Jeremiah 3 יִרְמְיָהוּ
Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917
1לֵאמֹ֡ר הֵ֣ן יְשַׁלַּ֣ח אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ֩ וְהָלְכָ֨ה מֵאִתּ֜וֹ וְהָיְתָ֣ה לְאִישׁ־אַחֵ֗ר הֲיָשׁ֤וּב אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ ע֔וֹד הֲל֛וֹא חָנ֥וֹף תֶּחֱנַ֖ף הָאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֑יא וְאַ֗תְּ זָנִית֙ רֵעִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים וְשׁ֥וֹב אֵלַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃
lemor hen yeshallach ish et-ishto vehalkha me'itto vehayta le'ish-acher hayashuv eleha od halo chanof techenaf ha'aretz hahi ve'att zanit re'im rabbim veshov elay ne'um-ADONAI
. . . saying: If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, may he return unto her again? Will not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; and wouldest thou yet return to Me? Saith the LORD.
2שְׂאִֽי־עֵינַ֨יִךְ עַל־שְׁפָיִ֜ם וּרְאִ֗י אֵיפֹה֙ לֹ֣א שגלת [שֻׁכַּ֔בְתְּ] עַל־דְּרָכִים֙ יָשַׁ֣בְתְּ לָהֶ֔ם כַּעֲרָבִ֖י בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַתַּחֲנִ֣יפִי אֶ֔רֶץ בִּזְנוּתַ֖יִךְ וּבְרָעָתֵֽךְ׃
se'i-enayikh al-shefayim ure'i efo lo shukkavt al-derakhim yashavt lahem ka'aravi bammidbar vattachanifi eretz biznutayikh uvera'atekh
Lift up thine eyes unto the high hills, and see: Where hast thou not been lain with? By the ways hast thou sat for them, as an Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy harlotries and with thy wickedness.
3וַיִּמָּנְע֣וּ רְבִבִ֔ים וּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ ל֣וֹא הָיָ֑ה וּמֵ֨צַח אִשָּׁ֤ה זוֹנָה֙ הָ֣יָה לָ֔ךְ מֵאַ֖נְתְּ הִכָּלֵֽם׃
vayyimman'u revivim umalkosh lo haya umetzach isha zona haya lakh me'ant hikkalem
Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there hath been no latter rain; yet thou hadst a harlot’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
4הֲל֣וֹא מֵעַ֔תָּה קראתי [קָרָ֥את] לִ֖י אָבִ֑י אַלּ֥וּף נְעֻרַ֖י אָֽתָּה׃
halo me'atta karat li avi alluf ne'uray atta
Didst thou not just now cry unto Me: ‘My father, Thou art the friend of my youth.
5הֲיִנְטֹ֣ר לְעוֹלָ֔ם אִם־יִשְׁמֹ֖ר לָנֶ֑צַח הִנֵּ֥ה דברתי [דִבַּ֛רְתְּ] וַתַּעֲשִׂ֥י הָרָע֖וֹת וַתּוּכָֽל׃
hayintor le'olam im-yishmor lanetzach hinne dibbart vatta'asi hara'ot vattukhal
Will He bear grudge for ever? Will He keep it to the end?’ Behold, thou hast spoken, but hast done evil things, and hast had thy way.
6וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י בִּימֵי֙ יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הֲֽרָאִ֔יתָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשְׂתָ֖ה מְשֻׁבָ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הֹלְכָ֨ה הִ֜יא עַל־כָּל־הַ֣ר גָּבֹ֗הַּ וְאֶל־תַּ֛חַת כָּל־עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָ֖ן וַתִּזְנִי־שָֽׁם׃
vayyomer ADONAI elay bime yoshiyyahu hammelekh hara'ita asher asta meshuva yisra'el holkha hi al-kal-har gavoah ve'el-tachat kal-etz ra'anan vattizni-sham
And the LORD said unto me in the days of Josiah the king: ‘Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel did? she went up upon every high mountain and under every leafy tree, and there played the harlot.
7וָאֹמַ֗ר אַחֲרֵ֨י עֲשׂוֹתָ֧הּ אֶת־כָּל־אֵ֛לֶּה אֵלַ֥י תָּשׁ֖וּב וְלֹא־שָׁ֑בָה ותראה [וַתֵּ֛רֶא] בָּגוֹדָ֥ה אֲחוֹתָ֖הּ יְהוּדָֽה׃
va'omar achare asotah et-kal-elle elay tashuv velo-shava vattere bagoda achotah yehuda
And I said: After she hath done all these things, she will return unto me; but she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
8וָאֵ֗רֶא כִּ֤י עַל־כָּל־אֹדוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִֽאֲפָה֙ מְשֻׁבָ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שִׁלַּחְתִּ֕יהָ וָאֶתֵּ֛ן אֶת־סֵ֥פֶר כְּרִיתֻתֶ֖יהָ אֵלֶ֑יהָ וְלֹ֨א יָֽרְאָ֜ה בֹּֽגֵדָ֤ה יְהוּדָה֙ אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ וַתִּ֥זֶן גַּם־הִֽיא׃
va'ere ki al-kal-odot asher ni'afa meshuva yisra'el shillachtiha va'etten et-sefer kerituteha eleha velo yar'a bogeda yehuda achotah vattelekh vattizen gam-hi
And I saw, when, forasmuch as backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, that yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot;
9וְהָיָה֙ מִקֹּ֣ל זְנוּתָ֔הּ וַתֶּחֱנַ֖ף אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַתִּנְאַ֥ף אֶת־הָאֶ֖בֶן וְאֶת־הָעֵֽץ׃
vehaya mikkol zenutah vattechenaf et-ha'aretz vattin'af et-ha'even ve'et-ha'etz
and it came to pass through the lightness of her harlotry, that the land was polluted, and she committed adultery with stones and with stocks;
10וְגַם־בְּכָל־זֹ֗את לֹא־שָׁ֨בָה אֵלַ֜י בָּגוֹדָ֧ה אֲחוֹתָ֛הּ יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּכָל־לִבָּ֑הּ כִּ֥י אִם־בְּשֶׁ֖קֶר נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
vegam-bekhal-zot lo-shava elay bagoda achotah yehuda bekhal-libbah ki im-besheker ne'um-ADONAI
and yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not returned unto Me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD—
11וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י צִדְּקָ֥ה נַפְשָׁ֖הּ מְשֻׁבָ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִבֹּגֵדָ֖ה יְהוּדָֽה׃
vayyomer ADONAI elay tziddeka nafshah meshuva yisra'el mibbogeda yehuda
even the LORD said unto me—backsliding Israel hath proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
12הָלֹ֡ךְ וְקָֽרָאתָ֩ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה צָפ֗וֹנָה וְ֠אָמַרְתָּ שׁ֣וּבָה מְשֻׁבָ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לֽוֹא־אַפִּ֥יל פָּנַ֖י בָּכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־חָסִ֤יד אֲנִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לֹ֥א אֶטּ֖וֹר לְעוֹלָֽם׃
halokh vekarata et-haddevarim ha'elle tzafona ve'amarta shuva meshuva yisra'el ne'um-ADONAI lo-appil panay bakhem ki-chasid ani ne'um-ADONAI lo ettor le'olam
Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: Return, thou backsliding Israel, Saith the LORD; I will not frown upon you; For I am merciful, saith the LORD, I will not bear grudge for ever.
13אַ֚ךְ דְּעִ֣י עֲוֺנֵ֔ךְ כִּ֛י בַּיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהַ֖יִךְ פָּשָׁ֑עַתְּ וַתְּפַזְּרִ֨י אֶת־דְּרָכַ֜יִךְ לַזָּרִ֗ים תַּ֚חַת כָּל־עֵ֣ץ רַעֲנָ֔ן וּבְקוֹלִ֥י לֹא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃
akh de'i avonekh ki baADONAI elohayikh pasha'att vattefazzeri et-derakhayikh lazzarim tachat kal-etz ra'anan uvekoli lo-shema'tem ne'um-ADONAI
Only acknowledge thine iniquity, That thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, And hast scattered thy ways to the strangers Under every leafy tree, And ye have not hearkened to My voice, Saith the LORD.
14שׁ֣וּבוּ בָנִ֤ים שׁוֹבָבִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אָנֹכִ֖י בָּעַ֣לְתִּי בָכֶ֑ם וְלָקַחְתִּ֨י אֶתְכֶ֜ם אֶחָ֣ד מֵעִ֗יר וּשְׁנַ֨יִם֙ מִמִּשְׁפָּחָ֔ה וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם צִיּֽוֹן׃
shuvu vanim shovavim ne'um-ADONAI ki anokhi ba'alti vakhem velakachti etkhem echad me'ir ushenayim mimmishpacha veheveti etkhem tziyyon
Return, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am a lord unto you, and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion;
15וְנָתַתִּ֥י לָכֶ֛ם רֹעִ֖ים כְּלִבִּ֑י וְרָע֥וּ אֶתְכֶ֖ם דֵּעָ֥ה וְהַשְׂכֵּֽיל׃
venatatti lakhem ro'im kelibbi vera'u etkhem de'a vehaskel
and I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
16וְהָיָ֡ה כִּ֣י תִרְבּוּ֩ וּפְרִיתֶ֨ם בָּאָ֜רֶץ בַּיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵ֨מָּה֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לֹא־יֹ֣אמְרוּ ע֗וֹד אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִית־יְהוָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־לֵ֑ב וְלֹ֤א יִזְכְּרוּ־בוֹ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִפְקֹ֔דוּ וְלֹ֥א יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה עֽוֹד׃
vehaya ki tirbu uferitem ba'aretz bayyamim hahemma ne'um-ADONAI lo-yomru od aron berit-ADONAI velo ya'ale al-lev velo yizkeru-vo velo yifkodu velo ye'ase od
And it shall come to pass, when ye are multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more: The ark of the covenant of the LORD; neither shall it come to mind; neither shall they make mention of it; neither shall they miss it; neither shall it be made any more.
17בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא יִקְרְא֤וּ לִירוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ כִּסֵּ֣א יְהוָ֔ה וְנִקְוּ֨וּ אֵלֶ֧יהָ כָֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֛ם לְשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה לִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְלֹא־יֵלְכ֣וּ ע֔וֹד אַחֲרֵ֕י שְׁרִר֖וּת לִבָּ֥ם הָרָֽע׃
ba'et hahi yikreu lirushalam kisse ADONAI venikvu eleha khal-haggoyim leshem ADONAI lirushalam velo-yelkhu od achare sherirut libbam hara'
At that time they shall call Jerusalem The throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem; neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart.
18בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔מָּה יֵלְכ֥וּ בֵית־יְהוּדָ֖ה עַל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְיָבֹ֤אוּ יַחְדָּו֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹן עַל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִנְחַ֖לְתִּי אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃
bayyamim hahemma yelkhu vet-yehuda al-bet yisra'el veyavou yachdav me'eretz tzafon al-ha'aretz asher hinchalti et-avotekhem
In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.’
19וְאָנֹכִ֣י אָמַ֗רְתִּי אֵ֚יךְ אֲשִׁיתֵ֣ךְ בַּבָּנִ֔ים וְאֶתֶּן־לָךְ֙ אֶ֣רֶץ חֶמְדָּ֔ה נַחֲלַ֥ת צְבִ֖י צִבְא֣וֹת גּוֹיִ֑ם וָאֹמַ֗ר אָבִי֙ תקראו [תִּקְרְאִי]־לִ֔י וּמֵאַחֲרַ֖י לֹ֥א תשובו [תָשֽׁוּבִי]׃
ve'anokhi amarti ekh ashitekh babbanim ve'etten-lakh eretz chemda nachalat tzevi tzivot goyim va'omar avi tikre'i-li ume'acharay lo tashuvi
But I said: ‘How would I put thee among the sons, And give thee a pleasant land, The goodliest heritage of the nations! ’ And I said: ‘Thou shalt call Me, My father; And shalt not turn away from following Me.’
20אָכֵ֛ן בָּגְדָ֥ה אִשָּׁ֖ה מֵרֵעָ֑הּ כֵּ֣ן בְּגַדְתֶּ֥ם בִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
akhen bagda isha mere'ah ken begadtem bi bet yisra'el ne'um-ADONAI
Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, So have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, Saith the LORD.
21ק֚וֹל עַל־שְׁפָיִ֣ים נִשְׁמָ֔ע בְּכִ֥י תַחֲנוּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֤י הֶעֱוּוּ֙ אֶת־דַּרְכָּ֔ם שָׁכְח֖וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃
kol al-shefayim nishma' bekhi tachanune bene yisra'el ki he'evu et-darkam shakhchu et-ADONAI elohehem
Hark! upon the high hills is heard The suppliant weeping of the children of Israel; For that they have perverted their way, They have forgotten the LORD their God.
22שׁ֚וּבוּ בָּנִ֣ים שׁוֹבָבִ֔ים אֶרְפָּ֖ה מְשׁוּבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם הִנְנוּ֙ אָתָ֣נוּ לָ֔ךְ כִּ֥י אַתָּ֖ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
shuvu banim shovavim erpa meshuvotekhem hinnu atanu lakh ki atta ADONAI elohenu
Return, ye backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings.— ‘Here we are, we are come unto Thee; For Thou art the LORD our God.
23אָכֵ֥ן לַשֶּׁ֛קֶר מִגְּבָע֖וֹת הָמ֣וֹן הָרִ֑ים אָכֵן֙ בַּיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ תְּשׁוּעַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
akhen lasheker miggeva'ot hamon harim akhen baADONAI elohenu teshu'at yisra'el
Truly vain have proved the hills, The uproar on the mountains; Truly in the LORD our God Is the salvation of Israel.
24וְהַבֹּ֗שֶׁת אָֽכְלָ֛ה אֶת־יְגִ֥יעַ אֲבוֹתֵ֖ינוּ מִנְּעוּרֵ֑ינוּ אֶת־צֹאנָם֙ וְאֶת־בְּקָרָ֔ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃
vehabboshet akhla et-yegia avotenu minne'urenu et-tzonam ve'et-bekaram et-benehem ve'et-benotehem
But the shameful thing hath devoured The labour of our fathers from our youth; Their flocks and their herds, Their sons and their daughters.
25נִשְׁכְּבָ֣ה בְּבָשְׁתֵּ֗נוּ וּֽתְכַסֵּנוּ֮ כְּלִמָּתֵנוּ֒ כִּי֩ לַיהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵ֜ינוּ חָטָ֗אנוּ אֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ וַאֲבוֹתֵ֔ינוּ מִנְּעוּרֵ֖ינוּ וְעַד־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְלֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔עְנוּ בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
nishkeva bevashtenu utekhassenu kelimmatenu ki laADONAI elohenu chatanu anachnu va'avotenu minne'urenu ve'ad-hayyom hazze velo shama'nu bekol ADONAI elohenu
Let us lie down in our shame, And let our confusion cover us; For we have sinned against the LORD our God, We and our fathers, From our youth even unto this day; And we have not hearkened To the voice of the LORD our God.’
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Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (ketiv shown with the qere in brackets). JPS 1917 and the Hebrew use Hebrew verse numbers; the English column uses English numbering, which sometimes differs by a verse.