A Warning to the Cities of Judah

1  בְּרֵאשִׁ֗ית (In the beginning) מַמְלְכ֛וּת (of the reign) יְהוֹיָקִ֥ים (of Jehoiakim) בֶּן־ (son) יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ (of Josiah) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah) הָיָה֙ (came) הַדָּבָ֣ר (word) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) מֵאֵ֥ת (from) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  כֹּ֣ה׀ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH); עֲמֹד֮ (Stand) בַּחֲצַ֣ר (in the courtyard) בֵּית־ (of the house), יְהוָה֒ (of YHWH) וְדִבַּרְתָּ֞ (and speak) עַל־ (over) כָּל־ (all) עָרֵ֣י (the cities) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah), הַבָּאִים֙ (who are coming in) לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֣ת (to worship) בֵּית־ (at the house), יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֵ֚ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַדְּבָרִ֔ים (the words) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) צִוִּיתִ֖יךָ (I command you) לְדַבֵּ֣ר (to speak) אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (to them) אַל־ (not) תִּגְרַ֖ע (you shall restrain) דָּבָֽר׃ (a word)! 3  אוּלַ֣י (Perhaps) יִשְׁמְע֔וּ (they will listen), וְיָשֻׁ֕בוּ (and turn) אִ֖ישׁ (each) מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ (way), הָרָעָ֑ה (from his evil) וְנִחַמְתִּ֣י (that I may relent) אֶל־ (concerning) הָרָעָ֗ה (the disaster), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) אָנֹכִ֤י (I) חֹשֵׁב֙ (am planning) לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת (to bring) לָהֶ֔ם (on them) מִפְּנֵ֖י (because of) רֹ֥עַ (the evil) מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ (of their deeds).

4  וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (And you shall say) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them) כֹּ֖ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH); אִם־ (If) לֹ֤א (not) תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ (you⁺ do listen) אֵלַ֔י (to Me) לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ (to walk) בְּת֣וֹרָתִ֔י (in My law), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נָתַ֖תִּי (I have set) לִפְנֵיכֶֽם׃ (before you⁺). 5  לִשְׁמֹ֗עַ (To listen) עַל־ (to) דִּבְרֵ֨י (the words) עֲבָדַ֣י (of My servants) הַנְּבִאִ֔ים (the prophets), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) אָנֹכִ֖י (I) שֹׁלֵ֣חַ (am sending) אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם (to you⁺) וְהַשְׁכֵּ֥ם (and rising up early), וְשָׁלֹ֖חַ (and sending them) וְלֹ֥א (and not) שְׁמַעְתֶּֽם׃ (you⁺ have listened); 6  וְנָתַתִּ֛י (then I will give to be) אֶת־ (-) הַבַּ֥יִת (the house) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) כְּשִׁלֹ֑ה (like Shiloh), וְאֶת־ (and) הָעִ֤יר (city) הַזֹּאתָה (this) אֶתֵּ֣ן (I will give to be) לִקְלָלָ֔ה (a curse) לְכֹ֖ל (for all) גּוֹיֵ֥י (the nations) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ס (of the earth).

Jeremiah Threatened with Death

7  וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֛וּ (Heard) הַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים (and the priests) וְהַנְּבִאִ֖ים (and the prophets) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֑ם (the people) אֶֽת־ (-) יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (Jeremiah) מְדַבֵּ֛ר (speaking) אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֥ים (words) הָאֵ֖לֶּה (these) בְּבֵ֥ית (in the house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 8  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass), כְּכַלּ֣וֹת (had made an end of) יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ (as Jeremiah) לְדַבֵּר֙ (speaking) אֵ֣ת (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) צִוָּ֣ה (had commanded him) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) לְדַבֵּ֖ר (to speak) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֑ם (the people), וַיִּתְפְּשׂ֨וּ (captured) אֹת֜וֹ (him) הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים (the priests) וְהַנְּבִאִ֛ים (and the prophets) וְכָל־ (that all) הָעָ֥ם (the people) לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), מ֥וֹת (Dying) תָּמֽוּת׃ (you must die). 9  מַדּוּעַ֩ (Why) נִבֵּ֨יתָ (have you prophesied) בְשֵׁם־ (in the name) יְהוָ֜ה (of YHWH), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying that), כְּשִׁלוֹ֙ (like Shiloh), יִֽהְיֶה֙ (will become) הַבַּ֣יִת (house) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) וְהָעִ֥יר (city) הַזֹּ֛את (and this) תֶּחֱרַ֖ב (will be desolate) מֵאֵ֣ין (without) יוֹשֵׁ֑ב (one dwelling there)?

וַיִּקָּהֵ֧ל (Gathered) כָּל־ (and all) הָעָ֛ם (the people) אֶֽל־ (against) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah) בְּבֵ֥ית (in the house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

10  וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ׀ (Heard) שָׂרֵ֣י (and the princes) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah) אֵ֚ת (-) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (things), הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) וַיַּעֲל֥וּ (and they came up) מִבֵּית־ (from the house) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) בֵּ֣ית (to the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וַיֵּֽשְׁב֛וּ (and they sat down) בְּפֶ֥תַח (in the entrance) שַֽׁעַר־ (Gate) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) הֶחָדָֽשׁ׃ס (of the New).

11  וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ (Spoke) הַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים (and the priests) וְהַנְּבִאִים֙ (and the prophets) אֶל־ (to) הַשָּׂרִ֔ים (the princes) וְאֶל־ (and to) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), מִשְׁפַּט־ (Deserves to) מָ֙וֶת֙ (die); לָאִ֣ישׁ (man) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) כִּ֤י (for) נִבָּא֙ (he has prophesied) אֶל־ (against) הָעִ֣יר (city), הַזֹּ֔את (this) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם (you⁺ have heard) בְּאָזְנֵיכֶֽם׃ (with your⁺ own ears).

12  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (Spoke) יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ (and Jeremiah) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) הַשָּׂרִ֔ים (the princes) וְאֶל־ (and to) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) שְׁלָחַ֗נִי (sent me) לְהִנָּבֵ֞א (to prophesy) אֶל־ (against) הַבַּ֤יִת (house) הַזֶּה֙ (this) וְאֶל־ (and against) הָעִ֣יר (city) הַזֹּ֔את (this) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (with all) הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (the words) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שְׁמַעְתֶּֽם׃ (you⁺ have heard). 13  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) הֵיטִ֤יבוּ (amend) דַרְכֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ ways) וּמַ֣עַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם (and your⁺ deeds), וְשִׁמְע֕וּ (and obey) בְּק֖וֹל (the voice) יְהוָ֣ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ God); וְיִנָּחֵ֣ם (will relent) יְהוָ֔ה (and YHWH) אֶל־ (concerning) הָ֣רָעָ֔ה (the disaster) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) דִּבֶּ֖ר (He has spoken) עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (against you⁺). 14  וַאֲנִ֖י (And I am), הִנְנִ֣י (here) בְיֶדְכֶ֑ם (in your⁺ hand); עֲשׂוּ־ (you may do) לִ֛י (to me) כַּטּ֥וֹב (as is good) וְכַיָּשָׁ֖ר (and right) בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ (in your⁺ eyes). 15  אַ֣ךְ׀ (Only) יָדֹ֣עַ (knowing) תֵּדְע֗וּ (know), כִּ֣י (that) אִם־ (if) מְמִתִ֣ים (put to death) אַתֶּם֮ (you⁺) אֹתִי֒ (me) כִּי־ (that) דָ֣ם (blood) נָקִ֗י (innocent) אַתֶּם֙ (you⁺) נֹתְנִ֣ים (are bringing) עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם (on yourselves) וְאֶל־ (and on) הָעִ֥יר (city), הַזֹּ֖את (this) וְאֶל־ (and on) יֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָ (its dwellers) כִּ֣י (for) בֶאֱמֶ֗ת (in truth) שְׁלָחַ֤נִי (has sent me) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם (to you⁺) לְדַבֵּר֙ (to speak) בְּאָזְנֵיכֶ֔ם (in your⁺ ears). אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (words) הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ס (these).

Jeremiah Spared from Death

16  וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (Said) הַשָּׂרִים֙ (and the princes) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) אֶל־ (to) הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (the priests) וְאֶל־ (and to) הַנְּבִיאִ֑ים (the prophets); אֵין־ (Is not) לָאִ֤ישׁ (man) הַזֶּה֙ (This) מִשְׁפַּט־ (worthy) מָ֔וֶת (of death); כִּ֗י (for) בְּשֵׁ֛ם (in the name) יְהוָ֥ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ (our God) דִּבֶּ֥ר (he has spoken) אֵלֵֽינוּ׃ (to us).

17  וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ (And rose up) אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (certain) מִזִּקְנֵ֖י (elders) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the land), וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (and they spoke) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) קְהַ֥ל (the assembly) הָעָ֖ם (of the people), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 18  מִיכָיָה (Micah) הַמּ֣וֹרַשְׁתִּ֔י (the Moreshethite) הָיָ֣ה (was) נִבָּ֔א (prophesying) בִּימֵ֖י (in the days) חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ (of Hezekiah) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he spoke) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) עַם֩ (the people) יְהוּדָ֨ה (of Judah), לֵאמֹ֜ר (saying), כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר׀ (says) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֗וֹת (Hosts);

צִיּ֞וֹן (ZIon) שָׂדֶ֤ה (like a field), תֵֽחָרֵשׁ֙ (will be plowed)

וִירוּשָׁלַ֙יִם֙ (and Jerusalem) עִיִּ֣ים (heaps), תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה (will become)

וְהַ֥ר (and the mountain) הַבַּ֖יִת (of the temple) לְבָמ֥וֹת (as the high places) יָֽעַר׃ (of the forest).

19  הֶהָמֵ֣ת (Killing) הֱ֠מִתֻהוּ (put him to death)? חִזְקִיָּ֨הוּ (Did Hezekiah) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֜ה (of Judah) וְכָל־ (or anyone in) יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah) הֲלֹא֮ (did he not) יָרֵ֣א (fear) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָה֒ (YHWH), וַיְחַל֙ (and seek) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵ֣י (the favor) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם (and relented) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (concerning) הָרָעָ֖ה (the disaster) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) דִּבֶּ֣ר (He had spoken) עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (against them) וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ (and we) עֹשִׂ֛ים (are doing) רָעָ֥ה (evil) גְדוֹלָ֖ה (great) עַל־ (against) נַפְשׁוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ (our souls).

The Prophet Uriah

20  וְגַם־ (And also) אִ֗ישׁ (a man) הָיָ֤ה (there was) מִתְנַבֵּא֙ (prophesying) בְּשֵׁ֣ם (in the name) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), אֽוּרִיָּ֙הוּ֙ (Urijah) בֶּֽן־ (son) שְׁמַעְיָ֔הוּ (of Shemaiah) מִקִּרְיַ֖ת (of Kiriath-) הַיְּעָרִ֑ים (jearim) וַיִּנָּבֵ֞א (and he prophesied) עַל־ (against) הָעִ֤יר (city) הַזֹּאת֙ (this) וְעַל־ (and against) הָאָ֣רֶץ (land) הַזֹּ֔את (this) כְּכֹ֖ל (according to all) דִּבְרֵ֥י (the words) יִרְמְיָֽהוּ׃ (of Jeremiah). 21  וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע (Heard) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־ (and the king), יְ֠הוֹיָקִים (Jehoiakim) וְכָל־ (and all) גִּבּוֹרָ֤יו (his mighty men), וְכָל־ (and all) הַשָּׂרִים֙ (the princes), אֶת־ (-) דְּבָרָ֔יו (his words), וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (sought) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (and the king) הֲמִית֑וֹ (to put him to death); וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע (heard) אוּרִיָּ֙הוּ֙ (and Urijah) וַיִּרָ֔א (and was afraid), וַיִּבְרַ֖ח (and he fled), וַיָּבֹ֥א (and went in) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (to Egypt).

22  וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח (And sent) הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ (king) יְהוֹיָקִ֛ים (Jehoiakim) אֲנָשִׁ֖ים (men) מִצְרָ֑יִם (to Egypt), אֵ֣ת (-) אֶלְנָתָ֧ן (Elnathan) בֶּן־ (son) עַכְבּ֛וֹר (of Achbor), וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים (and men) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him) אֶל־ (to) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (Egypt). 23  וַיּוֹצִ֨יאוּ (And they brought out) אֶת־ (-) אוּרִיָּ֜הוּ (Urijah) מִמִּצְרַ֗יִם (from Egypt) וַיְבִאֻ֙הוּ֙ (and brought him) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (king); יְהוֹיָקִ֔ים (Jehoiakim) וַיַּכֵּ֖הוּ (and he killed him) בֶּחָ֑רֶב (with the sword), וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ֙ (and cast) אֶת־ (-) נִבְלָת֔וֹ (his corpse) אֶל־ (into) קִבְרֵ֖י (the graves) בְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) הָעָֽם׃ (of the people).

24  אַ֗ךְ (Nevertheless) יַ֚ד (the hand) אֲחִיקָ֣ם (of Ahikam) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁפָ֔ן (of Shaphan) הָיְתָ֖ה (was) אֶֽת־ (with) יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ (Jeremiah), לְבִלְתִּ֛י (so as not) תֵּת־ (to give) אֹת֥וֹ (to him) בְיַד־ (into the hand) הָעָ֖ם (of the people) לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃פ (to put him to death).