Beginning

10 Hear ye the Davar which Hashem speaketh unto you, O Bais Yisroel.

² Thus saith Hashem, Learn not the Derech HaGoyim, and be not in awe of the otot HaShomayim; though the Goyim are in awe of them.

³ For the [religious] chukkot (customs, statutes) of the nations are vain delusions; for one cutteth etz out of the ya’ar (forest), the ma’aseh (handiwork) of the hands of the charash (workman, artisan), with the axe.

⁴ They deck it with kesef and with zahav; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it topple not.

⁵ They [the idols] are upright as the tomer (palm tree], but speak not; they must needs be carried, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do rah, neither also is it in them to do tov.

⁶ Forasmuch as there is none like unto Thee, Hashem; Thou art gadol, and Thy Shem is gadol in gevurah.

⁷ Who would not fear thee, O Melech HaGoyim? For this is Thy due; forasmuch as among all the chachamim of the Goyim, and in kol malchut of them, there is none like unto Thee.

⁸ But they are altogether stupid and foolish; the etz is a musar havalim (discipline of delusions).

⁹ Hammered kesef is brought from Tarshish, and zahav from Uphaz, the ma’aseh (work, handiwork) of the charash (workman, artisan), and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple is their [the idols’] clothing; they are all the ma’aseh (work) of cunning men.

¹⁰ But Hashem is the Elohim Emes, He is the Elohim Chayyim, and the Melech Olam; at His wrath ha’aretz shall tremble, and the Goyim shall not be able to endure His indignation.

¹¹ Thus shall ye say unto them, The g-ds that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and min techot (from under) these heavens.

¹² He hath made eretz by His ko’ach, He hath established the tevel (world) by His chochmah, and hath stretched out Shomayim by His understanding.

¹³ When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of mayim in Shomayim, and He causeth the clouds to ascend from the ends of ha’aretz; He maketh lightnings with matar (rain), and bringeth forth the ruach (wind) out of His Otzerot.

¹⁴ Kol Adam is stupid in his da’as; every goldsmith is shamed by the pesel (idol); for his nesekh (molten image) is sheker, and there is no ruach in them.

¹⁵ They are hevel (vanity, delusion), and the ma’aseh (work) of delusion; in the time of their pekudat (visitation, punishment) they shall perish.

¹⁶ The chelek of Ya’akov is not like them; for the Yotzer HaKol (Maker of All, Creator of All) is He; and Yisroel is the shevet (rod) of His nachalah; Hashem Tzva’os Shmo.

¹⁷ Gather up thy gear [for Exile] meEretz (from the Land), O besieged inhabitant.

¹⁸ For thus saith Hashem, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of HaAretz at this time, and will bring distress upon them, so that find they may [i.e., what they deserve].

¹⁹ Oy li! (woe is me) for my disaster! My wound is grievous; but I said, Truly this is a sickness, and I must bear it.

²⁰ My ohel is destroyed, and all my tent cords are broken; my banim are gone forth of me, and are no more; there is none to pitch any more my ohel, and to hang up my tent curtains.

²¹ For the ro’im (shepherds, pastors) are become stupid, and inquire not of Hashem; therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flock shall be scattered.

²² Hinei, the noise! The report is come, and a great commotion out of Eretz Tzafon, to make the towns of Yehudah desolate, and a haunt of jackals.

²³ Hashem, I know that the derech of adam (man) is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

²⁴ Hashem, correct me, but with mishpat; not in Thine anger, lest Thou bring me to nothing.

²⁵ Pour out Thy fury upon the Goyim that know Thee not, and upon the mishpekhot that call not on Shimecha (Thy Name) [See Joel 2:32(3:5); Ac 2:21; Ro 10:13]; for they have eaten up Ya’akov, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

11 The Davar that came to Yirmeyah from Hashem saying,

² Hear ye the Divrei HaBrit Hazot, and speak unto the Ish Yehudah, and to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim;

³ And say thou unto them, Thus saith Hashem Elohei Yisroel; Arur (cursed) be the ish that obeyeth not the Divrei HaBrit Hazot,

⁴ Which I commanded Avoteichem in the day that I brought them forth out from Eretz Mitzrayim, from the kur habarzel (the furnace of iron), saying, Obey My voice, and do all which I command you; so shall ye be My people, and I will be your Elohim;

⁵ That I may perform the shevuah (oath) which I have sworn unto Avoteichem to give them an Eretz zavat cholov udevash as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, Omein, Hashem.

⁶ Then Hashem said unto me, Proclaim all these Devarim in the towns of Yehudah, and in the streets of Yerushalayim, saying, Hear ye the Divrei HaBrit Hazot, and do them.

⁷ For I earnestly warned Avoteichem in the day that I brought them up out of Eretz Mitzrayim, even unto this day, rising early and warning, saying, Obey My voice.

⁸ Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ozen (ear), but walked every one in the sherirut (stubbornness) of their lev harah; therefore I brought upon them all the Divrei HaBrit Hazot, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.

⁹ And Hashem said unto me, A kesher (conspiracy) is found among the Ish Yehudah, and among the inhabitants of Yerushalayim.

¹⁰ They are turned back to the avonot Avotam HaRishonim, which refused to hear My words; and they went after elohim acherim to serve them; Bais Yisroel and Bais Yehudah have broken My Brit which I cut with Avotam.

¹¹ Therefore thus saith Hashem, Look! I will bring ra’ah (evil, disaster) upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry out unto Me, I will not pay heed unto them.

¹² Then shall the towns of Yehudah and inhabitants of Yerushalayim go, and cry out unto the elohim unto whom they offer ketoret; but they shall not save them at all in the time of their ra’ah (disaster).

¹³ For as many as the mispar (number) of thy towns were thy elohim, O Yehudah; and according to the mispar (number) of the streets of Yerushalayim have ye set up mizbechot to that boshet (shameful [idol]), even mizbechot to burn ketoret unto Ba’al.

¹⁴ Therefore pray not thou for HaAm Hazot, neither lift up a rinnah (entreaty) or tefillah on their behalf; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto Me for their ra’ah (disaster).

¹⁵ What hath My yadid (beloved [See 12:7] to do in Mine Bais [HaMikdash], seeing she hath with rabbim (many) wrought clever [ritual] schemes—can basar kodesh turn away from thee thy disaster, that thou can rejoice?

¹⁶ Hashem called thy shem, A green zayit (olive tree), yafeh, and of goodly pri (fruit); with the noise of a great tumult He hath kindled eish upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

¹⁷ For Hashem Tzva’os, that planted thee, hath pronounced ra’ah against thee, for the evil of Bais Yisroel and of Bais Yehudah, which they have done against themselves to provoke Me to anger in offering ketoret (incense) unto Ba’al.

¹⁸ And Hashem hath given me da’as (knowledge) of it, and I know it; then Thou opened my eyes to their deeds.

¹⁹ But I was like an innocent keves (lamb) that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised machashavot (plots) against me, saying, Let us destroy the etz (tree) with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from Eretz Chayyim, that shmo may be no more remembered.

²⁰ But, Hashem Tzva’os, Shofet Tzedek, that testeth the kelayot (kidneys) and the lev, let me see Thy vengeance on them; for unto Thee have I committed my cause.

²¹ Therefore thus saith Hashem of the anshei Anatot, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not B’Shem Hashem, that thou die not by our yad;

²² Therefore thus saith Hashem Tzva’os, Look! I will punish them; the bochurim shall die by the cherev; their banim and their banot shall die by ra’av (famine);

²³ And there shall be no she’erit (remnant) of them; for I will bring ra’ah (evil) upon the Anshei Anatot, even the year of their visitation [i.e., divine visitation for punishment].

12 Tzaddik art Thou, Hashem, when I make legal pleading of my case before Thee; yet mishpatim (justice) I would speak with Thee: Why doth the Derech Rasha’im prosper? Why live they all at ease whose dealings are that of the boged (traitor, treacherous)?

² Thou hast planted them, and they take root; they grow, and they bring forth pri; Thou art karov (near) in their mouth, and rachok (far) from their heart.

³ But Thou, Hashem, knowest me; Thou hast seen me, and tested mine lev toward Thee; pull them out like tzon for the tevakh (slaughter), and prepare them for the Yom Haregah (Day of Slaughter, Killing).

⁴ Ad mosai (until when) shall HaAretz mourn, and the esev kol hasadeh (grass of every field) wither, because of the wickedness of them that dwell therein? The behemot are consumed, and the oph; because they said, He [G-d] is blind to our future.

⁵ If thou hast run with the ragelim (footmen), and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with susim? And if in the eretz shalom thou art complacent, then how wilt thou do in the thickets of the Yarden?

⁶ For even acheicha (thy brethren), and the bais avicha, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; even they are in full cry behind thee; trust them not, though they speak unto thee tovot.

⁷ I have forsaken Mine Bais, I have abandoned Mine nachalah; I have given the yedidut nafshi (the beloved of My soul) into the palm of her enemies.

⁸ Mine nachalah is unto Me as an aryeh in the ya’ar (forest); it roareth out against Me; therefore have I hated it.

⁹ Mine nachalah is unto Me as a speckled bird of prey, the birds of prey round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the chayyat hasadeh (beasts of the field), come to devour.

¹⁰ Ro’im rabbim (many shepherds) have destroyed My kerem (vineyard), they have trodden My chelek under foot, they have made My chelet chemdat (portion desired) a desolate midbar.

¹¹ They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto Me; kol HaAretz is made desolate, but no ish taketh it to heart.

¹² The plunderers are come upon all barren heights in the midbar; for the Cherev Hashem shall devour from the one end of the Eretz even to the other end of HaAretz; no basar shall have shalom.

¹³ They have sown chittim (wheat), but shall reap kotzim (thorns); they have tired themselves out, but shall not profit; and they shall be ashamed of your harvests because of the Charon Af Hashem (burning furious wrath of Hashem).

¹⁴ Thus saith Hashem: Concerning all Mine evil shchenim (neighbors), that touch the nachalah which I have caused My people Yisroel to inherit: See, I will uproot them out of their adamah, and uproot the Bais Yehudah from among them.

¹⁵ And it shall come to pass, after that I uproot them I will return, and have rachamim (compassion) on them, and will bring them back again, every ish to his nachalah, and every ish to his eretz.

¹⁶ And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the darkhei Ami (ways of My people [i.e., Israel’s Biblical faith]), to swear in My Shem, As Hashem liveth; even as they taught My people to make avowal in Ba’al; then shall they be built up in the midst of My People.

¹⁷ But if they will not obey, I will utterly uproot and destroy that Goy (Nation), saith Hashem.

13 Thus saith Hashem unto me, Go and buy thee a linen [i.e., priestly] ezor (belt) and put it around thy waist, and put it not in mayim.

² So I bought the ezor (belt) according to the Devar Hashem, and put it around my waist.

³ And the Devar Hashem came unto me the second time, saying,

⁴ Take the ezor that thou hast bought, which is around thy waist, and arise, go to Parah (Josh 18:23 [Hebrew for Euphrates is Perat]), and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.

⁵ So I went, and hid it in Parah, as Hashem commanded me.

⁶ And it came to pass at the end of yamim rabbim, that Hashem said unto me, Arise, go to Parah, and take the ezor from there, which I commanded thee to hide there.

⁷ Then I went to Parah, and dug, and took the ezor from the makom where I had hid it; and, hinei, the ezor was marred, it was profitable for nothing.

⁸ Then the Devar Hashem came unto me, saying,

⁹ Thus saith Hashem, After this manner will I mar the ga’on Yehudah (pride of Judah), and the great ga’on of Yerushalayim.

¹⁰ This evil people, which refuse to listen to My words, which walk in the sherirut (stubbornness) of their lev, and walk after elohim acharim, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this ezor, which is good for nothing.

¹¹ For as the ezor has deveykus with the waist of an ish, so have I caused to have deveykus unto Me kol Bais Yisroel and kol Bais Yehudah, saith Hashem; that they might be unto Me for a People, and for Shem, and for Tehillah, and for Teferet: but they would not hear.

¹² Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this Davar; Thus saith Hashem Elohei Yisroel, Every wine jar shall be filled with yayin; and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every wine jar shall be filled with yayin?

¹³ Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith Hashem, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of HaAretz Hazot, even the melachim that sit upon the kisse Dovid, and the Kohanim, and the Nevi’im, and all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, with shikkaron (drunkenness).

¹⁴ And I will dash them one against another, even the avot and the banim together, saith Hashem; I will not pity, nor spare, nor have rachamim, but destroy them.

¹⁵ Hear ye, and give ozen (ear); be not proud: for Hashem hath spoken.

¹⁶ Give kavod to Hashem Eloheichem, before He cause darkness, and before your raglayim stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for ohr, He turn it into the tzalmavet (shadow of death), and make it gross darkness.

¹⁷ But if ye will not listen, my nefesh shall weep in secret places for your ga’avah (pride); and mine eye shall weep profusely, and run down with tears, because the Eder Hashem (Flock of Hashem) is carried away captive.

¹⁸ Say unto HaMelech and to the Gevirah (Queen mother), Humble yourselves, sit down; for your rule shall come down, even the ateret (crown) of your tiferet (glory).

¹⁹ The cities of the Negev shall be shut up, and none shall open them; Yehudah shall be all carried away into the Golus, it shall be wholly carried away into the Golus.

²⁰ Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the tzafon (north). Where is the eder (flock) that was given thee, thy tzon tiferet?

²¹ What wilt thou say when He appoints over thy leaders those whom thou thyself has taught, to be thy rosh? Shall not chavalim (pangs) seize thee, as a woman in travail?

²² And if thou say in thine lev, Why come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine avon (iniquity) are thy skirts uncovered, and thy heels violated.

²³ Can the Kushi (Ethiopian) change his ohr (skin), or the namer (leopard) his spots? Then may ye also do tov, that are accustomed to do rah.

²⁴ Therefore will I scatter them as the chaff driven by the ruach of the midbar.

²⁵ This is thy goral (lot), the portion of thy measures from Me, saith Hashem; because thou hast forgotten Me, and trusted in sheker (falsehood).

²⁶ Therefore will I uncover thy skirts over thy panim, that thy shame may appear.

²⁷ I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy zenut (whoredom), and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Yerushalayim! Wilt thou not be made tahor (clean)? Until when?