And these areוְאֵלֶּהthe wordsדִּבְרֵיof the letterהַסֵּפֶרthatאֲשֶׁרJeremiahיִרְמְיָהthe prophetהַנָּבִיאsentשָׁלַחfrom Jerusalemמִירוּשָׁלִָםto the restאֶל יֶתֶרof the eldersזִקְנֵיof the exile,הַגּוֹלָהand to the priestsוְאֶל הַכֹּהֲנִיםand to the prophetsוְאֶל הַנְּבִיאִיםand to allוְאֶל כָּלthe peopleהָעָםwhomאֲשֶׁרNebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּרhad carried into exileהֶגְלָהfrom Jerusalemמִירוּשָׁלִַםto Babylon,בָּבֶלָה
afterאַחֲרֵיJeconiahיְכָנְיָהthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְhad gone out,צֵאתand the lady,וְהַגְּבִירָהand the court officials,וְהַסָּרִיסִיםthe princesשָׂרֵיof Judahיְהוּדָהand Jerusalem,וִירוּשָׁלִַםand the craftsmenוְהֶחָרָשׁand the smiths,וְהַמַּסְגֵּרfrom Jerusalem,מִירוּשָׁלִָם
by the handבְּיַדof Eleasahאֶלְעָשָׂהsonבֶןof Shaphanשָׁפָןand Gemariahוּגְמַרְיָהsonבֶּןof Hilkiah,חִלְקִיָּהwhomאֲשֶׁרZedekiahצִדְקִיָּהkingמֶלֶךְof Judahיְהוּדָהsentשָׁלַחto Nebuchadnezzarאֶל נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּרkingמֶלֶךְof Babylon,בָּבֶלto Babylon,בָּבֶלָהsaying:לֵאמֹר
“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWHיְהוָהTsevaot,צְבָאוֹתthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלto allלְכָלthe exilesהַגּוֹלָהwhomאֲשֶׁרI have carried into exileהִגְלֵיתִיfrom Jerusalemמִירוּשָׁלִַםto Babylon:בָּבֶלָה
Buildבְּנוּhousesבָתִּיםand live in them;וְשֵׁבוּand plantוְנִטְעוּgardensגַנּוֹתand eatוְאִכְלוּtheir fruit.אֶת פִּרְיָן
Takeקְחוּwivesנָשִׁיםand fatherוְהוֹלִידוּsonsבָּנִיםand daughters;וּבָנוֹתand takeוּקְחוּwivesנָשִׁיםfor your sons,לִבְנֵיכֶםand giveתְּנוּyour daughtersוְאֶת בְּנוֹתֵיכֶםto husbands,לַאֲנָשִׁיםand let them bearוְתֵלַדְנָהsonsבָּנִיםand daughters;וּבָנוֹתand multiplyוּרְבוּthere,שָׁםand do notוְאַלdecrease.תִּמְעָטוּ
And seekוְדִרְשׁוּthe peaceאֶת שְׁלוֹםof the cityהָעִירwhereאֲשֶׁר שָׁמָּהI have carried you into exile,הִגְלֵיתִי אֶתְכֶםand prayוְהִתְפַּלְלוּfor itבַעֲדָהּto YHWH,אֶל יְהוָהforכִּיin its peaceבִשְׁלוֹמָהּyou will haveיִהְיֶה לָכֶםpeace.שָׁלוֹם
ForכִּיthusכֹהsaysאָמַרYHWHיְהוָהTsevaot,צְבָאוֹתthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel:יִשְׂרָאֵלDo notאַלlet your prophetsנְבִיאֵיכֶםdeceive you,יַשִּׁיאוּ לָכֶםwhoאֲשֶׁרare among you,בְּקִרְבְּכֶםand your diviners,וְקֹסְמֵיכֶםand do notוְאַלlistenתִּשְׁמְעוּto your dreamsאֶל חֲלֹמֹתֵיכֶםthatאֲשֶׁרyouאַתֶּםcause them to dream.מַחְלְמִים
Forכִּיin falsehoodבְשֶׁקֶרtheyהֵםare prophesyingנִבְּאִיםto youלָכֶםin my name;בִּשְׁמִיI did notלֹאsend them,שְׁלַחְתִּיםdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH.יְהוָה
ForכִּיthusכֹהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָהWhenכִּי לְפִיseventyשִׁבְעִיםyearsשָׁנָהare completedמְלֹאתfor Babylon,לְבָבֶלI will visit you,אֶפְקֹד אֶתְכֶםand I will fulfillוַהֲקִמֹתִיfor youעֲלֵיכֶםmy good word,אֶת דְּבָרִי הַטּוֹבto bring you backלְהָשִׁיב אֶתְכֶםto this place.אֶל הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה
ForכִּיIאָנֹכִיknowיָדַעְתִּיthe plansאֶת הַמַּחֲשָׁבֹתthatאֲשֶׁרIאָנֹכִיam planningחֹשֵׁבfor you,עֲלֵיכֶםdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH,יְהוָהplansמַחְשְׁבוֹתof peaceשָׁלוֹםand notוְלֹאfor evil,לְרָעָהto giveלָתֵתyouלָכֶםa futureאַחֲרִיתand a hope.וְתִקְוָה
And you will callוּקְרָאתֶםon meאֹתִיand comeוַהֲלַכְתֶּםand prayוְהִתְפַּלַּלְתֶּםto me,אֵלָיand I will listenוְשָׁמַעְתִּיto you.אֲלֵיכֶם
And you will seekוּבִקַּשְׁתֶּםmeאֹתִיand find me,וּמְצָאתֶםwhenכִּיyou search for meתִדְרְשֻׁנִיwith allבְּכָלyour heart.לְבַבְכֶם
And I will be foundוְנִמְצֵאתִיby you,לָכֶםdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH,יְהוָהand I will bring backוְשַׁבְתִּיyour captivity,אֶת שְׁבוּתְכֶםand I will gather youוְקִבַּצְתִּי אֶתְכֶםfrom allמִכָּלthe nationsהַגּוֹיִםand from allוּמִכָּלthe placesהַמְּקוֹמוֹתwhereאֲשֶׁר שָׁםI have driven you,הִדַּחְתִּי אֶתְכֶםdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH,יְהוָהand I will bring you backוַהֲשִׁבֹתִי אֶתְכֶםto the placeאֶל הַמָּקוֹםfrom whichאֲשֶׁר מִשָּׁםI carried you into exile.הִגְלֵיתִי אֶתְכֶם
Becauseכִּיyou have said,אֲמַרְתֶּם“YHWHיְהוָהhas raised upהֵקִיםfor usלָנוּprophetsנְבִאִיםin Babylon,”בָּבֶלָה
forכִּיthusכֹהsaysאָמַרYHWHיְהוָהconcerning the kingאֶל הַמֶּלֶךְwho sitsהַיּוֹשֵׁבon the throneאֶל כִּסֵּאof David,דָוִדand concerning allוְאֶל כָּלthe peopleהָעָםwho liveהַיּוֹשֵׁבin this city,בָּעִיר הַזֹּאתyour brothersאֲחֵיכֶםwhoאֲשֶׁרdid notלֹאgo outיָצְאוּwith youאִתְּכֶםinto exile,בַּגּוֹלָה
thusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWHיְהוָהTsevaot:צְבָאוֹתLook, I amהִנְנִיsendingמְשַׁלֵּחַagainst themבָּםthe sword,אֶת הַחֶרֶבthe famine,אֶת הָרָעָבand the pestilence,וְאֶת הַדָּבֶרand I will makeוְנָתַתִּיthemאוֹתָםlike the repulsiveכַּ הַשֹּׁעָרִיםfigsתְּאֵנִיםthatאֲשֶׁרcannotלֹאbe eatenתֵאָכַלְנָהfor badness.מֵרֹעַ
And I will pursueוְרָדַפְתִּיthemאַחֲרֵיהֶםwith the sword,בַּחֶרֶבwith the famine,בָּרָעָבand with the pestilence,וּבַדָּבֶרand I will make themוּנְתַתִּיםa terrorלְזַעֲוָהto allלְכֹלthe kingdomsמַמְלְכוֹתof the earth,הָאָרֶץa curseלְאָלָהand a horrorוּלְשַׁמָּהand a hissingוְלִשְׁרֵקָהand a reproachוּלְחֶרְפָּהamong allבְּכָלthe nationsהַגּוֹיִםwhereאֲשֶׁר שָׁםI have driven them,הִדַּחְתִּים
becauseתַּחַת אֲשֶׁרthey did notלֹאlistenשָׁמְעוּto my words,אֶל דְּבָרַיdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH,יְהוָהwhichאֲשֶׁרI sentשָׁלַחְתִּיto themאֲלֵיהֶםby my servantsאֶת עֲבָדַיthe prophets,הַנְּבִאִיםrising earlyהַשְׁכֵּםand sending;וְשָׁלֹחַbut you did notוְלֹאlisten,שְׁמַעְתֶּםdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH.יְהוָה
But you,וְאַתֶּםhearשִׁמְעוּthe wordדְבַרof YHWH,יְהוָהallכָּלthe exilesהַגּוֹלָהwhomאֲשֶׁרI have sentשִׁלַּחְתִּיfrom Jerusalemמִירוּשָׁלִַםto Babylon:בָּבֶלָה
ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWHיְהוָהTsevaot,צְבָאוֹתthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלconcerning Ahabאֶל אַחְאָבsonבֶּןof Kolaiahקוֹלָיָהand concerning Zedekiahוְאֶל צִדְקִיָּהוּsonבֶןof Maaseiah,מַעֲשֵׂיָהwho are prophesyingהַנִּבְּאִיםto youלָכֶםfalsehoodשָׁקֶרin my name:בִּשְׁמִיLook, I amהִנְנִיgivingנֹתֵןthemאֹתָםinto the handבְּיַדof Nebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרkingמֶלֶךְof Babylon,בָּבֶלand he will strike them downוְהִכָּםbefore your eyes.לְעֵינֵיכֶם
And from themוְ מֵהֶםa curseקְלָלָהwill be taken upלֻקַּחby allלְכֹלthe exilesגָּלוּתof Judahיְהוּדָהwho areאֲשֶׁרin Babylon,בְּבָבֶלsaying,לֵאמֹר‘May YHWHיְהוָהmake youיְשִׂמְךָlike Zedekiahכְּצִדְקִיָּהוּand like Ahab,וּכְאֶחָבwhomאֲשֶׁרthe kingמֶלֶךְof Babylonבָּבֶלroastedקָלָםin the fire,’בָּאֵשׁ
becauseיַעַן אֲשֶׁרthey have doneעָשׂוּan outrageנְבָלָהin Israel,בְּיִשְׂרָאֵלand they have committed adulteryוַיְנַאֲפוּwith the wivesאֶת נְשֵׁיof their neighbors,רֵעֵיהֶםand they have spokenוַיְדַבְּרוּa wordדָבָרin my name,בִּשְׁמִיfalsehood,שֶׁקֶרwhichאֲשֶׁרI did notלוֹאcommand them;צִוִּיתִםand Iוְאָנֹכִיam the one who knows,הַיּוֹדֵעַand a witness,וָעֵדdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH.”יְהוָה
And to Shemaiahוְאֶל שְׁמַעְיָהוּthe Nehelamiteהַנֶּחֱלָמִיyou shall speak,תֹּאמַרsaying:לֵאמֹר
“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWHיְהוָהTsevaot,צְבָאוֹתthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלsaying:לֵאמֹרBecauseיַעַן אֲשֶׁרyouאַתָּהhave sentשָׁלַחְתָּin your nameבְשִׁמְכָהlettersסְפָרִיםto allאֶל כָּלthe peopleהָעָםwho areאֲשֶׁרin Jerusalem,בִּירוּשָׁלִַםand to Zephaniahוְאֶל צְפַנְיָהsonבֶןof Maaseiah,מַעֲשֵׂיָהthe priest,הַכֹּהֵןand to allוְאֶל כָּלthe priests,הַכֹּהֲנִיםsaying,לֵאמֹר
‘YHWHיְהוָהhas made youנְתָנְךָpriestכֹהֵןin place ofתַּחַתJehoiadaיְהוֹיָדָעthe priest,הַכֹּהֵןso that there may beלִהְיוֹתoverseersפְּקִדִיםin the houseבֵּיתof YHWHיְהוָהfor everyלְכָלmanאִישׁwho is madמְשֻׁגָּעand makes himself a prophet,וּמִתְנַבֵּאthat you may put himוְנָתַתָּה אֹתוֹin the stocksאֶל הַמַּהְפֶּכֶתand in the collar.וְאֶל הַצִּינֹק
And now,וְעַתָּהwhyלָמָּהhave you notלֹאrebukedגָעַרְתָּJeremiahבְּיִרְמְיָהוּof Anathoth,הָעֲנְּתֹתִיwho makes himself a prophetהַמִּתְנַבֵּאto you?לָכֶם
Forכִּיthat is whyעַל כֵּןhe has sentשָׁלַחto usאֵלֵינוּin Babylon,בָּבֶלsaying,לֵאמֹר“It will be long;אֲרֻכָּה הִיאbuildבְּנוּhousesבָתִּיםand live in them;וְשֵׁבוּand plantוְנִטְעוּgardensגַנּוֹתand eatוְאִכְלוּtheir fruit.”’”אֶת פְּרִיהֶן
And Zephaniahוַ צְפַנְיָהthe priestהַכֹּהֵןreadיִּקְרָאthis letterאֶת הַסֵּפֶר הַזֶּהin the earsבְּאָזְנֵיof Jeremiahיִרְמְיָהוּthe prophet.הַנָּבִיא
And the wordוַיְהִי דְּבַרof YHWHיְהוָהcame to Jeremiah,אֶל יִרְמְיָהוּsaying:לֵאמֹר
“Sendשְׁלַחto allעַל כָּלthe exiles,הַגּוֹלָהsaying,לֵאמֹר‘ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWHיְהוָהconcerning Shemaiahאֶל שְׁמַעְיָהthe Nehelamite:הַנֶּחֱלָמִיBecauseיַעַן אֲשֶׁרShemaiahשְׁמַעְיָהhas prophesiedנִבָּאto you,לָכֶםand Iוַאֲנִיdid notלֹאsend him,שְׁלַחְתִּיוand he has madeוַיַּבְטַחyouאֶתְכֶםtrustיַּבְטַחin falsehood,עַל שָׁקֶר
thereforeלָכֵןthusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָהLook, I amהִנְנִיpunishingפֹקֵדShemaiahעַל שְׁמַעְיָהthe Nehelamiteהַנֶּחֱלָמִיand his offspring;וְעַל זַרְעוֹhe will notלֹאhaveיִהְיֶה לוֹa manאִישׁlivingיוֹשֵׁבin the midstבְּתוֹךְof this people,הָעָם הַזֶּהand he will notוְלֹאseeיִרְאֶהthe goodבַטּוֹבthatאֲשֶׁרIאֲנִיam doingעֹשֶׂהfor my people,לְעַמִּיdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH,יְהוָהforכִּיhe has spokenדִבֶּרrebellionסָרָהagainst YHWH.’”עַל יְהוָה