A Warning against Going to Egypt

1  וַֽיִּגְּשׁוּ֙ (And they came near), כָּל־ (all) שָׂרֵ֣י (the captains) הַחֲיָלִ֔ים (of the forces), וְיֽוֹחָנָן֙ (and Johanan) בֶּן־ (son) קָרֵ֔חַ (of Kareah), וִֽיזַנְיָ֖ה (and Jezaniah) בֶּן־ (son) הוֹשַֽׁעְיָ֑ה (of Hoshaiah), וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) מִקָּטֹ֥ן (from the least) וְעַד־ (even to) גָּדֽוֹל׃ (the greatest), 2  וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ (and they said) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ (Jeremiah) הַנָּבִ֗יא (the prophet), תִּפָּל־ (Let fall) נָ֤א (please), תְחִנָּתֵ֙נוּ֙ (our supplication) לְפָנֶ֔יךָ (before your face) וְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל (and pray) בַּעֲדֵ֙נוּ֙ (for us) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (your God), בְּעַ֖ד (on behalf) כָּל־ (of all) הַשְּׁאֵרִ֣ית (the remnant); הַזֹּ֑את (this) כִּֽי־ (since) נִשְׁאַ֤רְנוּ (we have left remaining) מְעַט֙ (a few) מֵֽהַרְבֵּ֔ה (of the many), כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) עֵינֶ֖יךָ (your eyes) רֹא֥וֹת (can see) אֹתָֽנוּ׃ (with us). 3  וְיַגֶּד־ (That may present) לָ֙נוּ֙ (to us) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (your God) אֶת־ (-) הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ (the way) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (in which) נֵֽלֶךְ־ (we should walk), בָּ֑הּ (in it) וְאֶת־ (and) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the thing) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (we should do).

4  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (to them) יִרְמְיָ֤הוּ (Jeremiah) הַנָּבִיא֙ (the prophet) שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי (I have heard) הִנְנִ֧י (behold, I) מִתְפַּלֵּ֛ל (will pray) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ God) כְּדִבְרֵיכֶ֑ם (according to your⁺ words); וְֽהָיָ֡ה (and it will come to pass), כָּֽל־ (that every) הַדָּבָר֩ (word) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יַעֲנֶ֨ה (answers) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֶתְכֶם֙ (you⁺) אַגִּ֣יד (I will declare) לָכֶ֔ם (to you⁺) לֹֽא־ (not) אֶמְנַ֥ע (will I withhold) מִכֶּ֖ם (from you⁺) דָּבָֽר׃ (a word).

5  וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ (And they) אָמְר֣וּ (said) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (Jeremiah), יְהִ֤י (May be) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) בָּ֔נוּ (against us) לְעֵ֖ד (as a witness) אֱמֶ֣ת (true) וְנֶאֱמָ֑ן (and faithful) אִם־ (if) לֹ֡א (not) כְּֽכָל־ (according to every) הַ֠דָּבָר (word) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (which) יִֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֜ (sends you) יְהוָ֧ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ (your God) אֵלֵ֖ינוּ (to us) כֵּ֥ן (thus) נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (we do). 6  אִם־ (Whether) ט֣וֹב (good), וְאִם־ (or whether) רָ֔ע (bad), בְּק֣וֹל׀ (to the voice) יְהוָ֣ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ (our God), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (whom) אֲנוּ (we) שֹׁלְחִ֥ים (are sending) אֹתְךָ֛ (you) אֵלָ֖יו (to) נִשְׁמָ֑ע (we will listen) לְמַ֙עַן֙ (so that) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (-) יִֽיטַב־ (it may be good) לָ֔נוּ (for us) כִּ֣י (when) נִשְׁמַ֔ע (we listen) בְּק֖וֹל (to the voice) יְהוָ֥ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ס (our God).

7  וַיְהִ֕י (And it came to pass) מִקֵּ֖ץ (after) עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת (ten) יָמִ֑ים (days), וַיְהִ֥י (that came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָֽהוּ׃ (Jeremiah). 8  וַיִּקְרָ֗א (And he called) אֶל־ (to) יֽוֹחָנָן֙ (Johanan) בֶּן־ (son) קָרֵ֔חַ (of Kareah), וְאֶ֛ל (and to) כָּל־ (all) שָׂרֵ֥י (the captains) הַחֲיָלִ֖ים (of the forces) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that were) אִתּ֑וֹ (with him) וּלְכָ֨ל־ (and to all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) לְמִקָּטֹ֥ן (from the least) וְעַד־ (even to) גָּדֽוֹל׃ (the greatest) 9  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he said) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them): כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֥ר (says) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (to whom) שְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם (you⁺ sent) אֹתִי֙ (me) אֵלָ֔יו (to Him) לְהַפִּ֥יל (to cause to fall) תְּחִנַּתְכֶ֖ם (your⁺ supplication) לְפָנָֽיו׃ (before His face). 10  אִם־ (If) שׁ֤וֹב (turning back) תֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ (you⁺ will dwell) בָּאָ֣רֶץ (in the land), הַזֹּ֔את (this) וּבָנִ֤יתִי (then I will build) אֶתְכֶם֙ (you⁺ up) וְלֹ֣א (and not) אֶהֱרֹ֔ס (pull you down), וְנָטַעְתִּ֥י (and I will plant) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺) וְלֹ֣א (and not) אֶתּ֑וֹשׁ (pluck you up); כִּ֤י (for) נִחַ֙מְתִּי֙ (I will relent) אֶל־ (concerning) הָ֣רָעָ֔ה (the disaster) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָשִׂ֖יתִי (I have done) לָכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺).

11  אַל־ (Not) תִּֽירְא֗וּ (should you⁺ fear) מִפְּנֵי֙ (before the face) מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon), אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) אַתֶּ֥ם (you⁺) יְרֵאִ֖ים (have been afraid) מִפָּנָ֑יו (of him) אַל־ (do not) תִּֽירְא֤וּ (be afraid); מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ (of him) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), כִּֽי־ (for) אִתְּכֶ֣ם (with you⁺) אָ֔נִי (I am) לְהוֹשִׁ֧יעַ (to save) אֶתְכֶ֛ם (you⁺) וּלְהַצִּ֥יל (and to deliver) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺) מִיָּדֽוֹ׃ (from his hand). 12  וְאֶתֵּ֥ן (And I will give) לָכֶ֛ם (to you⁺) רַחֲמִ֖ים (compassion) וְרִחַ֣ם (that he may have compassion) אֶתְכֶ֑ם (on you⁺) וְהֵשִׁ֥יב (and return) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺) אֶל־ (to) אַדְמַתְכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ own land).

13  וְאִם־ (And if) אֹמְרִ֣ים (are saying), אַתֶּ֔ם (you⁺) לֹ֥א (Not) נֵשֵׁ֖ב (will we stay) בָּאָ֣רֶץ (in the land), הַזֹּ֑את (this) לְבִלְתִּ֣י (so as not) שְׁמֹ֔עַ (to listen) בְּק֖וֹל (to the voice) יְהוָ֥ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ God), 14  לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), לֹ֚א (No); כִּ֣י (but) אֶ֤רֶץ (to the land) מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ (of Egypt), נָב֔וֹא (we will go) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (where) לֹֽא־ (not) נִרְאֶה֙ (we will see) מִלְחָמָ֔ה (war), וְק֥וֹל (and the voice) שׁוֹפָ֖ר (of the shofar), לֹ֣א (not) נִשְׁמָ֑ע (will we hear) וְלַלֶּ֥חֶם (and for bread); לֹֽא־ (not) נִרְעָ֖ב (will we be hungry) וְשָׁ֥ם (and there) נֵשֵֽׁב׃ (we will dwell); 15  וְעַתָּ֕ה (then now) לָכֵ֛ן (thus) שִׁמְע֥וּ (will you hear) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), שְׁאֵרִ֣ית (O remnant) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah); כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַר֩ (says) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֜וֹת (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel); אִם־ (If) אַ֠תֶּם (you⁺) שׂ֣וֹם (setting) תְּשִׂמ֤וּן (would set) פְּנֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ faces) לָבֹ֣א (to go) מִצְרַ֔יִם (to Egypt), וּבָאתֶ֖ם (and to go) לָג֥וּר (to dwell) שָֽׁם׃ (there); 16  וְהָיְתָ֣ה (then it will come to pass), הַחֶ֗רֶב (that the sword), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) אַתֶּם֙ (you⁺) יְרֵאִ֣ים (were afraid) מִמֶּ֔נָּה (of it), שָׁ֛ם (there) תַּשִּׂ֥יג (will overtake) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) מִצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt), וְהָרָעָ֞ב (and the famine), אֲשֶׁר־ (which) אַתֶּ֣ם׀ (you⁺) דֹּאֲגִ֣ים (were afraid) מִמֶּ֗נּוּ (of it), שָׁ֣ם (there) יִדְבַּ֧ק (will follow close) אַחֲרֵיכֶ֛ם (after you⁺) מִצְרַ֖יִם (in Egypt); וְשָׁ֥ם (and there) תָּמֻֽתוּ׃ (you⁺ will die). 17  וְיִֽהְי֣וּ (And will it come to pass) כָל־ (with all) הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (the men) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) שָׂ֨מוּ (set) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵיהֶ֜ם (their faces) לָב֤וֹא (to go) מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ (to Egypt) לָג֣וּר (to dwell) שָׁ֔ם (there); יָמ֕וּתוּ (that they will die) בַּחֶ֖רֶב (by the sword), בָּרָעָ֣ב (by the famine), וּבַדָּ֑בֶר (and by the pestilence); וְלֹֽא־ (no) יִהְיֶ֤ה (will there be) לָהֶם֙ (of them) שָׂרִ֣יד (survivor) וּפָלִ֔יט (or escapee) מִפְּנֵי֙ (from) הָֽרָעָ֔ה (the disaster) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) אֲנִ֖י (I) מֵבִ֥יא (am bringing) עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ס (upon them).

18  כִּי֩ (For) כֹ֨ה (thus) אָמַ֜ר (says) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH of) צְבָאוֹת֮ (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (of Israel); כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ (As) נִתַּ֨ךְ (were poured out) אַפִּ֜י (My anger) וַחֲמָתִ֗י (and My fury) עַל־ (on) יֹֽשְׁבֵי֙ (the dwellers) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (of Jerusalem); כֵּ֣ן (so) תִּתַּ֤ךְ (will be poured out) חֲמָתִי֙ (My fury) עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם (on you⁺) בְּבֹאֲכֶ֖ם (in your⁺ coming to) מִצְרָ֑יִם (Egypt). וִהְיִיתֶ֞ם (And you⁺ will become) לְאָלָ֤ה (as an object of cursing), וּלְשַׁמָּה֙ (and as a horror), וְלִקְלָלָ֣ה (and as a curse), וּלְחֶרְפָּ֔ה (and a reproach); וְלֹֽא־ (and not) תִרְא֣וּ (will you⁺ see) ע֔וֹד (again). אֶת־ (-) הַמָּק֖וֹם (the place) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

19  דִּבֶּ֨ר (Has said) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) עֲלֵיכֶם֙ (concerning you⁺) שְׁאֵרִ֣ית (O remnant) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah); אַל־ (Do not) תָּבֹ֖אוּ (go to) מִצְרָ֑יִם (Egypt)! יָדֹ֙עַ֙ (Knowing) תֵּֽדְע֔וּ (you⁺ may know) כִּי־ (that) הַעִידֹ֥תִי (I have given a warning) בָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) הַיּֽוֹם׃ (this day). 20  כִּ֣י (That) הִתְעֵתֶים (you⁺ have gone astray) בְּנַפְשֽׁוֹתֵיכֶם֒ (in your⁺ souls), כִּֽי־ (when) אַתֶּ֞ם (you⁺) שְׁלַחְתֶּ֣ם (sent) אֹתִ֗י (me) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ God), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל (Pray) בַּעֲדֵ֔נוּ (on our behalf) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ (our God); וּכְכֹל֩ (and according to all) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) יֹאמַ֜ר (says), יְהוָ֧ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ (our God) כֵּ֥ן (so) הַגֶּד־ (declare it) לָ֖נוּ (to us) וְעָשִֽׂינוּ׃ (and we will do it).

21  וָאַגִּ֥ד (And I have declared it) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) הַיּ֑וֹם (this day) וְלֹ֣א (and not) שְׁמַעְתֶּ֗ם (have you⁺ listened) בְּקוֹל֙ (to the voice) יְהוָ֣ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ God), וּלְכֹ֖ל (and in all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) שְׁלָחַ֥נִי (He has sent me) אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺). 22  וְעַתָּה֙ (And now) יָדֹ֣עַ (knowing) תֵּֽדְע֔וּ (you⁺ may know) כִּ֗י (that) בַּחֶ֛רֶב (by the sword), בָּרָעָ֥ב (by the famine), וּבַדֶּ֖בֶר (and by the pestilence), תָּמ֑וּתוּ (you⁺ will die) בַּמָּקוֹם֙ (in the place) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) חֲפַצְתֶּ֔ם (you⁺ delight) לָב֖וֹא (to go) לָג֥וּר (to dwell) שָֽׁם׃ס (there).