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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 1

Translation and Transliteration of 

1The words of Yirmiyahu son of Chilkiyahu, one of the Kohanim at Anatot in the territory of Binyamin.

di-v'-RAY yir-m'-YA-hu ben-khil-ki-YA-hu min ha-ko-ha-NEEM a-SHER ba-a-na-TOT b'-E-rets bin-ya-MEEN

אדִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֑הוּ מִן־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּעֲנָת֔וֹת בְּאֶ֖רֶץ בִּנְיָמִֽן׃

2The word of Hashem came to him in the days of King Yoshiyahu son of Amon of Yehuda, in the thirteenth year of his reign,

a-SHER ha-YA d'-var a-do-NAI e-LAV bi-MAY yo-shi-YA-hu ben a-MON me-LEKH y'-hu-DAH b'-sh'-LOSH e-s'-REH sha-NAH l'-mol-KHO

באֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיָ֤ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלָ֔יו בִּימֵ֛י יֹאשִׁיָּ֥הוּ בֶן־אָמ֖וֹן מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה בִּשְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה שָׁנָ֖ה לְמׇלְכֽוֹ׃

3and throughout the days of King Yehoyakim son of Yoshiyahu of Yehuda, and until the end of the eleventh year of King Tzidkiyahu son of Yoshiyahu of Yehuda, when Yerushalayim went into exile in the fifth month.

vai-HI bi-MAY y'-ho-yah-KEEM ben yo-shi-YA-hu, me-LEKH y'-hu-DAH, ad-TOM a-she-TAY e-s'-RAY sha-NAH l'-tzi-d'-ki-YA-hu ben yo-shi-YA-hu, me-LEKH y'-hu-DAH, ad-g'-LOT ye-ru-sha-LA-im ba-CHO-desh ha-cha-MI-shi.

גוַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵ֨י יְהוֹיָקִ֤ים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה עַד־תֹּם֙ עַשְׁתֵּ֣י עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה לְצִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ בֶן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה עַד־גְּל֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַֽחֲמִישִֽׁי׃

4The word of Hashem came to me:

vai-HI d'-var a-do-NAI e-LAI lay-MOR

דוַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃

5Before I created you in the womb, I selected you; Before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a Navi concerning the nations.

b'-TE-rem (e-TZOR-kha) [e-TZOR-kha] va-ba-BE-tem ye-da-TI-kha u-b'-TE-rem te-TZE me-RE-khem hik-DASH-ti-kha na-VEE la-go-YIM ne-ta-TI-kha

הבְּטֶ֨רֶם (אצורך) [אֶצׇּרְךָ֤] בַבֶּ֙טֶן֙ יְדַעְתִּ֔יךָ וּבְטֶ֛רֶם תֵּצֵ֥א מֵרֶ֖חֶם הִקְדַּשְׁתִּ֑יךָ נָבִ֥יא לַגּוֹיִ֖ם נְתַתִּֽיךָ׃

6I replied: Ah, Hashem! I don't know how to speak, For I am still a boy.

va-o-MAR a-HA a-do-NAI y'-ho-VAH hi-NEH lo ya-da-TEE da-BER kee-NA-ar a-NO-khee.

ווָאֹמַ֗ר אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הִנֵּ֥ה לֹֽא־יָדַ֖עְתִּי דַּבֵּ֑ר כִּי־נַ֖עַר אָנֹֽכִי׃

7And Hashem said to me: Do not say, “I am still a boy,” But go wherever I send you And speak whatever I command you.

vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI e-LAI al to-MAR na-AR a-NO-khi, KEE al-KOL a-SHER esh-la-KHA te-LEKH, v'-ET kol a-SHER a-tza-VE-kha te-da-BER

זוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י אַל־תֹּאמַ֖ר נַ֣עַר אָנֹ֑כִי כִּ֠י עַֽל־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ וְאֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲצַוְּךָ֖ תְּדַבֵּֽר׃

8Have no fear of them, For I am with you to deliver you —declares Hashem.

al-ti-RA mi-p'-NE-hem, ki-i-t'-KHA a-NEE l'-ha-TZI-le-KHA, n'-UM a-do-NAI

חאַל־תִּירָ֖א מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אִתְּךָ֥ אֲנִ֛י לְהַצִּלֶ֖ךָ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

9Hashem put out His hand and touched my mouth, and Hashem said to me: Herewith I put My words into your mouth.

vai-YISH-lakh a-do-NAI et ya-DO va-ya-GA al-PEE va-YO-mer a-do-NAI e-LAI, hi-NEH na-TA-tee d'-va-RAI b'-fi-KHA

טוַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ וַיַּגַּ֖ע עַל־פִּ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י הִנֵּ֛ה נָתַ֥תִּי דְבָרַ֖י בְּפִֽיךָ׃

10See, I appoint you this day Over nations and kingdoms: To uproot and to pull down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.

REH-eh hif-ka-D'-TI-kha ha-YOM ha-ZEH al ha-go-YIM v'-al ha-mam-la-KHOT lin-TO-sh v'-lin-TOZ u-l'-ha-a-VEED v'-la-ha-ROS liv-NOT v'-lin-TO-a.

ירְאֵ֞ה הִפְקַדְתִּ֣יךָ ׀ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה עַל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ וְעַל־הַמַּמְלָכ֔וֹת לִנְת֥וֹשׁ וְלִנְת֖וֹץ וּלְהַאֲבִ֣יד וְלַהֲר֑וֹס לִבְנ֖וֹת וְלִנְטֽוֹעַ׃

11The word of Hashem came to me: What do you see, Yirmiyahu? I replied: I see a branch of an almond tree.

vai-HEE d'-var a-do-NAI ay-LAI lay-MOR mah a-TAH ro-EH yir-m'-YA-hu va-o-MAR ma-KAYL sha-KAYD a-NEE ro-EH

יאוַיְהִ֤י דְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֣י לֵאמֹ֔ר מָה־אַתָּ֥ה רֹאֶ֖ה יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ וָאֹמַ֕ר מַקֵּ֥ל שָׁקֵ֖ד אֲנִ֥י רֹאֶֽה׃

 1:11   I see a branch of an almond-tree 

In his first vision, Yirmiyahu is shown an almond branch, makel shaked (מקל שקד) in Hebrew. Hashem explains that the branch symbolizes His watching over His word to perform it. The Hebrew word he chooses for ‘watch,’ shoked (שֹׁקֵד), also means ‘to hasten.’ Yirmiyahu deli­berately chose this word since it is similar to the word for ‘almond,’ shaked (שָׁקֵד). Commentators give two explanations for this wordplay. First, just as the almond tree blossoms quickly, so too Hashem will hasten to punish Israel. Furthermore, the almond tree is the first to blossom in Eretz Yisrael. When all else is dead, the almond trees awaken the countryside from its winter slumber. So too, although the people are spiritually dead, God’s word, like the almond blossoms, will awaken the nation.

Almond trees blossoming in Kibbutz Nachshon.

Blossoming almond tree in Jerusalem

12Hashem said to me: You have seen right, For I am watchful to bring My word to pass.

va-YO-mer a-do-NAI e-LAI hay-TAV-ta lir-OT, kee-sho-KED a-NEE al d'-va-REE la-a-SO-to. (Seh)

יבוַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י הֵיטַ֣בְתָּ לִרְא֑וֹת כִּֽי־שֹׁקֵ֥ד אֲנִ֛י עַל־דְּבָרִ֖י לַעֲשֹׂתֽוֹ׃

13And the word of Hashem came to me a second time: What do you see? I replied: I see a steaming pot, Tipped away from the north.

vai-YA-hee d'-var a-do-NAI e-LAI sh'-NEET lay-MOR: ma a-TAH ro-EH, va-o-MAR: seer na-FOO-akh a-NEE ro-EH, u-fa-NAV mi-p'-NEI tsa-FO-nah

יגוַיְהִ֨י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ אֵלַי֙ שֵׁנִ֣ית לֵאמֹ֔ר מָ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה רֹאֶ֑ה וָאֹמַ֗ר סִ֤יר נָפ֙וּחַ֙ אֲנִ֣י רֹאֶ֔ה וּפָנָ֖יו מִפְּנֵ֥י צָפֽוֹנָה׃

14And Hashem said to me: From the north shall disaster break loose Upon all the inhabitants of the land!

va-YO-mer a-do-NAI e-LAI, mi-tza-FON ti-PA-takh ha-ra-AH al kol yo-sh'-VAY ha-A-retz

ידוַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י מִצָּפוֹן֙ תִּפָּתַ֣ח הָרָעָ֔ה עַ֥ל כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאָֽרֶץ׃

15For I am summoning all the peoples Of the kingdoms of the north—declares Hashem. They shall come, and shall each set up a throne Before the gates of Yerushalayim, Against its walls roundabout, And against all the towns of Yehuda.

KI hi-NEE ko-RAY l'-KOL mish-p'-KHOT mam-l'-KHOT tza-FO-nah, ne-UM a-do-NAI, u-VA-u v'-na-t'-NU EEsh kis-O pe-TAKH sha-a-REI ye-ru-sha-LA-im, v'-AL kol-kho-MO-tei-HA sa-VEEV, v'-AL kol-a-REI ye-hu-DAH.

טוכִּ֣י ׀ הִנְנִ֣י קֹרֵ֗א לְכׇֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֛וֹת מַמְלְכ֥וֹת צָפ֖וֹנָה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וּבָ֡אוּ וְֽנָתְנוּ֩ אִ֨ישׁ כִּסְא֜וֹ פֶּ֣תַח ׀ שַׁעֲרֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם וְעַ֤ל כׇּל־חוֹמֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ סָבִ֔יב וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־עָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃

16And I will argue My case against them For all their wickedness: They have forsaken Me And sacrificed to other gods And worshiped the works of their hands.

v'-di-BAR-tee mish-PA-tai o-TAM al kol ra-a-TAM a-SHER a-za-VOO-nee va-y'-ka-t'-RU lay-lo-HEEM a-khay-REEM va-yish-ta-KHA-vu l'-ma-a-SAY ye-DAY-hem

טזוְדִבַּרְתִּ֤י מִשְׁפָּטַי֙ אוֹתָ֔ם עַ֖ל כׇּל־רָעָתָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲזָב֗וּנִי וַֽיְקַטְּרוּ֙ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ לְמַעֲשֵׂ֥י יְדֵיהֶֽם׃

17So you, gird up your loins, Arise and speak to them All that I command you. Do not break down before them, Lest I break you before them.

v'-a-TAH te-EZOR mot-NE-kha v'-kam-TAH v'-di-BAR-ta a-LE-hem AYT kol a-SHER a-NO-khi a-tsa-VE-kha al-TE-kha, al-TE-khat mi-p'-NE-hem pen a-khi-TE-kha lif-NE-hem

יזוְאַתָּה֙ תֶּאְזֹ֣ר מׇתְנֶ֔יךָ וְקַמְתָּ֙ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י אֲצַוֶּ֑ךָּ אַל־תֵּחַת֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם פֶּֽן־אֲחִתְּךָ֖ לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

18I make you this day A fortified city, And an iron pillar, And bronze walls Against the whole land— Against Yehuda's kings and officers, And against its Kohanim and citizens.

va-a-NEE hi-NEH n'-ta-TEE-kha ha-YOM l'-EER mi-v'-TZAR u-l-a-MUD bar-ZEL u-l-KHO-mot n'-KHO-shet al-KOL ha-A-retz l'-mal-KAY y'-hu-DAH l'-sa-RE-ha l'-ko-ha-NE-ha u-l-aM ha-A-retz

יחוַאֲנִ֞י הִנֵּ֧ה נְתַתִּ֣יךָ הַיּ֗וֹם לְעִ֨יר מִבְצָ֜ר וּלְעַמּ֥וּד בַּרְזֶ֛ל וּלְחֹמ֥וֹת נְחֹ֖שֶׁת עַל־כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ לְמַלְכֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ לְשָׂרֶ֔יהָ לְכֹהֲנֶ֖יהָ וּלְעַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃

19They will attack you, But they shall not overcome you; For I am with you—declares Hashem—to save you.

v'-nil-kha-MU e-LE-kha v'-lo-yu-KH'-lu LAKH, kee-i-TE-kha a-NEE, ne-UM a-do-NAI, l'-ha-tzee-LE-kha.

יטוְנִלְחֲמ֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ וְלֹא־י֣וּכְלוּ לָ֑ךְ כִּי־אִתְּךָ֥ אֲנִ֛י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֖ה לְהַצִּילֶֽךָ׃