Drought, Famine, Sword, and Plague

1  אֲשֶׁ֨ר (That) הָיָ֤ה (came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (Jeremiah) עַל־ (concerning) דִּבְרֵ֖י (-) הַבַּצָּרֽוֹת׃ (the droughts).

2  אָבְלָ֣ה (Mourns), יְהוּדָ֔ה (Judah)

וּשְׁעָרֶ֥יהָ (and her gates) אֻמְלְל֖וּ (languish);

קָדְר֣וּ (they mourn) לָאָ֑רֶץ (for the land);

וְצִוְחַ֥ת (and the cry) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (of Jerusalem) עָלָֽתָה׃ (has gone up).

3  וְאַדִּ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם (And their nobles) שָׁלְח֥וּ (have sent) צְעוֹרֵיהֶם (their young) לַמָּ֑יִם (for water);

בָּ֣אוּ (they went) עַל־ (to) גֵּבִ֞ים (the cisterns), לֹא־ (not) מָ֣צְאוּ (they did find) מַ֗יִם (water);

שָׁ֤בוּ (they returned) כְלֵיהֶם֙ (with their vessels) רֵיקָ֔ם (empty);

בֹּ֥שׁוּ (they were ashamed) וְהָכְלְמ֖וּ (and humiliated),

וְחָפ֥וּ (and they covered) רֹאשָֽׁם׃ (their heads).

4  בַּעֲב֤וּר (Because) הָאֲדָמָה֙ (the ground) חַ֔תָּה (is parched),

כִּ֛י (for) לֹא־ (no) הָיָ֥ה (there was) גֶ֖שֶׁם (rain) בָּאָ֑רֶץ (in the land),

בֹּ֥שׁוּ (were ashamed), אִכָּרִ֖ים (the plowmen)

חָפ֥וּ (they covered) רֹאשָֽׁם׃ (their heads).

5  כִּ֤י (Indeed) גַם־ (even), אַיֶּ֙לֶת֙ (the doe) בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה (in the field), יָלְדָ֖ה (has brought forth)

וְעָז֑וֹב (to forsake it) כִּ֥י (because) לֹֽא־ (no) הָיָ֖ה (there is) דֶּֽשֶׁא׃ (grass).

6  וּפְרָאִים֙ (And the wild donkeys) עָמְד֣וּ (stand) עַל־ (on) שְׁפָיִ֔ם (the barren heights),

שָׁאֲפ֥וּ (they pant for) ר֖וּחַ (the wind) כַּתַּנִּ֑ים (like jackals);

כָּל֥וּ (fail), עֵינֵיהֶ֖ם (and their eyes) כִּי־ (because) אֵ֥ין (there is no) עֵֽשֶׂב׃ (grass).

7  אִם־ (Though) עֲוֺנֵ֙ינוּ֙ (our iniquities) עָ֣נוּ (testify) בָ֔נוּ (against us) יְהוָ֕ה (O YHWH),

עֲשֵׂ֖ה (may You act) לְמַ֣עַן (for the sake) שְׁמֶ֑ךָ (of Your name)

כִּֽי־ (for) רַבּ֥וּ (many are); מְשׁוּבֹתֵ֖ינוּ (our backslidings)

לְךָ֥ (against You) חָטָֽאנוּ׃ (we have sinned).

8  מִקְוֵה֙ (O Hope) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel),

מֽוֹשִׁיע֖וֹ (his Savior) בְּעֵ֣ת (in time) צָרָ֑ה (of distress),

לָ֤מָּה (why) תִֽהְיֶה֙ (should You be) כְּגֵ֣ר (like a sojourner) בָּאָ֔רֶץ (in the land),

וּכְאֹרֵ֖חַ (and like a traveler) נָטָ֥ה (who stretches aside) לָלֽוּן׃ (to spend the night).

9  לָ֤מָּה (Why) תִֽהְיֶה֙ (should You be) כְּאִ֣ישׁ (like a man) נִדְהָ֔ם (astonished),

כְּגִבּ֖וֹר (like a mighty one) לֹא־ (not) יוּכַ֣ל (able) לְהוֹשִׁ֑יעַ (to save)?

וְאַתָּ֧ה (And You are), בְקִרְבֵּ֣נוּ (among us) יְהוָ֗ה (O YHWH),

וְשִׁמְךָ֛ (by Your name); עָלֵ֥ינוּ (and we are) נִקְרָ֖א (called)

אַל־ (do not) תַּנִּחֵֽנוּ׃ס (leave us).

10  כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֨ר (says) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) לָעָ֣ם (of the people), הַזֶּ֗ה (this)

כֵּ֤ן (Thus) אָֽהֲבוּ֙ (have they loved) לָנ֔וּעַ (to wander),

רַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם (their feet), לֹ֣א (not) חָשָׂ֑כוּ (they have held back)

וַיהוָה֙ (and YHWH) לֹ֣א (not) רָצָ֔ם (has accepted them)

עַתָּה֙ (now) יִזְכֹּ֣ר (He will remember) עֲוֺנָ֔ם (their iniquity),

וְיִפְקֹ֖ד (and punish them) חַטֹּאתָֽם׃ס (for their sins).

11  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (Said) יְהוָ֖ה (and YHWH) אֵלָ֑י (to me) אַל־ (Not) תִּתְפַּלֵּ֛ל (do pray) בְּעַד־ (for) הָעָ֥ם (people) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) לְטוֹבָֽה׃ (for the good). 12  כִּ֣י (When) יָצֻ֗מוּ (they fast), אֵינֶ֤נִּי (not) שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ (I will listen) אֶל־ (to) רִנָּתָ֔ם (their cry); וְכִ֧י (and when) יַעֲל֛וּ (they bring up) עֹלָ֥ה (a burnt offering) וּמִנְחָ֖ה (and grain offering), אֵינֶ֣נִּי (I will not) רֹצָ֑ם (accept them) כִּ֗י (but) בַּחֶ֙רֶב֙ (by the sword), וּבָרָעָ֣ב (and by the famine), וּבַדֶּ֔בֶר (and by the pestilence). אָנֹכִ֖י (I) מְכַלֶּ֥ה (will put an end to) אוֹתָֽם׃ס (them).

13  וָאֹמַ֞ר (And I said) אֲהָ֣הּ׀ (Ah), אֲדֹנָ֣י (Lord) יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH)! הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), הַנְּבִאִ֜ים (the prophets) אֹמְרִ֤ים (are saying) לָהֶם֙ (to them) לֹֽא־ (Not) תִרְא֣וּ (you⁺ will see) חֶ֔רֶב (the sword), וְרָעָ֖ב (famine); לֹֽא־ (no) יִהְיֶ֣ה (and there shall be) לָכֶ֑ם (for you⁺) כִּֽי־ (but) שְׁל֤וֹם (peace) אֱמֶת֙ (assured) אֶתֵּ֣ן (I will give) לָכֶ֔ם (to you⁺) בַּמָּק֖וֹם (place) הַזֶּֽה׃ס (in this).

14  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (Said) יְהוָ֜ה (and YHWH) אֵלַ֗י (to me) שֶׁ֚קֶר (Lies) הַנְּבִאִים֙ (the prophets) נִבְּאִ֣ים (are prophesying) בִּשְׁמִ֔י (in My name). לֹ֤א (Not), שְׁלַחְתִּים֙ (I have sent them) וְלֹ֣א (and not) צִוִּיתִ֔ים (I have commanded them) וְלֹ֥א (and not) דִבַּ֖רְתִּי (spoken) אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (to them) חֲז֨וֹן (vision) שֶׁ֜קֶר (a false) וְקֶ֤סֶם (and divination), וֶאֱלוּל (and worthlessness) וְתַרְמוּת (and the deceit) לִבָּ֔ם (of their heart). הֵ֖מָּה (They) מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֥ים (are prophesying) לָכֶֽם׃ס (to you⁺).

15  לָכֵ֞ן (Therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) עַֽל־ (concerning) הַנְּבִאִ֞ים (the prophets) הַנִּבְּאִ֣ים (that are prophesying) בִּשְׁמִי֮ (in My name), וַאֲנִ֣י (When I) לֹֽא־ (not), שְׁלַחְתִּים֒ (did send them) וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ (and they) אֹֽמְרִ֔ים (say), חֶ֣רֶב (Sword) וְרָעָ֔ב (and famine) לֹ֥א (shall not) יִהְיֶ֖ה (will be) בָּאָ֣רֶץ (land); הַזֹּ֑את (in this)

בַּחֶ֤רֶב (by sword) וּבָֽרָעָב֙ (and by famine) יִתַּ֔מּוּ (will meet their end) הַנְּבִאִ֖ים (prophets) הָהֵֽמָּה׃ (those). 16  וְהָעָ֣ם (And the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) הֵ֣מָּה (they) נִבְּאִ֣ים (prophesy) לָהֶ֡ם (to them), יִֽהְי֣וּ (will be) מֻשְׁלָכִים֩ (thrown out) בְּחֻצ֨וֹת (into the streets) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם (of Jerusalem) מִפְּנֵ֣י׀ (because) הָרָעָ֣ב (of the famine) וְהַחֶ֗רֶב (and the sword); וְאֵ֤ין (and no one) מְקַבֵּר֙ (will bury) לָהֵ֔מָּה (them), הֵ֣מָּה (they) נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם (and their wives), וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם (and their sons), וּבְנֹֽתֵיהֶ֑ם (and their daughters); וְשָׁפַכְתִּ֥י (and I will pour) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (on them) אֶת־ (-) רָעָתָֽם׃ (their wickedness).

17  וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ (And you shall speak) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (to them) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (word) הַזֶּ֔ה (this)

תֵּרַ֨דְנָה (Run down) עֵינַ֥י (let my eyes) דִּמְעָ֛ה (with tears)

לַ֥יְלָה (night) וְיוֹמָ֖ם (and day), וְאַל־ (and not) תִּדְמֶ֑ינָה (let them cease);

כִּי֩ (for) שֶׁ֨בֶר (breach) גָּד֜וֹל (with a mighy) נִשְׁבְּרָ֗ה (has been wounded),

בְּתוּלַת֙ (the virgin) בַּת־ (daughter) עַמִּ֔י (of my people)

מַכָּ֖ה (blow) נַחְלָ֥ה (serious) מְאֹֽד׃ (with a).

18  אִם־ (If) יָצָ֣אתִי (I go out) הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה (to the field),

וְהִנֵּה֙ (and behold) חַלְלֵי־ (those slain by) חֶ֔רֶב (the sword)!

וְאִם֙ (And if) בָּ֣אתִי (I come into) הָעִ֔יר (the city),

וְהִנֵּ֖ה (and behold) תַּחֲלוּאֵ֣י (those sick from) רָעָ֑ב (famine)!

כִּֽי־ (How), גַם־ (both) נָבִ֧יא (prophet) גַם־ (and) כֹּהֵ֛ן (priest) סָחֲר֥וּ (go about) אֶל־ (in) אֶ֖רֶץ (the land)

וְלֹ֥א (and not) יָדָֽעוּ׃ס (they do know).

A Prayer for Mercy
(Isaiah 63:15–19)

19  הֲמָאֹ֨ס (Rejected) מָאַ֜סְתָּ (have you completely) אֶת־ (-) יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah)?

אִם־ (Or) בְּצִיּוֹן֙ (Zion)? גָּעֲלָ֣ה (Has abhorred) נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ (Your soul)

מַדּ֙וּעַ֙ (why) הִכִּיתָ֔נוּ (did You strike us)

וְאֵ֥ין (and there is no) לָ֖נוּ (for us) מַרְפֵּ֑א (healing)

קַוֵּ֤ה (we looked) לְשָׁלוֹם֙ (for peace),

וְאֵ֣ין (and there was no) ט֔וֹב (good);

וּלְעֵ֥ת (and for the time) מַרְפֵּ֖א (of healing),

וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and there was) בְעָתָֽה׃ (terror)!

20  יָדַ֧עְנוּ (We acknowledge), יְהוָ֛ה (O YHWH), רִשְׁעֵ֖נוּ (our wickedness),

עֲוֺ֣ן (and the iniquity) אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ (of our fathers),

כִּ֥י (for) חָטָ֖אנוּ (we have sinned) לָֽךְ׃ (against You).

21  אַל־ (Do not) תִּנְאַץ֙ (spurn us) לְמַ֣עַן (sake) שִׁמְךָ֔ (for Your name’s)

אַל־ (do not) תְּנַבֵּ֖ל (disgrace) כִּסֵּ֣א (the throne) כְבוֹדֶ֑ךָ (of Your glory);

זְכֹ֕ר (Remember), אַל־ (do not) תָּפֵ֥ר (break)

בְּרִֽיתְךָ֖ (Your covenant) אִתָּֽנוּ׃ (with us).

22  הֲיֵ֨שׁ (Are there any) בְּהַבְלֵ֤י (among the idols) הַגּוֹיִם֙ (of the nations) מַגְשִׁמִ֔ים (able to bring rain)?

וְאִם־ (Or can) הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (the heavens) יִתְּנ֣וּ (give) רְבִבִ֑ים (showers)?

הֲלֹ֨א (Are not) אַתָּה־ (You) ה֜וּא (He), יְהוָ֤ה (O YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ (our God)?

וּ֨נְקַוֶּה־ (And we shall wait) לָּ֔ךְ (for You)

כִּֽי־ (since) אַתָּ֥ה (You) עָשִׂ֖יתָ (make) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֵֽלֶּה׃פ (these things).