Revised Literal Translation

Jeremiah 5

1Run ye to and froשׁוֹטְט֞וּsho.TuH7751through the streetsבְּחוּצ֣וֹתbe.chu.TzotH2351of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֗םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,and seeוּרְאוּ־u.re.'u-H7200now, and knowוּדְעוּ֙u.de.'UH3045,and seekוּבַקְשׁ֣וּu.vak.ShuH1245in the broad placesבִרְחוֹבוֹתֶ֔יהָvir.cho.o.Tei.haH7339thereof, if ye can findתִּמְצְא֣וּtim.tze.'UH4672a manאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376,if there beיֵ֛שׁyeshH3426anythat executethעֹשֶׂ֥ה'o.SehH6213judgmentמִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.PatH4941,that seekethמְבַקֵּ֣שׁme.va.KeshH1245the truthאֱמוּנָ֑ה'e.mu.NahH530;and I will pardonוְאֶסְלַ֖חve.'es.LachH5545it.

2And though they sayיֹאמֵ֑רוּyo.Me.ruH559,Yhwhיְהֹוָ֖הYah.wehH3068livethחַי־chai-H2416;surely they swearיִשָּׁבֵֽעוּ׃yi.sha.Ve.'uH7650falselyלַשֶּׁ֖קֶרla.She.kerH8267.

3O Yhwhיְהֹוָ֗הYah.wehH3068, arenot thine eyesעֵינֶיךָ֮'ei.nei.KhaH5869upon the truthלֶאֱמוּנָה֒le.'e.mu.NahH530?thou hast strickenהִכִּ֤יתָהhi.Ki.tahH5221them, but they have not grievedחָ֔לוּCha.luH2342;thou hast consumedכִּלִּיתָ֕םki.li.TamH3615them, butthey have refusedמֵאֲנ֖וּme.'a.NuH3985to receiveקַ֣חַתKa.chatH3947correctionמוּסָ֑רmu.SarH4148:they have made their facesפְנֵיהֶם֙fe.nei.HemH6440harderחִזְּק֤וּchi.ze.KuH2388than a rockמִסֶּ֔לַעmi.Se.la'H5553;they have refusedמֵאֲנ֖וּme.'a.NuH3985to returnלָשֽׁוּב׃la.ShuvH7725.

4Therefore I saidאָמַ֔רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559, Surely these arepoorדַּלִּ֖יםda.LimH1800;they are foolishנוֹאֲל֕וּno.'a.LuH2973:for they knowיָדְעוּ֙ya.de.'UH3045not the wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068, northe judgmentמִשְׁפַּ֖טmish.PatH4941of their Godאֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃'e.lo.hei.HemH430.

5I will getH3212me unto the great menהַגְּדֹלִים֙ha.ge.do.LimH1419,and will speakוַאֲדַבְּרָ֣הva.'a.da.be.RahH1696unto them; for they have knownיָדְעוּ֙ya.de.'UH3045the wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068, andthe judgmentמִשְׁפַּ֖טmish.PatH4941of their Godאֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם'e.lo.hei.HemH430:but these have altogetherיַחְדָּו֙yach.DavH3162brokenשָׁ֣בְרוּSha.ve.ruH7665the yokeעֹ֔ל'OlH5923, andburstנִתְּק֖וּni.te.KuH5423the bondsמוֹסֵרֽוֹת׃mo.se.RotH4147.

6Wherefore a lionאַרְיֵ֜ה'ar.YehH738out of the forestמִיַּ֗עַרmi.Ya.'arH3293shall slayהִכָּ֨םhi.KamH5221them, anda wolfזְאֵ֤בze.'EvH2061of the eveningsעֲרָבוֹת֙a.ra.VotH6160shall spoilיְשָׁדְדֵ֔םye.sha.de.DemH7703them, a leopardנָמֵ֤רna.MerH5246shall watchשֹׁקֵד֙sho.KedH8245over their citiesעָ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם'a.rei.HemH5892:every one that goeth outהַיּוֹצֵ֥אhai.yo.Tze'H3318thence shallH2007be torn in piecesיִטָּרֵ֑ףyi.ta.RefH2963:because their transgressionsפִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֔םpish.'ei.HemH6588are manyרַבּוּ֙ra.BuH7231, andtheir backslidingsמְשׁוּבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃me.shu.vo.tei.hemH4878are increasedעָצְמ֖וּ'a.tze.MuH6105.

7Howאֵ֤י'eiH335shall I pardonאֶֽסְלַֽח'es.lo.ach-H5545thee for thisלָזֹאת֙la.zoTH2063?thy childrenבָּנַ֣יִךְba.Na.yikhH1121have forsakenעֲזָב֔וּנִי'a.za.Vu.niH5800me, and swornוַיִּשָּׁבְע֖וּvai.yi.sha.ve.'UH7650by them that arenoבְּלֹ֣אbe.Lo'H3808godsאֱלֹהִ֑ים'E.lo.HimH430:when I had fed them to the fullH7650,they then committed adulteryוַיִּנְאָ֔פוּvai.yin.'A.fuH5003,and assembled themselves by troopsיִתְגֹּדָֽדוּ׃yit.go.Da.duH1413in the harlots’זוֹנָ֖הzo.NahH2181housesוּבֵ֥יתu.VeitH1004.

8They were asfedמְיֻזָּנִ֖יםme.yu.za.NimH2109horsesסוּסִ֥יםsu.SimH5483in the morningמַשְׁכִּ֣יםmash.KimH7904:every oneאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376neighedיִצְהָֽלוּ׃yitz.Ha.luH6670after his neighbour’sרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453wifeאֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shetH802.

9Shall I not visitאֶפְקֹ֖ד'ef.KodH6485for these things?saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהֹוָ֑הYah.wehH3068:and shall not my soulנַפְשִֽׁי׃ סnaf.ShiH5315be avengedתִתְנַקֵּ֖םtit.na.KemH5358on such a nationבְּג֣וֹיbe.GoyH1471as this?

10Go ye upעֲל֤וּ'a.LuH5927upon her wallsבְשָׁרוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ve.sha.ro.Tei.haH8284,and destroyוְשַׁחֵ֔תוּve.sha.Che.tuH7843;but makeתַּעֲשׂ֑וּta.'a.SuH6213not a full endוְכָלָ֖הve.kha.LahH3617:take awayהָסִ֙ירוּ֙ha.Si.ruH5493her battlementsנְטִ֣ישׁוֹתֶ֔יהָne.Ti.sho.Tei.haH5189; for they arenot Yhwh'sלַיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068.

11For the houseבֵּ֧יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElH3478and the houseוּבֵ֥יתu.VeitH1004of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063have dealt veryבָג֨וֹדva.GodH898treacherouslyבָּגְד֜וּba.ge.DuH898against me, saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

12They have beliedכִּֽחֲשׁוּ֙ki.cha.ShuH3584Yhwhבַּיהוָ֔הba.Yah.wehH3068,and saidוַיֹּאמְר֖וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, It isnot he; neither shall evilרָעָ֔הra.'AhH7451comeתָב֤וֹאta.Vo'H935upon us; neither shall we seeנִרְאֶֽה׃nir.'EhH7200swordוְחֶ֥רֶבve.Che.revH2719nor famineוְרָעָ֖בve.ra.'AvH7458:

13And the prophetsוְהַנְּבִיאִים֙ve.ha.ne.vi.'ImH5030shall become windלְר֔וּחַle.Ru.achH7307,and the wordH1696isnot in them: thus shall it be doneיֵעָשֶׂ֖הye.'a.SehH6213unto them.

14Wherefore thus saithאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Armiesצְבָא֔וֹתtze.va.'otH6635,Because ye speakדַּבֶּרְכֶ֔םda.ber.KhemH1696this wordהַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697,behold, I will makeנֹתֵן֩no.TenH5414my wordsדְּבָרַ֨יde.va.RaiH1697in thy mouthבְּפִ֜יךָbe.Fi.khaH6310fireלְאֵ֗שׁle.'EshH784,and this peopleוְהָעָ֥םve.ha.'AmH5971woodעֵצִ֖ים'e.TzimH6086,and it shall devourוַאֲכָלָֽתַם׃va.'a.kha.La.tamH398them.

15Lo, I will bringמֵבִיא֩me.Vi'H935a nationגּ֧וֹיGoyH1471upon you from farמִמֶּרְחָ֛קmi.mer.ChakH4801,O houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478,saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהֹוָ֑הYah.wehH3068: it isa mightyאֵיתָ֣ן'ei.TanH386nationגּ֣וֹי׀GoyH1471, it isan ancientמֵעוֹלָם֙me.'o.LamH5769nationגּ֤וֹיGoyH1471,a nationגּ֚וֹיGoyH1471whose languageלְשֹׁנ֔וֹle.sho.NoH3956thou knowestתֵדַ֣עte.Da'H3045not, neither understandestתִשְׁמַ֖עtish.Ma'H8085what they sayיְדַבֵּֽר׃ye.da.BerH1696.

16Their quiverאַשְׁפָּת֖וֹ'ash.pa.ToH827isas an openפָּת֑וּחַpa.Tu.achH6605sepulchreכְּקֶ֣בֶרke.Ke.verH6913, they areall mighty menגִּבּוֹרִֽים׃gi.bo.RimH1368.

17And they shall eat upוְאָכַ֨לve.'a.KhalH398thine harvestקְצִֽירְךָ֜ke.tzi.re.ChaH7105,and thy breadוְלַחְמֶ֗ךָve.lach.Me.khaH3899, whichthy sonsבָּנֶ֣יךָba.Nei.khaH1121and thy daughtersוּבְנוֹתֶ֔יךָu.ve.no.Tei.khaH1323should eatיֹאכְלוּ֙yo.khe.LuH398:they shall eat upיֹאכַ֤לyo.KhalH398thy flocksצֹאנְךָ֙tzo.ne.KhaH6629and thine herdsוּבְקָרֶ֔ךָu.ve.ka.Re.chaH1241:they shall eat upיֹאכַ֥לyo.KhalH398thy vinesגַּפְנְךָ֖gaf.ne.KhaH1612and thy fig treesוּתְאֵנָתֶ֑ךָu.te.'e.na.Te.khaH8384:they shall impoverishיְרֹשֵׁ֞שׁye.ro.SheshH7567thy fencedמִבְצָרֶ֗יךָmiv.tza.Rei.khaH4013citiesעָרֵ֣י'a.ReiH5892,wherein thouH2007trustedstבּוֹטֵ֥חַbo.Te.achH982,with the swordבֶּחָֽרֶב׃be.Cha.revH2719.

18Nevertheless in those daysבַּיָּמִ֥יםbai.ya.MimH3117,saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהֹוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,I will not makeאֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה'e.'e.SehH6213a full endכָּלָֽה׃ka.LahH3617with you.

19And it shall come to pass, when ye shall sayתֹאמְר֔וּto.me.RuH559,Whereforeתַּ֣חַת מֶ֗הTa.chat MehH4100 H8478doethעָשָׂ֨ה'a.SahH6213Yhwhיְהֹוָ֧הYah.wehH3068our Godאֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430all these thingsunto us? then shalt thou answerוְאָמַרְתָּ֣ve.'a.mar.TaH559them, Like as ye have forsakenעֲזַבְתֶּ֤ם'a.zav.TemH5800me, and servedוַתַּעַבְד֞וּva.ta.'av.DuH5647strangeנֵכָר֙ne.KharH5236godsאֱלֹהֵ֤י'e.lo.HeiH430in your landבְּאַרְצְכֶ֔םbe.'ar.tze.KhemH776,so shall ye serveתַּעַבְד֣וּta.'av.DuH5647strangersזָרִ֔יםza.RimH2114in a landבְּאֶ֖רֶץbe.'E.retzH776that is not yours.

20Declareהַגִּ֥ידוּha.Gi.duH5046this in the houseבְּבֵ֣יתbe.VeitH1004of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֑בya.'a.KoH3290,and publishוְהַשְׁמִיע֥וּהָve.hash.mi.'U.haH8085it in Judahבִיהוּדָ֖הvi.hu.DahH3063,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

21Hearשִׁמְעוּ־shim.'u-H8085now this, O foolishסָכָ֖לsa.KhalH5530peopleעַ֥ם'amH5971,and without understandingלֵ֑בLevH3820;which have eyesעֵינַ֤יִם'ei.Na.yimH5869,and seeיִרְא֔וּyir.'UH7200not; which have earsאָזְנַ֥יִם'a.ze.Na.yimH241,and hearיִשְׁמָֽעוּ׃yish.Ma.'uH8085not:

22Fearתִירָ֜אוּti.Ra.'uH3372ye not me? saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהֹוָ֗הYah.wehH3068:will ye not trembleתָחִ֔ילוּta.Chi.luH2342at my presenceמִפָּנַי֙mi.pa.NaiH6440,which have placedשַׂ֤מְתִּיSam.tiH7760the sandחוֹל֙chOlH2344forthe boundגְּב֣וּלge.VulH1366of the seaלַיָּ֔םlai.YamH3220by a perpetualעוֹלָ֖םo.LamH5769decreeחָק־chok-H2706,that it cannot passיַעַבְרֶ֑נְהוּya.'av.Ren.huH5674it: and though the wavesגַלָּ֖יוga.LavH1530thereof tossוַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁוּ֙vai.yit.ga.'a.ShuH1607themselves, yet can they not prevailיוּכָ֔לוּyu.Kha.luH3201;though they roarוְהָמ֥וּve.ha.MuH1993,yet can they not pass overיַעַבְרֻֽנְהוּ׃ya.'av.Run.huH5674it?

23But this peopleוְלָעָ֤םve.la.'AmH5971hath a revoltingסוֹרֵ֣רso.RerH5637and a rebelliousוּמוֹרֶ֑הu.mo.RehH4784heartלֵ֖בlevH3820;they are revoltedסָ֖רוּSa.ruH5493and goneH3212.

24Neither sayאָמְר֣וּ'a.me.RuH559they in their heartבִלְבָבָ֗םvil.va.VamH3824,Let us now fearנִ֤ירָאNi.ra'H3372Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068our Godאֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430,that givethהַנֹּתֵ֗ןha.no.TenH5414rainגֶּ֛שֶׁםGe.shemH1653,both the formerיוֹרֶ֥הve.yo.rehH3138and the latterוּמַלְק֖וֹשׁu.mal.Ko.oshH4456,in his seasonבְּעִתּ֑וֹbe.'i.ToH6256:he reservethיִשְׁמָר־yish.mor-H8104unto us the appointedחֻקּ֥וֹתchu.KotH2708weeksשְׁבֻע֛וֹתshe.vu.'otH7620of the harvestקָצִ֖ירka.TzirH7105.

25Your iniquitiesעֲוֹנוֹתֵיכֶ֖םa.vo.no.tei.KhemH5771have turned awayהִטּוּ־hi.tu-H5186these things,and your sinsוְחַטֹּ֣אותֵיכֶ֔םve.cha.To.tei.KhemH2403have withholdenמָנְע֥וּma.ne.'UH4513goodהַטּ֖וֹבha.TovH2896things from you.

26For among my peopleבְעַמִּ֖יve.'a.MiH5971are foundנִמְצְא֥וּnim.tze.'UH4672wickedרְשָׁעִ֑יםre.sha.'ImH7563men:they lay waitיָשׁוּר֙ya.ShurH7789,as he that settethכְּשַׁ֣ךְke.ShakhH7918snaresיְקוּשִׁ֔יםye.ku.ShimH3353;they setהִצִּ֥יבוּhi.Tzi.vuH5324a trapמַשְׁחִ֖יתmash.ChitH4889,they catchיִלְכֹּֽדוּ׃yil.Ko.duH3920menאֲנָשִׁ֥ים'a.na.ShimH582.

27As a cageכִּכְלוּב֙kikh.LuvH3619is fullמָ֣לֵאMa.le'H4392of birdsע֔וֹףofH5775, so aretheir housesבָּתֵּיהֶ֖םba.tei.HemH1004fullמְלֵאִ֣יםme.le.'ImH4392of deceitמִרְמָ֑הmir.MahH4820:therefore they are become greatגָּדְל֖וּga.de.LuH1431,and waxen richוַֽיַּעֲשִֽׁירוּ׃Vai.ya.'a.Shi.ruH6238.

28They are waxen fatשָׁמְנ֣וּsha.me.NuH8080,they shineעָשְׁת֗וּ'a.she.TuH6245:yea, they overpassעָֽבְר֣וּ'a.ve.RuH5674the deedsדִבְרֵי־div.rei-H1697of the wickedרָ֔עRa'H7451:they judgeדָ֔נוּDa.nuH1777not the causeH1779,the cause of the fatherlessיָת֖וֹםya.TomH3490,yet they prosperוְיַצְלִ֑יחוּve.yatz.Li.chuH6743;and the rightוּמִשְׁפַּ֥טu.mish.PatH4941of the needyאֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים'ev.yo.NimH34do they not judgeשָׁפָֽטוּ׃sha.Fa.tuH8199.

29Shall I not visitאֶפְקֹ֖ד'ef.KodH6485for these things?saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהֹוָ֑הYah.wehH3068:shall not my soulנַפְשִֽׁי׃ סnaf.ShiH5315be avengedתִתְנַקֵּ֖םtit.na.KemH5358on such a nationבְּג֣וֹיbe.GoyH1471as this?

30A wonderfulשַׁמָּה֙sha.MahH8047and horrible thingוְשַׁ֣עֲרוּרָ֔הve.Sha.'a.ru.RahH8186is committedנִהְיְתָ֖הnih.ye.TahH1961in the landבָּאָֽרֶץ׃ba.'A.retzH776;

31The prophetsהַנְּבִיאִ֞יםha.ne.vi.'ImH5030prophesyנִבְּא֣וּ־ni.be.'U-H5012falselyבַשֶּׁ֗קֶרva.She.kerH8267,and the priestsוְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ve.ha.ko.ha.NimH3548bear ruleיִרְדּ֣וּyir.DuH7287by their meansיְדֵיהֶ֔םye.dei.HemH3027;and my peopleוְעַמִּ֖יve.'a.MiH5971loveאָ֣הֲבוּ'A.ha.vuH157to have itso: and what will ye doתַּעֲשׂ֖וּta.'a.SuH6213in the endלְאַחֲרִיתָֽהּ׃le.'a.cha.ri.TahH319thereof?

Commentaries on Jeremiah 5