Beginning

26 In the beginning of the reign of Y’hoyakim (Jehoiakim) Ben Yoshiyah Melech Yehudah came this Davar from Hashem saying

² Thus saith Hashem: Stand in the khatzer (courtyard) of the Bais Hashem, and speak unto all the towns of Yehudah, which come to worship in the Bais Hashem, all the Devarim that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word;

³ If so be they will pay heed, turn every man from his derech hara’ah, that I may relent of the ra’ah, which I purpose to do unto them for the evil of their doings.

⁴ And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Hashem: If ye will not pay heed to Me, to walk in My torah, which I have set before you,

⁵ To pay heed to the Devarim of My Avadim the Nevi’im, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early and sending them, but ye have not paid heed;

⁶ Then will I make this Bais like Shiloh, and will make this city a kelalah (curse) to all the Goyim of Ha’Aretz.

⁷ So the kohanim and the nevi’im and kol HaAm heard Yirmeyah speaking these Devarim in the Bais Hashem.

⁸ Now it came to pass, when Yirmeyah had made an end of speaking all that Hashem had commanded him to speak unto kol HaAm, that the kohanim and the nevi’im and kol HaAm laid hold of him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.

⁹ Why hast thou prophesied B’Shem Hashem, saying, This Bais shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And kol HaAm were gathered against Yirmeyah in the Bais Hashem.

¹⁰ When the sarim of Yehudah heard these things, then they came up from the Bais HaMelech to the Beis Hashem, and sat down in the petach Sha’ar HeChadash (entrance of the New Gate) of [the Beis] Hashem.

¹¹ Then spoke the kohanim and the nevi’im unto the sarim and to kol HaAm, saying, Mishpat mavet for this ish! For he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your oznayim.

¹² Then spoke Yirmeyah unto all the sarim and to kol HaAm, saying, Hashem sent me to prophesy against this Bais and against this city all the Devarim that ye have heard.

¹³ Therefore now reform your drakhim and your doings, and obey the voice of Hashem Eloheichem; and Hashem will relent of the ra’ah that He hath pronounced against you.

¹⁴ As for me, see, I am in your yad; do with me as seemeth tov and yashar unto you.

¹⁵ But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring dahm naki upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof; for b’emes Hashem hath sent me unto you to speak all these Devarim in your oznayim.

¹⁶ Then said the sarim and kol HaAm unto the kohanim and to the nevi’im; This ish is not mishpat mavet (worthy of death); for he hath spoken to us B’Shem Hashem Eloheinu.

¹⁷ Then rose up anashim zekenim ha’aretz, and spoke to kol kehal HaAm, saying,

¹⁸ Michah the Morashti prophesied in the days of Chizkiyah Melech Yehudah, and spoke to kol Am Yehudah, saying, Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os: Tziyon shall be plowed like a sadeh, and Yerushalayim shall become rubble heaps, and the Har HaBais (Temple Mount) like the bare heights of a ya’ar (forest).

¹⁹ Did Chizkiyah Melech Yehudah and kol Yehudah put him to death? Did he not fear Hashem, and besought Hashem, and Hashem relented of the ra’ah which He had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure ra’ah gedolah against nafshoteinu.

²⁰ And there was also an ish that prophesied B’Shem Hashem, Uriyah Ben Shema’yahu of Kiryat HaYearim, who prophesied against this city and against HaAretz Hazot according to all the devarim of Yirmeyah.

²¹ And when Y’hoyakim (Jehoiakim) HaMelech, with all his gibborim, and all the sarim, heard his words, HaMelech sought to put him to death; but when Uriyah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Mitzrayim;

²² And Y’hoyakim HaMelech sent anashim into Mitzrayim, namely, Elnatan Ben Achbor, and certain anashim with him into Mitzrayim.

²³ And they brought Uriyah out of Mitzrayim, and brought him unto Y’hoyakim HaMelech; who slaughtered him with the cherev, and cast his nevelah (dead body) into the kevarim of the Bnei HaAm (common people).

²⁴ Nevertheless the yad (hand, influence) of Achikam Ben Shaphan was with Yirmeyah, that they should not give him into the yad HaAm to put him to death.

27 In the beginning of the reign of Y’hoyakim Ben Yoshiyah Melech Yehudah came this davar unto Yirmeyah from Hashem, saying,

² Thus saith Hashem to me: Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy tzavar (neck),

³ And send them to Melech Edom, and to Melech Moav, and to Melech Bnei Ammon, and to Melech Tzor, and to Melech Tzidon, by the yad of the malachim which come to Yerushalayim unto Tzidkiyah Melech Yehudah;

⁴ And command them to say unto their adonim, Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel: Thus shall ye say unto your adonim;

⁵ I have made ha’aretz (the earth), ha’adam and habehemah that are upon the face of the earth, by My great ko’ach and by My outstretched zero’a, and have given it unto whom it seemed yashar unto Me.

⁶ And now have I given all these lands into the yad Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel, Avdi (My servant); and the beasts of the sadeh have I given him also to serve him.

⁷ And all Goyim shall serve him, and bno, and ben bno, until the very time of his land come; and then many Goyim and great melachim shall make him serve [in bondage to] them.

⁸ And it shall come to pass, that the goy (nation) and mamlachah (kingdom) which will not serve the same Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel, and that will not put their tzavar (neck) under the yoke of HaMelech Bavel, that nation will I punish, saith Hashem, with the cherev, and with the ra’av (famine), and with the dever, until I have consumed them by his yad.

⁹ Therefore do not pay heed to your nevi’im, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your soothsayers, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve Melech Bavel;

¹⁰ For they prophesy sheker unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

¹¹ But the Goyim that bring their tzavar (neck) under the yoke of the Melech Bavel, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own adamah, saith Hashem; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

¹² I spoke also to Tzidkiyah Melech Yehudah according to all these Devarim, saying, Bring your tzavarot (necks) under the yoke of Melech Bavel, and serve Him and his people, and live.

¹³ Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the cherev, by the ra’av (famine), and by the dever, as Hashem hath spoken against the goy (nation) that will not serve Melech Bavel?

¹⁴ Therefore do not pay heed unto the devarim of the nevi’im that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve Melech Bavel; for they prophesy sheker unto you.

¹⁵ For I have not sent them, saith Hashem, yet they prophesy sheker in My name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the nevi’im that prophesy unto you.

¹⁶ Also I spoke to the kohanim and to all this people, saying, Thus saith Hashem: Do not pay heed to the devarim of your nevi’im that prophesy unto you, saying, Hinei, the K’lei Beis Hashem shall now shortly be brought back from Bavel; for they prophesy sheker unto you.

¹⁷ Do not pay heed unto them; serve Melech Bavel, and live; why should this ir be laid waste?

¹⁸ But if they are nevi’im, and if the Devar Hashem be with them, let them now make intercession to Hashem Tzva’os, that the kelim (vessels) which are left in the Beis Hashem, and in the Bais HaMelech Yehudah, and at Yerushalayim, go not to Bavel.

¹⁹ For thus saith Hashem Tzva’os concerning the Ammudim (Pillars) and concerning the Yam (Sea), and concerning the Mekhonot (Stands [supporting the lavers]), and concerning the remainder of the kelim that remain in this ir.

²⁰ Which Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel took not, when he carried away captive Yechanyah Ben Y’hoyakim Melech Yehudah from Yerushalayim to Bavel, and all the nobles of Yehudah and Yerushalayim;

²¹ Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel, concerning the kelim (vessels) that remain in the Beis Hashem, and in the Bais HaMelech Yehudah and Yerushalayim;

²² They shall be carried to Bavel, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith Hashem; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this makon.

28 And it came to pass The same year, in the beginning of the reign of Tzidkiyah Melech Yehudah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Chananyah ben Azzur HaNavi, who was from Giveon, spoke unto me in the Beis Hashem, before the eyes of the kohanim and of kol haAm, saying,

² Thus says Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel, saying, I have broken the ol (yoke) of Melech Bavel.

³ Within two years will I bring back into makon hazeh all the vessels of the Beis Hashem, that Nevuchadnetzar Melech Bavel took away from makon hazeh, and carried them to Babylon;

⁴ And I will bring back to this place Yechanyah ben Y’hoyakim Melech Yehudah, with all of Yehudah of the Golus, that went into Babylon, saith Hashem; for I will break the ol (yoke) of Melech Bavel.

⁵ Then Yirmeyah HaNavi said unto Chananyah HaNavi before the eyes of the kohanim, and before the eyes of kol HaAm that stood in the Beis Hashem,

⁶ Even Yirmeyah HaNavi said, Omein; may Hashem do so; Hashem perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the Beis Hashem, and all that is carried away into the Golus, from Babylon into makom hazeh.

⁷ Nevertheless shema now hadavar hazeh that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of kol haAm;

⁸ The nevi’im that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against mamlechot gedolot, of milchamah, of ra’ah, of dever.

⁹ The navi which prophesieth of shalom, when the devar of the navi shall come to pass, then shall the navi be recognized, that Hashem hath truly sent him.

¹⁰ Then Chananyah HaNavi took the yoke from off the neck of Yirmeyah HaNavi and broke it.

¹¹ And Chananyah spoke before the eyes of kol haAm, saying, Thus saith Hashem; Even so will I break the yoke of Nevuchadnetzar Melech Bavel from the neck of kol HaGoyim within the space of two years. And Yirmeyah HaNavi went on his way.

¹² Then the Devar Hashem came unto Yirmeyah, after Chananyah HaNavi had broken the yoke from off the neck of Yirmeyah HaNavi, saying,

¹³ Go and tell Chananyah, saying, Thus saith Hashem; Thou hast broken the motot etz (yokes, bars of wood); but thou shalt make for them motot barzel (yokes of iron).

¹⁴ For thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel: I have put an ol barzel (yoke of iron) upon the neck of kol HaGoyim, that they may serve Nevuchadnetzar Melech Bavel; and they shall serve him; and I have given him the wild animals also.

¹⁵ Then said Yirmeyah HaNavi unto Chananyah HaNavi, Shema nah, Chananyah; Hashem hath not sent thee; but thou makest HaAm HaZeh to trust in sheker (a lie).

¹⁶ Therefore thus saith Hashem; Hineni, I will remove thee from off the face of ha’adamah; this year thou shalt die, because thou hast preached sarah (rebellion, apostasy, revolt, disobedience) against Hashem.

¹⁷ So Chananyah HaNavi died the same year in the seventh month.

29 Now these are the Devarim of the sefer that Yirmeyah HaNavi sent from Yerushalayim unto the surviving Zekenim of the Golus and to the Kohanim, and to the Nevi’im, and to kol HaAm whom Nevuchadretzar had carried away captive from Yerushalayim to Bavel—

² This was after Yechanyah HaMelech, and the Gevirah (Queen Mother), and the sarisim, the sarim of Yehudah and Yerushalayim, and the carpenters, and the artisans had departed from Yerushalayim;

³ The sefer was sent by the yad of Elasah Ben Shaphan, and Gemaryah Ben Chilkiyah, whom Tzidkiyah Melech Yehudah sent unto Bavel to Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel—and it said,

⁴ Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel, unto all that are carried away into the Golus, whom I have caused to be carried away from Yerushalayim unto Bavel;

⁵ Build ye batim (houses), and dwell in them; and plant gannot (gardens), and eat the p’ri (fruit) of them;

⁶ Take ye nashim, and father banim and banot; and take nashim for your banim, and give your banot to anashim, that they may bear banim and banot; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

⁷ And seek the shalom of the city where I have caused you to be carried away into the Golus, and daven unto Hashem for it; for in the shalom thereof shall ye have shalom.

⁸ For thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel: Let not your nevi’im and your kesamim that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither pay heed to your chalomot which ye cause to be dreamed.

⁹ For they prophesy b’sheker (falsely) unto you in My Name; I have not sent them, saith Hashem.

¹⁰ For thus saith Hashem, That after shiv’im shanah (seventy years) are accomplished at Bavel I will visit you, and perform My Davar Hatov toward you, in causing you to return to this makom.

¹¹ For I know the machshavot (thoughts, plans) that I think toward you, saith Hashem, machshavot shalom, and not of ra’ah, to give you an acharit (future) and a tikvah (hope).

¹² Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and v’hitpalaltem (and you [plural] will pray) unto Me, and I will pay heed unto you [plural].

¹³ And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me b’chol lvavchem (with all your heart).

¹⁴ And I will be found by you, saith Hashem; and I will bring you back from captivity, and I will gather you from all the Goyim, and from all the mekomot (places) where I have driven you, saith Hashem; and I will bring you back into the makom (place) from which I caused you to be carried away into the Golus.

¹⁵ Because ye have said, Hashem hath raised up nevi’im for us in Bavel;

¹⁶ Know that thus saith Hashem of HaMelech that sitteth upon the Kisse Dovid, and of kol HaAm that dwelleth in this city, and of your achim that are not gone forth with you into the Golus;

¹⁷ Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os; Hineni, I will send upon them the cherev, the ra’av, and the dever, and will make them like rotten figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.

¹⁸ And I will pursue them with the cherev, with the ra’av, and with the dever, and will make them a horror to all the mamlechot ha’aretz, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a cherpah, among all the Goyim where I have driven them;

¹⁹ Because they have not paid heed to My devarim, saith Hashem, which I sent unto them by My Avadim the nevi’im, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith Hashem.

²⁰ Hear ye therefore the Devar Hashem, all ye of the Golus, whom I have sent from Yerushalayim to Bavel;

²¹ Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel, about Ach’av Ben Kolayah, and of Tzidkiyah Ben Ma’aseiyah, which prophesy sheker unto you in My Name; Hineni, I will deliver them into the yad Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel; and he shall slay them before your eynayim;

²² And of them shall be taken up a kelalah (curse) by all the Golus of Yehudah which are in Bavel, saying, Hashem make thee like Tzidkiyah and like Ach’av, whom Melech Bavel roasted in the eish;

²³ Because they have done nevalah (a foul deed, outrage) in Yisroel, and have committed ni’uf with their neighbors’ nashim, and have spoken davar sheker in My Name, which I have not commanded them; I know, and am Ed (Witness), saith Hashem.

²⁴ Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiyahu the Nechelami, saying,

²⁵ Thus speaketh Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel, saying, Because thou hast sent sefarim in thy shem unto kol HaAm that are in Yerushalayim, and to Tzephanyah Ben Maaseiyah the kohen, and to all the kohanim, saying,

²⁶ Hashem hath made thee kohen in the place of Yehoyada the kohen, that there should be pekidim (officers) in the Beis Hashem, over every ish that is meshuggah (mad, insane), and maketh himself a navi, that thou shouldest put him in the stocks, and in the neck iron.

²⁷ Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Yirmeyah of Anatot, which maketh himself a navi to you?

²⁸ For therefore he sent unto us in Bavel, saying, This captivity is long; build ye batim (houses), and dwell in them; and plant gannot (gardens), and eat the fruit of them.

²⁹ And Tzephanyah the kohen read this sefer in the oznayim of Yirmeyah HaNavi.

³⁰ Then came the Devar Hashem unto Yirmeyah, saying,

³¹ Send to all them of the Golus, saying, Thus saith Hashem concerning Shemaiyah the Nechelami; Because that Shemaiyah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in sheker;

³² Therefore thus saith Hashem: Hinei, I will punish Shemaiyah the Nechelami, and his zera; he shall not have an ish to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the tov that I will do for My people, saith Hashem; because he hath spoken sarah (rebellion) against Hashem.