בָּעֵ֤ת הַהִיא֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶֽהְיֶה֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים לְכֹ֖ל מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהֵ֖מָּה יִֽהְיוּ־לִ֥י לְעָֽם׃ {ס} aThis verse is labeled as 30.25 in some editions. At that time—declares GOD—I will be God to all the clans of Israel, and they shall be My people.
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה מָצָ֥א חֵן֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר עַ֖ם שְׂרִ֣ידֵי חָ֑רֶב הָל֥וֹךְ לְהַרְגִּיע֖וֹ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Thus said GOD:
The people escaped from the sword,
Found favor in the wilderness;
When Israel was marching homeward
מֵרָח֕וֹק יְהֹוָ֖ה נִרְאָ֣ה לִ֑י וְאַהֲבַ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ אֲהַבְתִּ֔יךְ עַל־כֵּ֖ן מְשַׁכְתִּ֥יךְ חָֽסֶד׃ GOD was revealedbrevealed Heb. adds “to me”; emendation yields “to him.” long ago.
Eternal love I conceived for you then;
Therefore I continue My grace to you.
ע֤וֹד אֶבְנֵךְ֙ וְֽנִבְנֵ֔ית בְּתוּלַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ע֚וֹד תַּעְדִּ֣י תֻפַּ֔יִךְ וְיָצָ֖את בִּמְח֥וֹל מְשַׂחֲקִֽים׃ I will build you firmly again,
O Maiden Israel!
Again you shall take up your hand-drumscyou shall take up your hand-drums See note at Exod. 15.20.
And go forth to the rhythm of the dancers.
ע֚וֹד תִּטְּעִ֣י כְרָמִ֔ים בְּהָרֵ֖י שֹֽׁמְר֑וֹן נָטְע֥וּ נֹטְעִ֖ים וְחִלֵּֽלוּ׃ Again you shall plant vineyards
On the hills of Samaria;
YoudYou Heb. “They.” shall plant and live to enjoy the fruit.
כִּ֣י יֶשׁ־י֔וֹם קָרְא֥וּ נֹצְרִ֖ים בְּהַ֣ר אֶפְרָ֑יִם ק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה צִיּ֔וֹן אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ {פ}
For the day is coming when watchmen
Shall proclaim on the heights of Ephraim:
Come, let us go up to Zion,
To the ETERNAL our God!
כִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה רׇנּ֤וּ לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙ שִׂמְחָ֔ה וְצַהֲל֖וּ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הַגּוֹיִ֑ם הַשְׁמִ֤יעוּ הַֽלְלוּ֙ וְאִמְר֔וּ הוֹשַׁ֤ע יְהֹוָה֙ אֶֽת־עַמְּךָ֔ אֵ֖ת שְׁאֵרִ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ For thus said GOD:
Cry out in joy for Jacob,
Shout at the crossroadsecrossroads Lit. “head.” of the nations!
Sing aloud in praise, and say:
Save, O ETERNAL One, Your people,fSave, O ETERNAL One, Your people Emendation yields “GOD has saved this people.”
The remnant of Israel.
הִנְנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא אוֹתָ֜ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֗וֹן וְקִבַּצְתִּים֮ מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָ֒רֶץ֒ בָּ֚ם עִוֵּ֣ר וּפִסֵּ֔חַ הָרָ֥ה וְיֹלֶ֖דֶת יַחְדָּ֑ו קָהָ֥ל גָּד֖וֹל יָשׁ֥וּבוּ הֵֽנָּה׃ I will bring them in from the northland,
Gather them from the ends of the earth—
The blind and the lame among them,
Those with child and those in labor—
In a vast throng they shall return here.
בִּבְכִ֣י יָבֹ֗אוּ וּֽבְתַחֲנוּנִים֮ אֽוֹבִילֵם֒ אֽוֹלִיכֵם֙ אֶל־נַ֣חֲלֵי מַ֔יִם בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ יָשָׁ֔ר לֹ֥א יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ בָּ֑הּ כִּֽי־הָיִ֤יתִי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְאָ֔ב וְאֶפְרַ֖יִם בְּכֹ֥רִי הֽוּא׃ {פ}
They shall come with weeping,
And with compassiongcompassion For this meaning, cf. Zech. 12.10. will I guide them.
I will lead them to streams of water,
By a level road where they will not stumble.
For I am ever a FatherhFather See note at 3.4. to Israel,
Ephraim is My first-born.
שִׁמְע֤וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם וְהַגִּ֥ידוּ בָאִיִּ֖ים מִמֶּרְחָ֑ק וְאִמְר֗וּ מְזָרֵ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יְקַבְּצֶ֔נּוּ וּשְׁמָר֖וֹ כְּרֹעֶ֥ה עֶדְרֽוֹ׃ Hear the word of GOD, O nations,
And tell it in the isles afar.
Say:
The One who scattered Israel will gather them,
And will guard them as a shepherd his flock.
כִּֽי־פָדָ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֑ב וּגְאָל֕וֹ מִיַּ֖ד חָזָ֥ק מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ For GOD will ransom Jacob,
Redeem him from one too strong for him.
וּבָ֘אוּ֮ וְרִנְּנ֣וּ בִמְרוֹם־צִיּוֹן֒ וְנָהֲר֞וּ אֶל־ט֣וּב יְהֹוָ֗ה עַל־דָּגָן֙ וְעַל־תִּירֹ֣שׁ וְעַל־יִצְהָ֔ר וְעַל־בְּנֵי־צֹ֖אן וּבָקָ֑ר וְהָיְתָ֤ה נַפְשָׁם֙ כְּגַ֣ן רָוֶ֔ה וְלֹא־יוֹסִ֥יפוּ לְדַאֲבָ֖ה עֽוֹד׃ They shall come and shout on the heights of Zion,
Radiant over GOD’s bounty—
Over new grain and wine and oil,
And over sheep and cattle.
They shall fare like a watered garden,
They shall never languish again.
אָ֣ז תִּשְׂמַ֤ח בְּתוּלָה֙ בְּמָח֔וֹל וּבַחֻרִ֥ים וּזְקֵנִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו וְהָפַכְתִּ֨י אֶבְלָ֤ם לְשָׂשׂוֹן֙ וְנִ֣חַמְתִּ֔ים וְשִׂמַּחְתִּ֖ים מִיגוֹנָֽם׃ Then shall maidens dance gaily,
Young men and old alike.
I will turn their mourning to joy,
I will comfort them and cheer them in their grief.
וְרִוֵּיתִ֛י נֶ֥פֶשׁ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים דָּ֑שֶׁן וְעַמִּ֛י אֶת־טוּבִ֥י יִשְׂבָּ֖עוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
And My people shall enjoy My full bounty
—declares GOD.
כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה ק֣וֹל בְּרָמָ֤ה נִשְׁמָע֙ נְהִי֙ בְּכִ֣י תַמְרוּרִ֔ים רָחֵ֖ל מְבַכָּ֣ה עַל־בָּנֶ֑יהָ מֵאֲנָ֛ה לְהִנָּחֵ֥ם עַל־בָּנֶ֖יהָ כִּ֥י אֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ {ס} Thus said GOD:
A cry is heard in Ramahiin Ramah Or “on a height.”—
Wailing, bitter weeping—
Rachel weeping for her children.
She refuses to be comforted
For her children, who are gone.
כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה מִנְעִ֤י קוֹלֵךְ֙ מִבֶּ֔כִי וְעֵינַ֖יִךְ מִדִּמְעָ֑ה כִּי֩ יֵ֨שׁ שָׂכָ֤ר לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְשָׁ֖בוּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ אוֹיֵֽב׃ Thus said GOD:
Restrain your voice from weeping,
Your eyes from shedding tears;
For there is a reward for your labor
—declares GOD:
They shall return from the enemy’s land.
וְיֵשׁ־תִּקְוָ֥ה לְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְשָׁ֥בוּ בָנִ֖ים לִגְבוּלָֽם׃ And there is hope for your future
—declares GOD:
Your children shall return to their country.
שָׁמ֣וֹעַ שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ מִתְנוֹדֵ֔ד יִסַּרְתַּ֙נִי֙ וָֽאִוָּסֵ֔ר כְּעֵ֖גֶל לֹ֣א לֻמָּ֑ד הֲשִׁבֵ֣נִי וְאָשׁ֔וּבָה כִּ֥י אַתָּ֖ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי׃ I can hear Ephraim lamenting:
“You have chastised me, and I am chastised
Like a calf that has not been broken.
Receive me back, let me return,
For You, O ETERNAL One, are my God.
כִּֽי־אַחֲרֵ֤י שׁוּבִי֙ נִחַ֔מְתִּי וְאַֽחֲרֵי֙ הִוָּ֣דְעִ֔י סָפַ֖קְתִּי עַל־יָרֵ֑ךְ בֹּ֚שְׁתִּי וְגַם־נִכְלַ֔מְתִּי כִּ֥י נָשָׂ֖אתִי חֶרְפַּ֥ת נְעוּרָֽי׃ Now that I have turned back, I am filled with remorse;
Now that I am made aware, I strike my thigh.jstrike my thigh A gesture of self-reproach.
I am ashamed and humiliated,
For I bear the disgrace of my youth.”
הֲבֵן֩ יַקִּ֨יר לִ֜י אֶפְרַ֗יִם אִ֚ם יֶ֣לֶד שַׁעֲשֻׁעִ֔ים כִּֽי־מִדֵּ֤י דַבְּרִי֙ בּ֔וֹ זָכֹ֥ר אֶזְכְּרֶ֖נּוּ ע֑וֹד עַל־כֵּ֗ן הָמ֤וּ מֵעַי֙ ל֔וֹ רַחֵ֥ם אֲֽרַחֲמֶ֖נּוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} Truly, Ephraim is a dear son to Me,
A child that is dandled!
Whenever I have turnedkturned Lit. “spoken.” against him,
My thoughts would dwell on him still.
That is why My heart yearns for him;
I will receive him back in love
—declares GOD.
הַצִּ֧יבִי לָ֣ךְ צִיֻּנִ֗ים שִׂ֤מִי לָךְ֙ תַּמְרוּרִ֔ים שִׁ֣תִי לִבֵּ֔ךְ לַֽמְסִלָּ֖ה דֶּ֣רֶךְ (הלכתי) [הָלָ֑כְתְּ] שׁ֚וּבִי בְּתוּלַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שֻׁ֖בִי אֶל־עָרַ֥יִךְ אֵֽלֶּה׃ Erect markers,
Set up signposts;lsignposts Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Keep in mind the highway,
The road that you traveled.
Return, Maiden Israel!
Return to these towns of yours!
עַד־מָתַי֙ תִּתְחַמָּקִ֔ין הַבַּ֖ת הַשּֽׁוֹבֵבָ֑ה כִּֽי־בָרָ֨א יְהֹוָ֤ה חֲדָשָׁה֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ נְקֵבָ֖ה תְּס֥וֹבֵֽב גָּֽבֶר׃ {פ}
How long will you waver,
O rebellious daughter?
(For GOD has created something new on earth:
A woman courtsmcourts Meaning of Heb. uncertain. a man.)
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל ע֣וֹד יֹאמְר֞וּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה בְּאֶ֤רֶץ יְהוּדָה֙ וּבְעָרָ֔יו בְּשׁוּבִ֖י אֶת־שְׁבוּתָ֑ם יְבָרֶכְךָ֧ יְהֹוָ֛ה נְוֵה־צֶ֖דֶק הַ֥ר הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel: They shall again say this in the land of Judah and in its towns, when I restore their fortunes:
“ GOD bless you,
Abode of righteousness,
O holy mountain!”
וְיָ֥שְׁבוּ בָ֛הּ יְהוּדָ֥ה וְכׇל־עָרָ֖יו יַחְדָּ֑ו אִכָּרִ֕ים וְנָסְע֖וּ בַּעֵֽדֶר׃ Judah and all its towns alike shall be inhabited by the farmers and such as move aboutnsuch as move about Lit. “they shall travel.” with the flocks.
כִּ֥י הִרְוֵ֖יתִי נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲיֵפָ֑ה וְכׇל־נֶ֥פֶשׁ דָּאֲבָ֖ה מִלֵּֽאתִי׃ For I will give the thirsty abundant drink, and satisfy all who languish.
עַל־זֹ֖את הֱקִיצֹ֣תִי וָאֶרְאֶ֑ה וּשְׁנָתִ֖י עָ֥רְבָה לִּֽי׃ {ס} At this I awoke and looked about, and my sleepomy sleep I.e., the vision in the preceding verses. had been pleasant to me.
הִנֵּ֛ה יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְזָרַעְתִּ֗י אֶת־בֵּ֤ית יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאֶת־בֵּ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה זֶ֥רַע אָדָ֖ם וְזֶ֥רַע בְּהֵמָֽה׃ See, a time is coming—declares GOD—when I will sow the House of Israel and the House of Judah with seed of people and seed of cattle;
וְהָיָ֞ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר שָׁקַ֣דְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לִנְת֧וֹשׁ וְלִנְת֛וֹץ וְלַהֲרֹ֖ס וּלְהַאֲבִ֣יד וּלְהָרֵ֑עַ כֵּ֣ן אֶשְׁקֹ֧ד עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם לִבְנ֥וֹת וְלִנְטֹ֖עַ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ and just as I was watchful over them to uproot and to pull down, to overthrow and to destroy and to bring disaster, so I will be watchful over them to build and to plant—declares GOD.
בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם לֹא־יֹאמְר֣וּ ע֔וֹד אָב֖וֹת אָ֣כְלוּ בֹ֑סֶר וְשִׁנֵּ֥י בָנִ֖ים תִּקְהֶֽינָה׃ In those days, they shall no longer say, “Parents have eaten sour grapes and children’s teeth are blunted.”pblunted In contrast to others “set on edge.”
כִּ֛י אִם־אִ֥ישׁ בַּעֲוֺנ֖וֹ יָמ֑וּת כׇּל־הָֽאָדָ֛ם הָאֹכֵ֥ל הַבֹּ֖סֶר תִּקְהֶ֥ינָה שִׁנָּֽיו׃ {ס} But every one shall die for their own sins: whosoever eats sour grapes, their teeth shall be blunted.
הִנֵּ֛ה יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְכָרַתִּ֗י אֶת־בֵּ֧ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּרִ֥ית חֲדָשָֽׁה׃ See, a time is coming—declares GOD—when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah.
לֹ֣א כַבְּרִ֗ית אֲשֶׁ֤ר כָּרַ֙תִּי֙ אֶת־אֲבוֹתָ֔ם בְּיוֹם֙ הֶחֱזִיקִ֣י בְיָדָ֔ם לְהוֹצִיאָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֜מָּה הֵפֵ֣רוּ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֗י וְאָנֹכִ֛י בָּעַ֥לְתִּי בָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors, when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, a covenant that they broke, though I espousedqespoused Meaning of Heb. uncertain; compare 3.14. them—declares GOD.
כִּ֣י זֹ֣את הַבְּרִ֡ית אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶכְרֹת֩ אֶת־בֵּ֨ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אַחֲרֵ֨י הַיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵם֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה נָתַ֤תִּי אֶת־תּֽוֹרָתִי֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔ם וְעַל־לִבָּ֖ם אֶכְתְּבֶ֑נָּה וְהָיִ֤יתִי לָהֶם֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה יִֽהְיוּ־לִ֥י לְעָֽם׃ But such is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel after these days—declares GOD: I will put My Teaching into their inmost being and inscribe it upon their hearts. Then I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
וְלֹ֧א יְלַמְּד֣וּ ע֗וֹד אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֜הוּ וְאִ֤ישׁ אֶת־אָחִיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר דְּע֖וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּֽי־כוּלָּם֩ יֵדְע֨וּ אוֹתִ֜י לְמִקְּטַנָּ֤ם וְעַד־גְּדוֹלָם֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֤י אֶסְלַח֙ לַֽעֲוֺנָ֔ם וּלְחַטָּאתָ֖ם לֹ֥א אֶזְכָּר־עֽוֹד׃ {ס} No longer will they need to teach one another and say to one another, “Heed GOD”; for all of them, from the least of them to the greatest, shall heed Me—declares GOD.
For I will forgive their iniquities,
And remember their sins no more.
כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה נֹתֵ֥ן שֶׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ לְא֣וֹר יוֹמָ֔ם חֻקֹּ֛ת יָרֵ֥חַ וְכוֹכָבִ֖ים לְא֣וֹר לָ֑יְלָה רֹגַ֤ע הַיָּם֙ וַיֶּהֱמ֣וּ גַלָּ֔יו יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ Thus said GOD,
Who established the sun for light by day,
The laws of moon and stars for light by night,
Who stirs up the sea into roaring waves,
Whose name is GOD of Hosts:
אִם־יָמֻ֜שׁוּ הַחֻקִּ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה מִלְּפָנַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה גַּם֩ זֶ֨רַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל יִשְׁבְּת֗וּ מִהְי֥וֹת גּ֛וֹי לְפָנַ֖י כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ {ס} If these laws should ever be annulled by Me
—declares GOD—
Only then would the offspring of Israel cease
To be a nation before Me for all time.
כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אִם־יִמַּ֤דּוּ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ מִלְמַ֔עְלָה וְיֵחָקְר֥וּ מוֹסְדֵי־אֶ֖רֶץ לְמָ֑טָּה גַּם־אֲנִ֞י אֶמְאַ֨ס בְּכׇל־זֶ֧רַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עַֽל־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשׂ֖וּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} Thus said GOD: If the heavens above could be measured, and the foundations of the earth below could be fathomed, only then would I reject all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done—declares GOD.
הִנֵּ֛ה יָמִ֥ים [בָּאִ֖ים] נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְנִבְנְתָ֤ה הָעִיר֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה מִמִּגְדַּ֥ל חֲנַנְאֵ֖ל שַׁ֥עַר הַפִּנָּֽה׃ See, a time is coming—declares GOD—when the city shall be rebuilt for GOD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate;
וְיָצָ֨א ע֜וֹד (קוה) [קָ֤ו] הַמִּדָּה֙ נֶגְדּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל גִּבְעַ֣ת גָּרֵ֑ב וְנָסַ֖ב גֹּעָֽתָה׃ and the measuring line shall go straight out to the Gareb Hill, and then turn toward Goah.
וְכׇל־הָעֵ֣מֶק הַפְּגָרִ֣ים ׀ וְהַדֶּ֡שֶׁן וְכׇֽל־[הַשְּׁדֵמוֹת֩] (השרמות) עַד־נַ֨חַל קִדְר֜וֹן עַד־פִּנַּ֨ת שַׁ֤עַר הַסּוּסִים֙ מִזְרָ֔חָה קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַיהֹוָ֑ה לֹא־יִנָּתֵ֧שׁ וְֽלֹא־יֵהָרֵ֛ס ע֖וֹד לְעוֹלָֽם׃ {פ}
And the entire Valley of the Corpses and Ashes, and all the fields as far as the Wadi Kidron, and the corner of the Horse Gate on the east, shall be holy to GOD. They shall never again be uprooted or overthrown.