
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 21
Translation and Transliteration of
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1The word which came to Yirmiyahu from Hashem, when King Tzidkiyahu sent to him Pashhur son of Malchiah and the Kohen Tzefanya, son of Maaseiah, to say,
ha-DA-var a-SHER-ha-YA el yir-me-YA-hu me-ET a-do-NAI bish-LO-akh e-LA-yu ha-ME-lekh tzid-ki-YA-hu et pash-KHUHR ben mal-ki-YA v'-et tze-fan-YA ben ma-a-se-YA ha-ko-HEN lay-MOR
אהַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֥ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ מֵאֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה בִּשְׁלֹ֨חַ אֵלָ֜יו הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֗הוּ אֶת־פַּשְׁחוּר֙ בֶּן־מַלְכִּיָּ֔ה וְאֶת־צְפַנְיָ֧ה בֶן־מַעֲשֵׂיָ֛ה הַכֹּהֵ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר׃
2“Please inquire of Hashem on our behalf, for King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps Hashem will act for our sake in accordance with all His wonders, so that [Nebuchadrezzar] will withdraw from us.”
d'-ROSH-na ba-a-DAY-nu et a-do-NAI, KEE ne-vu-khad-re-TZAR me-lekh-BA-vel ni-l'-KHAM a-LAY-nu, u-LAI ya-a-SEH a-do-NAI o-TA-nu k'-KOL ni-f'-LO-tav, v'-ya-a-LEH me-a-LAY-nu
בדְּרׇשׁ־נָ֤א בַעֲדֵ֙נוּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֛י נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל נִלְחָ֣ם עָלֵ֑ינוּ אוּלַי֩ יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אוֹתָ֙נוּ֙ כְּכׇל־נִפְלְאֹתָ֔יו וְיַעֲלֶ֖ה מֵעָלֵֽינוּ׃
3Yirmiyahu answered them, “Thus shall you say to Tzidkiyahu:
vai-YO-mer yir-m'-YA-hu a-LAY-hem, KOH to-M'-RUN el tzi-d'-ki-YA-hu.
גוַיֹּ֥אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם כֹּ֥ה תֹֽאמְרֻ֖ן אֶל־צִדְקִיָּֽהוּ׃
4Thus said Hashem, the God of Yisrael: I am going to turn around the weapons in your hands with which you are battling outside the wall against those who are besieging you—the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans—and I will take them into the midst of this city;
KOH-a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL, hin-NEE me-SEV et-k'-LAY ha-mil-cha-MAH a-SHER b'-yed-KHEM, a-SHER a-TEM nil-cha-MEEM BAM et me-LEKH ba-VEL v'-et ha-kas-DEEM ha-tza-REEM a-LAY-KHEM mi-KHUtz la-CHO-mah, va-a-SAFTI o-TAM el-TOCH ha-iR ha-ZOT.
דכֹּה־אָמַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הִנְנִ֣י מֵסֵב֮ אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָה֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיֶדְכֶם֒ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם נִלְחָמִ֣ים בָּ֗ם אֶת־מֶ֤לֶךְ בָּבֶל֙ וְאֶת־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים הַצָּרִ֣ים עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם מִח֖וּץ לַחוֹמָ֑ה וְאָסַפְתִּ֣י אוֹתָ֔ם אֶל־תּ֖וֹךְ הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּֽאת׃
5and I Myself will battle against you with an outstretched mighty arm, with anger and rage and great wrath.
v'-nil-KHAM-tee a-NEE it-KHEM b'-YAD ne-TO-yah u-viz-RO-a cha-ZA-kah u-v'-AF u-v'-khe-MAH u-v'-ke-TSEF ga-DOL
הוְנִלְחַמְתִּ֤י אֲנִי֙ אִתְּכֶ֔ם בְּיָ֥ד נְטוּיָ֖ה וּבִזְר֣וֹעַ חֲזָקָ֑ה וּבְאַ֥ף וּבְחֵמָ֖ה וּבְקֶ֥צֶף גָּדֽוֹל׃
6I will strike the inhabitants of this city, man and beast: they shall die by a terrible pestilence.
v'-hi-KEE-tee et yo-SHE-vay ha-IR ha-ZOT v'-et ha-a-DAM v'-et ha-b'-HE-mah b'-DE-ver ga-DOL ya-MU-tu
ווְהִכֵּיתִ֗י אֶת־יֽוֹשְׁבֵי֙ הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את וְאֶת־הָאָדָ֖ם וְאֶת־הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה בְּדֶ֥בֶר גָּד֖וֹל יָמֻֽתוּ׃
7And then—declares Hashem—I will deliver King Tzidkiyahu of Yehuda and his courtiers and the people—those in this city who survive the pestilence, the sword, and the famine—into the hands of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, into the hands of their enemies, into the hands of those who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword without pity, without compassion, without mercy.
v'-a-kha-RAY-khen n'-UM a-do-NAI e-TAYN et-tsid-ki-YA-hu me-lekh y'-hu-DAH v'-et-a-va-DAV v'-et-ha-AHM v'-et-ha-nish-a-REEM ba-EER ha-ZOT min ha-DE-ver min ha-khe-REV u-min ha-ra-AV b'-yad ne-vu-khad-re-TSAR me-lekh-ba-VEL u-b'-yad oy-VE-hem u-b'-yad me-va-kh'-SHEI naf-SHAM v'-hi-KAM l'-fi-khe-REV lo-ya-KHUS a-LE-hem v'-lo ya-KHO-mol v'-lo ye-ra-KHEM
זוְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֣ן נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֡ה אֶתֵּ֣ן אֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֣ה וְאֶת־עֲבָדָ֣יו ׀ וְאֶת־הָעָ֡ם וְאֶת־הַנִּשְׁאָרִים֩ בָּעִ֨יר הַזֹּ֜את מִן־הַדֶּ֣בֶר ׀ מִן־הַחֶ֣רֶב וּמִן־הָרָעָ֗ב בְּיַד֙ נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֔ל וּבְיַד֙ אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְיַ֖ד מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י נַפְשָׁ֑ם וְהִכָּ֣ם לְפִי־חֶ֔רֶב לֹא־יָח֣וּס עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א יַחְמֹ֖ל וְלֹ֥א יְרַחֵֽם׃
8“And to this people you shall say: Thus said Hashem: I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
v'-el ha-a-AM ha-ZEH to-MAR, KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI: hin-NEE no-TAYN lif-NE-khem et DE-rekh ha-KHA-yim v'-et DE-rekh ha-MA-vet.
חוְאֶל־הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ תֹּאמַ֔ר כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה הִנְנִ֤י נֹתֵן֙ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם אֶת־דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַחַיִּ֖ים וְאֶת־דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַמָּֽוֶת׃
9Whoever remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but whoever leaves and goes over to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live; he shall at least gain his life.
ha-yo-SHEV ba-IR ha-ZOT ya-MUT ba-KHE-rev u-va-RAV u-va-DA-ver v'-ha-yo-TSE v'-NA-fal al ha-KAS-deem ha-TZA-reem a-LE-khem (ya-HEE-a) [v'-cha-YA] v'-ha-YE-ta-LO naf-SHO l'-sha-LAL
טהַיֹּשֵׁב֙ בָּעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את יָמ֕וּת בַּחֶ֖רֶב וּבָרָעָ֣ב וּבַדָּ֑בֶר וְהַיּוֹצֵא֩ וְנָפַ֨ל עַל־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֜ים הַצָּרִ֤ים עֲלֵיכֶם֙ (יחיה) [וְחָיָ֔ה] וְהָיְתָה־לּ֥וֹ נַפְשׁ֖וֹ לְשָׁלָֽל׃
10For I have set My face against this city for evil and not for good—declares Hashem. It shall be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will destroy it by fire.”
ki SAM-ti fa-NAI ba-IR ha-ZOT le-ra-AH ve-lo le-to-VAH ne-UM a-do-NAI b'-yad me-LEKH ba-VEL ti-NA-ten u-se-RA-fah ba-ESH. {SE}
יכִּ֣י שַׂ֣מְתִּי פָ֠נַי בָּעִ֨יר הַזֹּ֧את לְרָעָ֛ה וְלֹ֥א לְטוֹבָ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה בְּיַד־מֶ֤לֶךְ בָּבֶל֙ תִּנָּתֵ֔ן וּשְׂרָפָ֖הּ בָּאֵֽשׁ׃
11To the House of the king of Yehuda: Hear the word of Hashem!
u-l'-veit me-LEKH y'-hu-DAH shi-MU d'-var a-do-NAI
יאוּלְבֵית֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה שִׁמְע֖וּ דְּבַר־יְהֹוָֽה׃
12O House of David, thus said Hashem: Render just verdicts Morning by morning; Rescue him who is robbed From him who defrauded him. Else My wrath will break forth like fire And burn, with none to quench it, Because of your wicked acts.
BAYT da-VID KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI DEE-nu la-BO-ker mish-PAT v'-ha-TZEE-lu ga-ZUL mi-YAD o-SHAYK pen tay-TZAY kha-AYSH kha-ma-TEE u-va-a-RAH v'-AYN m'-kha-BEH mi-p'-NAY RO-a ma-a-l'-lay-KHEM
יבבֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֗ד כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה דִּ֤ינוּ לַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט וְהַצִּ֥ילוּ גָז֖וּל מִיַּ֣ד עוֹשֵׁ֑ק פֶּן־תֵּצֵ֨א כָאֵ֜שׁ חֲמָתִ֗י וּבָֽעֲרָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין מְכַבֶּ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י רֹ֥עַ (מעלליהם) [מַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם]׃
21:12 Render just verdicts morning by morning
In 598 BCE, the new puppet king of Yehuda, Tzidkiyahu, asks Yirmiyahu if the upcoming destruction can be avoided. Yirmiyahu’s answer, after threatening destruction, reflects the answer of all the prophets. If there is justice and righteousness in Eretz Yisrael, it will be safe from all threats. Yirmiyahu emphasizes that this must occur in the morning, since in the ancient world, courts opened at dawn, before the daytime heat became too unbearable. The idea of promoting justice in the land is a theme that appears throughout the Bible. Hashem is described as one who “He loves what is right and just” (Psalms 33:5), and it is what He demands of His children as well. It is only through justice and righteousness, therefore, that the People of Israel will merit to remain in the Land of Israel.
13I will deal with you, O inhabitants of the valley, O rock of the plain—declares Hashem— You who say, “Who can come down against us? Who can get into our lairs?”
hi-n'-NI e-la-YIKH yo-SHE-vet ha-E-mek TZUR ha-mi-SHOR n'-UM-a-do-NAI ha-o-M'-REEM, mee-y'-KHAT a-LE-nu u-mee ya-VO b'-me-o-NO-tei-NU
יגהִנְנִ֨י אֵלַ֜יִךְ יֹשֶׁ֧בֶת הָעֵ֛מֶק צ֥וּר הַמִּישֹׁ֖ר נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה הָאֹֽמְרִים֙ מִֽי־יֵחַ֣ת עָלֵ֔ינוּ וּמִ֥י יָב֖וֹא בִּמְעוֹנוֹתֵֽינוּ׃
14I will punish you according to your deeds —declares Hashem. I will set fire to its forest; It shall consume all that is around it.
u-fa-KAD-tee a-LAY-khem kif-REE ma-a-l'-LAY-khem ne-um a-do-NAI, v'-hi-tza-TEE AYSH b'-ya-a-RAH v'-a-kh'-LAH kol s'-vee-VE-ha
ידוּפָקַדְתִּ֧י עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם כִּפְרִ֥י מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְהִצַּ֤תִּי אֵשׁ֙ בְּיַעְרָ֔הּ וְאָכְלָ֖ה כׇּל־סְבִיבֶֽיהָ׃