No One Is Just

1  שׁוֹטְט֞וּ (Roam about) בְּחוּצ֣וֹת (in the streets) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם (of Jerusalem),

וּרְאוּ־ (and see) נָ֤א (now), וּדְעוּ֙ (and take note), וּבַקְשׁ֣וּ (and seek) בִרְחוֹבוֹתֶ֔יהָ (in her open squares)

אִם־ (to see if) תִּמְצְא֣וּ (you⁺ can find) אִ֔ישׁ (a man), אִם־ (if) יֵ֛שׁ (there be)

עֹשֶׂ֥ה (any doing) מִשְׁפָּ֖ט (justice),

מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ (and seeking) אֱמוּנָ֑ה (the truth);

וְאֶסְלַ֖ח (and I will grant forgiveness) לָֽהּ׃ (to her).

2  וְאִ֥ם (And if) חַי־ (lives); יְהֹוָ֖ה (As YHWH) יֹאמֵ֑רוּ (they say),

לָכֵ֥ן (surely) לַשֶּׁ֖קֶר (to a falsehood) יִשָּׁבֵֽעוּ׃ (that they swear).

3  יְהֹוָ֗ה (O YHWH), עֵינֶיךָ֮ (Your eyes) הֲל֣וֹא (are not) לֶאֱמוּנָה֒ (on the truth)?

הִכִּ֤יתָה (You have struck) אֹתָם֙ (them) וְֽלֹא־ (and not) חָ֔לוּ (they have grieved);

כִּלִּיתָ֕ם (You have finished them off)

מֵאֲנ֖וּ (they have refused) קַ֣חַת (to receive) מוּסָ֑ר (discipline).

חִזְּק֤וּ (They have made) פְנֵיהֶם֙ (their faces harder) מִסֶּ֔לַע (than rock);

מֵאֲנ֖וּ (they have refused) לָשֽׁוּב׃ (to turn back).

4  וַאֲנִ֣י (And I) אָמַ֔רְתִּי (said), אַךְ־ (surely) דַּלִּ֖ים (are poor); הֵ֑ם (these)

נוֹאֲל֕וּ (they are foolish);

כִּ֣י (for) לֹ֤א (they do not) יָדְעוּ֙ (know) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (the way) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH),

מִשְׁפַּ֖ט (the justice) אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ (of their God).

5  אֵֽלֲכָה־ (I shall go) לִּ֤י (Myself) אֶל־ (to) הַגְּדֹלִים֙ (the great ones),

וַאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה (and will speak) אוֹתָ֔ם (to them)

כִּ֣י (for surely) הֵ֗מָּה (they) יָדְעוּ֙ (have known) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (the way) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH),

מִשְׁפַּ֖ט (the justice) אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם (of their God).

אַ֣ךְ (But) הֵ֤מָּה (they) יַחְדָּו֙ (as one) שָׁ֣בְרוּ (have broken) עֹ֔ל (the yoke),

נִתְּק֖וּ (they have drawn away) מוֹסֵרֽוֹת׃ (the bonds).

6  עַל־ (Therefore) כֵּן֩ (therefore) הִכָּ֨ם (will strike them down) אַרְיֵ֜ה (a lion)

מִיַּ֗עַר (from the forest) זְאֵ֤ב (a wolf) עֲרָבוֹת֙ (of the desert plains)

יְשָׁדְדֵ֔ם (will ravage them) נָמֵ֤ר (a leopard) שֹׁקֵד֙ (is keeping watch) עַל־ (over)

עָ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם (their cities). כָּל־ (All) הַיּוֹצֵ֥א (going out) מֵהֵ֖נָּה (from them) יִטָּרֵ֑ף (will be torn apart);

כִּ֤י (because) רַבּוּ֙ (are many), פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֔ם (their transgressions)

עָצְמ֖וּ (are numerous). מְשֻׁבוֹתֵיהֶם׃ (And their backslidings).

7  אֵ֤י (How) לָזֹאת֙ (for this)? אֶסְלוֹחַ (Can I grant forgiveness) לָ֔ךְ (to you)

בָּנַ֣יִךְ (Your sons) עֲזָב֔וּנִי (have forsaken Me)

וַיִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ (and have sworn) בְּלֹ֣א (by those not) אֱלֹהִ֑ים (gods).

וָאַשְׂבִּ֤עַ (And I satisfied) אוֹתָם֙ (them) וַיִּנְאָ֔פוּ (and they committed adultery),

וּבֵ֥ית (and in the houses) זוֹנָ֖ה (of a harlot) יִתְגֹּדָֽדוּ׃ (they gather themselves together).

8  סוּסִ֥ים (Horses) מְיֻזָּנִ֖ים (well-fed) מַשְׁכִּ֣ים (and lusting); הָי֑וּ (they were)

אִ֛ישׁ (each man) אֶל־ (to) אֵ֥שֶׁת (the wife) רֵעֵ֖הוּ (of his neighbor) יִצְהָֽלוּ׃ (neighing).

9  הַֽעַל־ (Over) אֵ֥לֶּה (these things) לוֹא־ (not) אֶפְקֹ֖ד (should I punish)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהֹוָ֑ה (of YHWH),

וְאִם֙ (And) בְּג֣וֹי (on a nation) אֲשֶׁר־ (such) כָּזֶ֔ה (as this)?

לֹ֥א (Not) תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם (avenge itself) נַפְשִֽׁי׃ס (My soul).

10  עֲל֤וּ (Go up) בְשָׁרוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ (among her vine-rows), וְשַׁחֵ֔תוּ (and ravage them);

וְכָלָ֖ה (a full end); אַֽל־ (you shall not) תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ (make)

הָסִ֙ירוּ֙ (and take away) נְטִ֣ישׁוֹתֶ֔יהָ (her branches);

כִּ֛י (for) ל֥וֹא (not) לַיהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) הֵֽמָּה׃ (they are).

11  כִּי֩ (For) בָג֨וֹד (have dealt) בָּגְד֜וּ (very treacherously) בִּ֗י (with Me) בֵּ֧ית (the house)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) וּבֵ֥ית (and the house) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah)

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

12  כִּֽחֲשׁוּ֙ (They have lied) בַּיהוָ֔ה (about YHWH), וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (and said),

לֹא־ (It is not) ה֑וּא (He); וְלֹא־ (and neither) תָב֤וֹא (come) עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (upon us) רָעָ֔ה (will evil)

וְחֶ֥רֶב (and sword) וְרָעָ֖ב (or famine) ל֥וֹא (we shall not) נִרְאֶֽה׃ (see).

13  וְהַנְּבִיאִים֙ (And the prophets) יִֽהְי֣וּ (will become) לְר֔וּחַ (as wind),

וְהַדִּבֵּ֖ר (and for the word) אֵ֣ין (is not) בָּהֶ֑ם (in them)

כֹּ֥ה (thus) יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה (shall it be done) לָהֶֽם׃ס (to them).

Judgment Proclaimed

14  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) צְבָא֔וֹת (of Hosts),

יַ֚עַן (Because) דַּבֶּרְכֶ֔ם (you⁺ speak) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֖ר (word), הַזֶּ֑ה (this)

הִנְנִ֣י (behold) נֹתֵן֩ (I will make) דְּבָרַ֨י (My words) בְּפִ֜יךָ (in your mouth) לְאֵ֗שׁ (into a fire),

וְהָעָ֥ם (people) הַזֶּ֛ה (and this) עֵצִ֖ים (the wood),

וַאֲכָלָֽתַם׃ (and it shall devour them).

15  הִנְנִ֣י (Behold, I) מֵבִיא֩ (am bringing) עֲלֵיכֶ֨ם (against you⁺) גּ֧וֹי (a nation) מִמֶּרְחָ֛ק (from afar),

בֵּ֥ית (O house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), נְאֻם־ (utterance) יְהֹוָ֑ה (of YHWH).

גּ֣וֹי׀ (Nation), אֵיתָ֣ן (enduring) ה֗וּא (it is an)

גּ֤וֹי (nation), מֵעוֹלָם֙ (ancient) ה֔וּא (it is an)

גּ֚וֹי (a nation) לֹא־ (you do not), תֵדַ֣ע (know) לְשֹׁנ֔וֹ (whose tongue)

וְלֹ֥א (and not) תִשְׁמַ֖ע (can you understand) מַה־ (what) יְדַבֵּֽר׃ (they say).

16  אַשְׁפָּת֖וֹ (Its quiver) כְּקֶ֣בֶר (like a grave), פָּת֑וּחַ (is kept open)

כֻּלָּ֖ם (all of them are) גִּבּוֹרִֽים׃ (mighty men).

17  וְאָכַ֨ל (And it will consume) קְצִֽירְךָ֜ (your harvest), וְלַחְמֶ֗ךָ (and your bread),

יֹאכְלוּ֙ (they will consume); בָּנֶ֣יךָ (your sons) וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יךָ (and daughters)

יֹאכַ֤ל (it will consume) צֹאנְךָ֙ (your flock) וּבְקָרֶ֔ךָ (and your herd);

יֹאכַ֥ל (it will consume) גַּפְנְךָ֖ (your vine) וּתְאֵנָתֶ֑ךָ (and your fig tree);

יְרֹשֵׁ֞שׁ (it will beat down) עָרֵ֣י (cities), מִבְצָרֶ֗יךָ (your fortified) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which)

אַתָּ֛ה (you) בּוֹטֵ֥חַ (are trusting), בָּהֵ֖נָּה (in them) בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ (with the sword).

18  וְגַ֛ם (And even) בַּיָּמִ֥ים (days), הָהֵ֖מָּה (in those) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהֹוָ֑ה (of YHWH), לֹֽא־ (I will not) אֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה (make) אִתְּכֶ֖ם (of you⁺) כָּלָֽה׃ (a complete end). 19  וְהָיָה֙ (And it will come to pass), כִּ֣י (when) תֹאמְר֔וּ (you⁺ say), תַּ֣חַת (For) מֶ֗ה (what) עָשָׂ֨ה (has done) יְהֹוָ֧ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ (our God) לָ֖נוּ (to us) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֵ֑לֶּה (these things) וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (then you shall say) אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (to them) כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר (As) עֲזַבְתֶּ֤ם (you⁺ have forsaken) אוֹתִי֙ (Me) וַתַּעַבְד֞וּ (and have served) אֱלֹהֵ֤י (gods) נֵכָר֙ (foreign) בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם (in your⁺ land), כֵּ֚ן (so) תַּעַבְד֣וּ (you⁺ shall serve) זָרִ֔ים (strangers) בְּאֶ֖רֶץ (in a land) לֹ֥א (not) לָכֶֽם׃ס (unto you⁺).

20  הַגִּ֥ידוּ (Declare) זֹ֖את (this) בְּבֵ֣ית (in the house) יַעֲקֹ֑ב (of Jacob), וְהַשְׁמִיע֥וּהָ (and proclaim it) בִיהוּדָ֖ה (in Judah), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying),

21  שִׁמְעוּ־ (Hear) נָ֣א (now) זֹ֔את (this),

עַ֥ם (people), סָכָ֖ל (O foolish) וְאֵ֣ין (and without) לֵ֑ב (understanding);

עֵינַ֤יִם (are eyes), לָהֶם֙ (unto them) וְלֹ֣א (and not); יִרְא֔וּ (they see)

אָזְנַ֥יִם (are ears), לָהֶ֖ם (unto them) וְלֹ֥א (and not); יִשְׁמָֽעוּ׃ (they hear).

22  הַאוֹתִ֨י (Me) לֹא־ (Do you not) תִירָ֜אוּ (fear)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהֹוָ֗ה (of YHWH).

אִ֤ם (Or) מִפָּנַי֙ (before My face), לֹ֣א (not) תָחִ֔ילוּ (will you⁺ tremble)

אֲשֶׁר־ (For) שַׂ֤מְתִּי (I have placed) חוֹל֙ (the sand) גְּב֣וּל (as the boundary) לַיָּ֔ם (of the sea)

חָק־ (a decree), עוֹלָ֖ם (forever) וְלֹ֣א (that it should not) יַעַבְרֶ֑נְהוּ (cross over it)

וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁוּ֙ (and they may shake about), וְלֹ֣א (and not) יוּכָ֔לוּ (they prevail);

וְהָמ֥וּ (roar), גַלָּ֖יו (and though its waves) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יַעַבְרֻֽנְהוּ׃ (they shall pass over it).

23  וְלָעָ֤ם (And for the people) הַזֶּה֙ (this) הָיָ֔ה (there is) לֵ֖ב (heart); סוֹרֵ֣ר (a stubborn) וּמוֹרֶ֑ה (and rebellious)

סָ֖רוּ (they have turned aside) וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃ (and gone away).

24  וְלֹֽא־ (And not) אָמְר֣וּ (they do say) בִלְבָבָ֗ם (in their heart),

נִ֤ירָא (Let us fear) נָא֙ (now) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ (our God),

הַנֹּתֵ֗ן (the One giving) גֶּ֛שֶׁם (rain), וְיֹרֶה (the spring rain) וּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ (and the autumn rain), בְּעִתּ֑וֹ (in its season),

שְׁבֻע֛וֹת (and the weeks) חֻקּ֥וֹת (appointed for) קָצִ֖יר (the harvest) יִשְׁמָר־ (He keeps) לָֽנוּ׃ (for us).

25  עֲוֺנוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם (Your⁺ iniquities) הִטּוּ־ (have stretched away) אֵ֑לֶּה (these things)

וְחַטֹּ֣אותֵיכֶ֔ם (and your⁺ sins) מָנְע֥וּ (have withheld) הַטּ֖וֹב (the good) מִכֶּֽם׃ (from you⁺).

26  כִּי־ (For) נִמְצְא֥וּ (are found) בְעַמִּ֖י (among My people) רְשָׁעִ֑ים (wicked ones)

יָשׁוּר֙ (they keep watch), כְּשַׁ֣ךְ (like crouching) יְקוּשִׁ֔ים (fowlers);

הִצִּ֥יבוּ (they set) מַשְׁחִ֖ית (a trap), אֲנָשִׁ֥ים (and men) יִלְכֹּֽדוּ׃ (they capture).

27  כִּכְלוּב֙ (Like a cage) מָ֣לֵא (full of) ע֔וֹף (birds),

כֵּ֥ן (so) בָּתֵּיהֶ֖ם (their houses) מְלֵאִ֣ים (are full of) מִרְמָ֑ה (deceit);

עַל־ (upon) כֵּ֥ן (thus) גָּדְל֖וּ (they have become great), וַֽיַּעֲשִֽׁירוּ׃ (and grown rich).

28  שָׁמְנ֣וּ (They have grown fat), עָשְׁת֗וּ (they are sleek),

גַּ֚ם (even), עָֽבְר֣וּ (they surpass) דִבְרֵי־ (the deeds) רָ֔ע (of the wicked);

דִּ֣ין (justly), לֹא־ (they do not) דָ֔נוּ (judge) דִּ֥ין (the cause) יָת֖וֹם (of the fatherless),

וְיַצְלִ֑יחוּ (and they prosper);

וּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט (and the just cause) אֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים (of the needy)

לֹ֥א (not) שָׁפָֽטוּ׃ (they have vindicated).

29  הַֽעַל־ (For) אֵ֥לֶּה (these things) לֹֽא־ (not) אֶפְקֹ֖ד (shall I punish)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהֹוָ֑ה (of YHWH),

אִ֚ם (Should) בְּג֣וֹי (against a nation) אֲשֶׁר־ (such) כָּזֶ֔ה (as this)?

לֹ֥א (Not) תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם (avenge itself) נַפְשִֽׁי׃ס (My soul).

30  שַׁמָּה֙ (An appalling) וְשַׁ֣עֲרוּרָ֔ה (and horrible thing)

נִהְיְתָ֖ה (has happened) בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (in the land);

31  הַנְּבִיאִ֞ים (the prophets) נִבְּא֣וּ־ (prophesy) בַשֶּׁ֗קֶר (with deception),

וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ (and the priests) יִרְדּ֣וּ (rule) עַל־ (at) יְדֵיהֶ֔ם (their own hands);

וְעַמִּ֖י (and My people) אָ֣הֲבוּ (love it) כֵ֑ן (so)!

וּמַֽה־ (And what) תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ (will you⁺ do) לְאַחֲרִיתָֽהּ׃ (in the end).