The wordהַדָּבָרthatאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהspokeדִּבֶּרconcerning Babylon,אֶל בָּבֶלconcerning the landאֶל אֶרֶץof the Chaldeans,כַּשְׂדִּיםby the handבְּיַדof Jeremiahיִרְמְיָהוּthe prophet:הַנָּבִיא
Declareהַגִּידוּamong the nationsבַגּוֹיִםand proclaim,וְהַשְׁמִיעוּand lift upוּשְׂאוּa banner;נֵסproclaim,הַשְׁמִיעוּdo notאַלconceal it;תְּכַחֵדוּsay,אִמְרוּ“Babylonבָבֶלis captured,נִלְכְּדָהBelבֵּלis put to shame,הֹבִישׁMerodachמְרֹדָךְis dismayed;חַתher idolsעֲצַבֶּיהָare put to shame,הֹבִישׁוּher idolsגִּלּוּלֶיהָare dismayed.”חַתּוּ
Forכִּיa nationגּוֹיfrom the northמִצָּפוֹןhas come upעָלָהagainst her;עָלֶיהָitהוּאwill makeיָשִׁיתher landאַרְצָהּa horror,לְשַׁמָּהand there will be noוְלֹא יִהְיֶהinhabitantיוֹשֵׁבin it;בָּהּfrom human beingמֵאָדָםto livestockוְעַד בְּהֵמָהthey have fled,נָדוּthey have gone.הָלָכוּ
In those daysבַּיָּמִים הָהֵמָּהand in that time,וּבָעֵת הַהִיאdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH,יְהוָהthe sonsבְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwill come,יָבֹאוּtheyהֵמָּהand the sonsוּבְנֵיof Judahיְהוּדָהtogether;יַחְדָּוgoingהָלוֹךְand weepingוּבָכוֹthey will go,יֵלֵכוּand YHWHוְ יְהוָהtheir Elohimאֱלֹהֵיהֶםthey will seek.יְבַקֵּשׁוּ
They will askיִשְׁאָלוּabout Zion,צִיּוֹןabout the way,דֶּרֶךְwith their facesפְנֵיהֶםset this way:הֵנָּה“Come,בֹּאוּand join yourselvesוְנִלְווּto YHWHאֶל יְהוָהin an eternalעוֹלָםcovenantבְּרִיתthat will notלֹאbe forgotten.”תִשָּׁכֵחַ
My peopleעַמִּיhave beenהָיוּlostאֹבְדוֹתsheep;צֹאןtheir shepherdsרֹעֵיהֶםhave led them astray,הִתְעוּםthe mountainsהָרִיםhave made them wayward;שׁוֹבְבוּםfrom mountainמֵהַרto hillאֶל גִּבְעָהthey have gone,הָלָכוּthey have forgottenשָׁכְחוּtheir resting place.רִבְצָם
Allכָּלwho found themמוֹצְאֵיהֶםdevoured them,אֲכָלוּםand their adversariesוְצָרֵיהֶםsaid,אָמְרוּ“We are notלֹאguilty,נֶאְשָׁםbecauseתַּחַת אֲשֶׁרthey have sinnedחָטְאוּagainst YHWH,לַיהוָהthe dwellingנְוֵהof righteousness,צֶדֶקand the hopeוּמִקְוֵהof their fathers,אֲבוֹתֵיהֶםYHWH.”יְהוָה
Fleeנֻדוּfrom the midstמִתּוֹךְof Babylon,בָּבֶלand from the landוּמֵאֶרֶץof the Chaldeansכַּשְׂדִּיםgo out,צֵאוּand beוִהְיוּlike male goatsכְּעַתּוּדִיםbeforeלִפְנֵיthe flock.צֹאן
Forכִּיlook,הִנֵּהIאָנֹכִיam stirring upמֵעִירand bringing upוּמַעֲלֶהagainst Babylonעַל בָּבֶלan assemblyקְהַלof greatגְּדֹלִיםnationsגּוֹיִםfrom the landמֵאֶרֶץof the north;צָפוֹןand they will set themselves in arrayוְעָרְכוּagainst her;לָהּfrom thereמִשָּׁםshe will be captured.תִּלָּכֵדIts arrowsחִצָּיוare like those of a skilledמַשְׁכִּילmighty manכְּגִבּוֹרwho does notלֹאreturnיָשׁוּבempty-handed.רֵיקָם
And Chaldeaוְ כַשְׂדִּיםwill becomeהָיְתָהspoil;לְשָׁלָלallכָּלwho despoil herשֹׁלְלֶיהָwill be sated,יִשְׂבָּעוּdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH.יְהוָה
Becauseכִּיyou rejoice,תִשְׂמְחוּbecauseכִּיyou exult,תַעֲלְזוּplunderersשֹׁסֵיof my inheritance,נַחֲלָתִיbecauseכִּיyou friskתָפוּשׁוּlike a heiferכְּעֶגְלָהthreshing,דָשָׁהand neighוְתִצְהֲלוּlike stallions,כָּאֲבִּרִים
your motherאִמְּכֶםis greatlyמְאֹדput to shame;בּוֹשָׁהshe who bore youיוֹלַדְתְּכֶםis abashed.חָפְרָהLook,הִנֵּהthe lastאַחֲרִיתof the nations:גּוֹיִםa wilderness,מִדְבָּרa dry land,צִיָּהand a steppe.וַעֲרָבָה
Because of the wrathמִקֶּצֶףof YHWHיְהוָהshe will notלֹאbe inhabited,תֵשֵׁבbut she will becomeוְהָיְתָהa desolation,שְׁמָמָהall of her;כֻּלָּהּeveryoneכֹּלwho passesעֹבֵרby Babylonעַל בָּבֶלwill be horrifiedיִשֹּׁםand will hissוְיִשְׁרֹקover allעַל כָּלher wounds.מַכּוֹתֶיהָ
Set yourselves in arrayעִרְכוּagainst Babylonעַל בָּבֶלall around,סָבִיבallכָּלwho bendדֹּרְכֵיthe bow;קֶשֶׁתshootיְדוּat her,אֵלֶיהָdo notאַלspareתַּחְמְלוּ אֶלarrows,חֵץforכִּיagainst YHWHלַיהוָהshe has sinned.חָטָאָה
Raise a shoutהָרִיעוּagainst herעָלֶיהָall around;סָבִיבshe has givenנָתְנָהher hand;יָדָהּher bulwarksאָשְׁיוֹתֶיהָhave fallen,נָפְלוּher wallsחוֹמוֹתֶיהָare torn down;נֶהֶרְסוּforכִּיitהִיאis the vengeanceנִקְמַתof YHWH:יְהוָהtake vengeanceהִנָּקְמוּon her;בָהּasכַּאֲשֶׁרshe has done,עָשְׂתָהdoעֲשׂוּto her.לָהּ
Cut offכִּרְתוּthe sowerזוֹרֵעַfrom Babylon,מִבָּבֶלand the one who handlesוְתֹפֵשׂthe sickleמַגָּלin the timeבְּעֵתof harvest;קָצִירfrom beforeמִפְּנֵיthe swordחֶרֶבof the oppressorהַיּוֹנָהeach oneאִישׁto his peopleאֶל עַמּוֹthey will turn,יִפְנוּand each oneוְאִישׁto his landלְאַרְצוֹthey will flee.יָנֻסוּ
A scatteredפְזוּרָהsheepשֶׂהis Israel;יִשְׂרָאֵלlionsאֲרָיוֹתhave driven it away;הִדִּיחוּ הָthe firstרִאשׁוֹןdevoured it,אֲכָלוֹthe kingמֶלֶךְof Assyria;אַשּׁוּרand thisוְזֶהlast oneהָאַחֲרוֹןhas gnawed its bones,עִצְּמוֹNebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרkingמֶלֶךְof Babylon.בָּבֶל
ThereforeלָכֵןthusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWHיְהוָהTsevaot,צְבָאוֹתElohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel:יִשְׂרָאֵלLook, Iהִנְנִיam punishingפֹקֵד אֶלthe kingמֶלֶךְof Babylonבָּבֶלand his land,וְאֶל אַרְצוֹasכַּאֲשֶׁרI punishedפָּקַדְתִּי אֶלthe kingמֶלֶךְof Assyria.אַשּׁוּר
And I will bring backוְשֹׁבַבְתִּיIsraelאֶת יִשְׂרָאֵלto his fold,אֶל נָוֵהוּand he will grazeוְרָעָהon Carmelהַכַּרְמֶלand Bashan,וְהַבָּשָׁןand on the mountainוּבְהַרof Ephraimאֶפְרַיִםand Gileadוְהַגִּלְעָדhis soulנַפְשׁוֹwill be satisfied.תִּשְׂבַּע
In those daysבַּיָּמִים הָהֵםand in that time,וּבָעֵת הַהִיאdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH,יְהוָהthe iniquityאֶת עֲוֺןof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwill be sought,יְבֻקַּשׁand there will be none;וְאֵינֶנּוּand the sinsוְאֶת חַטֹּאתof Judah,יְהוּדָהand they will notוְלֹאbe found;תִמָּצֶאינָהforכִּיI will forgiveאֶסְלַחthose whomלַאֲשֶׁרI leave as a remnant.אַשְׁאִיר
Against the landעַל הָאָרֶץof Merathaim,מְרָתַיִםgo up against it,עֲלֵה עָלֶיהָand against the inhabitantsוְאֶל יוֹשְׁבֵיof Pekod;פְּקוֹדslayחֲרֹבand devote them to destructionוְהַחֲרֵםafter them,אַחֲרֵיהֶםdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH,יְהוָהand doוַעֲשֵׂהaccording to allכְּכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרI have commanded you.צִוִּיתִיךָ
A soundקוֹלof warמִלְחָמָהin the land,בָּאָרֶץand greatוְ גָּדוֹלbreaking!שֶׁבֶר
Howאֵיךְit is cut downנִגְדַּעand broken,וַיִּשָּׁבֵרthe hammerפַּטִּישׁof allכָּלthe earth!הָאָרֶץHowאֵיךְBabylonבָּבֶלhas becomeהָיְתָהa horrorלְשַׁמָּהamong the nations!בַּגּוֹיִם
I set a snareיָקֹשְׁתִּיfor you,לָךְand indeedוְגַםyou were caught,נִלְכַּדְתְּBabylon,בָּבֶלand youוְאַתְּdid notלֹאknow it;יָדָעַתְּyou were foundנִמְצֵאתand indeedוְגַםseized,נִתְפַּשְׂתְּbecauseכִּיyou engaged in strifeהִתְגָּרִיתagainst YHWH.בַיהוָה
YHWHיְהוָהhas openedפָּתַחhis armoryאֶת אוֹצָרוֹand brought outוַיּוֹצֵאthe weaponsאֶת כְּלֵיof his indignation;זַעְמוֹforכִּיthisהִיאis a workמְלָאכָהfor AdonaiלַאדֹנָיYHWHיְהוִהTsevaotצְבָאוֹתin the landבְּאֶרֶץof the Chaldeans.כַּשְׂדִּים
Comeבֹּאוּagainst herלָהּfrom the farthest end;מִקֵּץopenפִּתְחוּher granaries;מַאֲבֻסֶיהָpile her upסָלּוּהָlike heaps,כְמוֹ עֲרֵמִיםand devote her to destruction;וְהַחֲרִימוּהָlet there be noאַל תְּהִיremnantשְׁאֵרִיתof her.לָהּ
Slayחִרְבוּallכָּלher bulls;פָּרֶיהָlet them go downיֵרְדוּto the slaughter!לַטָּבַחWoeהוֹיto them,עֲלֵיהֶםforכִּיtheir dayיוֹמָםhas come,בָאthe timeעֵתof their punishment.פְּקֻדָּתָם
A soundקוֹלof those who fleeנָסִיםand escapeוּפְלֵטִיםfrom the landמֵאֶרֶץof Babylon,בָּבֶלto declareלְהַגִּידin Zionבְּצִיּוֹןthe vengeanceאֶת נִקְמַתof YHWHיְהוָהour Elohim,אֱלֹהֵינוּthe vengeanceנִקְמַתfor his temple.הֵיכָלוֹ
Summonהַשְׁמִיעוּagainst Babylonאֶל בָּבֶלarchers,רַבִּיםallכָּלwho bendדֹּרְכֵיthe bow;קֶשֶׁתencampחֲנוּagainst herעָלֶיהָall around;סָבִיבlet there be noאַל יְהִיescapeפְּלֵטָהfor her.לָהּRepay herשַׁלְּמוּ לָהּaccording to her deeds;כְּפָעֳלָהּaccording to allכְּכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרshe has done,עָשְׂתָהdo to her;עֲשׂוּ לָהּforכִּיagainst YHWHאֶל יְהוָהshe has acted insolently,זָדָהagainst the Holy Oneאֶל קְדוֹשׁof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל
Thereforeלָכֵןher young menבַחוּרֶיהָwill fallיִפְּלוּin her squares,בִּרְחֹבֹתֶיהָand allוְכָלher men of warאַנְשֵׁי מִלְחַמְתָּהּwill be silencedיִדַּמּוּin that day,בַּיּוֹם הַהוּאdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH.יְהוָה
Look, I amהִנְנִיagainst you,אֵלֶיךָInsolence,זָדוֹןdeclaresנְאֻםAdonaiאֲדֹנָיYHWHיְהוִהTsevaot;צְבָאוֹתforכִּיyour dayיוֹמְךָhas come,בָּאthe timeעֵתthat I punish you.פְּקַדְתִּיךָ
And Insolenceוְ זָדוֹןwill stumbleכָשַׁלand fall,וְנָפַלand there will be no oneוְאֵיןto raise it up;לוֹ מֵקִיםand I will kindleוְהִצַּתִּיfireאֵשׁin its cities,בְּעָרָיוand it will consumeוְאָכְלָהallכָּלthat is around it.סְבִיבֹתָיו
ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWHיְהוָהTsevaot:צְבָאוֹתOppressed areעֲשׁוּקִיםthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלand the sonsוּבְנֵיof Judahיְהוּדָהtogether;יַחְדָּוand allוְכָלwho took them captiveשֹׁבֵיהֶםhave held them fast;הֶחֱזִיקוּ בָםthey have refusedמֵאֲנוּto let them go.שַׁלְּחָם
Their Redeemerגֹּאֲלָםis strong;חָזָקYHWHיְהוָהTsevaotצְבָאוֹתis his name;שְׁמוֹhe will surelyרִיבpleadיָרִיבtheir cause,אֶת רִיבָםso thatלְמַעַןhe may give restהִרְגִּיעַto the earthאֶת הָאָרֶץand make trembleוְהִרְגִּיזthe inhabitantsלְיֹשְׁבֵיof Babylon.בָבֶל
A swordחֶרֶבagainst the Chaldeans,עַל כַּשְׂדִּיםdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH,יְהוָהand against the inhabitantsוְאֶל יֹשְׁבֵיof Babylon,בָבֶלand against her princesוְאֶל שָׂרֶיהָand against her wise men!וְאֶל חֲכָמֶיהָ
A swordחֶרֶבagainst the babblers,אֶל הַבַּדִּיםand they will become fools!וְנֹאָלוּA swordחֶרֶבagainst her mighty men,אֶל גִּבּוֹרֶיהָand they will be dismayed!וָחָתּוּ
A swordחֶרֶבagainst his horsesאֶל סוּסָיוand against his chariotsוְאֶל רִכְבּוֹand against allוְאֶל כָּלthe mixed peoplesהָעֶרֶבwho areאֲשֶׁרin her midst,בְּתוֹכָהּand they will becomeוְהָיוּwomen!לְנָשִׁיםA swordחֶרֶבagainst her treasures,אֶל אוֹצְרֹתֶיהָand they will be plundered!וּבֻזָּזוּ
A droughtחֹרֶבupon her waters,אֶל מֵימֶיהָand they will dry up!וְיָבֵשׁוּForכִּיit isהִיאa landאֶרֶץof carved images,פְּסִלִיםand over terrorsוּבָאֵימִיםthey go mad.יִתְהֹלָלוּ
Thereforeלָכֵןdesert creaturesצִיִּיםwill dwellיֵשְׁבוּwith hyenas,אֶת אִיִּיםand ostrichesבְּנוֹת יַעֲנָהwill dwellוְיָשְׁבוּin it;בָהּand it will notוְלֹאbe inhabitedתֵשֵׁבagainעוֹדforever,לָנֶצַחnorוְלֹאbe dwelt inתִשְׁכּוֹןfrom generationעַד דּוֹרto generation.וָדוֹר
As at the overthrowכְּמַהְפֵּכַתby Elohimאֱלֹהִיםof Sodomאֶת סְדֹםand Gomorrahוְאֶת עֲמֹרָהand their neighbors,וְאֶת שְׁכֵנֶיהָdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH,יְהוָהno oneלֹא אִישׁwill dwellיֵשֵׁבthere,שָׁםnorוְלֹאwill a sonבֶּןof manאָדָםresideיָגוּרin it.בָּהּ
Look,הִנֵּהa peopleעַםis comingבָּאfrom the north,מִצָּפוֹןand a greatגָּדוֹלnationוְגוֹיand manyרַבִּיםkingsוּמְלָכִיםare stirred upיֵעֹרוּfrom the far reachesמִיַּרְכְּתֵיof the earth.אָרֶץ
Bowקֶשֶׁתand javelinוְכִידֹןthey grasp;יַחֲזִיקוּtheyהֵמָּהare cruel,אַכְזָרִיand they do notוְלֹאshow compassion.יְרַחֵמוּTheir voiceקוֹלָםroarsיֶהֱמֶהlike the sea,כַּיָּםand on horsesוְעַל סוּסִיםthey ride,יִרְכָּבוּset in arrayעָרוּךְlike a manכְּאִישׁfor warלַמִּלְחָמָהagainst you,עָלַיִךְdaughterבַּתof Babylon.בָּבֶל
The kingמֶלֶךְof Babylonבָּבֶלhas heardשָׁמַעthe report of them,אֶת שִׁמְעָםand his handsוְ יָדָיוgo limp;רָפוּanguishצָרָהhas seized him,הֶחֱזִיקַתְהוּpainחִילas of a woman giving birth.כַּיּוֹלֵדָה
Look,הִנֵּהlike a lionכְּאַרְיֵהhe comes upיַעֲלֶהfrom the thicketמִגְּאוֹןof the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּןagainst the perennial fold;אֶל נְוֵה אֵיתָןforכִּיin an instantאַרְגִּעָהI will make them runאֲרִיצֵםfrom it,מֵעָלֶיהָand whoever is chosenוּמִי בָחוּרI will appointאֶפְקֹדover it;אֵלֶיהָforכִּיwho isמִיlike me?כָמוֹנִיAnd whoוּמִיwill summon me?יוֹעִדֶנִּיAnd whoוּמִיis thisזֶהshepherdרֹעֶהwhoאֲשֶׁרwill standיַעֲמֹדbefore me?לְפָנָי
Thereforeלָכֵןhearשִׁמְעוּthe counselעֲצַתof YHWHיְהוָהwhichאֲשֶׁרhe has counseledיָעַץagainst Babylon,אֶל בָּבֶלand his plansוּמַחְשְׁבוֹתָיוwhichאֲשֶׁרhe has plannedחָשַׁבagainst the landאֶל אֶרֶץof the Chaldeans:כַּשְׂדִּיםsurelyאִם לֹאthey will drag them away,יִסְחָבוּםthe little onesצְעִירֵיof the flock;הַצֹּאןsurelyאִם לֹאhe will make desolateיַשִּׁיםtheir foldנָוֶהbecause of them.עֲלֵיהֶם
At the soundמִקּוֹל“Babylonבָבֶלis seized!”נִתְפְּשָׂהthe earthהָאָרֶץquakes,נִרְעֲשָׁהand a cryוּזְעָקָהamong the nationsבַּגּוֹיִםis heard.נִשְׁמָע