וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me:
בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם שִׂ֤ים פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ תֵּימָ֔נָה וְהַטֵּ֖ף אֶל־דָּר֑וֹם וְהִנָּבֵ֛א אֶל־יַ֥עַר הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה נֶֽגֶב׃ O mortal, set your face toward Teman, and proclaim to Darom, and prophesy against the brushland of the Negeb.aTeman…Darom…Negeb Three terms for “the south.” The allusion is to Jerusalem (v. 7), which was always approached from Babylon by way of the north.
וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ לְיַ֣עַר הַנֶּ֔גֶב שְׁמַ֖ע דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֑ה כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֡ה הִנְנִ֣י מַֽצִּית־בְּךָ֣ ׀ אֵ֡שׁ וְאָכְלָ֣ה בְךָ֣ כׇל־עֵֽץ־לַח֩ וְכׇל־עֵ֨ץ יָבֵ֤שׁ לֹֽא־תִכְבֶּה֙ לַהֶ֣בֶת שַׁלְהֶ֔בֶת וְנִצְרְבוּ־בָ֥הּ כׇּל־פָּנִ֖ים מִנֶּ֥גֶב צָפֽוֹנָה׃ Say to the brushland of the Negeb: Hear the word of GOD. Thus said the Sovereign GOD: I am going to kindle a fire in you, which shall devour every tree of yours, both green and withered. Its leaping flame shall not go out, and every face from south to north shall be scorched by it.
וְרָאוּ֙ כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֔ר כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה בִּֽעַרְתִּ֑יהָ לֹ֖א תִּכְבֶּֽה׃ Then all flesh shall recognize that I, GOD, have kindled it; it shall not go out.
וָאֹמַ֕ר אֲהָ֖הּ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה הֵ֚מָּה אֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֔י הֲלֹ֛א מְמַשֵּׁ֥ל מְשָׁלִ֖ים הֽוּא׃ {פ}
And I said, “Ah, my Sovereign GOD! They say of me: He is just a riddlemonger.”
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ Then the word of GOD came to me:
בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם שִׂ֤ים פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶל־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְהַטֵּ֖ף אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁ֑ים וְהִנָּבֵ֖א אֶל־אַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ O mortal, set your face toward Jerusalem and proclaim against her sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ לְאַדְמַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֣י אֵלַ֔יִךְ וְהוֹצֵאתִ֥י חַרְבִּ֖י מִתַּעְרָ֑הּ וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י מִמֵּ֖ךְ צַדִּ֥יק וְרָשָֽׁע׃ Say to the land of Israel: Thus said GOD: I am going to deal with you! I will draw My sword from its sheath, and I will wipe out from you both the righteous and the wicked.
יַ֛עַן אֲשֶׁר־הִכְרַ֥תִּי מִמֵּ֖ךְ צַדִּ֣יק וְרָשָׁ֑ע לָ֠כֵ֠ן תֵּצֵ֨א חַרְבִּ֧י מִתַּעְרָ֛הּ אֶל־כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֖ר מִנֶּ֥גֶב צָפֽוֹן׃ In order to wipe out from you both the righteous and the wicked, My sword shall assuredly be unsheathed against all flesh from south to north;
וְיָֽדְעוּ֙ כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֔ר כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה הוֹצֵ֥אתִי חַרְבִּ֖י מִתַּעְרָ֑הּ לֹ֥א תָשׁ֖וּב עֽוֹד׃ {ס} and all flesh shall know that I, GOD, have drawn My sword from its sheath, not to be sheathed again.
וְאַתָּ֥ה בֶן־אָדָ֖ם הֵאָנַ֑ח בְּשִׁבְר֤וֹן מׇתְנַ֙יִם֙ וּבִמְרִיר֔וּת תֵּאָנַ֖ח לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ And you, O mortal, sigh; with tottering limbs and bitter grief, sigh before their eyes.
וְהָיָה֙ כִּי־יֹאמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ עַל־מָ֖ה אַתָּ֣ה נֶאֱנָ֑ח וְאָמַרְתָּ֡ אֶל־שְׁמוּעָ֣ה כִֽי־בָאָ֡ה וְנָמֵ֣ס כׇּל־לֵב֩ וְרָפ֨וּ כׇל־יָדַ֜יִם וְכִהֲתָ֣ה כׇל־ר֗וּחַ וְכׇל־בִּרְכַּ֙יִם֙ תֵּלַ֣כְנָה מַּ֔יִם הִנֵּ֤ה בָאָה֙ וְנִֽהְיָ֔תָה נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
And when they ask you, “Why do you sigh?” answer, “Because of the tidings that have come.” Every heart shall sink and all hands hang nerveless; every spirit shall grow faint and all knees turn to water because of the tidings that have come. It is approaching, it shall come to pass—declares the Sovereign GOD.
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me:
בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הִנָּבֵא֙ וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֑י אֱמֹ֕ר חֶ֥רֶב חֶ֛רֶב הוּחַ֖דָּה וְגַם־מְרוּטָֽה׃ O mortal, prophesy and say: Thus said the Sovereign: A sword! A sword has been whetted and polished.
לְמַ֨עַן טְבֹ֤חַ טֶ֙בַח֙ הוּחַ֔דָּה לְמַעַן־הֱיֵה־לָ֥הּ בָּרָ֖ק מֹרָ֑טָּה א֣וֹ נָשִׂ֔ישׂ שֵׁ֥בֶט בְּנִ֖י מֹאֶ֥סֶת כׇּל־עֵֽץ׃ It has been whetted to wreak slaughter; [therefore] it has been ground to a brilliant polish.b[therefore] it has been ground to a brilliant polish Lit. “it has been polished in order that it may have lightning.” How can we rejoice? My child, it scornscHow can we rejoice? My child, it scorns Meaning of Heb. uncertain. the rod and every stick.
וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ לְמׇרְטָ֖הֿ לִתְפֹּ֣שׂ בַּכָּ֑ף הִֽיא־הוּחַ֤דָּה חֶ֙רֶב֙ וְהִ֣יא מֹרָ֔טָּה לָתֵ֥ת אוֹתָ֖הּ בְּיַד־הוֹרֵֽג׃ It has been given to be polished and then grasped in the hand; for this has the sword been whetted, for this polished—to be put into the hand of a slayer.
זְעַ֤ק וְהֵילֵל֙ בֶּן־אָדָ֔ם כִּי־הִיא֙ הָיְתָ֣ה בְעַמִּ֔י הִ֖יא בְּכׇל־נְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מְגוּרֵ֤י אֶל־חֶ֙רֶב֙ הָי֣וּ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י לָכֵ֖ן סְפֹ֥ק אֶל־יָרֵֽךְ׃ Cry and wail, O mortal, for this shall befall My people, this shall befall all the chieftains of Israel: they shall be cast before the sword together with My people; oh, strike the thigh [in grief].
כִּ֣י בֹ֔חַן וּמָ֕ה אִם־גַּם־שֵׁ֥בֶט מֹאֶ֖סֶת לֹ֣א יִֽהְיֶ֑ה נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
Consider: How shall it fail to happen, seeing that it even scorns the rod?dConsider: How shall it fail to happen, seeing that it even scorns the rod? Meaning of Heb. uncertain.—says the Sovereign GOD.
וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֔ם הִנָּבֵ֕א וְהַ֖ךְ כַּ֣ף אֶל־כָּ֑ף וְתִכָּפֵ֞ל חֶ֤רֶב שְׁלִישִׁ֙תָה֙ חֶ֣רֶב חֲלָלִ֔ים הִ֗יא חֶ֚רֶב חָלָ֣ל הַגָּד֔וֹל הַחֹדֶ֖רֶת לָהֶֽם׃ Further, O mortal, prophesy, striking hand against hand. Let the sword strike a second time and yet a third time; it is a sword for massacre, a sword for great carnage, that pressesepresses Meaning of Heb. uncertain. upon them.
לְמַ֣עַן ׀ לָמ֣וּג לֵ֗ב וְהַרְבֵּה֙ הַמִּכְשֹׁלִ֔ים עַ֚ל כׇּל־שַׁ֣עֲרֵיהֶ֔ם נָתַ֖תִּי אִבְחַת־חָ֑רֶב אָ֛ח עֲשׂוּיָ֥ה לְבָרָ֖ק מְעֻטָּ֥ה לְטָֽבַח׃ Thus hearts shall lose courage and many shall fall. At all their gates I have appointed slaughterfslaughter Meaning of Heb. uncertain. by the sword. Ah! it is made to flash brilliantly, it is honedghoned Meaning of Heb. uncertain. for slaughter.
הִתְאַחֲדִ֥י הֵימִ֖נִי הָשִׂ֣ימִי הַשְׂמִ֑ילִי אָ֖נָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ מֻעָדֽוֹת׃ Be united,hBe united Meaning of Heb. uncertain; Targum reads “Be whetted.” Cf. vv. 14–16. go to the right, turn left; whither are you bound?
וְגַם־אֲנִ֗י אַכֶּ֤ה כַפִּי֙ אֶל־כַּפִּ֔י וַהֲנִיחֹתִ֖י חֲמָתִ֑י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ {פ}
I, too, will strike hand against hand and will satisfy My fury upon you; I, GOD, have spoken.
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me:
וְאַתָּ֨ה בֶן־אָדָ֜ם שִׂים־לְךָ֣ ׀ שְׁנַ֣יִם דְּרָכִ֗ים לָבוֹא֙ חֶ֣רֶב מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֔ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ אֶחָ֖ד יֵצְא֣וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם וְיָ֣ד בָּרֵ֔א בְּרֹ֥אשׁ דֶּרֶךְ־עִ֖יר בָּרֵֽא׃ And you, O mortal, choose two roads on which the sword of the king of Babylon may advance, both issuing from the same country; and select a spot, select it where roads branch off to [two] cities.
דֶּ֣רֶךְ תָּשִׂ֔ים לָב֣וֹא חֶ֔רֶב אֵ֖ת רַבַּ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֑וֹן וְאֶת־יְהוּדָ֥ה בִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בְּצוּרָֽה׃ Choose a way for the sword to advance on Rabbah of the Ammonites or on fortified Jerusalem in Judah.
כִּֽי־עָמַ֨ד מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֜ל אֶל־אֵ֣ם הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ בְּרֹ֛אשׁ שְׁנֵ֥י הַדְּרָכִ֖ים לִקְסׇם־קָ֑סֶם קִלְקַ֤ל בַּֽחִצִּים֙ שָׁאַ֣ל בַּתְּרָפִ֔ים רָאָ֖ה בַּכָּבֵֽד׃ For the king of Babylon has stood at the fork of the road, where two roads branch off, to perform divination: He has shaken arrows, consulted oracle idols, and inspected the liver.iinspected the liver Of a sacrificed animal.
בִּימִינ֞וֹ הָיָ֣ה ׀ הַקֶּ֣סֶם יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם לָשׂ֤וּם כָּרִים֙ לִפְתֹּ֤חַ פֶּה֙ בְּרֶ֔צַח לְהָרִ֥ים ק֖וֹל בִּתְרוּעָ֑ה לָשׂ֤וּם כָּרִים֙ עַל־שְׁעָרִ֔ים לִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ סֹלְלָ֖ה לִבְנ֥וֹת דָּיֵֽק׃ In his right hand came up the omen against Jerusalem—to set battering rams, to proclaim murder, to raise battle shouts, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to erect towers.
וְהָיָ֨ה לָהֶ֤ם (כקסום) [כִּקְסׇם־]שָׁוְא֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם שְׁבֻעֵ֥י שְׁבֻע֖וֹת לָהֶ֑ם וְהוּא־מַזְכִּ֥יר עָוֺ֖ן לְהִתָּפֵֽשׂ׃ {ס} jThe inhabitants of Jerusalem disregarded their oaths to the Babylonians; cf. 17.13ff. In their eyes, the oaths they had sworn to them were like empty divination; but this shall serve to recall their guilt, for which they shall be taken to task.
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ יַ֗עַן הַזְכַּרְכֶם֙ עֲוֺ֣נְכֶ֔ם בְּהִגָּל֣וֹת פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֗ם לְהֵֽרָאוֹת֙ חַטֹּ֣אותֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכֹ֖ל עֲלִילֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם יַ֚עַן הִזָּ֣כֶרְכֶ֔ם בַּכַּ֖ף תִּתָּפֵֽשׂוּ׃ {פ}
Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: For causing your guilt to be recalled, your transgressions to be uncovered, and your sins to be revealed—all your misdeeds—because you have brought yourselves to [My] mind, you shall be taken to task.
וְאַתָּה֙ חָלָ֣ל רָשָׁ֔ע נְשִׂ֖יא יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א יוֹמ֔וֹ בְּעֵ֖ת עֲוֺ֥ן קֵֽץ׃ {ס} And to you, O dishonored wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come—the time set for your punishment—
כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הָסִיר֙ הַמִּצְנֶ֔פֶת וְהָרִ֖ים הָעֲטָרָ֑ה זֹ֣את לֹא־זֹ֔את הַשָּׁפָ֣לָה הַגְבֵּ֔הַּ וְהַגָּבֹ֖הַּ הַשְׁפִּֽיל׃ thus said the Sovereign GOD: Remove the turban and lift off the crown! This shall not remain as it is; exalt the low and abase the high.
עַוָּ֥ה עַוָּ֖ה עַוָּ֣ה אֲשִׂימֶ֑נָּה גַּם־זֹאת֙ לֹ֣א הָיָ֔ה עַד־בֹּ֛א אֲשֶׁר־ל֥וֹ הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט וּנְתַתִּֽיו׃ {פ}
Ruin, an utter ruin I will make it. It shall be no morekIt shall be no more Meaning of Heb. uncertain. until he comes to whom it rightfully belongs; and I will give it to him.
וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם הִנָּבֵ֤א וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י עַמּ֖וֹן וְאֶל־חֶרְפָּתָ֑ם וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ חֶ֣רֶב חֶ֤רֶב פְּתוּחָה֙ לְטֶ֣בַח מְרוּטָ֔ה לְהָכִ֖יל לְמַ֥עַן בָּרָֽק׃ Further, O mortal, prophesy and say: Thus said the Sovereign GOD concerning the Ammonites and their blasphemies: Proclaim: O sword! O sword unsheathed for slaughter, polished to the utmost, to a flashing brilliance!
בַּחֲז֥וֹת לָךְ֙ שָׁ֔וְא בִּקְסׇם־לָ֖ךְ כָּזָ֑ב לָתֵ֣ת אוֹתָ֗ךְ אֶֽל־צַוְּארֵי֙ חַֽלְלֵ֣י רְשָׁעִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א יוֹמָ֔ם בְּעֵ֖ת עֲוֺ֥ן קֵֽץ׃ Because they have prophesied falsely about you and have divined deceitfully concerning you, you shall be wielded over the necks of the dishonored wicked ones, for their day has come, the time set for their punishment.lset for their punishment Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
הָשַׁ֖ב אֶל־תַּעְרָ֑הּ בִּמְק֧וֹם אֲשֶׁר־נִבְרֵ֛את בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מְכֻרוֹתַ֖יִךְ אֶשְׁפֹּ֥ט אֹתָֽךְ׃ Return it to its sheath!mReturn it to its sheath! Emendation yields “Return to your scabbard!” In this and the following verses, the prophet describes the future punishment of Babylon, still symbolized by the sword. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
וְשָׁפַכְתִּ֤י עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ זַעְמִ֔י בְּאֵ֥שׁ עֶבְרָתִ֖י אָפִ֣יחַ עָלָ֑יִךְ וּנְתַתִּ֗יךְ בְּיַד֙ אֲנָשִׁ֣ים בֹּעֲרִ֔ים חָרָשֵׁ֖י מַשְׁחִֽית׃ I will pour out My indignation upon you, I will blow upon you with the fire of My wrath; and I will deliver you into the hands of barbarians, skilled in destruction.
לָאֵ֤שׁ תִּֽהְיֶה֙ לְאׇכְלָ֔ה דָּמֵ֥ךְ יִהְיֶ֖ה בְּת֣וֹךְ הָאָ֑רֶץ לֹ֣א תִזָּכֵ֔רִי כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ {פ}
You shall be fuel for the fire, your blood shall sink into the earth, you shall not be remembered, for I, GOD, have spoken.