Revised Literal Translation

Jeremiah 8

1At that timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256,saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהוָ֡הYah.wehH3068,they shall bring outיוֹצִ֣יאוּve.yo.tzi.'uH3318the bonesעַצְמ֣וֹתatz.MotH6106of the kingsמַלְכֵֽי־mal.khei-H4428of Judahיְהוּדָ֣הye.hu.DahH3063,and the bonesעַצְמוֹת־'atz.mot-H6106of his princesשָׂרָיו֩sa.RavH8269,and the bonesעַצְמ֨וֹתatz.MotH6106of the priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֜יםha.ko.ha.NimH3548,and the bonesעַצְמ֣וֹתatz.MotH6106of the prophetsהַנְּבִיאִ֗יםha.ne.vi.'ImH5030,and the bonesעַצְמ֥וֹתatz.MotH6106of the inhabitantsיוֹשְׁבֵֽי־yo.she.vei-H3427of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֖םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,out of their gravesמִקִּבְרֵיהֶֽם׃mi.kiv.rei.HemH6913:

2And they shall spreadוּשְׁטָחוּם֩u.she.ta.ChumH7849them before the sunלַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁla.She.meshH8121,and the moonוְלַיָּרֵ֜חַve.lai.ya.Re.achH3394,and all the hostצְבָ֣אtze.Va'H6635of heavenהַשָּׁמַ֗יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064,whom they have lovedאֲהֵב֜וּם'a.he.VumH157,and whom they have servedעֲבָדוּם֙'a.va.DumH5647,and afterאַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם'a.cha.rei.HemH310whom they have walkedהָלְכ֣וּha.le.KhuH1980,and whom they have soughtדְּרָשׁ֔וּםde.ra.ShumH1875,and whom they have worshippedהִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּhish.ta.cha.VuH7812:they shall not be gatheredיֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ye.'a.se.FuH622,nor be buriedיִקָּבֵ֔רוּyi.ka.Ve.ruH6912;they shall be for dungלְדֹ֛מֶןle.Do.menH1828upon the faceפְּנֵ֥יpe.NeiH6440of the earthהָאֲדָמָ֖הha.'a.da.MahH127.

3And deathמָ֙וֶת֙ma.vetH4194shall be chosenוְנִבְחַ֥רve.niv.CharH977rather than lifeמֵֽחַיִּ֔יםme.chai.YimH2416by all the residueהַשְּׁאֵרִית֙ha.she.'e.RitH7611of them that remainהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֔יםha.nish.'a.RimH7604of this evilהָֽרָעָ֖הha.ra.'AhH7451familyהַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֥הha.mish.pa.ChahH4940,which remainהַנִּשְׁאָרִים֙ha.nish.'a.RimH7604in all the placesהַמְּקֹמ֤וֹתha.me.ko.MotH4725whither I have drivenהִדַּחְתִּ֣יםhi.dach.TimH5080them, saithנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068of Armiesצְבָאֽוֹת׃ סtze.va.'otH6635.

4Moreover thou shalt sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֣ve.'a.mar.TaH559unto them, Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068;Shall they fallהֲיִפְּל֖וּha.yi.pe.LuH5307,and not ariseיָק֑וּמוּya.Ku.muH6965?shall he turn awayיָשׁ֖וּבya.ShuvH7725,and not returnיָשֽׁוּב׃ya.ShuvH7725?

5Why thenis this peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םye.ru.sha.LimH3389slidden backשׁוֹבְבָ֜הsho.VahH7725by a perpetualנִצַּ֑חַתni.Tza.chatH5329backslidingמְשֻׁבָ֣הme.shu.VahH4878?they holdהֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙he.che.Zi.kuH2388fast deceitבַּתַּרְמִ֔יתba.tar.MitH8649,they refuseמֵאֲנ֖וּme.'a.NuH3985to returnלָשֽׁוּב׃la.ShuvH7725.

6I hearkenedהִקְשַׁ֤בְתִּיhik.Shav.tiH7181and heardוָֽאֶשְׁמָע֙va.'esh.Ma'H8085, butthey spake not arightיְדַבֵּ֔רוּye.da.Be.ruH1696:no manאִ֗ישׁ'IshH376repentedנִחָם֙ni.ChamH5162him ofעַל־'al-H5921his wickednessרָ֣עָת֔וֹra.'a.ToH7451,sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559,What have I doneעָשִׂ֑יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213?every one turnedשָׁ֚בShavH7725to his courseבִּמְר֣וּצָתָ֔םbim.ru.tzo.tamH4794,as the horseכְּס֥וּסke.SusH5483rushethשׁוֹטֵ֖ףsho.TefH7857into the battleבַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ba.mil.cha.MahH4421.

7Yea, the storkחֲסִידָ֣הcha.si.DahH2624in the heavenבַשָּׁמַ֗יִםva.sha.Ma.yimH8064knowethיָֽדְעָה֙ya.de.'AhH3045her appointed timesמֽוֹעֲדֶ֔יהָmo.'a.Dei.haH4150;and the turtledoveוְתֹ֤רve.TorH8449and the craneוְסִיס֙ve.susH5483and the swallowוְעָג֔וּרve.'a.GurH5693observeשָׁמְר֖וּsha.me.RuH8104the timeעֵ֣ת'etH6256of their comingבֹּאָ֑נָהbo.'A.nahH935;but my peopleוְעַמִּ֕יve.'a.MiH5971knowיָֽדְע֔וּya.de.'UH3045not the judgmentמִשְׁפַּ֥טmish.PatH4941of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

8How do ye sayתֹֽאמְרוּ֙to.me.RuH559, We arewiseחֲכָמִ֣יםcha.kha.MimH2450,and the lawוְתוֹרַ֥תve.to.RatH8451of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068iswith us? Lo, certainlyאָכֵן֙'a.KhenH403in vainלַשֶּׁ֣קֶרla.She.kerH8267madeעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213he it;the penעֵ֖ט'etH5842of the scribesסֹפְרִֽים׃so.fe.RimH5608isin vainשֶׁ֥קֶרShe.kerH8267.

9The wiseחֲכָמִ֔יםcha.kha.MimH2450menare ashamedH3001,they are dismayedחַ֖תּוּCha.tuH2865and takenוַיִּלָּכֵ֑דוּvai.yi.la.Khe.duH3920:lo, they have rejectedמָאָ֔סוּma.'A.suH3988the wordבִדְבַר־vid.var-H1697of Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068;and what wisdomוְחָכְמַֽת־ve.cha.khe.mat-H2451is in them?

10Therefore will I giveאֶתֵּ֨ן'e.TenH5414their wivesנְשֵׁיהֶ֜םne.shei.HemH802unto othersלַאֲחֵרִ֗יםla.'a.che.RimH312, andtheir fieldsשְׂדֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙se.do.tei.HemH7704to them that shall inheritלְי֣וֹרְשִׁ֔יםle.Yor.ShimH3423them:for every one from the leastמִקָּטֹן֙mi.ka.TonH6996even unto the greatestגָּד֔וֹלga.DolH1419is givenבֹּצֵ֣עַbo.Tze.a'H1214to covetousnessבָּ֑צַעBa.tza'H1215,from the prophetמִנָּבִיא֙mi.na.Vi'H5030even unto the priestכֹּהֵ֔ןko.HenH3548every one dealethעֹ֥שֶׂה'O.sehH6213falselyשָּֽׁקֶר׃Sha.kerH8267.

11For they have healedוַיְרַפּ֞וּvay.ra.PuH7495the hurtשֶׁ֤בֶרShe.verH7667of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my peopleעַמִּי֙'a.MiH5971slightlyנְקַלָּ֔הne.ka.LahH7043,sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559,Peaceשָׁל֣וֹם׀sha.LomH7965,peaceשָׁל֑וֹםsha.LomH7965; when there isno peaceשָׁלֽוֹם׃sha.LomH7965.

12Were they ashamedH3001when they had committedעָשׂ֑וּ'a.SuH6213abominationתוֹעֵבָ֖הto.'e.VahH8441?nay, they were not at allH954ashamedH954,neither couldיָדָ֔עוּya.Da.'uH3045they blushוְהִכָּלֵם֙ve.hi.ka.LemH3637:therefore shall they fallיִפְּל֣וּyi.pe.LuH5307among them that fallבַנֹּפְלִ֗יםva.no.fe.LimH5307:in the timeבְּעֵ֧תbe.'EtH6256of their visitationפְּקֻדָּתָ֛םpe.ku.da.TamH6486they shall be cast downיִכָּשְׁל֖וּyi.ka.she.LuH3782,saithאָמַ֥ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

13I will surelyאָסֹ֥ף'a.SofH622consumeאֲסִיפֵ֖ם'a.si.FemH5486them, saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהֹוָ֑הYah.wehH3068: there shall beno grapesעֲנָבִ֨ים'a.na.VimH6025on the vineבַּגֶּ֜פֶןba.Ge.fenH1612,nor figsתְּאֵנִ֣יםte.'e.NimH8384on the fig treeבַּתְּאֵנָ֗הba.te.'e.NahH8384,and the leafוְהֶֽעָלֶה֙ve.he.'a.LehH5929shall fadeנָבֵ֔לna.VelH5034; and the things thatI have givenוָאֶתֵּ֥ןva.'e.TenH5414them shall pass awayיַעַבְרֽוּם׃ya.'av.RumH5674from them.

14Why do we sit stillיֹֽשְׁבִ֔יםyo.she.VimH3427?assembleהֵֽאָסְפ֗וּhe.'a.se.FuH622yourselves, and let us enterוְנָב֛וֹאve.na.Vo'H935into the defencedהַמִּבְצָ֖רha.miv.TzarH4013citiesעָרֵ֥י'a.ReiH5892,and let us be silentוְנִדְּמָה־ve.ni.de.mah-H1826there: for Yhwhיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068our Godאֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430hath put us to silenceהֲדִמָּ֙נוּ֙ha.di.Ma.nuH1826,and given us waterמֵי־mei-H4325of gallרֹ֔אשׁRoshH7219to drinkוַיַּשְׁקֵ֣נוּvai.yash.Ke.nuH8248,because we have sinnedחָטָ֖אנוּcha.Ta.nuH2398against Yhwhלַיהוָֽה׃la.Yah.wehH3068.

15We lookedקַוֵּ֥הka.VehH6960for peaceלְשָׁל֖וֹםle.sha.LomH7965,but no goodט֑וֹבTovH2896came; andfor a timeלְעֵ֥תle.'EtH6256of healthמַרְפֵּ֖הmar.PehH4832,and behold troubleבְעָתָֽה׃ve.'a.TahH1205!

16The snortingנַחְרַ֣תnach.RatH5170of his horsesסוּסָ֗יוsu.SavH5483was heardנִשְׁמַע֙nish.Ma'H8085from Danמִדָּ֤ןmi.DanH1835:the whole landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776trembledרָעֲשָׁ֖הra.'a.ShahH7493at the soundמִקּוֹל֙mi.kOlH6963of the neighingמִצְהֲל֣וֹתmitz.ha.LotH4684of his strong onesאַבִּירָ֔יו'a.bi.RavH47;for they are comeוַיָּב֗וֹאוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935,and have devouredוַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙vai.yo.khe.LuH398the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776,and allוּמְלוֹאָ֔הּu.me.lo.'AhH4393that is in it; the cityעִ֖יר'irH5892,and those that dwellוְיֹ֥שְׁבֵיve.Yo.she.veiH3427therein.

17For, behold, I will sendמְשַׁלֵּ֜חַme.sha.Le.achH7971serpentsנְחָשִׁים֙ne.cha.ShimH5175,cockatricesצִפְעֹנִ֔יםtzif.'o.NimH6848, among you, which will not becharmedלָ֑חַשׁLa.chashH3908,and they shall biteוְנִשְּׁכ֥וּve.ni.she.KhuH5391you, saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

18WhenI would comfortמַבְלִ֥יגִיתִ֖יmav.Li.gi.TiH4010myself against sorrowיָג֑וֹןya.GonH3015,my heartלִבִּ֥יli.BiH3820isfaintדַוָּֽי׃da.VaiH1742in me.

19Behold the voiceק֞וֹלKolH6963of the cryשַֽׁוְעַ֣תshav.'AtH7775of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my peopleעַמִּ֗י'a.MiH5971because of them that dwell in a farמַרְחַקִּ֔יםmar.cha.KimH4801countryמֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙me.'E.retzH776: Isnot Yhwhהַֽיהוָה֙ha.Yah.wehH3068in Zionבְּצִיּ֔וֹןbe.tzi.YonH6726? isnot her kingמַלְכָּ֖הּmal.KahH4428in her? Why have they provoked me to angerהִכְעִס֛וּנִיhikh.'i.Su.niH3707with their graven imagesבִּפְסִלֵיהֶ֖םbif.si.lei.HemH6456, andwith strangeנֵכָֽר׃ne.KharH5236vanitiesבְּהַבְלֵ֥יbe.hav.LeiH1892?

20The harvestקָצִ֖ירka.TzirH7105is pastעָבַ֥ר'a.VarH5674,the summerקָ֑יִץKa.yitzH7019is endedכָּ֣לָהKa.lahH3615,and we are not savedנוֹשָֽׁעְנוּ׃no.Sha.'e.nuH3467.

21For the hurtשֶׁ֥בֶרShe.verH7667of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my peopleעַמִּ֖י'a.MiH5971am I hurtהָשְׁבָּ֑רְתִּיha.she.Ba.re.tiH7665;I am blackקָדַ֕רְתִּיka.Dar.tiH6937;astonishmentשַׁמָּ֖הsha.MahH8047hath taken holdהֶחֱזִקָֽתְנִי׃he.che.zi.Ka.te.niH2388on me.

22Is thereno balmהַצֳרִי֙ha.tzo.RiH6875in Gileadבְּגִלְעָ֔דbe.gil.'AdH1568; is thereno physicianרֹפֵ֖אro.Fe'H7495there? why thenכִּ֗יKiH3588is not the healthאֲרֻכַ֖ת'a.ru.KhatH724of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my peopleעַמִּֽי׃'a.MiH5971recoveredעָֽלְתָ֔ה'al.TahH5927?

Commentaries on Jeremiah 8