New American Standard Bible 1995

Jeremiah 4

Judah Threatened with Invasion

1“Ifאִם־'im-H518you willreturnתָּשׁ֨וּבta.ShuvH7725,O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל׀Yis.ra.'ElH3478,”declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the Lordיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068, “Thenyou should returnתָּשׁ֑וּבta.ShuvH7725to Me. Andifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518you will putH5493awayH5493your detestedH8251thingsשִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָshi.ku.Tzei.chaH8251from My presenceמִפָּנַ֖יmi.pa.NaiH6440,And will not waverתָנֽוּד׃ta.NudH5110,

2And you willswearוְנִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ve.nish.Ba'.taH7650, ‘As the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068livesחַי־chai-H2416,’In truthבֶּאֱמֶ֖תbe.'e.MetH571,in justiceבְּמִשְׁפָּ֣טbe.mish.PatH4941and in righteousnessוּבִצְדָקָ֑הu.vitz.da.KahH6666; Then thenationsגּוֹיִ֖םgo.YimH1471will blessוְהִתְבָּ֥רְכוּve.hit.Ba.re.khuH1288themselves in Him, Andin Him they will gloryיִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃ סyit.ha.La.luH1984.”

3For thusכֹ֣ה׀khohH3541saysאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559the Lordיְהֹוָ֗הYah.wehH3068to the menלְאִ֤ישׁle.'IshH376of Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063and to Jerusalemוְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םve.li.Ru.sha.LimH3389, “Breakנִ֥ירוּNi.ruH5214up your fallowH5215groundנִ֑ירNirH5215, Anddo not sowתִּזְרְע֖וּtiz.re.'UH2232amongאֶל־'el-H413thornsקוֹצִֽים׃ko.TzimH6975.

4Circumciseהִמֹּ֣לוּhi.Mo.luH4135yourselves to the Lordלַיהֹוָ֗הla.Yah.wehH3068And removeוְהָסִ֙רוּ֙ve.ha.Si.ruH5493the foreskinsעָרְל֣וֹתa.re.LotH6190of your heartלְבַבְכֶ֔םle.vav.KhemH3824,Menאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063and inhabitantsוְיֹשְׁבֵ֣יve.yo.she.VeiH3427of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,OrH6435elseH6435Mywrathחֲמָתִ֗יcha.ma.TiH2534will goתֵּצֵ֨אte.Tze'H3318forthH3318like fireכָאֵ֜שׁkha.'EshH784And burnוּבָעֲרָה֙u.va.'a.RahH1197withnoneוְאֵ֣יןve.'EinH369to quenchמְכַבֶּ֔הme.kha.BehH3518it,Becauseמִפְּנֵ֖יmi.pe.NeiH4480 H6440of the evilרֹ֥עַRo.a'H7455of your deedsמַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃ma.'a.lei.KhemH4611.”

5Declareהַגִּ֣ידוּha.Gi.duH5046in Judahבִֽיהוּדָ֗הvi.hu.DahH3063and proclaimהַשְׁמִ֔יעוּhash.Mi.'uH8085in Jerusalemוּבִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙u.vi.ru.sha.LimH3389,and sayוְאִמְר֕וּve.'im.RuH559, “Blowתִּקְע֥וּv.tik.'uH8628the trumpetשׁוֹפָ֖רsho.FarH7782in the landבָּאָ֑רֶץba.'A.retzH776;Cryקִרְא֤וּkir.'UH7121aloudמַלְאוּ֙mal.'UH4390and sayוְאִמְר֔וּve.'im.RuH559, ‘Assembleהֵאָסְפ֥וּhe.'a.se.FuH622yourselves, and let us goוְנָב֖וֹאָהve.na.Vo.'ahH935Into the fortifiedהַמִּבְצָֽר׃ha.miv.TzarH4013citiesעָרֵ֥י'a.ReiH5892.’

6Liftשְׂאוּ־se.'u-H5375up astandardנֵ֣סnesH5251toward Zionצִיּ֔וֹנָהtzi.Yo.nahH6726!SeekH5756refugeהָעִ֖יזוּha.'I.zuH5756,do not standתַּעֲמֹ֑דוּta.'a.Mo.duH5975still,For I am bringingמֵבִ֥יאme.Vi'H935evilH7463from the northמִצָּפ֖וֹןmi.tza.FonH6828,And greatגָּדֽוֹל׃ga.DolH1419destructionוְשֶׁ֥בֶרve.She.verH7667.

7AlionH743has goneעָלָ֤ה'a.LahH5927up from his thicketמִֽסֻּבְּכ֔וֹmi.su.be.KhoH5441, And adestroyerוּמַשְׁחִ֣יתu.mash.ChitH7843of nationsגּוֹיִ֔םgo.YimH1471has setנָסַ֖עna.Sa'H5265out;He has goneיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318out from his placeמִמְּקֹמ֑וֹmi.me.ko.MoH4725Tomakeלָשׂ֤וּםla.SumH7760your landאַרְצֵךְ֙'ar.tzeKhH776a wasteלְשַׁמָּ֔הle.sha.MahH8047.Your citiesעָרַ֥יִךְ'a.Ra.yikhH5892will be ruinsתִּצֶּ֖ינָהti.Tzei.nahH5327Withoutמֵאֵ֥יןme.'EinH369inhabitantיוֹשֵֽׁב׃yo.ShevH3427.

8For thisH2088,putחִגְר֥וּchig.RuH2296on sackclothשַׂקִּ֖יםsa.KimH8242,Lamentסִפְד֣וּsif.DuH5594and wailוְהֵילִ֑ילוּve.hei.Li.luH3213; For thefierceחֲר֥וֹןcha.RonH2740angerאַף־'af-H639of the Lordיְהֹוָ֖הYah.wehH3068Has not turnedH7725backשָׁ֛בshavH7725from us.”

9“It shall comeוְהָיָ֤הve.ha.YahH1961about in that dayבַיּוֹם־vai.yom-H3117,”declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068, “that theheartלֵב־lev-H3820of the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428and the heartוְלֵ֣בve.LevH3820of the princesהַשָּׂרִ֑יםha.sa.RimH8269will failיֹאבַ֥דyo.VadH6;and the priestsהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםha.Ko.ha.NimH3548will be appalledוְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ve.na.Sha.muH8074and theprophetsוְהַנְּבִיאִ֖יםve.ha.ne.vi.'ImH5030will be astoundedיִתְמָֽהוּ׃yit.Ma.huH8539.”

10Then I saidוָאֹמַ֞רva.'o.MarH559, “Ahאֲהָ֣הּ׀'a.HahH162,Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136GodH3068!Surelyאָכֵן֩'a.KhenH403You have utterlyH5378deceivedH5378thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088peopleלָעָ֤םla.'AmH5971and Jerusalemוְלִירוּשָׁלִַ֣םve.li.ru.sha.LimH3389,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, ‘You will haveיִהְיֶ֣הyih.YehH1961peaceשָׁל֖וֹםsha.LomH7965’;whereas a swordחֶ֖רֶבChe.revH2719touchesוְנָגְעָ֥הve.na.ge.'AhH5060thethroatהַנָּֽפֶשׁ׃ha.Na.feshH5315.”

11In that timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256it will be saidיֵאָמֵ֤רye.'a.MerH559to thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088peopleלָֽעָם־la.'om-H5971and to Jerusalemוְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םve.li.Ru.sha.LimH3389, “Ascorchingצַ֤חtzachH6703windר֣וּחַRu.achH7307from the bareשְׁפָיִים֙she.fa.YimH8205heightsH8205in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֔רba.mid.BarH4057in the directionדֶּ֖רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of My peopleעַמִּ֑י'a.MiH5971--not to winnowלִזְר֖וֹתliz.RotH2219and not to cleanseלְהָבַֽר׃le.ha.VarH1305,

12a windר֧וּחַRu.achH7307tooH4480strongמָלֵ֛אma.Le'H4392forthisמֵאֵ֖לֶּהme.'E.lehH428--will comeיָ֣בוֹאYa.Vo'H935at My command; nowעַתָּ֕ה'a.TahH6258I will alsoגַּם־gam-H1571pronounceאֲדַבֵּ֥ר'a.da.BerH1696judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטִ֖יםmish.pa.TimH4941against them.

13Beholdהִנֵּ֣ה׀hi.NehH2009, hegoesיַעֲלֶ֗הya.'a.LehH5927up like cloudsכַּעֲנָנִ֣יםka.'a.na.NimH6051, And hischariotsמַרְכְּבוֹתָ֔יוmar.ke.vo.TavH4818like the whirlwindוְכַסּוּפָה֙ve.kha.su.FahH5492;His horsesסוּסָ֑יוsu.SavH5483areswifterקַלּ֥וּka.LuH7043thanH4480eaglesמִנְּשָׁרִ֖יםmi.ne.sha.RimH5404.Woeא֥וֹי'oH188to us, forwe are ruinedשֻׁדָּֽדְנוּ׃shu.Da.de.nuH7703!”

14Washכַּבְּסִ֨יka.be.SiH3526your heartלִבֵּךְ֙li.beKhH3820from evilH7463,O Jerusalemיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םye.Ru.sha.LimH3389,That you may be savedתִּוָּשֵׁ֑עִיti.va.She.'iH3467.HowH4970longעַד־'ad-H5704 H4970will yourwickedאוֹנֵֽךְ׃'o.NekhH205thoughtsמַחְשְׁב֥וֹתmach.she.VotH4284Lodgeתָּלִ֥יןta.LinH3885withinבְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְbe.kir.BekhH7130you?

15For a voiceק֥וֹלKolH6963declaresמַגִּ֖ידma.GidH5046fromDanמִדָּ֑ןmi.DanH1835,And proclaimsוּמַשְׁמִ֥יעַu.mash.Mi.a'H8085wickednessאָ֖וֶן'A.venH205from Mountמֵהַ֥רme.HarH2022Ephraimאֶפְרָֽיִם׃'ef.Ra.yimH669.

16“Reportהַזְכִּ֣ירוּhaz.Ki.ruH2142itto the nationsלַגּוֹיִ֗םla.go.YimH1471,nowהִנֵּה֙hi.NehH2009!Proclaimהַשְׁמִ֣יעוּhash.Mi.'uH8085overעַל־'al-H5921Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םye.ru.sha.LimH3389, ‘Besiegersנֹצְרִ֥יםno.tze.RimH5341comeבָּאִ֖יםba.'ImH935from afarהַמֶּרְחָ֑קha.mer.ChakH4801countryמֵאֶ֣רֶץme.'E.retzH776, Andliftוַֽיִּתְּנ֛וּvai.yi.te.NuH5414their voicesקוֹלָֽם׃ko.LamH6963againstעַל־'al-H5921the citiesעָרֵ֥י'a.ReiH5892of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063.

17Like watchmenכְּשֹׁמְרֵ֣יke.sho.me.ReiH8104of a fieldH7706they areagainstעָלֶ֖יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921her roundמִסָּבִ֑יבmi.sa.VivH5439aboutH5439,Becauseכִּי־ki-H3588she hasrebelledמָרָ֖תָהma.Ra.tahH4784against Me,’ declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

18Yourwaysדַּרְכֵּךְ֙dar.keKhH1870and your deedsוּמַ֣עֲלָלַ֔יִךְu.Ma.'a.la.La.yikhH4611Havebroughtעָשׂ֥וֹa.SoH6213theseH428thingsאֵ֖לֶּה'E.lehH428to you.ThisH2088is your evilH7463.Howכִּ֣יkiH3588bitterH4751!Howכִּ֥יkiH3588it has touchedנָגַ֖עna.Ga'H5060your heartלִבֵּֽךְ׃ סli.BekhH3820!”

Lament over Judah’s Devastation

19Mysoulמֵעַ֣י׀me.'AiH4578, mysoulמֵעַ֨י׀me.'AiH4578!I am in anguishH2342!Ohקִיר֥וֹתki.RotH7023,my heartלִבִּ֛יli.BiH3820! Myheartלִבִּ֖יli.BiH3820is poundingהֹֽמֶה־ho.meh-H1993in me;I cannotלֹ֣אlo'H3808be silentאַחֲרִ֑ישׁ'a.cha.RishH2790,Becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588you have heardשָׁמַ֣עַתְּsha.ma'.tiH8085,O my soulנַפְשִׁ֔יnaf.ShiH5315, Thesoundק֤וֹלKolH6963of the trumpetשׁוֹפָר֙sho.FarH7782,The alarmתְּרוּעַ֖תte.ru.'AtH8643of warמִלְחָמָֽה׃mil.cha.MahH4421.

20Disasterשֶׁ֤בֶרShe.verH7667on disasterשֶׁ֙בֶר֙she.verH7667is proclaimedנִקְרָ֔אnik.Ra'H7121, For thewholeכָּל־kol-H3605landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776is devastatedשֻׁדְּדָ֖הshu.de.DahH7703;Suddenlyפִּתְאֹם֙pit.'OmH6597mytentsאֹהָלַ֔י'o.ha.LaiH168are devastatedשֻׁדְּד֣וּshu.de.DuH7703,My curtainsיְרִיעֹתָֽי׃ye.ri.'o.TaiH3407in an instantרֶ֖גַעRe.ga'H7281.

21HowH4970longעַד־'ad-H5704 H4970must I seeאֶרְאֶה־'er.'eh-H7200the standardנֵּ֑סNesH5251And hearאֶשְׁמְעָ֖ה'esh.me.'AhH8085the soundק֥וֹלKolH6963of the trumpetשׁוֹפָֽר׃ סsho.FarH7782?

22“For My peopleעַמִּ֗י'a.MiH5971are foolishאֱוִ֣יל'e.VilH191,They knowיָדָ֔עוּya.Da.'uH3045Me not;They are stupidסְכָלִים֙se.kha.LimH5530childrenבָּנִ֤יםba.NimH1121And haveH995noH3808understandingנְבוֹנִ֖יםne.vo.NimH995.They are shrewdחֲכָמִ֥יםcha.kha.MimH2450todoH7489evilלְהָרַ֔עle.ha.Ra'H7489,But to doH3190goodוּלְהֵיטִ֖יבu.le.hei.TivH3190they do not knowיָדָֽעוּ׃ya.Da.'uH3045.”

23I lookedרָאִ֙יתִי֙ra.'I.tiH7200on the earthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776,and beholdוְהִנֵּה־ve.hi.neh-H2009, it wasformlessתֹ֖הוּTo.huH8414and voidוָבֹ֑הוּva.Vo.huH922;And to the heavensהַשָּׁמַ֖יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064,and they hadH369noH369lightאוֹרָֽם׃'o.RamH216.

24I lookedרָאִ֙יתִי֙ra.'I.tiH7200on the mountainsהֶֽהָרִ֔יםhe.ha.RimH2022,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֖הve.hi.NehH2009, they werequakingרֹעֲשִׁ֑יםro.'a.ShimH7493,And allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the hillsהַגְּבָע֖וֹתha.ge.va.'otH1389movedH7043to and froH7043.

25I lookedרָאִ֕יתִיra.'I.tiH7200,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֖הve.hi.NehH2009,thereH369was noH369manהָאָדָ֑םha.'a.DamH120,And allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605thebirdsע֥וֹףofH5775of the heavensהַשָּׁמַ֖יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064had fledנָדָֽדוּ׃na.Da.duH5074.

26I lookedרָאִ֕יתִיra.'I.tiH7200,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009, thefruitfulH3759landH3759was a wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֑רha.mid.BarH4057,And allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605its citiesעָרָ֗יו'a.RavH5892were pulledH5422downנִתְּצוּ֙ni.te.TzuH5422Beforeמִפְּנֵ֣יmi.pe.NeiH4480 H6440the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,beforeמִפְּנֵ֖יmi.pe.NeiH4480 H6440His fierceחֲר֥וֹןcha.RonH2740angerאַפּֽוֹ׃ ס'a.PoH639.

27For thusכֹה֙khohH3541saysאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068, “Thewholeכָּל־kol-H3605landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776shall be a desolationשְׁמָמָ֥הshe.ma.MahH8077, Yet I willnot executeאֶעֱשֶֽׂה׃'e.'e.SehH6213a completeוְכָלָ֖הve.kha.LahH3617destructionH3617.

28For thisH2088theearthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776shall mournתֶּאֱבַ֣לte.'e.ValH56And theheavensהַשָּׁמַ֖יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064aboveמִמָּ֑עַל מִמֶּֽנָּה׃mi.Ma.'al mi.Me.nahH4480 H4605be darkוְקָדְר֥וּve.ka.de.RuH6937,Becauseכִּי־ki-H5921 H3588I havespokenדִבַּ֙רְתִּי֙di.Bar.tiH1696,I have purposedזַמֹּ֔תִיza.Mo.tiH2161, And I will notchangeH5162My mindH5162,norH3808will I turnאָשׁ֥וּב'a.ShuvH7725from it.”

29At the soundמִקּ֨וֹלmi.KolH6963of the horsemanפָּרָ֜שׁpa.RashH6571and bowmanוְרֹ֣מֵה קֶ֗שֶׁתve.Ro.meh Ke.shetH7411 H7198everyכָּל־kol-H3605cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892fleesבֹּרַ֙חַת֙bo.Ra.chatH1272; Theygoבָּ֚אוּBa.'uH935into the thicketsבֶּעָבִ֔יםbe.'a.VimH5645and climbעָל֑וּ'a.LuH5927among the rocksוּבַכֵּפִ֖יםu.va.ke.FimH3710;Everyכָּל־kol-H3605cityהָעִ֣ירha.'IrH5892is forsakenעֲזוּבָ֔ה'a.zu.VahH5800,And noוְאֵין־ve.'ein-H369manאִֽישׁ׃'IshH376dwellsיוֹשֵׁ֥בyo.ShevH3427in them.

30And you, O desolateשָׁד֜וּדsha.DudH7703one,whatמַֽה־mah-H4100will you doתַּעֲשִׂ֗יta.'a.SiH6213?Althoughכִּֽי־ki-H3588you dressתִלְבְּשִׁ֨יtil.be.ShiH3847in scarletשָׁנִ֜יsha.NiH8144,Althoughכִּי־ki-H3588you decorateתַעְדִּ֣יta'.DiH5710yourself withornamentsעֲדִי־'a.di-H5716of goldזָהָ֗בza.HavH2091,Althoughכִּֽי־ki-H3588youenlargeתִקְרְעִ֤יtik.re.'IH7167your eyesעֵינַ֔יִךְ'ei.Na.yikhH5869with paintבַפּוּךְ֙va.puKhH6320,In vainלַשָּׁ֖וְאla.Shav'H7723you makeH3302yourself beautifulH3302. Yourloversעֹגְבִ֖ים'o.ge.VimH5689despiseמָאֲסוּ־ma.'a.su-H3988you;They seekיְבַקֵּֽשׁוּ׃ye.va.Ke.shuH1245your lifeנַפְשֵׁ֥ךְnaf.ShekhH5315.

31For I heardשָׁמַ֗עְתִּיsha.Ma'.tiH8085acryק֨וֹלKolH6963as of a woman in laborH2342,The anguishצָרָה֙tza.RahH6869as of one givingH1069birthH1069to her firstH1069childH1069, Thecryק֧וֹלKolH6963of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Zionצִיּ֛וֹןtzi.YonH6726gaspingH3306for breathH3306,Stretchingתְּפָרֵ֣שׂte.fa.ResH6566out herhandsכַּפֶּ֑יהָka.Pei.haH3709, saying, “Ahנָ֣אna'H4994,woeאֽוֹי־'o-H188is me, forI faintעָיְפָ֥ה'a.ye.FahH5888before murderersלְהֹרְגִֽים׃ פle.ho.re.GimH2026.”

Judah Threatened with Invasion

Lament over Judah’s Devastation

Commentaries on Jeremiah 4