Jeremiah 2 יִרְמְיָהוּ

¹וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃

vayhi devar-ADONAI elay lemor

1And the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

²הָלֹ֡ךְ וְקָֽרָאתָ֩ בְאָזְנֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה זָכַ֤רְתִּי לָךְ֙ חֶ֣סֶד נְעוּרַ֔יִךְ אַהֲבַ֖ת כְּלוּלֹתָ֑יִךְ לֶכְתֵּ֤ךְ אַחֲרַי֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר בְּאֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥א זְרוּעָֽה׃

halokh vekarata ve'azne yerushalam lemor ko amar ADONAI zakharti lakh chesed ne'urayikh ahavat kelulotayikh lekhtekh acharay bammidbar be'eretz lo zeru'a

2Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith the LORD: I remember for thee the affection of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

³קֹ֤דֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לַיהוָ֔ה רֵאשִׁ֖ית תְּבוּאָתֹ֑ה כָּל־אֹכְלָ֣יו יֶאְשָׁ֔מוּ רָעָ֛ה תָּבֹ֥א אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

kodesh yisra'el laADONAI reshit tevu'ato kal-okhlav ye'shamu ra'a tavo alehem ne'um-ADONAI

3Israel is the LORD’S hallowed portion, His first-fruits of the increase; all that devour him shall be held guilty, evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

⁴שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְכָֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

shim'u devar-ADONAI bet ya'akov vekhal-mishpechot bet yisra'el

4Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel;

⁵כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה מַה־מָּצְא֨וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֥ם בִּי֙ עָ֔וֶל כִּ֥י רָחֲק֖וּ מֵעָלָ֑י וַיֵּֽלְכ֛וּ אַחֲרֵ֥י הַהֶ֖בֶל וַיֶּהְבָּֽלוּ׃

ko amar ADONAI ma-matzu avotekhem bi avel ki rachaku me'alay vayyelkhu achare hahevel vayyehbalu

5Thus saith the LORD: What unrighteousness have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after things of nought, and are become nought?

⁶וְלֹ֣א אָמְר֔וּ אַיֵּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה הַמַּעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖נוּ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הַמּוֹלִ֨יךְ אֹתָ֜נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר בְּאֶ֨רֶץ עֲרָבָ֤ה וְשׁוּחָה֙ בְּאֶ֨רֶץ֙ צִיָּ֣ה וְצַלְמָ֔וֶת בְּאֶ֗רֶץ לֹֽא־עָ֤בַר בָּהּ֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹֽא־יָשַׁ֥ב אָדָ֖ם שָֽׁם׃

velo amru ayye ADONAI hamma'ale otanu me'eretz mitzrayim hammolikh otanu bammidbar be'eretz arava veshucha be'eretz tziyya vetzalmavet be'eretz lo-avar bah ish velo-yashav adam sham

6Neither said they: ‘Where is the LORD that brought us up Out of the land of Egypt; that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?’

⁷וָאָבִ֤יא אֶתְכֶם֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל לֶאֱכֹ֥ל פִּרְיָ֖הּ וְטוּבָ֑הּ וַתָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ וַתְּטַמְּא֣וּ אֶת־אַרְצִ֔י וְנַחֲלָתִ֥י שַׂמְתֶּ֖ם לְתוֹעֵבָֽה׃

va'avi etkhem el-eretz hakkarmel le'ekhol piryah vetuvah vattavou vattetammeu et-artzi venachalati samtem leto'eva

7And I brought you into a land of fruitful fields, to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled My land, and made My heritage an abomination.

⁸הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים לֹ֤א אָֽמְרוּ֙ אַיֵּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה וְתֹפְשֵׂ֤י הַתּוֹרָה֙ לֹ֣א יְדָע֔וּנִי וְהָרֹעִ֖ים פָּ֣שְׁעוּ בִ֑י וְהַנְּבִיאִים֙ נִבְּא֣וּ בַבַּ֔עַל וְאַחֲרֵ֥י לֹֽא־יוֹעִ֖לוּ הָלָֽכוּ׃

hakkohanim lo amru ayye ADONAI vetofse hattora lo yeda'uni veharo'im pash'u vi vehannevi'im nibbeu vabba'al ve'achare lo-yo'ilu halakhu

8The priests said not: ‘Where is the LORD?’ And they that handle the law knew Me not, and the rulers transgressed against Me; the prophets also prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

⁹לָכֵ֗ן עֹ֛ד אָרִ֥יב אִתְּכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אָרִֽיב׃

lakhen od ariv ittekhem ne'um-ADONAI ve'et-bene venekhem ariv

9Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead.

¹⁰כִּ֣י עִבְר֞וּ אִיֵּ֤י כִתִּיִּים֙ וּרְא֔וּ וְקֵדָ֛ר שִׁלְח֥וּ וְהִֽתְבּוֹנְנ֖וּ מְאֹ֑ד וּרְא֕וּ הֵ֥ן הָיְתָ֖ה כָּזֹֽאת׃

ki ivru iyye khittiyyim ureu vekedar shilchu vehitbonnu me'od ureu hen hayta kazot

10For pass over to the isles of the Kittites, and see, and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there hath been such a thing.

¹¹הַהֵימִ֥יר גּוֹי֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה לֹ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַמִּ֛י הֵמִ֥יר כְּבוֹד֖וֹ בְּל֥וֹא יוֹעִֽיל׃

hahemir goy elohim vehemma lo elohim ve'ammi hemir kevodo belo yo'il

11Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? But My people hath changed its glory For that which doth not profit.

¹²שֹׁ֥מּוּ שָׁמַ֖יִם עַל־זֹ֑את וְשַׂעֲר֛וּ חָרְב֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

shommu shamayim al-zot vesa'aru charvu me'od ne'um-ADONAI

12Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye exceeding amazed, saith the LORD.

¹³כִּֽי־שְׁתַּ֥יִם רָע֖וֹת עָשָׂ֣ה עַמִּ֑י אֹתִ֨י עָזְב֜וּ מְק֣וֹר ׀ מַ֣יִם חַיִּ֗ים לַחְצֹ֤ב לָהֶם֙ בֹּאר֔וֹת בֹּארֹת֙ נִשְׁבָּרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָכִ֖לוּ הַמָּֽיִם׃

ki-shetayim ra'ot asa ammi oti azvu mekor mayim chayyim lachtzov lahem borot borot nishbarim asher lo-yakhilu hammayim

13For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, That can hold no water.

¹⁴הַעֶ֨בֶד֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם־יְלִ֥יד בַּ֖יִת ה֑וּא מַדּ֖וּעַ הָיָ֥ה לָבַֽז׃

ha'eved yisra'el im-yelid bayit hu maddua haya lavaz

14Is Israel a servant? Is he a home-born slave? Why is he become a prey?

¹⁵עָלָיו֙ יִשְׁאֲג֣וּ כְפִרִ֔ים נָתְנ֖וּ קוֹלָ֑ם וַיָּשִׁ֤יתוּ אַרְצוֹ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה עָרָ֥יו נצתה [נִצְּת֖וּ] מִבְּלִ֥י יֹשֵֽׁב׃

alav yish'agu khefirim natnu kolam vayyashitu artzo leshamma arav nitzetu mibbeli yoshev

15The young lions have roared upon him, and let their voice resound; and they have made his land desolate, his cities are laid waste, without inhabitant.

¹⁶גַּם־בְּנֵי־נֹ֖ף ותחפנס [וְתַחְפַּנְחֵ֑ס] יִרְע֖וּךְ קָדְקֹֽד׃

gam-bene-nof vetachpanches yir'ukh kadkod

16The children also of Noph and Tahpanhes feed upon the crown of thy head.

¹⁷הֲלוֹא־זֹ֖את תַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ עָזְבֵךְ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֔יִךְ בְּעֵ֖ת מוֹלִיכֵ֥ךְ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃

halo-zot ta'ase-lakh azvekh et-ADONAI elohayikh be'et molikhekh baddarekh

17Is it not this that doth cause it unto thee, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when He led thee by the way?

¹⁸וְעַתָּ֗ה מַה־לָּךְ֙ לְדֶ֣רֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת מֵ֣י שִׁח֑וֹר וּמַה־לָּךְ֙ לְדֶ֣רֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת מֵ֥י נָהָֽר׃

ve'atta ma-lakh lederekh mitzrayim lishtot me shichor uma-lakh lederekh ashur lishtot me nahar

18And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? Or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?

¹⁹תְּיַסְּרֵ֣ךְ רָעָתֵ֗ךְ וּמְשֻֽׁבוֹתַ֨יִךְ֙ תּוֹכִחֻ֔ךְ וּדְעִ֤י וּרְאִי֙ כִּי־רַ֣ע וָמָ֔ר עָזְבֵ֖ךְ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יִךְ וְלֹ֤א פַחְדָּתִי֙ אֵלַ֔יִךְ נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃

teyasserekh ra'atekh umeshuvotayikh tokhichukh ude'i ure'i ki-ra' vamar azvekh et-ADONAI elohayikh velo fachdati elayikh ne'um-adonay ADONAI tzevaot

19Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: Know therefore and see that it is an evil and a bitter thing, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, neither is My fear in thee, Saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

²⁰כִּ֣י מֵעוֹלָ֞ם שָׁבַ֣רְתִּי עֻלֵּ֗ךְ נִתַּ֨קְתִּי֙ מוֹסְרֹתַ֔יִךְ וַתֹּאמְרִ֖י לֹ֣א אעבד [אֶעֱב֑וֹר] כִּ֣י עַֽל־כָּל־גִּבְעָ֞ה גְּבֹהָ֗ה וְתַ֨חַת֙ כָּל־עֵ֣ץ רַעֲנָ֔ן אַ֖תְּ צֹעָ֥ה זֹנָֽה׃

ki me'olam shavarti ullekh nittakti mosrotayikh vattomri lo e'evor ki al-kal-giv'a gevoha vetachat kal-etz ra'anan att tzo'a zona

20For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands, and thou saidst: ‘I will not transgress’; upon every high hill And under every leafy tree Thou didst recline, playing the harlot.

²¹וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ נְטַעְתִּ֣יךְ שֹׂרֵ֔ק כֻּלֹּ֖ה זֶ֣רַע אֱמֶ֑ת וְאֵיךְ֙ נֶהְפַּ֣כְתְּ לִ֔י סוּרֵ֖י הַגֶּ֥פֶן נָכְרִיָּֽה׃

ve'anokhi neta'tikh sorek kullo zera' emet ve'ekh nehpakht li sure haggefen nakhriyya

21Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, Wholly a right seed; How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant Of a strange vine unto Me?

²²כִּ֤י אִם־תְּכַבְּסִי֙ בַּנֶּ֔תֶר וְתַרְבִּי־לָ֖ךְ בֹּרִ֑ית נִכְתָּ֤ם עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ לְפָנַ֔י נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃

ki im-tekhabbesi banneter vetarbi-lakh borit nikhtam avonekh lefanay ne'um adonay ADONAI

22For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith the Lord GOD.

²³אֵ֣יךְ תֹּאמְרִ֞י לֹ֣א נִטְמֵ֗אתִי אַחֲרֵ֤י הַבְּעָלִים֙ לֹ֣א הָלַ֔כְתִּי רְאִ֤י דַרְכֵּךְ֙ בַּגַּ֔יְא דְּעִ֖י מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑ית בִּכְרָ֥ה קַלָּ֖ה מְשָׂרֶ֥כֶת דְּרָכֶֽיהָ׃

ekh tomri lo nitmeti achare habbe'alim lo halakhti re'i darkekh baggay de'i me asit bikhra kalla mesarekhet derakheha

23How canst thou say: ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim’? See thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done; thou art a swift young camel traversing her ways;

²⁴פֶּ֣רֶה ׀ לִמֻּ֣ד מִדְבָּ֗ר בְּאַוַּ֤ת נפשו [נַפְשָׁהּ֙] שָׁאֲפָ֣ה ר֔וּחַ תַּאֲנָתָ֖הּ מִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נָּה כָּל־מְבַקְשֶׁ֨יהָ֙ לֹ֣א יִיעָ֔פוּ בְּחָדְשָׁ֖הּ יִמְצָאֽוּנְהָ׃

pere limmud midbar be'avvat nafshah sha'afa ruach ta'anatah mi yeshivenna kal-mevaksheha lo yi'afu bechadshah yimtzaunha

24A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire; her lust, who can hinder it? All they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

²⁵מִנְעִ֤י רַגְלֵךְ֙ מִיָּחֵ֔ף וגורנך [וּגְרוֹנֵ֖ךְ] מִצִּמְאָ֑ה וַתֹּאמְרִ֣י נוֹאָ֔שׁ ל֕וֹא כִּֽי־אָהַ֥בְתִּי זָרִ֖ים וְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֥ם אֵלֵֽךְ׃

min'i raglekh miyyachef ugeronekh mitzim'a vattomri no'ash lo ki-ahavti zarim ve'acharehem elekh

25Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst; but thou saidst: ‘There is no hope; No, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.’

²⁶כְּבֹ֤שֶׁת גַּנָּב֙ כִּ֣י יִמָּצֵ֔א כֵּ֥ן הֹבִ֖ישׁוּ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הֵ֤מָּה מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ שָֽׂרֵיהֶ֔ם וְכֹהֲנֵיהֶ֖ם וּנְבִיאֵיהֶֽם׃

kevoshet gannav ki yimmatze ken hovishu bet yisra'el hemma malkhehem sarehem vekhohanehem unevi'ehem

26As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets;

²⁷אֹמְרִ֨ים לָעֵ֜ץ אָ֣בִי אַ֗תָּה וְלָאֶ֨בֶן֙ אַ֣תְּ ילדתני [יְלִדְתָּ֔נוּ] כִּֽי־פָנ֥וּ אֵלַ֛י עֹ֖רֶף וְלֹ֣א פָנִ֑ים וּבְעֵ֤ת רָֽעָתָם֙ יֹֽאמְר֔וּ ק֖וּמָה וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ׃

omrim la'etz avi atta vela'even att yelidtanu ki-fanu elay oref velo fanim uve'et ra'atam yomru kuma vehoshi'enu

27Who say to a stock: ‘Thou art my father’, and to a stone: ‘Thou hast brought us forth’, for they have turned their back unto Me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will say: ‘Arise, and save us.’

²⁸וְאַיֵּ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֔ךְ יָק֕וּמוּ אִם־יוֹשִׁיע֖וּךָ בְּעֵ֣ת רָעָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֚י מִסְפַּ֣ר עָרֶ֔יךָ הָי֥וּ אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יְהוּדָֽה׃

ve'ayye elohekha asher asita lakh yakumu im-yoshi'ukha be'et ra'atekha ki mispar arekha hayu elohekha yehuda

28But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble; for according to the number of thy cities Are thy gods, O Judah.

²⁹לָ֥מָּה תָרִ֖יבוּ אֵלָ֑י כֻּלְּכֶ֛ם פְּשַׁעְתֶּ֥ם בִּ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

lamma tarivu elay kullekhem pesha'tem bi ne'um-ADONAI

29Wherefore will ye contend with Me? Ye all have transgressed against Me, saith the LORD.

³⁰לַשָּׁוְא֙ הִכֵּ֣יתִי אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֔ם מוּסָ֖ר לֹ֣א לָקָ֑חוּ אָכְלָ֧ה חַרְבְּכֶ֛ם נְבִֽיאֵיכֶ֖ם כְּאַרְיֵ֥ה מַשְׁחִֽית׃

lashav hikketi et-benekhem musar lo lakachu akhla charbekhem nevi'ekhem ke'arye mashchit

30In vain have I smitten your children— They received no correction; Your sword hath devoured your prophets, Like a destroying lion.

³¹הַדּ֗וֹר אַתֶּם֙ רְא֣וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֔ה הֲמִדְבָּ֤ר הָיִ֨יתִי֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִ֛ם אֶ֥רֶץ מַאְפֵּ֖לְיָ֑ה מַדּ֜וּעַ אָמְר֤וּ עַמִּי֙ רַ֔דְנוּ לֽוֹא־נָב֥וֹא ע֖וֹד אֵלֶֽיךָ׃

haddor attem reu devar-ADONAI hamidbar hayiti leyisra'el im eretz ma'pelya maddua amru ammi radnu lo-navo od elekha

31O generation, see ye the word of the LORD: Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Wherefore say My people: ‘We roam at large; we will come no more unto Thee’?

³²הֲתִשְׁכַּ֤ח בְּתוּלָה֙ עֶדְיָ֔הּ כַּלָּ֖ה קִשֻּׁרֶ֑יהָ וְעַמִּ֣י שְׁכֵח֔וּנִי יָמִ֖ים אֵ֥ין מִסְפָּֽר׃

hatishkach betula edyah kalla kishureha ve'ammi shekhechuni yamim en mispar

32Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.

³³מַה־תֵּיטִ֥בִי דַּרְכֵּ֖ךְ לְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אַהֲבָ֑ה לָכֵן֙ גַּ֣ם אֶת־הָרָע֔וֹת למדתי [לִמַּ֖דְתְּ] אֶת־דְּרָכָֽיִךְ׃

ma-tetivi darkekh levakkesh ahava lakhen gam et-hara'ot limmadt et-derakhayikh

33How trimmest thou thy way To seek love! Therefore—even the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways;

³⁴גַּ֤ם בִּכְנָפַ֨יִךְ֙ נִמְצְא֔וּ דַּ֛ם נַפְשׁ֥וֹת אֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים נְקִיִּ֑ים לֹֽא־בַמַּחְתֶּ֥רֶת מְצָאתִ֖ים כִּ֥י עַל־כָּל־אֵֽלֶּה׃

gam bikhnafayikh nimtzeu dam nafshot evyonim nekiyyim lo-vammachteret metzatim ki al-kal-elle

34Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor; thou didst not find them breaking in; yet for all these things

³⁵וַתֹּֽאמְרִי֙ כִּ֣י נִקֵּ֔יתִי אַ֛ךְ שָׁ֥ב אַפּ֖וֹ מִמֶּ֑נִּי הִנְנִי֙ נִשְׁפָּ֣ט אוֹתָ֔ךְ עַל־אָמְרֵ֖ךְ לֹ֥א חָטָֽאתִי׃

vattomri ki nikketi akh shav appo mimmenni hinni nishpat otakh al-amrekh lo chatati

35Thou saidst: ‘I am innocent; surely His anger is turned away from me’— Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest: ‘I have not sinned.’

³⁶מַה־תֵּזְלִ֥י מְאֹ֖ד לְשַׁנּ֣וֹת אֶת־דַּרְכֵּ֑ךְ גַּ֤ם מִמִּצְרַ֨יִם֙ תֵּב֔וֹשִׁי כַּאֲשֶׁר־בֹּ֖שְׁתְּ מֵאַשּֽׁוּר׃

ma-tezli me'od leshannot et-darkekh gam mimmitzrayim tevoshi ka'asher-bosht me'ashur

36How greatly dost thou cheapen thyself to change thy way? Thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, As thou wast ashamed of Asshur.

³⁷גַּ֣ם מֵאֵ֥ת זֶה֙ תֵּֽצְאִ֔י וְיָדַ֖יִךְ עַל־רֹאשֵׁ֑ךְ כִּֽי־מָאַ֤ס יְהֹוָה֙ בְּמִבְטַחַ֔יִךְ וְלֹ֥א תַצְלִ֖יחִי לָהֶֽם׃

gam me'et ze tetz'i veyadayikh al-roshekh ki-ma'as ADONAI bemivtachayikh velo tatzlichi lahem

37From him also shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy head; for the LORD hath rejected them in whom thou didst trust, and thou shalt not prosper in them.