Revised Literal Translation

Jeremiah 18

1The wordהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697which came to Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֔הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414from Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

2Ariseק֥וּםkumH6965,and go downוְיָרַדְתָּ֖ve.ya.rad.TaH3381to the potter’sהַיּוֹצֵ֑רhai.yo.TzerH3335houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004,and there I will cause thee to hearאַשְׁמִֽיעֲךָ֥'ash.mi.'a.KhaH8085my wordsדְּבָרָֽי׃de.va.RaiH1697.

3Then I went downוָאֵרֵ֖דva.'e.RedH3381to the potter’sהַיּוֹצֵ֑רhai.yo.TzerH3335houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004,and, beholdוְהִנֵּה־ה֛וּאve.hi.neh-hu'H2009,he wroughtעֹשֶׂ֥ה'o.SehH6213a workמְלָאכָ֖הme.la.KhahH4399on the wheelsהָאָבְנָֽיִם׃ha.'a.ve.Na.yimH70.

4And the vesselהַכְּלִ֗יha.ke.LiH3627that he madeעֹשֶׂ֛ה'o.SehH6213of clayבַּחֹ֖מֶרba.Cho.merH2563was marredוְנִשְׁחַ֣תve.nish.ChatH7843in the handבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027of the potterהַיּוֹצֵ֑רhai.yo.TzerH3335:so he madeוַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙vai.ya.'a.Se.huH6213it againוְשָׁ֗בve.ShavH7725anotherאַחֵ֔ר'a.CherH312vesselכְּלִ֣יke.LiH3627,as seemedבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869goodיָשַׁ֛רya.SharH3474to the potterהַיּוֹצֵ֖רhai.yo.TzerH3335to makeלַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ פla.'a.SotH6213it.

5Then the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068came to me, sayingלֵאמֽוֹר׃le.MorH559,

6O houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478,cannotאוּכַ֨ל'u.KhalH3201I doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213with you as this potterהֲכַיּוֹצֵ֨רha.khai.yo.TzerH3335?saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068.Behold, as the clayכַחֹ֙מֶר֙kha.Cho.merH2563isin the potter’sהַיּוֹצֵ֔רhai.yo.TzerH3335handבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027, so areye in mine handבְּיָדִ֖יbe.ya.DiH3027,O houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סYis.ra.'ElH3478.

7At whatinstantרֶ֣גַעRe.ga'H7281I shall speakאֲדַבֵּ֔ר'a.da.BerH1696concerning a nationגּ֖וֹיGoyH1471,and concerning a kingdomמַמְלָכָ֑הmam.la.KhahH4467,to pluck upלִנְת֥וֹשׁlin.To.oshH5428,and to pull downוְלִנְת֖וֹץve.lin.TotzH5422,and to destroyוּֽלְהַאֲבִֽיד׃U.le.ha.'a.VidH6it;

8If that nationהַגּ֣וֹיha.GoyH1471,against whom I have pronouncedדִּבַּ֖רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiH1696,turnוְשָׁב֙ve.ShavH7725from their evilמֵרָ֣עָת֔וֹme.Ra.'a.ToH7451,I will repentוְנִֽחַמְתִּי֙ve.ni.cham.TiH5162of the evilהָ֣רָעָ֔הha.ra.'AhH7451that I thoughtחָשַׁ֖בְתִּיcha.Shav.tiH2803to doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213unto them.

9And at whatinstantוְרֶ֣גַעve.Re.ga'H7281I shall speakאֲדַבֵּ֔ר'a.da.BerH1696concerning a nationגּ֖וֹיGoyH1471,and concerning a kingdomמַמְלָכָ֑הmam.la.KhahH4467,to buildלִבְנֹ֖תliv.NotH1129and to plantוְלִנְטֹֽעַ׃ve.lin.To.a'H5193it;

10If it doוְעָשָׂ֤הve.'a.SahH6213evilהָרַע֙ha.ra.'ahH7451in my sightבְּעֵינַ֔יbe.'ei.NaiH5869,that it obeyשְׁמֹ֣עַshe.Mo.a'H8085not my voiceבְּקוֹלִ֑יbe.ko.LiH6963,then I will repentוְנִֽחַמְתִּי֙ve.ni.cham.TiH5162of the goodהַטּוֹבָ֔הha.to.VahH2896,wherewith I saidאָמַ֖רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559I would benefitלְהֵיטִ֥יבle.hei.TivH3190them.

11Now therefore go to, speakאֱמָר־'e.mor-H559to the menאִישׁ־'ish-H376of Judahיְהוּדָה֩ye.hu.DahH3063,and to the inhabitantsיוֹשְׁבֵ֨יyo.she.VeiH3427of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֜םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068;Behold, I frameיוֹצֵ֤רyo.TzerH3335evilרָעָ֔הra.'AhH7451against you, and deviseוְחֹשֵׁ֥בve.cho.ShevH2803a deviceמַֽחֲשָׁבָ֑הma.cha.sha.VahH4284against you: returnשׁ֣וּבוּShu.vuH7725ye now every oneאִ֚ישׁ'ishH376from his evilהָֽרָעָ֔הha.ra.'AhH7451wayמִדַּרְכּ֣וֹmi.dar.KoH1870,and make your waysדַרְכֵיכֶ֖םdar.khei.KhemH1870and your doingsוּמַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃u.ma.'a.lei.KhemH4611goodוְהֵיטִ֥יבוּve.hei.Ti.vuH3190.

12And they saidוְאָמְר֖וּve.'a.me.RuH559,There is no hopeנוֹאָ֑שׁno.'AshH2976:but we will walkH3212afterאַחֲרֵ֤י'a.cha.ReiH310our own devicesמַחְשְׁבוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙mach.she.vo.Tei.nuH4284,and we will every oneוְאִ֛ישׁve.'IshH376doנַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ סna.'a.SehH6213the imaginationשְׁרִר֥וּתshe.ri.RutH8307of his evilהָרָ֖עha.Ra'H7451heartלִבּֽוֹ־li.bov-H3820.

13Therefore thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068;Askשַֽׁאֲלוּ־sha.'a.lu-H7592ye now among the heathenבַּגּוֹיִ֔םba.go.YimH1471,who hath heardשָׁמַ֖עsha.Ma'H8085such things: the virginבְּתוּלַ֖תbe.tu.LatH1330of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478hath doneעָשְׂתָ֣ה'a.se.TahH6213a veryמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966horrible thingשַֽׁעֲרֻרִת֙sha.'a.ru.RitH8186.

14Will a manleaveהֲיַעֲזֹ֥בha.ya.'a.ZoH5800the snowשֶׁ֣לֶגShe.legH7950of Lebanonלְבָנ֑וֹןle.va.NonH3844which comethfrom the rockמִצּ֛וּרmi.TzurH6697of the fieldשָׂדַ֖יsa.DaiH7704? orshall the coldקָרִ֖יםka.RimH7119flowingנוֹזְלִֽים׃noz.LimH5140watersמַ֛יִםMa.yimH4325that come from another placeזָרִ֥יםza.RimH2114be forsakenיִנָּתְשׁ֗וּyi.na.te.ShuH5428?

15Because my peopleעַמִּ֖י'a.MiH5971hath forgottenשְׁכֵחֻ֥נִיshe.khe.Chu.niH7911me, they have burned incenseיְקַטֵּ֑רוּye.ka.Te.ruH6999to vanityלַשָּׁ֣וְאla.Shav'H7723,and they have caused them to stumbleוַיַּכְשִׁל֤וּםvai.yakh.shi.LumH3782in their waysבְּדַרְכֵיהֶם֙be.dar.khei.HemH1870fromthe ancientעוֹלָ֔םo.LamH5769pathsשְׁבִילֵ֣יshe.vi.LeiH7635,to walkH3212in pathsנְתִיב֔וֹתne.ti.VotH5410, ina wayדֶּ֖רֶךְDe.rekhH1870not cast upסְלוּלָֽה׃se.lu.LahH5549;

16To makeלָשׂ֥וּםla.SumH7760their landאַרְצָ֛ם'ar.TzamH776desolateלְשַׁמָּ֖הle.sha.MahH8047, anda perpetualעוֹלָ֑םo.LamH5769hissingשְׁרִיק֣וֹתshe.ru.katH8292;every one that passethעוֹבֵ֣רo.VerH5674thereby shall be astonishedיִשֹּׁ֖םyi.ShomH8074,and wagוְיָנִ֥ידve.ya.NidH5110his headבְּרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃be.ro.ShoH7218.

17I will scatterאֲפִיצֵ֖ם'a.fi.TzemH6327them as with an eastקָדִ֥יםka.DimH6921windכְּרֽוּחַ־ke.Ru.ach-H7307beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440the enemyאוֹיֵ֑ב'o.YevH341;I will shewאֶרְאֵ֖ם'er.'EmH7200them the backעֹ֧רֶף'O.refH6203,and not the faceפָנִ֛יםfa.NimH6440,in the dayבְּי֥וֹםbe.YomH3117of their calamityאֵידָֽם׃ ס'ei.DamH343.

18Then saidוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559they, ComeH3212,and let us deviseוְנַחְשְׁבָ֣הve.nach.she.VahH2803devicesמַחֲשָׁבוֹת֒ma.cha.sha.VotH4284against Jeremiahיִרְמְיָהוּ֮yir.me.ya.HuH3414;for the lawתּוֹרָ֜הto.RahH8451shall not perishתֹאבַ֨דto.VadH6from the priestמִכֹּהֵ֗ןmi.ko.HenH3548,nor counselוְעֵצָה֙ve.'e.TzahH6098from the wiseמֵֽחָכָ֔םme.cha.KhamH2450,nor the wordוְדָבָ֖רve.da.VarH1697from the prophetמִנָּבִ֑יאmi.na.Vi'H5030.ComeH3212,and let us smiteוְנַכֵּ֣הוּve.na.Ke.huH5221him with the tongueבַלָּשׁ֔וֹןva.la.ShonH3956,and let us not give heedנַקְשִׁ֖יבָהnak.Shi.vahH7181to any of his wordsדְּבָרָֽיו׃de.va.RavH1697.

19Give heedהַקְשִׁ֥יבָהhak.Shi.vahH7181to me, O Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,and hearkenוּשְׁמַ֖עu.she.Ma'H8085to the voiceלְק֥וֹלle.KolH6963of them that contendיְרִיבָֽי׃ye.ri.VaiH3401with me.

20Shall evilרָעָ֔הra.'AhH7451be recompensedהַיְשֻׁלַּ֤םhay.shu.LamH7999for goodטוֹבָה֙to.VahH2896?for they have diggedכָר֥וּkha.RuH3738a pitשׁוּחָ֖הshu.ChahH7745for my soulלְנַפְשִׁ֑יle.naf.ShiH5315.Rememberזְכֹ֣ר׀ze.KhorH2142that I stoodעָמְדִ֣י'a.me.DiH5975beforeלְפָנֶ֗יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee to speakלְדַבֵּ֤רle.da.BerH1696goodטוֹבָ֔הto.VahH2896for them, andto turn awayלְהָשִׁ֥יבle.ha.ShivH7725thy wrathחֲמָתְךָ֖cha.ma.te.KhaH2534from them.

21Therefore deliver upתֵּ֨ןtenH5414their childrenבְּנֵיהֶ֜םbe.nei.HemH1121to the famineלָרָעָ֗בla.ra.'AvH7458,and pour outוְהַגִּרֵם֮ve.ha.gi.RemH5064their bloodby the forceיְדֵי־ye.dei-H3027of the swordחֶרֶב֒che.RevH2719;and let their wivesנְשֵׁיהֶ֤םne.shei.HemH802be bereavedשַׁכֻּלוֹת֙sha.ku.lOtH7909of their children, and bewidowsוְאַלְמָנ֔וֹתve.'al.ma.NotH490;and let their menוְאַ֨נְשֵׁיהֶ֔םve.'An.shei.HemH582be putהֲרֻ֣גֵיha.Ru.geiH2026to deathמָ֑וֶתMa.vetH4194; lettheir young menבַּח֣וּרֵיהֶ֔םba.Chu.rei.HemH970beslainמֻכֵּי־mu.kei-H5221by the swordחֶ֖רֶבChe.revH2719in battleבַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ba.mil.cha.MahH4421.

22Let a cryזְעָקָה֙ze.'a.KahH2201be heardתִּשָּׁמַ֤עti.sha.Ma'H8085from their housesמִבָּ֣תֵּיהֶ֔םmi.Ba.tei.HemH1004,when thou shalt bringתָבִ֧יאta.Vi'H935a troopגְּד֖וּדge.DudH1416suddenlyפִּתְאֹ֑םpit.'OmH6597upon them: for they have diggedכָר֤וּkha.RuH3738a pitשׁוּחָה֙shi.chahH7882 H7745to takeלְלָכְדֵ֔נִיle.la.khe.De.niH3920me, and hidטָמְנ֥וּta.me.NuH2934snaresוּפַחִ֖יםu.fa.ChimH6341for my feetלְרַגְלָֽי׃le.rag.LaiH7272.

23Yet, Yhwhיְ֠הוָהYah.wehH3068,thou knowestיָדַ֜עְתָּya.Da'.taH3045all their counselעֲצָתָ֤ם'a.tza.TamH6098against me to slayלַמָּ֔וֶתla.Ma.vetH4194me:forgiveתְּכַפֵּר֙te.kha.PerH3722not their iniquityעֲוֹנָ֔ם'a.vo.NamH5771,neither blot outתֶּ֑מְחִיTem.chiH4229their sinוְחַטָּאתָ֖םve.cha.ta.TamH2403from thy sightמִלְּפָנֶ֣יךָmi.le.fa.Nei.khaH6440,but let them be overthrownמֻכְשָׁלִים֙mukh.sha.LimH3782beforeלְפָנֶ֔יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee; dealעֲשֵׂ֥ה'a.SehH6213thuswith them in the timeבְּעֵ֥תbe.'EtH6256of thine angerאַפְּךָ֖'a.pe.KhaH639.

Commentaries on Jeremiah 18