֙ בַּיהוָ֔ה וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹא ה֑וּא וְלֹא תָב֤וֹא עָלֵ֨ינוּ֙ רָעָ֔ה וְחֶ֥רֶב וְרָעָ֖ב ל֥וֹא נִרְאֶֽה

They have belied YHWH, and said, not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:

וְהַנְּבִיאִים֙ יִֽהְי֣וּ לְר֔וּחַ וְהַדִּבֵּ֖ר אֵ֣ין בָּהֶ֑ם כֹּ֥ה יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה לָהֶֽם

And the prophets shall become wind, and the word not in them: thus shall it be done to them.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י צְבָא֔וֹת יַ֚עַן דַּבֶּרְכֶ֔ם אֶת הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה הִנְנִ֣י נֹתֵן֩ דְּבָרַ֨י בְּפִ֜יךָ לְאֵ֗שׁ וְהָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֛ה עֵצִ֖ים וַאֲכָלָֽתַם

Wherefore thus says YHWH God of hosts, Because you speak this word, behold, I will make my words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

הִנְנִ֣י מֵבִיא֩ עֲלֵיכֶ֨ם גּ֧וֹי מִמֶּרְחָ֛ק בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם יְהֹוָ֑ה גּ֣וֹי אֵיתָ֣ן ה֗וּא גּ֤וֹי מֵעוֹלָם֙ ה֔וּא גּ֚וֹי לֹא תֵדַ֣ע לְשֹׁנ֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁמַ֖ע מַה יְדַבֵּֽר

Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, says YHWH: it a mighty nation, it an ancient nation, a nation whose language you knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

אַשְׁפָּת֖וֹ כְּקֶ֣בֶר פָּת֑וּחַ כֻּלָּ֖ם גִּבּוֹרִֽים

Their quiver as an open sepulchre, they all mighty men.

וְאָכַ֨ל קְצִֽירְךָ֜ וְלַחְמֶ֗ךָ יֹאכְלוּ֙ בָּנֶ֣יךָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יךָ יֹאכַ֤ל צֹאנְךָ֙ וּבְקָרֶ֔ךָ יֹאכַ֥ל גַּפְנְךָ֖ וּתְאֵנָתֶ֑ךָ יְרֹשֵׁ֞שׁ עָרֵ֣י מִבְצָרֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֛ה בּוֹטֵ֥חַ בָּהֵ֖נָּה בֶּחָֽרֶב

And they shall eat up your harvest, and your bread, your sons and your daughters should eat: they shall eat up your flocks and your herds: they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees: they shall impoverish your fenced cities, wherein you trustedst, with the sword.

וְגַ֛ם בַּיָּמִ֥ים הָהֵ֖מָּה נְאֻם יְהֹוָ֑ה לֹֽא אֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה אִתְּכֶ֖ם כָּלָֽה

Nevertheless in those days, says YHWH, I will not make a full end with you.

וְהָיָה֙ כִּ֣י תֹאמְר֔וּ תַּ֣חַת מֶ֗ה עָשָׂ֨ה יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ לָ֖נוּ אֶת כָּל אֵ֑לֶּה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר עֲזַבְתֶּ֤ם אוֹתִי֙ וַתַּעַבְד֞וּ אֱלֹהֵ֤י נֵכָר֙ בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם כֵּ֚ן תַּעַבְד֣וּ זָרִ֔ים בְּאֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥א לָכֶֽם

And it shall come to pass, when you shall say, Wherefore doeth YHWH our God all these to us? then shall you answer them, Like as you have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall you serve strangers in a land not yours.

הַגִּ֥ידוּ זֹ֖את בְּבֵ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְהַשְׁמִיע֥וּהָ בִיהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר

Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,

שִׁמְעוּ נָ֣א זֹ֔את עַ֥ם סָכָ֖ל וְאֵ֣ין לֵ֑ב עֵינַ֤יִם לָהֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א יִרְא֔וּ אָזְנַ֥יִם לָהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמָֽעוּ

Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

הַאוֹתִ֨י לֹא תִירָ֜אוּ נְאֻם יְהֹוָ֗ה אִ֤ם מִפָּנַי֙ לֹ֣א תָחִ֔ילוּ אֲשֶׁר שַׂ֤מְתִּי חוֹל֙ גְּב֣וּל לַיָּ֔ם חָק עוֹלָ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יַעַבְרֶ֑נְהוּ וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יוּכָ֔לוּ וְהָמ֥וּ גַלָּ֖יו וְלֹ֥א יַעַבְרֻֽנְהוּ

Fear you not me? says YHWH: will you not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

וְלָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ הָיָ֔ה לֵ֖ב סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמוֹרֶ֑ה סָ֖רוּ וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ

But this people has a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

וְלֹֽא אָמְר֣וּ בִלְבָבָ֗ם נִ֤ירָא נָא֙ אֶת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ הַנֹּתֵ֗ן גֶּ֛שֶׁם וירה יוֹרֶ֥ה וּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ בְּעִתּ֑וֹ שְׁבֻע֛וֹת חֻקּ֥וֹת קָצִ֖יר יִשְׁמָר לָֽנוּ

Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear YHWH our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth to us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

עֲוֺנוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם הִטּוּ אֵ֑לֶּה וְחַטֹּ֣אותֵיכֶ֔ם מָנְע֥וּ הַטּ֖וֹב מִכֶּֽם

Your iniquities have turned away these , and your sins have withholden good from you.

כִּי נִמְצְא֥וּ בְעַמִּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֑ים יָשׁוּר֙ כְּשַׁ֣ךְ יְקוּשִׁ֔ים הִצִּ֥יבוּ מַשְׁחִ֖ית אֲנָשִׁ֥ים יִלְכֹּֽדוּ

For among my people are found wicked : they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.

כִּכְלוּב֙ מָ֣לֵא ע֔וֹף כֵּ֥ן בָּתֵּיהֶ֖ם מְלֵאִ֣ים מִרְמָ֑ה עַל כֵּ֥ן גָּדְל֖וּ וַֽיַּעֲשִֽׁירוּ

As a cage is full of birds, so their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.

שָׁמְנ֣וּ עָשְׁת֗וּ גַּ֚ם עָֽבְר֣וּ דִבְרֵי רָ֔ע דִּ֣ין לֹא דָ֔נוּ דִּ֥ין יָת֖וֹם וְיַצְלִ֑יחוּ וּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט אֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים לֹ֥א שָׁפָֽטוּ

They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

הַֽעַל אֵ֥לֶּה לֹֽא אֶפְקֹ֖ד נְאֻם יְהֹוָ֑ה אִ֚ם בְּג֣וֹי אֲשֶׁר כָּזֶ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם נַפְשִֽׁי

Shall I not visit for these ? says YHWH: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

שַׁמָּה֙ וְשַׁ֣עֲרוּרָ֔ה נִהְיְתָ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ

A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;

הַנְּבִיאִ֞ים נִבְּא֣וּ בַשֶּׁ֗קֶר וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ יִרְדּ֣וּ עַל יְדֵיהֶ֔ם וְעַמִּ֖י אָ֣הֲבוּ כֵ֑ן וּמַֽה תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ לְאַחֲרִיתָֽהּ

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love so: and what will you do in the end thereof?