A Plea to Return

1  אִם־ (If) תָּשׁ֨וּב (you would return), יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל׀ (O Israel),

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH), אֵלַ֖י (to Me) תָּשׁ֑וּב (you must return)

וְאִם־ (and if) תָּסִ֧יר (you will put away) שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָ (your abominations) מִפָּנַ֖י (from My sight),

וְלֹ֥א (and no longer) תָנֽוּד׃ (waver).

2  וְנִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ (And you swear), חַי־ (As lives), יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH)

בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת (in truth), בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט (in justice), וּבִצְדָקָ֑ה (and in righteousness);

וְהִתְבָּ֥רְכוּ (shall bless themselves) ב֛וֹ (in Him) גּוֹיִ֖ם (and the nations)

וּב֥וֹ (and in Him) יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃ס (they shall glory).

3  כִּי־ (For) כֹ֣ה׀ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהֹוָ֗ה (YHWH) לְאִ֤ישׁ (to the men) יְהוּדָה֙ (of Judah) וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (and Jerusalem),

נִ֥ירוּ (Break up) לָכֶ֖ם (for yourself) נִ֑יר (the unplowed ground),

וְאַֽל־ (and not) תִּזְרְע֖וּ (do sow) אֶל־ (among) קוֹצִֽים׃ (thorns).

4  הִמֹּ֣לוּ (Circumcise yourselves) לַיהֹוָ֗ה (to YHWH),

וְהָסִ֙רוּ֙ (and turn aside) עָרְל֣וֹת (the foreskins) לְבַבְכֶ֔ם (of your⁺ heart),

אִ֥ישׁ (O men) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י (and dwellers) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (of Jerusalem),

פֶּן־ (lest) תֵּצֵ֨א (should go forth) כָאֵ֜שׁ (like the fire), חֲמָתִ֗י (My fury) וּבָעֲרָה֙ (and burn)

וְאֵ֣ין (and no one) מְכַבֶּ֔ה (to extinguish it)

מִפְּנֵ֖י (from the face) רֹ֥עַ (of the evil) מַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃ (of your⁺ deeds).

Disaster from the North

5  הַגִּ֣ידוּ (Declare) בִֽיהוּדָ֗ה (in Judah), וּבִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (and in Jerusalem); הַשְׁמִ֔יעוּ (proclaim) וְאִמְר֕וּ (and say),

וְתִקְעוּ (Blow) שׁוֹפָ֖ר (the shofar) בָּאָ֑רֶץ (in the land);

קִרְא֤וּ (call out), מַלְאוּ֙ (gather together), וְאִמְר֔וּ (and say),

הֵאָסְפ֥וּ (Assemble),

וְנָב֖וֹאָה (and let us go) אֶל־ (into) עָרֵ֥י (cities) הַמִּבְצָֽר׃ (the fortified).

6  שְׂאוּ־ (Lift up) נֵ֣ס (the standard) צִיּ֔וֹנָה (toward Zion)!

הָעִ֖יזוּ (Seek refuge), אַֽל־ (not); תַּעֲמֹ֑דוּ (do delay)

כִּ֣י (for) רָעָ֗ה (disaster) אָנֹכִ֛י (I) מֵבִ֥יא (am bringing) מִצָּפ֖וֹן (from the north),

וְשֶׁ֥בֶר (and destruction) גָּדֽוֹל׃ (great).

7  עָלָ֤ה (Has come up) אַרְיֵה֙ (a lion) מִֽסֻּבְּכ֔וֹ (from his thicket),

וּמַשְׁחִ֣ית (and a destroyer) גּוֹיִ֔ם (of nations) נָסַ֖ע (has set out);

יָצָ֣א (he has gone forth) מִמְּקֹמ֑וֹ (from his place)

לָשׂ֤וּם (to make) אַרְצֵךְ֙ (your land) לְשַׁמָּ֔ה (into a desolation);

עָרַ֥יִךְ (your cities) תִּצֶּ֖ינָה (will be in ruins),

מֵאֵ֥ין (without) יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ (inhabitant).

8  עַל־ (Upon) זֹ֛את (thus) חִגְר֥וּ (gird yourselves) שַׂקִּ֖ים (with sackcloth),

סִפְד֣וּ (lament) וְהֵילִ֑ילוּ (and wail);

כִּ֥י (for) לֹא־ (not) שָׁ֛ב (has turned back) חֲר֥וֹן (the burning)

אַף־ (of the anger) יְהֹוָ֖ה (of YHWH) מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃פ (from us).

9  וְהָיָ֤ה (And it will come to pass) בַיּוֹם־ (in the day), הַהוּא֙ (that) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH),

יֹאבַ֥ד (That will perish), לֵב־ (the heart) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king)

וְלֵ֣ב (and the heart) הַשָּׂרִ֑ים (of the princes); וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ (and shall be devastated),

הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (the priests) וְהַנְּבִיאִ֖ים (and the prophets) יִתְמָֽהוּ׃ (will be astounded).

10  וָאֹמַ֞ר (And I said) אֲהָ֣הּ׀ (Ah), אֲדֹנָ֣י (my Lord) יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH)! אָכֵן֩ (Truly) הַשֵּׁ֨א (deceiving) הִשֵּׁ֜אתָ (You have decieved) לָעָ֤ם (people) הַזֶּה֙ (this) וְלִירוּשָׁלִַ֣ם (and Jerusalem), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), שָׁל֖וֹם (Peace); יִהְיֶ֣ה (there shall be) לָכֶ֑ם (for You⁺) וְנָגְעָ֥ה (and reaches) חֶ֖רֶב (the sword) עַד־ (as far as) הַנָּֽפֶשׁ׃ (the soul).

11  בָּעֵ֣ת (Time) הַהִ֗יא (at that) יֵאָמֵ֤ר (it will be said) לָֽעָם־ (people) הַזֶּה֙ (to this) וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (and to Jerusalem), ר֣וּחַ (Wind) צַ֤ח (a dry) שְׁפָיִים֙ (from the barren heights) בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר (of the wilderness) דֶּ֖רֶךְ (is toward the way) בַּת־ (of the daughter) עַמִּ֑י (of My people), ל֥וֹא (not) לִזְר֖וֹת (to winnow), וְל֥וֹא (and not) לְהָבַֽר׃ (to cleanse), 12  ר֧וּחַ (a wind) מָלֵ֛א (more full) מֵאֵ֖לֶּה (than these) יָ֣בוֹא (will come) לִ֑י (to Me) עַתָּ֕ה (now) גַּם־ (even) אֲנִ֛י (I) אֲדַבֵּ֥ר (speak) מִשְׁפָּטִ֖ים (judgments) אוֹתָֽם׃ (against them).

13  הִנֵּ֣ה׀ (Behold), כַּעֲנָנִ֣ים (like clouds), יַעֲלֶ֗ה (he shall come up)

וְכַסּוּפָה֙ (like a whirlwind); מַרְכְּבוֹתָ֔יו (and his chariots)

קַלּ֥וּ (are swifter) מִנְּשָׁרִ֖ים (than eagles). סוּסָ֑יו (His horses)

א֥וֹי (Woe) לָ֖נוּ (to us) כִּ֥י (for) שֻׁדָּֽדְנוּ׃ (we are ruined).

14  כַּבְּסִ֨י (Wash) מֵרָעָ֤ה (from evil), לִבֵּךְ֙ (your heart) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (O Jerusalem),

לְמַ֖עַן (that) תִּוָּשֵׁ֑עִי (you may be saved).

עַד־ (How) מָתַ֛י (long) תָּלִ֥ין (lodge) בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְ (within you)

מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת (thoughts) אוֹנֵֽךְ׃ (shall wicked).

15  כִּ֛י (For) ק֥וֹל (a voice) מַגִּ֖יד (declares) מִדָּ֑ן (from Dan)

וּמַשְׁמִ֥יעַ (and proclaims) אָ֖וֶן (affliction) מֵהַ֥ר (from Mount) אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ (Ephraim).

16  הַזְכִּ֣ירוּ (Make mention) לַגּוֹיִ֗ם (to the nations);

הִנֵּה֙ (behold), הַשְׁמִ֣יעוּ (proclaim) עַל־ (over) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (Jerusalem),

נֹצְרִ֥ים (Besiegers) בָּאִ֖ים (are coming) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from a land), הַמֶּרְחָ֑ק (far away)

וַֽיִּתְּנ֛וּ (and they will raise) עַל־ (against) עָרֵ֥י (the cities) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) קוֹלָֽם׃ (their voice).

17  כְּשֹׁמְרֵ֣י (Like those guarding) שָׂדַ֔י (a field), הָי֥וּ (they will be) עָלֶ֖יהָ (against her) מִסָּבִ֑יב (all around);

כִּי־ (because) אֹתִ֥י (against Me) מָרָ֖תָה (she has rebelled)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

18  דַּרְכֵּךְ֙ (Your way) וּמַ֣עֲלָלַ֔יִךְ (and your deeds)

עָשׂ֥וֹ (have made) אֵ֖לֶּה (these things) לָ֑ךְ (for you)

זֹ֤את (this is) רָעָתֵךְ֙ (your evil), כִּ֣י (how) מָ֔ר (bitter it is),

כִּ֥י (how) נָגַ֖ע (it reaches) עַד־ (as far as) לִבֵּֽךְ׃ס (your heart).

Lamentation for Judah

19  מֵעַ֣י׀ (My bowels), מֵעַ֨י׀ (my bowels)! אָחוּלָה (I writhe in pain)

קִיר֥וֹת (in the walls) לִבִּ֛י (heart)

הֹֽמֶה־ (is roaring) לִּ֥י (within me) לִבִּ֖י (my heart)

לֹ֣א (I cannot) אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ (keep silent),

כִּ֣י (for) ק֤וֹל (the voice) שׁוֹפָר֙ (of the shofar), שָׁמַעְתִּי (does hear), נַפְשִׁ֔י (my soul),

תְּרוּעַ֖ת (the shout) מִלְחָמָֽה׃ (of war).

20  שֶׁ֤בֶר (Destruction) עַל־ (upon) שֶׁ֙בֶר֙ (destruction) נִקְרָ֔א (is called out);

כִּ֥י (for) שֻׁדְּדָ֖ה (is brought to ruin); כָּל־ (all) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land)

פִּתְאֹם֙ (suddenly) שֻׁדְּד֣וּ (are left in ruins), אֹהָלַ֔י (my tents)

רֶ֖גַע (in a moment) יְרִיעֹתָֽי׃ (and my curtains).

21  עַד־ (How) מָתַ֖י (long) אֶרְאֶה־ (will I see) נֵּ֑ס (the standard),

אֶשְׁמְעָ֖ה (and hear) ק֥וֹל (the voice) שׁוֹפָֽר׃ס (of the shofar)?

22  כִּ֣י׀ (For) אֱוִ֣יל (are foolish), עַמִּ֗י (My people)

אוֹתִי֙ (Me) לֹ֣א (not) יָדָ֔עוּ (they have known me)

בָּנִ֤ים (children), סְכָלִים֙ (foolish) הֵ֔מָּה (they are)

וְלֹ֥א (have no) נְבוֹנִ֖ים (understanding); הֵ֑מָּה (and they)

חֲכָמִ֥ים (are wise) הֵ֙מָּה֙ (they) לְהָרַ֔ע (to do evil),

וּלְהֵיטִ֖יב (and to do good) לֹ֥א (not) יָדָֽעוּ׃ (they do know).

23  רָאִ֙יתִי֙ (I looked upon) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the earth), וְהִנֵּה־ (and behold),

תֹ֖הוּ (it was formless), וָבֹ֑הוּ (and void);

וְאֶל־ (and to) הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (the heavens),

וְאֵ֥ין (and there was no) אוֹרָֽם׃ (light in them).

24  רָאִ֙יתִי֙ (I looked upon) הֶֽהָרִ֔ים (the mountains), וְהִנֵּ֖ה (and behold),

רֹעֲשִׁ֑ים (they began shaking),

וְכָל־ (and all) הַגְּבָע֖וֹת (the hills) הִתְקַלְקָֽלוּ׃ (were swaying).

25  רָאִ֕יתִי (I looked), וְהִנֵּ֖ה (and behold), אֵ֣ין (there was no) הָאָדָ֑ם (man),

וְכָל־ (and all) ע֥וֹף (the birds) הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (of the heavens) נָדָֽדוּ׃ (had fled).

26  רָאִ֕יתִי (I looked), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), הַכַּרְמֶ֖ל (the fertile land was) הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר (a desert),

וְכָל־ (and all) עָרָ֗יו (its cities) נִתְּצוּ֙ (were torn down)

מִפְּנֵ֣י (before) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH),

מִפְּנֵ֖י (before the face) חֲר֥וֹן (of the fury) אַפּֽוֹ׃ס (of his nose).

27  כִּי־ (For) כֹה֙ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says), יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH)

שְׁמָמָ֥ה (A desolation); תִהְיֶ֖ה (will be) כָּל־ (all) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land)

וְכָלָ֖ה (and a full end) לֹ֥א (not) אֶעֱשֶֽׂה׃ (I shall make).

28  עַל־ (For) זֹאת֙ (the) תֶּאֱבַ֣ל (will mourn), הָאָ֔רֶץ (earth)

וְקָדְר֥וּ (and will darken), הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (the heavens) מִמָּ֑עַל (above) עַ֤ל (-)

כִּי־ (for) דִבַּ֙רְתִּי֙ (I have spoken) זַמֹּ֔תִי (I have planned)

וְלֹ֥א (and not) נִחַ֖מְתִּי (I will repent), וְלֹא־ (and not) אָשׁ֥וּב (will I turn back) מִמֶּֽנָּה׃ (from it).

29  מִקּ֨וֹל (From the voice) פָּרָ֜שׁ (of the horsemen) וְרֹ֣מֵה (and) קֶ֗שֶׁת (the bowman);

בֹּרַ֙חַת֙ (is fleeing) כָּל־ (every) הָעִ֔יר (city)

בָּ֚אוּ (They will go) בֶּעָבִ֔ים (into thickets),

וּבַכֵּפִ֖ים (into the rocks); עָל֑וּ (and go up)

כָּל־ (every) הָעִ֣יר (city) עֲזוּבָ֔ה (is forsaken),

וְאֵין־ (and there is not) יוֹשֵׁ֥ב (dwelling) בָּהֵ֖ן (in them) אִֽישׁ׃ (a man).

30  וְאַתִּי (And you) שָׁד֜וּד (O devastated one), מַֽה־ (what) תַּעֲשִׂ֗י (are you doing)?

כִּֽי־ (That) תִלְבְּשִׁ֨י (you clothe yourself) שָׁנִ֜י (with crimson),

כִּי־ (that) תַעְדִּ֣י (you adorn yourself) עֲדִי־ (with ornaments) זָהָ֗ב (of gold),

כִּֽי־ (that) תִקְרְעִ֤י (you tear open) בַפּוּךְ֙ (with paint), עֵינַ֔יִךְ (your eyes)

לַשָּׁ֖וְא (in vain) תִּתְיַפִּ֑י (you beautify yourself);

מָאֲסוּ־ (for have rejected) בָ֥ךְ (you) עֹגְבִ֖ים (the ones lusting)

נַפְשֵׁ֥ךְ (and now your soul) יְבַקֵּֽשׁוּ׃ (they do seek).

31  כִּי֩ (For) ק֨וֹל (a voice) כְּחוֹלָ֜ה (like a woman in labor), שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי (I have heard)

צָרָה֙ (distress) כְּמַבְכִּירָ֔ה (like one bearing her first child),

ק֧וֹל (the voice) בַּת־ (of the daughter) צִיּ֛וֹן (of Zion), תִּתְיַפֵּ֖חַ (gasping for breath),

תְּפָרֵ֣שׂ (she spreads out) כַּפֶּ֑יהָ (her hands),

אֽוֹי־ (Woe) נָ֣א (now)! לִ֔י (To me)

כִּֽי־ (for) עָיְפָ֥ה (has grown faint) נַפְשִׁ֖י (my soul) לְהֹרְגִֽים׃פ (before those killing).