Jeremiah’s Message at the Temple Gate

1  הַדָּבָר֙ (The word) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הָיָ֣ה (came) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (Jeremiah) מֵאֵ֥ת (from) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  עֲמֹ֗ד (Stand) בְּשַׁ֙עַר֙ (in the gate) בֵּ֣ית (of the house), יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) וְקָרָ֣אתָ (and proclaim) שָּׁ֔ם (there) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the word), הַזֶּ֑ה (this) וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ (and say), שִׁמְע֣וּ (Hear) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), כָּל־ (all) יְהוּדָה֙ (of Judah), הַבָּאִים֙ (who enter) בַּשְּׁעָרִ֣ים (gates) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת (to worship) לַיהוָֽה׃ס (before YHWH). 3  כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֞ר (says) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH of) צְבָאוֹת֙ (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), הֵיטִ֥יבוּ (Amend) דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ ways) וּמַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֑ם (and your⁺ deeds), וַאֲשַׁכְּנָ֣ה (dwell) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (and I will make you⁺) בַּמָּק֥וֹם (place) הַזֶּֽה׃ (in this). 4  אַל־ (Do not) תִּבְטְח֣וּ (trust) לָכֶ֔ם (-) אֶל־ (in) דִּבְרֵ֥י (words), הַשֶּׁ֖קֶר (of deception) לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying),

הֵיכַ֤ל (The temple) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH), הֵיכַ֣ל (the temple) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH),

הֵיכַ֥ל (the temple) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), הֵֽמָּה׃ (are they).

5  כִּ֤י (For) אִם־ (if) הֵיטֵיב֙ (amending) תֵּיטִ֔יבוּ (you⁺ amend) אֶת־ (-) דַּרְכֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ ways) וְאֶת־ (and) מַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ deeds); אִם־ (if) עָשׂ֤וֹ (doing) תַֽעֲשׂוּ֙ (you⁺ would do) מִשְׁפָּ֔ט (justice) בֵּ֥ין (between) אִ֖ישׁ (a man) וּבֵ֥ין (and between) רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ (his neighbor); 6  גֵּ֣ר (if the sojourner), יָת֤וֹם (the fatherless), וְאַלְמָנָה֙ (and the widow), לֹ֣א (you would not) תַֽעֲשֹׁ֔קוּ (oppress) וְדָ֣ם (blood) נָקִ֔י (and innocent) אַֽל־ (you would not) תִּשְׁפְּכ֖וּ (pour out) בַּמָּק֣וֹם (place), הַזֶּ֑ה (in this) וְאַחֲרֵ֨י (after) אֱלֹהִ֧ים (gods) אֲחֵרִ֛ים (other) לֹ֥א (and not) תֵלְכ֖וּ (you⁺ would walk) לְרַ֥ע (own harm), לָכֶֽם׃ (to your⁺). 7  וְשִׁכַּנְתִּ֤י (Then I will cause to dwell) אֶתְכֶם֙ (you⁺) בַּמָּק֣וֹם (place), הַזֶּ֔ה (in this) בָּאָ֕רֶץ (in the land) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נָתַ֖תִּי (I gave) לַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם (to your⁺ fathers), לְמִן־ (from) עוֹלָ֖ם (forever) וְעַד־ (and even to) עוֹלָֽם׃ (forever).

8  הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold), אַתֶּם֙ (you⁺) בֹּטְחִ֣ים (keep trusting) לָכֶ֔ם (for yourselves) עַל־ (in) דִּבְרֵ֖י (words), הַשָּׁ֑קֶר (of deception) לְבִלְתִּ֖י (that do not) הוֹעִֽיל׃ (profit). 9  הֲגָנֹ֤ב׀ (Are you stealing), רָצֹ֙חַ֙ (murdering), וְֽנָאֹ֔ף (and committing adultery), וְהִשָּׁבֵ֥עַ (and swearing) לַשֶּׁ֖קֶר (by deception), וְקַטֵּ֣ר (and burning incense) לַבָּ֑עַל (to Baal), וְהָלֹ֗ךְ (and walking) אַחֲרֵ֛י (after) אֱלֹהִ֥ים (gods) אֲחֵרִ֖ים (other) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) לֹֽא־ (you do not); יְדַעְתֶּֽם׃ (know). 10  וּבָאתֶ֞ם (And then come) וַעֲמַדְתֶּ֣ם (and stand) לְפָנַ֗י (before My face) בַּבַּ֤יִת (house), הַזֶּה֙ (in this) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) נִקְרָא־ (is called by) שְׁמִ֣י (My name), עָלָ֔יו (-) וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם (and say), נִצַּ֑לְנוּ (We are delivered) לְמַ֣עַן (in order to) עֲשׂ֔וֹת (do) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹת (abominations) הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (these)? 11  הַמְעָרַ֣ת (A den) פָּרִצִ֗ים (of robbers) הָיָ֨ה (become) הַבַּ֧יִת (house), הַזֶּ֛ה (has this) אֲשֶׁר־ (which) נִקְרָֽא־ (is called) שְׁמִ֥י (My name), עָלָ֖יו (over) בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם (in your⁺ eyes)? גַּ֧ם (Even) אָנֹכִ֛י (I) הִנֵּ֥ה (behold), רָאִ֖יתִי (have seen it) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

12  כִּ֣י (But) לְכוּ־ (go) נָ֗א (now) אֶל־ (to) מְקוֹמִי֙ (My place) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) בְּשִׁיל֔וֹ (is in Shiloh), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (where) שִׁכַּ֧נְתִּֽי (I set) שְׁמִ֛י (My name) שָׁ֖ם (there) בָּרִֽאשׁוֹנָ֑ה (at first), וּרְאוּ֙ (and see) אֵ֣ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (what) עָשִׂ֣יתִי (I did) ל֔וֹ (to it) מִפְּנֵ֕י (for) רָעַ֖ת (the wickedness) עַמִּ֥י (of My people) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel). 13  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) יַ֧עַן (because) עֲשׂוֹתְכֶ֛ם (you⁺ have done) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הַמַּֽעֲשִׂ֥ים (deeds), הָאֵ֖לֶּה (these) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וָאֲדַבֵּ֨ר (and I spoke) אֲלֵיכֶ֜ם (to you⁺) הַשְׁכֵּ֤ם (rising up early) וְדַבֵּר֙ (and speaking), וְלֹ֣א (you would not); שְׁמַעְתֶּ֔ם (hear) וָאֶקְרָ֥א (and I called) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) וְלֹ֥א (and not); עֲנִיתֶֽם׃ (you⁺ have answered). 14  וְעָשִׂ֜יתִי (And I will do) לַבַּ֣יִת׀ (to this house), אֲשֶׁ֧ר (which) נִֽקְרָא־ (is called) שְׁמִ֣י (My name), עָלָ֗יו (on) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (which) אַתֶּם֙ (you⁺) בֹּטְחִ֣ים (trust), בּ֔וֹ (in it) וְלַ֨מָּק֔וֹם (and this place) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נָתַ֥תִּי (I gave) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) וְלַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם (and to your⁺ fathers), כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) עָשִׂ֖יתִי (I have done) לְשִׁלֽוֹ׃ (to Shiloh). 15  וְהִשְׁלַכְתִּ֥י (Cast you out) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (and I will) מֵעַ֣ל (from before) פָּנָ֑י (My face), כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (as) הִשְׁלַ֙כְתִּי֙ (I have cast out) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲחֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ brothers), אֵ֖ת (-) כָּל־ (all) זֶ֥רַע (the seed) אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ס (of Ephraim).

Judah’s Idolatry Persists

16  וְאַתָּ֞ה (And you) אַל־ (not) תִּתְפַּלֵּ֣ל׀ (do pray) בְּעַד־ (for) הָעָ֣ם (people), הַזֶּ֗ה (this) וְאַל־ (and not) תִּשָּׂ֧א (lift up) בַעֲדָ֛ם (for them) רִנָּ֥ה (a cry) וּתְפִלָּ֖ה (or a prayer) וְאַל־ (and not) תִּפְגַּע־ (should you intercede) בִּ֑י (to Me) כִּי־ (for) אֵינֶ֥נִּי (I will not) שֹׁמֵ֖עַ (hear) אֹתָֽךְ׃ (you). 17  הַֽאֵינְךָ֣ (Not) רֹאֶ֔ה (do you see) מָ֛ה (what) הֵ֥מָּה (they) עֹשִׂ֖ים (are doing) בְּעָרֵ֣י (in the cities) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah) וּבְחֻצ֖וֹת (and in the streets) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (of Jerusalem)? 18  הַבָּנִ֞ים (The sons) מְלַקְּטִ֣ים (gather) עֵצִ֗ים (wood), וְהָֽאָבוֹת֙ (and the fathers) מְבַעֲרִ֣ים (kindle) אֶת־ (the) הָאֵ֔שׁ (fire), וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים (and the women) לָשׁ֣וֹת (knead) בָּצֵ֑ק (dough), לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת (to make) כַּוָּנִ֜ים (cakes) לִמְלֶ֣כֶת (for the queen) הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם (of heaven), וְהַסֵּ֤ךְ (and they pour out) נְסָכִים֙ (drink offerings) לֵאלֹהִ֣ים (gods), אֲחֵרִ֔ים (to other) לְמַ֖עַן (that) הַכְעִסֵֽנִי׃ (they may provoke Me to anger). 19  הַאֹתִ֛י (Me) הֵ֥ם (Do they) מַכְעִסִ֖ים (provoke to anger) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). הֲל֣וֹא (Is it not) אֹתָ֔ם (themselves) לְמַ֖עַן (to) בֹּ֥שֶׁת (to the shame) פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃ס (of their own faces)?

20  לָכֵ֞ן (Therefore) כֹּה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר׀ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהֹוִ֗ה (YHWH); הִנֵּ֨ה (behold), אַפִּ֤י (My anger) וַֽחֲמָתִי֙ (and My fury) נִתֶּ֙כֶת֙ (are being poured out) אֶל־ (toward) הַמָּק֣וֹם (place), הַזֶּ֔ה (this) עַל־ (upon) הָֽאָדָם֙ (man), וְעַל־ (and upon) הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה (beast), וְעַל־ (and upon) עֵ֥ץ (and the tree) הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה (of the field), וְעַל־ (and upon) פְּרִ֣י (the fruit) הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה (of the ground); וּבָעֲרָ֖ה (and it will burn), וְלֹ֥א (and not) תִכְבֶּֽה׃ס (be extinguished).

21  כֹּ֥ה (Thus) אָמַ֛ר (says) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֖וֹת (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel); עֹלוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם (your⁺ burnt offerings) סְפ֥וּ (add) עַל־ (to) זִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ sacrifices), וְאִכְל֥וּ (and eat) בָשָֽׂר׃ (the flesh). 22  כִּ֠י (For) לֹֽא־ (I did not) דִבַּ֤רְתִּי (speak) אֶת־ (to) אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ fathers), וְלֹ֣א (and not) צִוִּיתִ֔ים (I did command them) בְּי֛וֹם (in the day) הוֹצִיא (that I brought) אוֹתָ֖ם (them) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (out of the land) מִצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt), עַל־ (concerning) דִּבְרֵ֥י (the matters) עוֹלָ֖ה (of burnt offering) וָזָֽבַח׃ (and sacrifice). 23  כִּ֣י (But) אִֽם־ (only) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (thing) הַ֠זֶּה (this) צִוִּ֨יתִי (did I command) אוֹתָ֤ם (them) לֵאמֹר֙ (saying), שִׁמְע֣וּ (Listen) בְקוֹלִ֔י (to My voice), וְהָיִ֤יתִי (and I will be) לָכֶם֙ (your⁺) לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים (God), וְאַתֶּ֖ם (and you⁺) תִּֽהְיוּ־ (will be) לִ֣י (My) לְעָ֑ם (people); וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֗ם (and walk) בְּכָל־ (in all) הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ (the ways) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אֲצַוֶּ֣ה (I have commanded) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (you⁺) לְמַ֖עַן (that) יִיטַ֥ב (it may go well) לָכֶֽם׃ (for you⁺).

24  וְלֹ֤א (And they did not), שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ (listen) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) הִטּ֣וּ (they did incline) אֶת־ (-) אָזְנָ֔ם (their ear), וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ (and they walked) בְּמֹ֣עֵצ֔וֹת (in the counsels) בִּשְׁרִר֖וּת (in the stubbornness) לִבָּ֣ם (their heart), הָרָ֑ע (of evil) וַיִּהְי֥וּ (and they went) לְאָח֖וֹר (backward), וְלֹ֥א (and not) לְפָנִֽים׃ (forward). 25  לְמִן־ (From) הַיּ֗וֹם (the day) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) יָצְא֤וּ (came) אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ fathers) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt) עַ֖ד (until) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֑ה (this) וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח (I have even sent) אֲלֵיכֶם֙ (to you⁺) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) עֲבָדַ֣י (My servants) הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים (the prophets), י֖וֹם (each day) הַשְׁכֵּ֥ם (rising up early) וְשָׁלֹֽחַ׃ (and sending them). 26  וְל֤וֹא (And) שָׁמְעוּ֙ (they did listen) אֵלַ֔י (to Me) וְלֹ֥א (and not) הִטּ֖וּ (they did incline) אֶת־ (-) אָזְנָ֑ם (their ear), וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ (and they stiffened) אֶת־ (-) עָרְפָּ֔ם (their neck); הֵרֵ֖עוּ (they did worse) מֵאֲבוֹתָֽם׃ (than their fathers).

27  וְדִבַּרְתָּ֤ (And you shall speak) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (to them) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the words) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יִשְׁמְע֖וּ (they will listen) אֵלֶ֑יךָ (to you) וְקָרָ֥אתָ (and you shall call) אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (to them) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יַעֲנֽוּכָה׃ (they will answer). 28  וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (And you shall say) אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (to them) זֶ֤ה (This is) הַגּוֹי֙ (a nation) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) לֽוֹא־ (not) שָׁמְע֗וּ (does listen) בְּקוֹל֙ (to the voice) יְהוָ֣ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהָ֔יו (their God), וְלֹ֥א (and not) לָקְח֖וּ (does it receive) מוּסָ֑ר (correction); אָֽבְדָה֙ (has perished), הָֽאֱמוּנָ֔ה (the truth) וְנִכְרְתָ֖ה (and is cut off) מִפִּיהֶֽם׃ס (from their mouth). 29  גָּזִּ֤י (Cut off) נִזְרֵךְ֙ (your consecrated hair), וְֽהַשְׁלִ֔יכִי (and cast it away), וּשְׂאִ֥י (and take up) עַל־ (on) שְׁפָיִ֖ם (the barren heights); קִינָ֑ה (a lamentation) כִּ֚י (for) מָאַ֣ס (has rejected) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) וַיִּטֹּ֖שׁ (and forsaken) אֶת־ (-) דּ֥וֹר (the generation) עֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃ (of His wrath).

The Valley of Slaughter

30  כִּֽי־ (For) עָשׂ֨וּ (have done) בְנֵי־ (the sons) יְהוּדָ֥ה (of Judah) הָרַ֛ע (evil) בְּעֵינַ֖י (in My eyes), נְאֻום־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), שָׂ֣מוּ (they have set) שִׁקּֽוּצֵיהֶ֗ם (their abominations) בַּבַּ֛יִת (in the house) אֲשֶׁר־ (which) נִקְרָא־ (is called) שְׁמִ֥י (My name), עָלָ֖יו (over) לְטַמְּאֽוֹ׃ (to defile it). 31  וּבָנ֞וּ (And they have built) בָּמ֣וֹת (the high places) הַתֹּ֗פֶת (of Topheth), אֲשֶׁר֙ (which is) בְּגֵ֣יא (in the Valley) בֶן־ (of the son) הִנֹּ֔ם (of Hinnom), לִשְׂרֹ֛ף (to burn) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵיהֶ֥ם (their sons) וְאֶת־ (and) בְּנֹתֵיהֶ֖ם (their daughters) בָּאֵ֑שׁ (in the fire); אֲשֶׁר֙ (which) לֹ֣א (I did not), צִוִּ֔יתִי (command) וְלֹ֥א (and not) עָלְתָ֖ה (did it come) עַל־ (into) לִבִּֽי׃ס (My heart).

32  לָכֵ֞ן (Therefore), הִנֵּֽה־ (behold), יָמִ֤ים (the days) בָּאִים֙ (are coming), נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְלֹא־ (and no) יֵאָמֵ֨ר (it will be called) ע֤וֹד (longer) הַתֹּ֙פֶת֙ (Tophet), וְגֵ֣יא (or the Valley) בֶן־ (of the son) הִנֹּ֔ם (of Hinnom), כִּ֖י (but) אִם־ (instead) גֵּ֣יא (the Valley) הַהֲרֵגָ֑ה (of Slaughter); וְקָבְר֥וּ (and they will bury) בְתֹ֖פֶת (in Tophet), מֵאֵ֥ין (until there is no) מָקֽוֹם׃ (room). 33  וְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה (Will be) נִבְלַ֨ת (the corpses) הָעָ֤ם (people) הַזֶּה֙ (of this) לְמַֽאֲכָ֔ל (for food) לְע֥וֹף (for the birds) הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (of the heavens), וּלְבֶהֱמַ֣ת (and for the beast) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the earth); וְאֵ֖ין (and not) מַחֲרִֽיד׃ (one to scare them away).

34  וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֣י׀ (And I will cause to cease) מֵעָרֵ֣י (from the cities) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah), וּמֵֽחֻצוֹת֙ (and from the streets) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (of Jerusalem), ק֤וֹל (the voice) שָׂשׂוֹן֙ (of joy), וְק֣וֹל (and the voice) שִׂמְחָ֔ה (of gladness), ק֥וֹל (the voice) חָתָ֖ן (of the bridegroom), וְק֣וֹל (and the voice) כַּלָּ֑ה (of the bride); כִּ֥י (for) לְחָרְבָּ֖ה (for a desolation) תִּהְיֶ֥ה (will be) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the land).