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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 18

Translation and Transliteration of 

1The word which came to Yirmiyahu from Hashem:

ha-DA-var a-SHER ha-YA el yir-m'-YA-hu may-AYT a-do-NAI lay-MOR

אהַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ מֵאֵ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃

2“Go down to the house of a potter, and there I will impart My words to you.”

KUM v'-ya-RAD-ta BEIT ha-yo-TZER v'-SHA-MA ash-mi-a-KHA et d'-va-RAI

בק֥וּם וְיָרַדְתָּ֖ בֵּ֣ית הַיּוֹצֵ֑ר וְשָׁ֖מָּה אַשְׁמִיעֲךָ֥ אֶת־דְּבָרָֽי׃

3So I went down to the house of a potter, and found him working at the wheel.

va-E-red beit ha-yo-TZER (v'-hi-NE-hu) [v'-hi-NE-hu] o-SEH me-la-KHA al ha-a-v'NA-yim

גוָאֵרֵ֖ד בֵּ֣ית הַיּוֹצֵ֑ר (והנהו) [וְהִנֵּה־ה֛וּא] עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְלָאכָ֖ה עַל־הָאׇבְנָֽיִם׃

4And if the vessel he was making was spoiled, as happens to clay in the potter's hands, he would make it into another vessel, such as the potter saw fit to make.

v'-nish-KHAT ha-ke-LEE a-SHER hu o-SEH ba-KHO-mer b'-yad ha-yo-TZER, va-SHAV va-ya-a-SE-hu ke-lee a-KHER ka-a-SHER ya-SHAR b'-ay-NAY ha-yo-TZER la-a-SOT. (S)

דוְנִשְׁחַ֣ת הַכְּלִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֥וּא עֹשֶׂ֛ה בַּחֹ֖מֶר בְּיַ֣ד הַיּוֹצֵ֑ר וְשָׁ֗ב וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ כְּלִ֣י אַחֵ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָשַׁ֛ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י הַיּוֹצֵ֖ר לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃

5Then the word of Hashem came to me:

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

הוַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֽוֹר׃

6O House of Yisrael, can I not deal with you like this potter?—says Hashem. Just like clay in the hands of the potter, so are you in My hands, O House of Yisrael!

ha-ka-YO-tser ha-ZEH lo-u-KHAL la-a-SOT la-KHEM BEIT yis-ra-AYL ne-UM a-do-NAI, hi-NEH kha-KHO-mer b'-YAD ha-yo-TSER, KEN a-TEM b'-ya-DEE BEIT yis-ra-AYL. (Se-lah)

והֲכַיּוֹצֵ֨ר הַזֶּ֜ה לֹא־אוּכַ֨ל לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָכֶ֛ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה הִנֵּ֤ה כַחֹ֙מֶר֙ בְּיַ֣ד הַיּוֹצֵ֔ר כֵּן־אַתֶּ֥ם בְּיָדִ֖י בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

7At one moment I may decree that a nation or a kingdom shall be uprooted and pulled down and destroyed;

RE-ga a-da-BER al go-YO v'-al mam-la-KHA, lin-TOSH v'-lin-TOZ u-l'-ha-a-VEED

זרֶ֣גַע אֲדַבֵּ֔ר עַל־גּ֖וֹי וְעַל־מַמְלָכָ֑ה לִנְת֥וֹשׁ וְלִנְת֖וֹץ וּֽלְהַאֲבִֽיד׃

8but if that nation against which I made the decree turns back from its wickedness, I change My mind concerning the punishment I planned to bring on it.

v'-SHAV ha-go-Y ha-HU me-ra-A-to a-SHER di-BAR-tee a-LA-yav v'-ni-KHAM-tee al ha-ra-AH a-SHER kha-SHAV-tee la-a-SOT lo.

חוְשָׁב֙ הַגּ֣וֹי הַה֔וּא מֵרָ֣עָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי עָלָ֑יו וְנִֽחַמְתִּי֙ עַל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָשַׁ֖בְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לֽוֹ׃

9At another moment I may decree that a nation or a kingdom shall be built and planted;

v'-RE-ga a-da-BER al go-YO v'-al mam-la-KHA, liv-NOT v'-lin-TO-a

טוְרֶ֣גַע אֲדַבֵּ֔ר עַל־גּ֖וֹי וְעַל־מַמְלָכָ֑ה לִבְנ֖וֹת וְלִנְטֽוֹעַ׃

10but if it does what is displeasing to Me and does not obey Me, then I change My mind concerning the good I planned to bestow upon it.

v'-a-SAH (ha-RA-a) [ha-RA] b'-ay-NAI l'-vil-TEE sh'-MO-a b'-ko-LEE v'-ni-KHAM-tee al ha-TO-va a-SHER a-MAR-tee l'-he-TEEV o-TO.

יוְעָשָׂ֤ה (הרעה) [הָרַע֙] בְּעֵינַ֔י לְבִלְתִּ֖י שְׁמֹ֣עַ בְּקוֹלִ֑י וְנִֽחַמְתִּי֙ עַל־הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָמַ֖רְתִּי לְהֵיטִ֥יב אוֹתֽוֹ׃

11And now, say to the men of Yehuda and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim: Thus said Hashem: I am devising disaster for you and laying plans against you. Turn back, each of you, from your wicked ways, and mend your ways and your actions!

v'-a-TAH e-MAR-NA el eesh-y'-hu-DAH v'-al yo-sh'-VAY ye-ru-sha-LA-im lay-MOR: KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI, hi-NEH a-NO-khee yo-TZAYR a-lay-KHEM ra-AH v'-kho-SHAYV a-lay-KHEM ma-kha-SHA-vah, shu-VU NA eesh mi-dar-KO ha-ra-AH v'-he-TEE-vu dar-KAY-khem u-ma-a-l'-LAY-khem.

יאוְעַתָּ֡ה אֱמׇר־נָ֣א אֶל־אִישׁ־יְהוּדָה֩ וְעַל־יוֹשְׁבֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י יוֹצֵ֤ר עֲלֵיכֶם֙ רָעָ֔ה וְחֹשֵׁ֥ב עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם מַחֲשָׁבָ֑ה שׁ֣וּבוּ נָ֗א אִ֚ישׁ מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ הָרָעָ֔ה וְהֵיטִ֥יבוּ דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃

12But they will say, “It is no use. We will keep on following our own plans; each of us will act in the willfulness of his evil heart.”

v'-a-M'-RU no-ASH, ki-a-kha-RAY ma-kh'-sh'-vo-TAY-nu nay-LEKH, v'-ISH sh'-ri-RUT li-BO-ha-RAH na-a-SEH. (Selah)

יבוְאָמְר֖וּ נוֹאָ֑שׁ כִּֽי־אַחֲרֵ֤י מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ נֵלֵ֔ךְ וְאִ֛ישׁ שְׁרִר֥וּת לִבּֽוֹ־הָרָ֖ע נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃

13Assuredly, thus said Hashem: Inquire among the nations: Who has heard anything like this? Maiden Yisrael has done A most horrible thing.

la-KHEN ko AH a-MAR a-do-NAI sha-a-LO-na ba-go-YIM mee sha-MA ka-E-leh sha-a-ru-REET a-s'-TAH m'-OD b'-tu-LAT yis-ra-AYL

יגלָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שַֽׁאֲלוּ־נָא֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם מִ֥י שָׁמַ֖ע כָּאֵ֑לֶּה שַֽׁעֲרֻרִת֙ עָשְׂתָ֣ה מְאֹ֔ד בְּתוּלַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

14Does one forsake Lebanon snow From the mountainous rocks? Does one abandon cool water Flowing from afar?

ha-ya-a-ZOV mi-TZUR sha-DAI SHE-leg l'-va-NON im yi-na-t'-SHU MA-yim za-REEM ka-REEM no-z'-LEEM

ידהֲיַעֲזֹ֥ב מִצּ֛וּר שָׂדַ֖י שֶׁ֣לֶג לְבָנ֑וֹן אִם־יִנָּֽתְשׁ֗וּ מַ֛יִם זָרִ֥ים קָרִ֖ים נוֹזְלִֽים׃

 19:2   Go out to the Valley of Ben-hinnom

The prophet contrasts the steadfastness of nature with the inconsistency of the Israelites, who change their ways and stumble from one failure to another, astonishing everyone who sees them. This is unlike the snows in Lebanon to Israel’s north. There, the summits consistently remain white. Indeed, the snow would disappear if found anywhere else. So too, the natural place of the Jewish people is with Hashem in the Land of Israel, but they refuse to remain with Him, and will therefore be scattered.

15Yet My people have forgotten Me: They sacrifice to a delusion: They are made to stumble in their ways— The ancient paths— And to walk instead on byways, On a road not built up.

ki-sh'-khe-KHU-nee a-MEE la-SHA-v' y'-ka-t'-RU va-yakh-shi-LUM b'-dar-KAY-hem sh'-vi-LAY o-LAM la-LE-khet n'-ti-VOT d'-REKH lo s'-lu-LAH

טוכִּֽי־שְׁכֵחֻ֥נִי עַמִּ֖י לַשָּׁ֣וְא יְקַטֵּ֑רוּ וַיַּכְשִׁל֤וּם בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם֙ שְׁבִילֵ֣י עוֹלָ֔ם לָלֶ֣כֶת נְתִיב֔וֹת דֶּ֖רֶךְ לֹ֥א סְלוּלָֽה׃

16So their land will become a desolation, An object of hissing for all time. Every passerby will be appalled And will shake his head.

la-SUM ar-TZAM le-sha-MAH (sha-RO-ket) [sh'-ree-KOT] o-LAM, kol o-VER a-LE-ha yi-SOM v'-ya-NEED b'-RO-sho.

טזלָשׂ֥וּם אַרְצָ֛ם לְשַׁמָּ֖ה (שרוקת) [שְׁרִיקֹ֣ת] עוֹלָ֑ם כֹּ֚ל עוֹבֵ֣ר עָלֶ֔יהָ יִשֹּׁ֖ם וְיָנִ֥יד בְּרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃

17Like the east wind, I will scatter them Before the enemy. I will look upon their back, not their face, In their day of disaster.

k'-RU-akh ka-DIM a-fi-TZEM lif-NEI o-YEV o-REF v'-lo-FA-nim er-EM b'-YOM e-DAM

יזכְּרוּחַ־קָדִ֥ים אֲפִיצֵ֖ם לִפְנֵ֣י אוֹיֵ֑ב עֹ֧רֶף וְלֹֽא־פָנִ֛ים אֶרְאֵ֖ם בְּי֥וֹם אֵידָֽם׃

18They said, “Come let us devise a plot against Yirmiyahu—for instruction shall not fail from the Kohen, nor counsel from the wise, nor oracle from the Navi. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and we shall no longer have to listen to all those words of his.”

va-yo-M'RU le-KHU v'-nakh-sh'-VAH al yir-m'-YA-hu ma-kha-SHA-vot, KEE lo-to-VAD to-RAH mi-ko-HAYN v'-ay-TZAH may-KHA-kham v'-da-VAHR mi-na-VEE, le-KHU v'-na-KE-hu va-la-SHON v'-al-na-k'-SHI-vah el-KOL d'-va-RAV.

יחוַיֹּאמְר֗וּ לְכ֨וּ וְנַחְשְׁבָ֥ה עַֽל־יִרְמְיָ֘הוּ֮ מַֽחֲשָׁבוֹת֒ כִּי֩ לֹא־תֹאבַ֨ד תּוֹרָ֜ה מִכֹּהֵ֗ן וְעֵצָה֙ מֵחָכָ֔ם וְדָבָ֖ר מִנָּבִ֑יא לְכוּ֙ וְנַכֵּ֣הוּ בַלָּשׁ֔וֹן וְאַל־נַקְשִׁ֖יבָה אֶל־כׇּל־דְּבָרָֽיו׃

19Listen to me, Hashem— And take note of what my enemies say!

ha-k'-shi-VA a-do-NAI e-LAI u-sh'-MA l'-KOL yi-ri-VAI

יטהַקְשִׁ֥יבָה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י וּשְׁמַ֖ע לְק֥וֹל יְרִיבָֽי׃

20Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You To plead in their behalf, To turn Your anger away from them!

ha-y'-shu-LAM ta-KHAT to-VAH ra-AH, kee-KHAR-u SHU-khah l'-naf-SHEE, ze-KHOR a-m'-DI l'-fa-NE-kha, l'-da-BAYR a-l'-HEM to-VAH, l'-ha-SHEEV et-kha-MA-te-KHA may-HEM.

כהַיְשֻׁלַּ֤ם תַּֽחַת־טוֹבָה֙ רָעָ֔ה כִּי־כָר֥וּ שׁוּחָ֖ה לְנַפְשִׁ֑י זְכֹ֣ר ׀ עׇמְדִ֣י לְפָנֶ֗יךָ לְדַבֵּ֤ר עֲלֵיהֶם֙ טוֹבָ֔ה לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־חֲמָתְךָ֖ מֵהֶֽם׃

21Oh, give their children over to famine, Mow them down by the sword. Let their wives be bereaved Of children and husbands, Let their men be struck down by the plague, And their young men be slain in battle by the sword.

la-KHEN tayn et b'-NE-hem la-ra-AV v'-ha-gi-REM al y'-day-khe-REV v'-ti-HE-nah n'-she-hem sha-KU-lot v'-al-ma-NOT v'-an-she-hem yi-HU-gu ma-VET ba-KHU-re-hem mu-KEI-khe-REV ba-mil-kha-MAH

כאלָכֵן֩ תֵּ֨ן אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֜ם לָרָעָ֗ב וְהַגִּרֵם֮ עַל־יְדֵי־חֶ֒רֶב֒ וְתִהְיֶ֨נָה נְשֵׁיהֶ֤ם שַׁכֻּלוֹת֙ וְאַלְמָנ֔וֹת וְאַ֨נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם יִהְי֖וּ הֲרֻ֣גֵי מָ֑וֶת בַּח֣וּרֵיהֶ֔ם מֻכֵּי־חֶ֖רֶב בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

22Let an outcry be heard from their houses When You bring sudden marauders against them; For they have dug a pit to trap me, And laid snares for my feet.

ti-SHA-ma ZE-a-KAH mi-ba-TE-hem, ki-ta-VI a-LE-hem ge-DUD pit-OM, ki-KA-ru (shi-KHA) [SHU-khah] le-lokh-DE-ni u-fa-KHIM ta-M'-nu le-rag-LAI.

כבתִּשָּׁמַ֤ע זְעָקָה֙ מִבָּ֣תֵּיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־תָבִ֧יא עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם גְּד֖וּד פִּתְאֹ֑ם כִּֽי־כָר֤וּ (שיחה) [שׁוּחָה֙] לְלׇכְדֵ֔נִי וּפַחִ֖ים טָמְנ֥וּ לְרַגְלָֽי׃

23Hashem, You know All their plots to kill me. Do not pardon their iniquity, Do not blot out their guilt from Your presence. Let them be made to stumble before You— Act against them in Your hour of wrath!

v'-a-TAH a-do-NAI ya-da-TA et-KOL a-tza-TAM a-LAI la-MA-vet al t'-kha-PER al a-vo-NAM v'-kha-ta-TAM mi-l'-fa-NE-kha al t'-m'-KHEE (v'-yi-H'-YU) mu-kh'-sha-LEEM l'-fa-NE-kha b'-ET a-PE-kha a-SEH va-HEM. (Seh)

כגוְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה יָדַ֜עְתָּ אֶֽת־כׇּל־עֲצָתָ֤ם עָלַי֙ לַמָּ֔וֶת אַל־תְּכַפֵּר֙ עַל־עֲוֺנָ֔ם וְחַטָּאתָ֖ם מִלְּפָנֶ֣יךָ אַל־תֶּ֑מְחִי (והיו) [וְיִהְי֤וּ] מֻכְשָׁלִים֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ בְּעֵ֥ת אַפְּךָ֖ עֲשֵׂ֥ה בָהֶֽם׃