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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 28

Translation and Transliteration of 

1That year, early in the reign of King Tzidkiyahu of Yehuda, in the fifth month of the fourth year, the Navi Chananya son of Azzur, who was from Givon, spoke to me in the House of Hashem, in the presence of the Kohanim and all the people. He said:

vai-HI ba-sha-NAH ha-HEE b'-re-SHEET mam-le-KHET tzi-di-KI-yah me-lekh y'-hu-DAH (ba-sha-NAH) [ba-sha-NAH] ha-r'-vi-IT ba-KHO-desh ha-kha-MI-shi, a-MAR e-LAI kha-na-NYAH ben-a-ZUR ha-na-VEE a-SHER mi-gi-B'-on b'-beit a-do-NAI l'-AY-nay ha-ko-ha-NEEM v'-kol-ha-AM lay-MOR.

אוַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַהִ֗יא בְּרֵאשִׁית֙ מַמְלֶ֙כֶת֙ צִדְקִיָּ֣ה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֔ה (בשנת) [בַּשָּׁנָה֙] הָרְבִעִ֔ית בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁ֑י אָמַ֣ר אֵלַ֡י חֲנַנְיָה֩ בֶן־עַזּ֨וּר הַנָּבִ֜יא אֲשֶׁ֤ר מִגִּבְעוֹן֙ בְּבֵ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה לְעֵינֵ֧י הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים וְכׇל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

2“Thus said the lord of Hosts, the God of Yisrael: I hereby break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

KOH-a-MAR a-do-NAI t'-va-OT e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL lay-MOR: sha-VA-rti et-OL me-LEKH ba-VEL

בכֹּה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֧ה צְבָא֛וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר שָׁבַ֕רְתִּי אֶת־עֹ֖ל מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃

3In two years, I will restore to this place all the vessels of the House of Hashem which King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took from this place and brought to Babylon.

b'-OD sh'-na-TA-yim ya-MEEM a-NEE may-SHEEV el ha-ma-KOM ha-ZEH et-KOL k'-LAY bayt a-do-NAI a-SHER la-KAKH ne-vu-khad-ne-TZAR m'-lekh ba-VEL min ha-ma-KOM ha-ZEH va-y'-vee-EM ba-VEL

גבְּע֣וֹד ׀ שְׁנָתַ֣יִם יָמִ֗ים אֲנִ֤י מֵשִׁיב֙ אֶל־הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶֽת־כׇּל־כְּלֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר לָקַ֜ח נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֤ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֙ מִן־הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וַיְבִיאֵ֖ם בָּבֶֽל׃

4And I will bring back to this place King Yechonya son of Yehoyakim of Yehuda, and all the Judean exiles who went to Babylon—declares Hashem. Yes, I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”

v'-et y'-kho-NYAH ben y'-ho-YA-kim me-lekh y'-hu-DAH v'-et-KOL ga-LUT y'-hu-DAH ha-ba-EEM ba-VE-la a-NEE me-SHEEV el ha-ma-KOM ha-ZEH ne-UM a-do-NAI, KEE esh-BOR et-OL me-lekh ba-VEl

דוְאֶת־יְכׇנְיָ֣ה בֶן־יְהוֹיָקִ֣ים מֶלֶךְ־יְ֠הוּדָ֠ה וְאֶת־כׇּל־גָּל֨וּת יְהוּדָ֜ה הַבָּאִ֣ים בָּבֶ֗לָה אֲנִ֥י מֵשִׁ֛יב אֶל־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֣י אֶשְׁבֹּ֔ר אֶת־עֹ֖ל מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃

5Then the Navi Yirmiyahu answered the Navi Chananya in the presence of the Kohanim and of all the people who were standing in the House of Hashem.

vai-YO-mer yir-m'-YA-ha na-VEE el kha-na-NYA ha-na-VEE l'-ay-NAY ha-ko-ha-NEEM u-l'-ay-NAY kol ha-AHM ha-o-M'-DEEM b'-BAYT a-do-NAI

הוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יִרְמְיָ֣ה הַנָּבִ֔יא אֶל־חֲנַנְיָ֖ה הַנָּבִ֑יא לְעֵינֵ֤י הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וּלְעֵינֵ֣י כׇל־הָעָ֔ם הָעֹמְדִ֖ים בְּבֵ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃

6The Navi Yirmiyahu said: “Amen! May Hashem do so! May Hashem fulfill what you have prophesied and bring back from Babylon to this place the vessels of the House of Hashem and all the exiles!

vai-YO-mer yir-m'-YA ha-na-VEE, a-MAYN KAYN ya-a-SEH a-do-NAI, ya-KAYM a-do-NAI et d'-va-RE-kha a-SHER ni-BAY-ta l'-ha-SHEEV k'-LAY vayt a-do-NAI v'-kol ha-go-LAH mi-BA-VEL el ha-MA-kom ha-ZEH

ווַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יִרְמְיָ֣ה הַנָּבִ֔יא אָמֵ֕ן כֵּ֖ן יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יְהֹוָ֑ה יָקֵ֤ם יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִבֵּ֗אתָ לְהָשִׁ֞יב כְּלֵ֤י בֵית־יְהֹוָה֙ וְכׇל־הַגּוֹלָ֔ה מִבָּבֶ֖ל אֶל־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

7But just listen to this word which I address to you and to all the people:

akh-sh'-MA-na ha-DA-var ha-ZEH a-SHER a-NO-khi DO-ver b'-o-ZE-ne-KHA u-v'-o-Z'-NEI kol-ha-AHM

זאַךְ־שְׁמַֽע־נָא֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י דֹּבֵ֣ר בְּאׇזְנֶ֑יךָ וּבְאׇזְנֵ֖י כׇּל־הָעָֽם׃

8The Neviim who lived before you and me from ancient times prophesied war, disaster, and pestilence against many lands and great kingdoms.

ha-n'-vee-EEM a-SHER ha-YU l'-fa-NAI ul-fa-NE-kha min ha-o-LAM va-yi-na-v'-U el a-ra-TZOT ra-BOT v'-al mam-la-KHOT g'-do-LOT l'-mil-kha-MAH ul-ra-AH ul-DA-ver

חהַנְּבִיאִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָי֧וּ לְפָנַ֛י וּלְפָנֶ֖יךָ מִן־הָעוֹלָ֑ם וַיִּנָּ֨בְא֜וּ אֶל־אֲרָצ֤וֹת רַבּוֹת֙ וְעַל־מַמְלָכ֣וֹת גְּדֹל֔וֹת לְמִלְחָמָ֖ה וּלְרָעָ֥ה וּלְדָֽבֶר׃

28:8   Prophesied war, disaster, and pestilence against many lands 

Chananya dramatically breaks Yirmiyahu’s symbolic yoke, claiming that the Babylonian empire will be overthrown in two years. Yirmiyahu argues that while this is a more reassuring message, it is false. It is easy to ingratiate oneself with the masses by telling them what they want to hear, but telling them the truth requires courage and the willingness to speak out and become unpopular. The great prophets of Israel uttered their prophecies fearlessly, conveying the divine message without hesitation or fear. Everyone is a messenger of God in this world. One must never hesitate to stand up for God, His people and His land, Eretz Yisrael, even when it seems like an unpopular message.

9So if a Navi prophesies good fortune, then only when the word of the Navi comes true can it be known that Hashem really sent him.”

ha-na-VEE a-SHER yi-NA-VEH l'-sha-LOM b'-VO d'-VAR ha-na-VEE yi-va-DA ha-na-VEE a-SHER sh'-LA-kho a-do-NAI b'-e-MET

טהַנָּבִ֕יא אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִנָּבֵ֖א לְשָׁל֑וֹם בְּבֹא֙ דְּבַ֣ר הַנָּבִ֔יא יִוָּדַע֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא אֲשֶׁר־שְׁלָח֥וֹ יְהֹוָ֖ה בֶּאֱמֶֽת׃

10But the Navi Chananya removed the bar from the neck of the Navi Yirmiyahu, and broke it;

vai-YI-kakh kha-na-NYAH ha-na-VEE et ha-mo-TAH me-al tsa-VA-ar yir-m'-YA-ha ha-na-VEE vai-yish-be-RE-hu

יוַיִּקַּ֞ח חֲנַנְיָ֤ה הַנָּבִיא֙ אֶת־הַמּוֹטָ֔ה מֵעַ֕ל צַוַּ֖אר יִרְמְיָ֣ה הַנָּבִ֑יא וַֽיִּשְׁבְּרֵֽהוּ׃

11and Chananya said in the presence of all the people, “Thus said Hashem: So will I break the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon from off the necks of all the nations, in two years.” And the Navi Yirmiyahu went on his way.

vai-YO-mer kha-na-NY-a l'-ay-NAY kol ha-AM lay-MOR: KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI, KA-kha EH-sh'VOR et-OL n'-vu-khad-ne-TZAR me-lekh-BA-vel b'-oD sh'-na-TA-yim ya-MEEM may-AL tza-VA-ar kol ha-go-YEEM, vai-YAY-lekh yir-m'-YA ha-na-VEE l'-dar-KO. (pey)

יאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר חֲנַנְיָה֩ לְעֵינֵ֨י כׇל־הָעָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּה֮ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָה֒ כָּ֣כָה אֶשְׁבֹּ֞ר אֶת־עֹ֣ל ׀ נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֣ר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֗ל בְּעוֹד֙ שְׁנָתַ֣יִם יָמִ֔ים מֵעַ֕ל צַוַּ֖אר כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ יִרְמְיָ֥ה הַנָּבִ֖יא לְדַרְכּֽוֹ׃

12After the Navi Chananya had broken the bar from off the neck of the Navi Yirmiyahu, the word of Hashem came to Yirmiyahu:

vai-HI d'-var a-do-NAI el yir-m'-YA, a-kha-RAY sh'-VOR kha-nan-YA ha-na-VEE et ha-mo-TAH may-AL tsa-VA-ar yir-m'-YA ha-na-VEE lay-MOR

יבוַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֑ה אַ֠חֲרֵ֠י שְׁב֞וֹר חֲנַנְיָ֤ה הַנָּבִיא֙ אֶת־הַמּוֹטָ֔ה מֵעַ֗ל צַוַּ֛אר יִרְמְיָ֥ה הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹֽר׃

13“Go say to Chananya: Thus said Hashem: You broke bars of wood, but you shall make bars of iron instead.

ha-LOKH v'-a-MAR-ta el kha-NA-nya lay-MOR: KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI, mo-TOT ETZ sha-va-RE-ta, v'-a-SEE-ta takh-TE-hen mo-TOT bar-ZEL.

יגהָלוֹךְ֩ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֨ אֶל־חֲנַנְיָ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה מוֹטֹ֥ת עֵ֖ץ שָׁבָ֑רְתָּ וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ תַחְתֵּיהֶ֖ן מֹט֥וֹת בַּרְזֶֽל׃

14For thus said the lord of Hosts, the God of Yisrael: I have put an iron yoke upon the necks of all those nations, that they may serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon—and serve him they shall! I have even given the wild beasts to him.”

KI kho-a-MAR a-do-NAI t'-va-OT e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL OL bar-ZEL na-TA-tee al tsa-VA-ar kol ha-go-YIM ha-EL-leh la-a-VOHD et ne-vu-khad-ne-TSAR me-lekh ba-VEL va-a-va-DO-hu v'-GAM et-khat ha-sa-DEH na-TA-tee LO.

ידכִּ֣י כֹֽה־אָמַר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל עֹ֣ל בַּרְזֶ֡ל נָתַ֜תִּי עַל־צַוַּ֣אר ׀ כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֣ם הָאֵ֗לֶּה לַעֲבֹ֛ד אֶת־נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֥ר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל וַעֲבָדֻ֑הוּ וְגַ֛ם אֶת־חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה נָתַ֥תִּי לֽוֹ׃

15And the Navi Yirmiyahu said to the Navi Chananya, “Listen, Chananya! Hashem did not send you, and you have given this people lying assurances.

vai-YO-mer yir-m'-YA ha-na-VEE el kha-na-NYA ha-na-VEE sh'-MA-na kha-na-NYA, lo sh'-la-KHA a-do-NAI, v'-a-TAH hiv-TAKH-ta et-ha-AHM ha-ZEH al sha-KER

טווַיֹּ֨אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֧ה הַנָּבִ֛יא אֶל־חֲנַנְיָ֥ה הַנָּבִ֖יא שְׁמַֽע־נָ֣א חֲנַנְיָ֑ה לֹא־שְׁלָחֲךָ֣ יְהֹוָ֔ה וְאַתָּ֗ה הִבְטַ֛חְתָּ אֶת־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה עַל־שָֽׁקֶר׃

16Assuredly, thus said Hashem: I am going to banish you from off the earth. This year you shall die, for you have urged disloyalty to Hashem.”

la-KHEN ko a-MAR a-do-NAI hin-NEE me-sha-le-KHA me-a-al pe-NEI ha-a-da-MAH ha-sha-NAH a-TAH MEYT kee-sa-RAH di-BAR-ta el a-do-NAI

טזלָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְנִי֙ מְשַֽׁלֵּחֲךָ֔ מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֣י הָאֲדָמָ֑ה הַשָּׁנָה֙ אַתָּ֣ה מֵ֔ת כִּי־סָרָ֥ה דִבַּ֖רְתָּ אֶל־יְהֹוָֽה׃

17And the Navi Chananya died that year, in the seventh month.

vai-YAMOT kha-na-NYAH ha-na-VEE ba-sha-NAH ha-HEE ba-KHO-desh ha-sh'-vee-EE.

יזוַיָּ֛מׇת חֲנַנְיָ֥ה הַנָּבִ֖יא בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַהִ֑יא בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃