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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 34

Translation and Transliteration of 

1The word which came to Yirmiyahu from Hashem, when King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth and all the peoples under his sway, were waging war against Yerushalayim and all its towns:

ha-DA-var a-SHER-ha-YA el yir-m'-YA-hu me-ET a-do-NAI u-ne-vu-khad-re-TZAR me-lekh-BA-vel, v'-kol-khay-LO v'-kol-mam-l'-KHOT e-RETZ mem-she-LET ya-DO, v'-kol-ha-a-MEEM nil-kha-MEEM al y'-ru-sha-LA-im v'-al-kol-a-re-HA lay-MOR.

אהַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֥ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ מֵאֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה וּנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֣ל ׀ וְכׇל־חֵיל֡וֹ וְכׇל־מַמְלְכ֣וֹת אֶ֩רֶץ֩ מֶמְשֶׁ֨לֶת יָד֜וֹ וְכׇל־הָעַמִּ֗ים נִלְחָמִ֧ים עַל־יְרוּשָׁלַ֛͏ִם וְעַל־כׇּל־עָרֶ֖יהָ לֵאמֹֽר׃

2Thus said Hashem, the God of Yisrael: Go speak to King Tzidkiyahu of Yehuda, and say to him: “Thus said Hashem: I am going to deliver this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it by fire.

KO-a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL ha-LOKH v'-a-MAR-ta el tzi-d'-ki-YA-hu me-LEKH y'-hu-DAH v'-a-MAR-ta e-LAV KO a-MAR a-do-NAI hin-NEE no-TAYN et-ha-IR ha-ZOT b'-yad me-LEKH-ba-VEL u-s'-ra-FAH ba-AYSH

בכֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הָלֹךְ֙ וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ אֶל־צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֨י נֹתֵ֜ן אֶת־הָעִ֤יר הַזֹּאת֙ בְּיַ֣ד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֔ל וּשְׂרָפָ֖הּ בָּאֵֽשׁ׃

3And you will not escape from him; you will be captured and handed over to him. And you will see the king of Babylon face to face and speak to him in person; and you will be brought to Babylon.

v'-a-TAH lo ti-MA-LET mi-YA-do, KEE ta-FOS ti-ta-FES, u-v'-ya-DO ti-NA-TEYN, v'-AY-NE-kha et-AY-NEY me-lekh-BA-VEL ti-RA-EY-NAH, u-fi-HU et-PI-kha ye-da-BER, u-BA-VEL ta-VO.

גוְאַתָּ֗ה לֹ֚א תִמָּלֵט֙ מִיָּד֔וֹ כִּ֚י תָּפֹ֣שׂ תִּתָּפֵ֔שׂ וּבְיָד֖וֹ תִּנָּתֵ֑ן וְֽ֠עֵינֶ֠יךָ אֶת־עֵינֵ֨י מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֜ל תִּרְאֶ֗ינָה וּפִ֛יהוּ אֶת־פִּ֥יךָ יְדַבֵּ֖ר וּבָבֶ֥ל תָּבֽוֹא׃

4But hear the word of Hashem, O King Tzidkiyahu of Yehuda! Thus said Hashem concerning you: You will not die by the sword.

akh sh'-MA d'-var a-do-NAI tzid-ki-YA-hu me-LEKH y'-hu-DAH, ko-a-MAR a-do-NAI, a-LE-kha lo ta-MUT b'-kha-REV

דאַ֚ךְ שְׁמַ֣ע דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ עָלֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א תָמ֖וּת בֶּחָֽרֶב׃

5You will die a peaceful death; and as incense was burned for your ancestors, the earlier kings who preceded you, so they will burn incense for you, and they will lament for you ‘Ah, lord!' For I Myself have made the promise—declares Hashem.”

b'-sha-LOM ta-MUT u-k'-mi-s'-ROT a-vo-TAY-kha ha-m'-la-KHEEM ha-ri-SHO-neem a-SHER ha-YU l'-fa-NE-kha KEN yis-r'-FU-lakh, v'-HOY a-DON yis-p'-DU-lakh, KEE-da-VAR a-NEE-di-BAR-tee n'-UM a-do-NAI. (Selah)

הבְּשָׁל֣וֹם תָּמ֗וּת וּֽכְמִשְׂרְפ֣וֹת אֲ֠בוֹתֶ֠יךָ הַמְּלָכִ֨ים הָרִאשֹׁנִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־הָי֣וּ לְפָנֶ֗יךָ כֵּ֚ן יִשְׂרְפוּ־לָ֔ךְ וְה֥וֹי אָד֖וֹן יִסְפְּדוּ־לָ֑ךְ כִּֽי־דָבָ֥ר אֲנִֽי־דִבַּ֖רְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

6The Navi Yirmiyahu spoke all these words to King Tzidkiyahu of Yehuda in Yerushalayim,

vai-da-BAYR yir-m'-YA-hu ha-na-VEE el tzi-d'-ki-YA-hu me-LEKH y'-hu-DA, AYT kol ha-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh bi-ru-sha-LA-yim

ווַיְדַבֵּר֙ יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֔יא אֶל־צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה אֵ֛ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

7when the army of the king of Babylon was waging war against Yerushalayim and against the remaining towns of Yehuda—against Lachish and Azeika, for they were the only fortified towns of Yehuda that were left.

v'-khayl me-lekh ba-VEL nil-kha-MEEM al y'-ru-sha-LA-im v'-al kol a-REI y'-hu-DA ha-no-ta-ROT el la-KHEESH v'-el a-ze-KA kee he-Na nish-a-ROO b'-a-REI y'-hu-DA a-REI miv-TZAR. (pey)

זוְחֵ֣יל מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֗ל נִלְחָמִים֙ עַל־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְעַ֛ל כׇּל־עָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה הַנּוֹתָר֑וֹת אֶל־לָכִישׁ֙ וְאֶל־עֲזֵקָ֔ה כִּ֣י הֵ֗נָּה נִשְׁאֲר֛וּ בְּעָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה עָרֵ֥י מִבְצָֽר׃

8The word which came to Yirmiyahu from Hashem after King Tzidkiyahu had made a covenant with all the people in Yerushalayim to proclaim a release among them—

ha-DA-var a-SHER-ha-YA el yir-m'-YA-hu me-ET a-do-NAI a-kha-RAY k'-ROT ha-ME-lekh tzid-ki-YA-hu b'-REET et-KOL ha-A-am a-SHER bi-ru-sha-LA-im lik-RO la-HEM d'-ROR

חהַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֥ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ מֵאֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה אַחֲרֵ֡י כְּרֹת֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ בְּרִ֗ית אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּירוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם לִקְרֹ֥א לָהֶ֖ם דְּרֽוֹר׃

9that everyone should set free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and that no one should keep his fellow Judean enslaved.

l'-sha-LAKH eesh et-aV-do v'-eesh et-shif-KHA-to ha-iV-ree v'-ha-iV-ree-YAH kha-f'-SHEEM l'-vil-TEE a-VAD-bam bi-hu-DEE a-KHEE-hu eesh

טלְ֠שַׁלַּ֠ח אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־עַבְדּ֞וֹ וְאִ֧ישׁ אֶת־שִׁפְחָת֛וֹ הָעִבְרִ֥י וְהָעִבְרִיָּ֖ה חׇפְשִׁ֑ים לְבִלְתִּ֧י עֲבׇד־בָּ֛ם בִּיהוּדִ֥י אָחִ֖יהוּ אִֽישׁ׃

10Everyone, officials and people, who had entered into the covenant agreed to set their male and female slaves free and not keep them enslaved any longer; they complied and let them go.

va-yi-sh'-m'u kol ha-sa-REEM v'-kol ha-AM a-SHER ba-U va-b'-REET l'-sha-LAKH eesh et a-v'-DO v'-eesh et shif-kha-TO kha-f'-SHEEM l'-vil-TI a-vod-BAM od va-yi-sh'-m'u va-y'-sha-LAY-khu

יוַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֩ כׇל־הַשָּׂרִ֨ים וְכׇל־הָעָ֜ם אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ בַבְּרִ֗ית לְ֠שַׁלַּ֠ח אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־עַבְדּ֞וֹ וְאִ֤ישׁ אֶת־שִׁפְחָתוֹ֙ חׇפְשִׁ֔ים לְבִלְתִּ֥י עֲבׇד־בָּ֖ם ע֑וֹד וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ וַיְשַׁלֵּֽחוּ׃

11But afterward they turned about and brought back the men and women they had set free, and forced them into slavery again.

vai-ya-SHU-vu a-kha-RAY-khen, vai-ya-SHI-vu et ha-a-va-DEEM v'-et ha-sh'-fa-KHOT a-SHER shi-l'-KHU kha-f'-SHEEM (vai-yikh-b'-SHUM) [vai-yikh-b'-SHU] la-a-va-DEEM v'-li-sh'-fa-KHOT. Pe

יאוַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן וַיָּשִׁ֗בוּ אֶת־הָֽעֲבָדִים֙ וְאֶת־הַשְּׁפָח֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר שִׁלְּח֖וּ חׇפְשִׁ֑ים (ויכבישום) [וַֽיִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּם] לַעֲבָדִ֖ים וְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃

12Then it was that the word of Hashem came to Yirmiyahu from Hashem:

vai-YA-hee d'-var a-do-NAI el yir-m'-YA-hu may-AYT a-do-NAI lay-MOR

יבוַיְהִ֤י דְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ מֵאֵ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃

13Thus said Hashem, the God of Yisrael: I made a covenant with your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage, saying:

KO-a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL a-NO-khee ka-RAT-tee b'-reeT et a-vo-TAY-khem b'-YOM ho-TZI-i o-TAM may-E-retz mitz-RA-yim mi-BAYT a-va-DEEM lay-MOR

יגכֹּה־אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אָנֹכִ֗י כָּרַ֤תִּֽי בְרִית֙ אֶת־אֲב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם בְּי֨וֹם הוֹצִאִ֤י אוֹתָם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם מִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִ֖ים לֵאמֹֽר׃

14“In the seventh year each of you must let go any fellow Hebrew who may be sold to you; when he has served you six years, you must set him free.” But your fathers would not obey Me or give ear.

mi-KETZ she-VA sha-NEEM t'-sha-l'-KHU eesh et-a-KHEEV ha-eev-REE a-SHER yi-ma-KHER le-KHA va-a-va-d'-KHA shaysh sha-NEEM v'-shi-la-KH'-TO kho-f'-SHEE may-i-MAKH v'-lo-sha-m'-U a-vo-TAY-khem e-LAI v'-lo hi-TU et-a-Z'-NAM

ידמִקֵּ֣ץ שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֡ים תְּֽשַׁלְּח֡וּ אִישׁ֩ אֶת־אָחִ֨יו הָעִבְרִ֜י אֲשֶֽׁר־יִמָּכֵ֣ר לְךָ֗ וַעֲבָֽדְךָ֙ שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים וְשִׁלַּחְתּ֥וֹ חׇפְשִׁ֖י מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ וְלֹֽא־שָׁמְע֤וּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ אֵלַ֔י וְלֹ֥א הִטּ֖וּ אֶת־אׇזְנָֽם׃

15Lately you turned about and did what is proper in My sight, and each of you proclaimed a release to his countrymen; and you made a covenant accordingly before Me in the House which bears My name.

va-ta-SHU-vu a-TEM ha-YOM va-ta-a-SU et ha-ya-SHAR b'-ay-NAI lik-RO d'-ROR ish l'-re-E-hu va-tikh-r'-TU b'-reet l'-fa-NAI ba-BA-yit a-SHER nik-RA sh'-MI a-LAV

טווַתָּשֻׁ֨בוּ אַתֶּ֜ם הַיּ֗וֹם וַתַּעֲשׂ֤וּ אֶת־הַיָּשָׁר֙ בְּעֵינַ֔י לִקְרֹ֥א דְר֖וֹר אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ וַתִּכְרְת֤וּ בְרִית֙ לְפָנַ֔י בַּבַּ֕יִת אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָ֥א שְׁמִ֖י עָלָֽיו׃

16But now you have turned back and have profaned My name; each of you has brought back the men and women whom you had given their freedom, and forced them to be your slaves again.

va-ta-SHU-vu va-t'-kha-LU et sh'-MI va-ta-SHI-vu eesh et a-v'-DO v'-eesh et shif-KHA-to a-SHER shi-laKH-TEM kho-f'-SHEEM l'-naf-SHAM va-tikh-B'-SHU o-TAM li-HYOT la-KHEM la-a-va-DEEM v'-li-sh'-fa-KHOT. (S)

טזוַתָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ וַתְּחַלְּל֣וּ אֶת־שְׁמִ֔י וַתָּשִׁ֗בוּ אִ֤ישׁ אֶת־עַבְדּוֹ֙ וְאִ֣ישׁ אֶת־שִׁפְחָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־שִׁלַּחְתֶּ֥ם חׇפְשִׁ֖ים לְנַפְשָׁ֑ם וַתִּכְבְּשׁ֣וּ אֹתָ֔ם לִֽהְי֣וֹת לָכֶ֔ם לַעֲבָדִ֖ים וְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃

17Assuredly, thus said Hashem: You would not obey Me and proclaim a release, each to his kinsman and countryman. Lo! I proclaim your release—declares Hashem—to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine; and I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

la-KHAYN koh a-MAR a-do-NAI a-TEM lo sh'-ma-TEM ay-LAI lik-RO d'-ROR EESH l'-a-KHEEV v'-EESH l'-ray-AY-hu hi-n'-NEE ko-RAY la-KHEM d'-ROR n'-um a-do-NAI el ha-KHE-rev el ha-DE-ver v'-el ha-ra-AV v'-na-ta-TEE et-KHEM l'-za-a-VAH l'-KHOL mam-l'-KHOT ha-A-retz

יזלָכֵן֮ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָה֒ אַתֶּם֙ לֹא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם אֵלַ֔י לִקְרֹ֣א דְר֔וֹר אִ֥ישׁ לְאָחִ֖יו וְאִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ הִנְנִ֣י קֹרֵא֩ לָכֶ֨ם דְּר֜וֹר נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־הַחֶ֙רֶב֙ אֶל־הַדֶּ֣בֶר וְאֶל־הָרָעָ֔ב וְנָֽתַתִּ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ (לזועה) [לְזַעֲוָ֔ה] לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

34:17   You would not obey Me and proclaim a release

With the Babylonian onslaught, the nobility and landowners made a covenant with the people to release all the slaves and workers from their servitude. Once the threat receded temporarily, they reneged on their promise and re-enslaved the poor workers. God declares this injustice intolerable. He freed the Jewish people from Egyptian servitude so that they would dwell as a free nation in the Land of Israel, living up to the highest standards of ethics and morality. However, should they begin to enslave others or engage in other unscrupulous or deceptive behavior, Hashem will give the nations of the world the freedom to strike, and they will once again become slaves to foreigners.

18I will make the men who violated My covenant, who did not fulfill the terms of the covenant which they made before Me, [like] the calf which they cut in two so as to pass between the halves:

v'-na-ta-TEE et-ha-a-na-SHEEM ha-o-v'-REEM et b'-ree-TEE a-SHER lo he-KEE-mu et di-v'-RAY ha-b'-REET a-SHER kar-TOO l'-fa-NAI, ha-e-GEL a-SHER kar-TOO l'-sh'-NA-yim va-ya-a-v'-RU b'-AYN b'-ta-RA-yav

יחוְנָתַתִּ֣י אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הָעֹֽבְרִים֙ אֶת־בְּרִתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־הֵקִ֙ימוּ֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י הַבְּרִ֔ית אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּרְת֖וּ לְפָנָ֑י הָעֵ֙גֶל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּרְת֣וּ לִשְׁנַ֔יִם וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ בֵּ֥ין בְּתָרָֽיו׃

19The officers of Yehuda and Yerushalayim, the officials, the Kohanim, and all the people of the land who passed between the halves of the calf

sa-REI y'-hu-DAH v'-sa-REI y'-ru-sha-LA-im ha-sa-ri-SIM v'-ha-ko-ha-NIM v'-kol am ha-A-retz ha-o-v'-REEM bein bi-t'-REI ha-E-gel

יטשָׂרֵ֨י יְהוּדָ֜ה וְשָׂרֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם הַסָּֽרִסִים֙ וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וְכֹ֖ל עַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ הָעֹ֣בְרִ֔ים בֵּ֖ין בִּתְרֵ֥י הָעֵֽגֶל׃

20shall be handed over to their enemies, to those who seek to kill them. Their carcasses shall become food for the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth.

v'-na-ta-TEE o-TAM b'-YAD o-y'-vay-HEM u-b'-YAD m'-va-kh'-SHEI naf-SHAM, v'-ha-Y'-ta ni-v'-LA-tam l'-ma-a-KHAL l'-OF ha-sha-MA-yim u-l'-ve-he-MAT ha-A-retz

כוְנָתַתִּ֤י אוֹתָם֙ בְּיַ֣ד אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְיַ֖ד מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י נַפְשָׁ֑ם וְהָיְתָ֤ה נִבְלָתָם֙ לְמַֽאֲכָ֔ל לְע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וּלְבֶהֱמַ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

21I will hand over King Tzidkiyahu of Yehuda and his officers to their enemies, who seek to kill them—to the army of the king of Babylon which has withdrawn from you.

v'-et-tzid-ki-YA-hu me-lekh y'-hu-DAH v'-et-sa-RAV e-TEM b'-yad oy-VE-hem u-b'-yad me-va-k'-SHEI naf-SHAM u-b'-yad KHEEL me-lekh ba-VEL ha-o-LIM me-a-LEI-khem

כאוְאֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֜ה וְאֶת־שָׂרָ֗יו אֶתֵּן֙ בְּיַ֣ד אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְיַ֖ד מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י נַפְשָׁ֑ם וּבְיַ֗ד חֵ֚יל מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל הָעֹלִ֖ים מֵעֲלֵיכֶֽם׃

22I hereby give the command—declares Hashem—by which I will bring them back against this city. They shall attack it and capture it, and burn it down. I will make the towns of Yehuda a desolation, without inhabitant.

hi-n'-NI m'-tza-VEH n'-UM a-do-NAI va-ha-shi-VO-TEEM el ha-iR ha-ZOT v'-nil-kha-MU a-LE-ha u-l'-kha-DOO-ha u-s'-ra-foo-HA va-AySH v'-et a-REY y'-hu-DAH e-TAYN sh'-MA-MAH may-EYN yo-SHAYV.

כבהִנְנִ֨י מְצַוֶּ֜ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֗ה וַהֲשִׁ֨בֹתִ֜ים אֶל־הָעִ֤יר הַזֹּאת֙ וְנִלְחֲמ֣וּ עָלֶ֔יהָ וּלְכָד֖וּהָ וּשְׂרָפֻ֣הָ בָאֵ֑שׁ וְאֶת־עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה אֶתֵּ֥ן שְׁמָמָ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין יֹשֵֽׁב׃