ה֣וֹי רֹעִ֗ים מְאַבְּדִ֧ים וּמְפִצִ֛ים אֶת־צֹ֥אן מַרְעִיתִ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} Ah, shepherds who let the flock of My pasture stray and scatter!—declares GOD.
לָ֠כֵ֠ן כֹּה־אָמַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל עַֽל־הָרֹעִים֮ הָרֹעִ֣ים אֶת־עַמִּי֒ אַתֶּ֞ם הֲפִצֹתֶ֤ם אֶת־צֹאנִי֙ וַתַּדִּח֔וּם וְלֹ֥א פְקַדְתֶּ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם הִנְנִ֨י פֹקֵ֧ד עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם אֶת־רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Assuredly, thus said the ETERNAL, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who should tend My people: It is you who let My flock scatter and go astray. You gave no thought to them, but I am going to give thought to you, for your wicked acts—declares GOD.
וַאֲנִ֗י אֲקַבֵּץ֙ אֶת־שְׁאֵרִ֣ית צֹאנִ֔י מִכֹּל֙ הָאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־הִדַּ֥חְתִּי אֹתָ֖ם שָׁ֑ם וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֥י אֶתְהֶ֛ן עַל־נְוֵהֶ֖ן וּפָר֥וּ וְרָבֽוּ׃ And I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will bring them back to their pasture, where they shall be fertile and increase.
וַהֲקִמֹתִ֧י עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם רֹעִ֖ים וְרָע֑וּם וְלֹא־יִֽירְא֨וּ ע֧וֹד וְלֹא־יֵחַ֛תּוּ וְלֹ֥א יִפָּקֵ֖דוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} And I will appoint over them shepherds who will tend them; they shall no longer fear or be dismayed, and none of them shall be missing—declares GOD.
הִנֵּ֨ה יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וַהֲקִמֹתִ֥י לְדָוִ֖ד צֶ֣מַח צַדִּ֑יק וּמָ֤לַךְ מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ וְהִשְׂכִּ֔יל וְעָשָׂ֛ה מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ See, a time is coming—declares GOD—when I will raise up a true branch of David’s line. He shall reign as king and shall prosper, and he shall do what is just and right in the land.
בְּיָמָיו֙ תִּוָּשַׁ֣ע יְהוּדָ֔ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִשְׁכֹּ֣ן לָבֶ֑טַח וְזֶה־שְּׁמ֥וֹ אֲֽשֶׁר־יִקְרְא֖וֹ יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ צִדְקֵֽנוּ׃ {פ}
In his days Judah shall be delivered and Israel shall dwell secure. And this is the name by which he shall be called: “GOD is our Vindicator.”aGOD is our Vindicator Heb. Yhwh ṣidqenu. Presumably a play on the name of King Zedekiah.
לָכֵ֛ן הִנֵּה־יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹא־יֹ֤אמְרוּ עוֹד֙ חַי־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֶעֱלָ֛ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ Assuredly, a time is coming—declares GOD—when it shall no more be said, “As GOD lives, who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt,”
כִּ֣י אִם־חַי־יְהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶעֱלָה֩ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵבִ֜יא אֶת־זֶ֨רַע בֵּ֤ית יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹנָה וּמִכֹּל֙ הָאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִדַּחְתִּ֖ים שָׁ֑ם וְיָשְׁב֖וּ עַל־אַדְמָתָֽם׃ {פ}
but rather, “As GOD lives, who brought out and led the offspring of the House of Israel from the northland and from all the lands to which I have banished them.” And they shall dwell upon their own soil.
לַנְּבִאִ֞ים נִשְׁבַּ֧ר לִבִּ֣י בְקִרְבִּ֗י רָֽחֲפוּ֙ כׇּל־עַצְמוֹתַ֔י הָיִ֙יתִי֙ כְּאִ֣ישׁ שִׁכּ֔וֹר וּכְגֶ֖בֶר עֲבָ֣רוֹ יָ֑יִן מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וּמִפְּנֵ֖י דִּבְרֵ֥י קׇדְשֽׁוֹ׃ Concerning the prophets.
My heart is crushed within me,
All my bones are trembling;btrembling Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
I have become like someone drunk,
Like one overcome by wine—
Because of GOD and because of God’s holy word.
כִּ֤י מְנָֽאֲפִים֙ מָלְאָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּֽי־מִפְּנֵ֤י אָלָה֙ אָבְלָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ יָבְשׁ֖וּ נְא֣וֹת מִדְבָּ֑ר וַתְּהִ֤י מְרֽוּצָתָם֙ רָעָ֔ה וּגְבוּרָתָ֖ם לֹא־כֵֽן׃ For the land is full of adulterers,
The land mourns because of a curse;ca curse A few Heb. mss. and Septuagint read “these.”
The pastures of the wilderness are dried up.
For they run to do evil,
They strain to do wrong.dFor they run to do evil, / They strain to do wrong Lit. “Their running is wickedness, / Their straining is iniquity.”
כִּֽי־גַם־נָבִ֥יא גַם־כֹּהֵ֖ן חָנֵ֑פוּ גַּם־בְּבֵיתִ֛י מָצָ֥אתִי רָעָתָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ For both prophet and priest are godless;
Even in My House I find their wickedness
—declares GOD.
לָכֵן֩ יִהְיֶ֨ה דַרְכָּ֜ם לָהֶ֗ם כַּחֲלַקְלַקּוֹת֙ בָּאֲפֵלָ֔ה יִדַּ֖חוּ וְנָ֣פְלוּ בָ֑הּ כִּי־אָבִ֨יא עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם רָעָ֛ה שְׁנַ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Assuredly,
Their path shall become
Like slippery ground;
They shall be thrust into darkness
And there they shall fall;
For I will bring disaster upon them,
The year of their doom
—declares GOD.
וּבִנְבִיאֵ֥י שֹׁמְר֖וֹן רָאִ֣יתִי תִפְלָ֑ה הִנַּבְּא֣וּ בַבַּ֔עַל וַיַּתְע֥וּ אֶת־עַמִּ֖י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ In the prophets of Samaria
I saw a repulsive thing:
They prophesied by Baal
And led My people Israel astray.
וּבִנְבִאֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם רָאִ֣יתִי שַׁעֲרוּרָ֗ה נָא֞וֹף וְהָלֹ֤ךְ בַּשֶּׁ֙קֶר֙ וְחִזְּקוּ֙ יְדֵ֣י מְרֵעִ֔ים לְבִ֨לְתִּי־שָׁ֔בוּ אִ֖ישׁ מֵרָעָת֑וֹ הָיוּ־לִ֤י כֻלָּם֙ כִּסְדֹ֔ם וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כַּעֲמֹרָֽה׃ {פ}
But what I see in the prophets of Jerusalem
Is something horrifying:
Adultery and false dealing.
They encourage evildoers,
So that no one turns back from their own wickedness.
To Me they are all like Sodom,
And [all] its inhabitants like Gomorrah.
לָכֵ֞ן כֹּה־אָמַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ עַל־הַנְּבִאִ֔ים הִנְנִ֨י מַאֲכִ֤יל אוֹתָם֙ לַעֲנָ֔ה וְהִשְׁקִתִ֖ים מֵי־רֹ֑אשׁ כִּ֗י מֵאֵת֙ נְבִיאֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם יָצְאָ֥ה חֲנֻפָּ֖ה לְכׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ {פ}
Assuredly, thus said GOD of Hosts concerning the prophets:
I am going to make them eat wormwood
And drink a bitter draft;
For from the prophets of Jerusalem
Godlessness has gone forth to the whole land.
כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת אַֽל־תִּשְׁמְע֞וּ עַל־דִּבְרֵ֤י הַנְּבִאִים֙ הַנִּבְּאִ֣ים לָכֶ֔ם מַהְבִּלִ֥ים הֵ֖מָּה אֶתְכֶ֑ם חֲז֤וֹן לִבָּם֙ יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ לֹ֖א מִפִּ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts:
Do not listen to the words of the prophets
Who prophesy to you.
They are deluding you,
The prophecies they speak are from their own minds,
Not from the mouth of GOD.
אֹמְרִ֤ים אָמוֹר֙ לִֽמְנַאֲצַ֔י דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שָׁל֖וֹם יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם וְ֠כֹ֠ל הֹלֵ֞ךְ בִּשְׁרִר֤וּת לִבּוֹ֙ אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹא־תָב֥וֹא עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם רָעָֽה׃ They declare to those who despise Me:
GOD has said:
“All shall be well with you”;
And to all who follow their willful hearts they say:
“No evil shall befall you.”
כִּ֣י מִ֤י עָמַד֙ בְּס֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֔ה וְיֵ֖רֶא וְיִשְׁמַ֣ע אֶת־דְּבָר֑וֹ מִי־הִקְשִׁ֥יב (דברי) [דְּבָר֖וֹ] וַיִּשְׁמָֽע׃ {ס} But he who has stood in GOD’s council,
And seen, and heard God’s word—
He who has listened to that word must obey.eobey Change of vocalization yields “announce it”; cf. vv. 22, 28.
הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ סַעֲרַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֗ה חֵמָה֙ יָֽצְאָ֔ה וְסַ֖עַר מִתְחוֹלֵ֑ל עַ֛ל רֹ֥אשׁ רְשָׁעִ֖ים יָחֽוּל׃ Lo, GOD’s storm goes forth in fury,
A whirling storm,
It shall whirl down upon the heads of the wicked.
לֹ֤א יָשׁוּב֙ אַף־יְהֹוָ֔ה עַד־עֲשֹׂת֥וֹ וְעַד־הֲקִימ֖וֹ מְזִמּ֣וֹת לִבּ֑וֹ בְּאַֽחֲרִית֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים תִּתְבּ֥וֹנְנוּ בָ֖הּ בִּינָֽה׃ The anger of GOD shall not turn back
Till it has fulfilled and completed God’s purposes.fLo, GOD’s storm … completed God’s purposes The word of God that Jeremiah referred to in v. 18.
In the days to come
You shall clearly perceive it.
לֹא־שָׁלַ֥חְתִּי אֶת־הַנְּבִאִ֖ים וְהֵ֣ם רָ֑צוּ לֹא־דִבַּ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְהֵ֥ם נִבָּֽאוּ׃ I did not send those prophets,
But they rushed in;
I did not speak to them,
Yet they prophesied.
וְאִם־עָמְד֖וּ בְּסוֹדִ֑י וְיַשְׁמִ֤עוּ דְבָרַי֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וִֽישִׁבוּם֙ מִדַּרְכָּ֣ם הָרָ֔ע וּמֵרֹ֖עַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס} If they have stood in My council,
Let them announce My words to My people
And make them turn back
From their evil ways and wicked acts.
הַאֱלֹהֵ֧י מִקָּרֹ֛ב אָ֖נִי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א אֱלֹהֵ֖י מֵרָחֹֽק׃ Am I only a God near at hand
—says GOD—
And not a God far away?
אִם־יִסָּתֵ֨ר אִ֧ישׁ בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֛ים וַאֲנִ֥י לֹֽא־אֶרְאֶ֖נּוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה הֲל֨וֹא אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֧יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲנִ֥י מָלֵ֖א נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ If somebody enters a hiding place,
Do I not see them?
—says GOD.
For I fill both heaven and earth
—declares GOD.
שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־אָֽמְרוּ֙ הַנְּבִאִ֔ים הַֽנִּבְּאִ֥ים בִּשְׁמִ֛י שֶׁ֖קֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר חָלַ֖מְתִּי חָלָֽמְתִּי׃ I have heard what the prophets say, who prophesy falsely in My name: “I had a dream, I had a dream.”
עַד־מָתַ֗י הֲיֵ֛שׁ בְּלֵ֥ב הַנְּבִאִ֖ים נִבְּאֵ֣י הַשָּׁ֑קֶר וּנְבִיאֵ֖י תַּרְמִ֥ת לִבָּֽם׃ How long will there begHow long will there be Meaning of Heb. uncertain. in the minds of the prophets who prophesy falsehood—the prophets of their own deceitful minds—
הַחֹשְׁבִ֗ים לְהַשְׁכִּ֤יחַ אֶת־עַמִּי֙ שְׁמִ֔י בַּחֲל֣וֹמֹתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְסַפְּר֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁכְח֧וּ אֲבוֹתָ֛ם אֶת־שְׁמִ֖י בַּבָּֽעַל׃ the plan to make My people forget My name, by means of the dreams that they tell each other, just as their ancestors forgot My name because of Baal?
הַנָּבִ֞יא אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֤וֹ חֲלוֹם֙ יְסַפֵּ֣ר חֲל֔וֹם וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר דְּבָרִי֙ אִתּ֔וֹ יְדַבֵּ֥ר דְּבָרִ֖י אֱמֶ֑ת מַה־לַתֶּ֥בֶן אֶת־הַבָּ֖ר נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream; and let the one who has received My word report My word faithfully! How can straw be compared to grain?—says GOD.
הֲל֨וֹא כֹ֧ה דְבָרִ֛י כָּאֵ֖שׁ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וּכְפַטִּ֖ישׁ יְפֹ֥צֵֽץ סָֽלַע׃ {ס} Behold, My word is like fire—declares GOD—and like a hammer that shatters rock!
לָכֵ֛ן הִנְנִ֥י עַל־הַנְּבִאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה מְגַנְּבֵ֣י דְבָרַ֔י אִ֖ישׁ מֵאֵ֥ת רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ Assuredly, I am going to deal with the prophets—declares GOD—who steal My words from one another.
הִנְנִ֥י עַל־הַנְּבִיאִ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה הַלֹּקְחִ֣ים לְשׁוֹנָ֔ם וַֽיִּנְאֲמ֖וּ נְאֻֽם׃ I am going to deal with the prophets—declares GOD—who waghwag Meaning of Heb. uncertain. their tongues and make oracular utterances.
הִ֠נְנִ֠י עַֽל־נִבְּאֵ֞י חֲלֹמ֥וֹת שֶׁ֙קֶר֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וַֽיְסַפְּרוּם֙ וַיַּתְע֣וּ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י בְּשִׁקְרֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְפַחֲזוּתָ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֨י לֹֽא־שְׁלַחְתִּ֜ים וְלֹ֣א צִוִּיתִ֗ים וְהוֹעֵ֛יל לֹא־יוֹעִ֥ילוּ לָעָם־הַזֶּ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ I am going to deal with those who prophesy lying dreams—declares GOD—who relate them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies, when I did not send them or command them. They do this people no good—declares GOD.
וְכִֽי־יִשְׁאָלְךָ֩ הָעָ֨ם הַזֶּ֜ה אֽוֹ־הַנָּבִ֤יא אֽוֹ־כֹהֵן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה־מַּשָּׂ֖א יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־מַה־מַּשָּׂ֔א וְנָטַשְׁתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ And when this people—or a prophet or a priest—asks you, “What is the burdeniburden I.e., pronouncement; cf. Isa. 13.1; 15.1, etc., where the word rendered “pronouncement” can also mean “burden.” of GOD?” you shall answer them, “What is the burden?jWhat is the burden Septuagint and other versions read “You are the burden!” I will cast you off”—declares GOD.
וְהַנָּבִ֤יא וְהַכֹּהֵן֙ וְהָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאמַ֖ר מַשָּׂ֣א יְהֹוָ֑ה וּפָקַדְתִּ֛י עַל־הָאִ֥ישׁ הַה֖וּא וְעַל־בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ As for the prophet or priest or layperson who shall say “the burden of GOD,” I will punish them and their household.
כֹּ֥ה תֹאמְר֛וּ אִ֥ישׁ עַל־רֵעֵ֖הוּ וְאִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו מֶה־עָנָ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה וּמַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ Thus you shall all speak to your neighbors and to your kin, “What has GOD answered?” or “What has GOD spoken?”
וּמַשָּׂ֥א יְהֹוָ֖ה לֹ֣א תִזְכְּרוּ־ע֑וֹד כִּ֣י הַמַּשָּׂ֗א יִֽהְיֶה֙ לְאִ֣ישׁ דְּבָר֔וֹ וַהֲפַכְתֶּ֗ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַיִּ֔ים יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ But do not mention “the burden of GOD” anymore. Does anyone regard their own word as a “burden,”kDoes anyone regard their own word as a “burden” Meaning of Heb. uncertain. that you pervert the words of the living God, GOD of Hosts, our God?
כֹּ֥ה תֹאמַ֖ר אֶל־הַנָּבִ֑יא מֶה־עָנָ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה וּמַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ Thus you shall speak to the prophet: “What did GOD answer you?” or “What did GOD speak?”
וְאִם־מַשָּׂ֣א יְהֹוָה֮ תֹּאמֵ֒רוּ֒ לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה יַ֧עַן אֲמׇרְכֶ֛ם אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה מַשָּׂ֣א יְהֹוָ֑ה וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֲלֵיכֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֥א תֹאמְר֖וּ מַשָּׂ֥א יְהֹוָֽה׃ But if you say “the burden of GOD”—assuredly, thus said GOD: Because you said this thing, “the burden of GOD,” whereas I sent word to you not to say “the burden of GOD,”
לָכֵ֣ן הִנְנִ֔י וְנָשִׁ֥יתִי אֶתְכֶ֖ם נָשֹׁ֑א וְנָטַשְׁתִּ֣י אֶתְכֶ֗ם וְאֶת־הָעִיר֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֧תִּי לָכֶ֛ם וְלַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם מֵעַ֥ל פָּנָֽי׃ I will utterly forget youlforget you Some Heb. mss., Septuagint, and other versions read “lift you up,” a word from the same root as “burden.” and I will cast you away from My presence, together with the city that I gave to you and your ancestors.
וְנָתַתִּ֥י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם חֶרְפַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם וּכְלִמּ֣וּת עוֹלָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ׃ {פ}
And I will lay upon you a disgrace for all time, shame for all time, which shall never be forgotten.