
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 40
Translation and Transliteration of
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1The word that came to Yirmiyahu from Hashem, after Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, set him free at Rama, to which he had taken him, chained in fetters, among those from Yerushalayim and Yehuda who were being exiled to Babylon.
ha-da-VAR a-SHER ha-YAH el yir-m'-YA-hu may-AYT a-do-NAI a-KHAR sha-LAKH o-TO n'-vu-zar-a-DAN rav ta-ba-KHEEM min ha-ra-MAH b'-kakh-TO o-TO v'-hu a-SUR ba-zi-KEEM b'-TOKH kol ga-LUT y'-ru-sha-LA-im vee-hu-DAH ha-mug-LEEM ba-VE-lah
אהַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֤ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ מֵאֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה אַחַ֣ר ׀ שַׁלַּ֣ח אֹת֗וֹ נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֛ן רַב־טַבָּחִ֖ים מִן־הָרָמָ֑ה בְּקַחְתּ֣וֹ אֹת֗וֹ וְהֽוּא־אָס֤וּר בָּֽאזִקִּים֙ בְּת֨וֹךְ כׇּל־גָּל֤וּת יְרוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה הַמֻּגְלִ֖ים בָּבֶֽלָה׃
40:1 Set him free at Rama
Although King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon orders his soldiers to treat Yirmiyahu with respect and consideration, only when the convoy reaches Rama, about nine kilometers north of Yerushalayim, does the Babylonian captain release him from his chains. According to Rashi, Yirmiyahu voluntarily fettered himself to the chains leading the exiles away from Israel in order to demonstrate his complete identification with his people and their suffering. Such is the characteristic of a true leader. Though mistreated and abused by them, Yirmiyahu still identifies with, and cares for, his people.
2The chief of the guards took charge of Yirmiyahu, and he said to him, “Hashem your God threatened this place with this disaster;
vai-YI-kakh rav-ta-BA-kheem l'-yir-m'-YA-hu, vai-YO-mer ay-LA-yu a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha, di-BER et-ha-ra-AH ha-ZOT el ha-ma-KOM ha-ZEH
בוַיִּקַּ֥ח רַב־טַבָּחִ֖ים לְיִרְמְיָ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ דִּבֶּר֙ אֶת־הָרָעָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
3and now Hashem has brought it about. He has acted as He threatened, because you sinned against Hashem and did not obey Him. That is why this has happened to you.
vai-YA-VE va-YA-as a-do-NAI ka-a-SHER di-BAYR, kee-kha-ta-TEM la-a-do-NAI v'-LO-sh'-ma-TEM b'-ko-LO, v'-ha-YA LA-khem ha-DA-var ha-ZEH
גוַיָּבֵ֥א וַיַּ֛עַשׂ יְהֹוָ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר כִּֽי־חֲטָאתֶ֤ם לַֽיהֹוָה֙ וְלֹא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם בְּקוֹל֔וֹ וְהָיָ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם (דבר) [הַדָּבָ֥ר] הַזֶּֽה׃
4Now, I release you this day from the fetters which were on your hands. If you would like to go with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. And if you don't want to come with me to Babylon, you need not. See, the whole land is before you: go wherever seems good and right to you.”—
v'-a-TAH hi-NEH fi-takh-TI-kha ha-YOM min ha-a-ZI-kim a-SHER al-ya-DE-kha, im TOV b'-ei-NE-kha la-VO it-TI ba-VEL, BO v'-a-SIM et-EI-ni a-LE-kha, v'-im RA b'-ei-NE-kha la-VO it-TI ba-VEL, kha-DAL, RE-EH kol ha-A-retz l'-fa-NE-kha, el-TOV v'-el ha-YA-shar b'-ei-NE-kha la-LE-khet sha-MAH LEKH.
דוְעַתָּ֞ה הִנֵּ֧ה פִתַּחְתִּ֣יךָ הַיּ֗וֹם מִֽן־הָאזִקִּים֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־יָדֶ֒ךָ֒ אִם־ט֨וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֜יךָ לָב֧וֹא אִתִּ֣י בָבֶ֗ל בֹּ֚א וְאָשִׂ֤ים אֶת־עֵינִי֙ עָלֶ֔יךָ וְאִם־רַ֧ע בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָבֽוֹא־אִתִּ֥י בָבֶ֖ל חֲדָ֑ל רְאֵה֙ כׇּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ אֶל־ט֨וֹב וְאֶל־הַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָלֶ֥כֶת שָׁ֖מָּה לֵֽךְ׃
5But [Yirmiyahu] still did not turn back.—“Or go to Gedalya son of Achikam son of Shafan, whom the king of Babylon has put in charge of the towns of Yehuda, and stay with him among the people, or go wherever you want to go.” The chief of the guards gave him an allowance of food, and dismissed him.
v'-o-DE-nu lo ya-SHU-v v'-shu-VA el g'-da-LI-a ben a-khi-KAM ben sha-FAN a-SHER hif-KID me-lekh ba-VEL b'-a-REI y'-hu-DA v'-SHEV i-TO b'-toKH ha-A-am o o el kol ha-ya-SHAR b'-ei-NE-kha la-LEKH LEKH va-yi-TEN lo rav-ta-BA-khim a-ru-KHA u-ma-s'-ET va-y'-sha-l'-KHE-hu
הוְעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ לֹֽא־יָשׁ֗וּב וְשֻׁ֡בָה אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֣ה בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁפָ֡ן אֲשֶׁר֩ הִפְקִ֨יד מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֜ל בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה וְשֵׁ֤ב אִתּוֹ֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעָ֔ם א֠וֹ אֶל־כׇּל־הַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָלֶ֖כֶת לֵ֑ךְ וַיִּתֶּן־ל֧וֹ רַב־טַבָּחִ֛ים אֲרֻחָ֥ה וּמַשְׂאֵ֖ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃
6So Yirmiyahu came to Gedalya son of Achikam at Mitzpa, and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.
vai-YA-vo yir-m'-YA-hu el g'-dal-YA ben a-khi-KAM ha-mit-PA-ta, va-YAY-shev i-TO b'-TOCH ha-AHM ha-nish-a-REEM ba-A-retz.
ווַיָּבֹ֧א יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֥ה בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֖ם הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב אִתּוֹ֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעָ֔ם הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
7The officers of the troops in the open country, and their men with them, heard that the king of Babylon had put Gedalya son of Achikam in charge of the region, and that he had put in his charge the men, women, and children—of the poorest in the land—those who had not been exiled to Babylon.
vai-yish-M'U kol-sa-RAY ha-cha-YA-leem a-SHER ba-sa-DEH HEM-MAH v'-an-shay-HEM KEE-hif-KID me-lekh-BA-vel et-g'-da-LYAHU ben-a-khee-KAM ba-A-retz v'-KI hif-KID i-TO a-na-SHEEM v'-na-SHEEM va-TAF u-mi-da-LAT ha-A-retz me-a-SHER lo-hog-LU ba-ve-LAH
זוַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֩ כׇל־שָׂרֵ֨י הַחֲיָלִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה הֵ֚מָּה וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־הִפְקִ֧יד מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְכִ֣י ׀ הִפְקִ֣יד אִתּ֗וֹ אֲנָשִׁ֤ים וְנָשִׁים֙ וָטָ֔ף וּמִדַּלַּ֣ת הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־הׇגְל֖וּ בָּבֶֽלָה׃
8So they with their men came to Gedalya at Mitzpa—Ishmael son of Nethaniah; Yochanan and Yonatan the sons of Kareah; Seraya son of Tanhumeth; the sons of Ephai the Netophathite; and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite.
va-ya-VO-u el g'-da-LI-a ha-mitz-pa-TAH, v'-yish-ma-EYL ben ne-tan-YA-hu, v'-yo-KHA-nan v'-yo-NA-tan b'-nay ka-RE-akh, u-s'-ra-YA ben tan-KHU-met, u-v'-NAY (EY-fai) [EY-fa-YI] ha-ne-to-FA-tee, vi-zan-YA-hu ben ha-ma-a-KHA-tee, HAY-ma v'-an-shay-HEM.
חוַיָּבֹ֥אוּ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֖ה הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֡הוּ וְיוֹחָנָ֣ן וְיוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנֵֽי־קָ֠רֵ֠חַ וּשְׂרָיָ֨ה בֶן־תַּנְחֻ֜מֶת וּבְנֵ֣י ׀ (עופי) [עֵיפַ֣י] הַנְּטֹפָתִ֗י וִֽיזַנְיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־הַמַּ֣עֲכָתִ֔י הֵ֖מָּה וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶֽם׃
9Gedalya son of Achikam son of Shafan reassured them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.
vai-yi-sha-VA la-HEM g'-dal-YA-hu ben a-khi-KAM ben sha-FAN u-l'-an-shay-HEM lay-MOR: al ti-RE-u me-a-VOD ha-kas-DEEM, sh'-VU va-A-retz v'-iv-DOO et me-LEKH ba-VEL v'-yi-TAV la-KHEM.
טוַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע לָהֶ֜ם גְּדַלְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֤ם בֶּן־שָׁפָן֙ וּלְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר אַל־תִּֽירְא֖וּ מֵעֲב֣וֹד הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים שְׁב֣וּ בָאָ֗רֶץ וְעִבְד֛וּ אֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל וְיִיטַ֥ב לָכֶֽם׃
10I am going to stay in Mitzpa to attend upon the Chaldeans who will come to us. But you may gather wine and figs and oil and put them in your own vessels, and settle in the towns you have occupied.”
va-a-NEE, hin-NEE yo-SHEV ba-mitz-PAH, la-a-MOD li-f'-NAY ha-KAS-deem, a-SHER ya-VO-u e-LE-nu, v'-a-TEM is-PU ya-YIN v'-ka-YITZ v'-SHE-men v'-SIMU b'-k'-LE-khem, u-SHE-vu b'-a-a-RE-khem, a-SHER t'-fa-STEM.
יוַאֲנִ֗י הִנְנִ֤י יֹשֵׁב֙ בַּמִּצְפָּ֔ה לַֽעֲמֹד֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָבֹ֖אוּ אֵלֵ֑ינוּ וְאַתֶּ֡ם אִסְפוּ֩ יַ֨יִן וְקַ֜יִץ וְשֶׁ֗מֶן וְשִׂ֙מוּ֙ בִּכְלֵיכֶ֔ם וּשְׁב֖וּ בְּעָרֵיכֶ֥ם אֲשֶׁר־תְּפַשְׂתֶּֽם׃
11Likewise, all the Judeans who were in Moab, Ammon, and Edom, or who were in other lands, heard that the king of Babylon had let a remnant stay in Yehuda, and that he had put Gedalya son of Achikam son of Shafan in charge of them.
v'-GAM kol ha-y'-hu-DEEM a-SHER b'-mo-AV u-vi-v'-NEI a-MON u-v'-e-DOM va-a-SHER b'-kol ha-a-ra-TZOT sha-M'-U kee-na-TAN me-lekh ba-VEL sh'-ay-REET li-y'-hu-DAH, v'-kee hi-f'-KEED a-lay-HEM et g'-da-lya-HU ben a-khee-KAM ben sha-FAN
יאוְגַ֣ם כׇּֽל־הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר־בְּמוֹאָ֣ב ׀ וּבִבְנֵֽי־עַמּ֨וֹן וּבֶאֱד֜וֹם וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּכׇל־הָֽאֲרָצוֹת֙ שָֽׁמְע֔וּ כִּֽי־נָתַ֧ן מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל שְׁאֵרִ֖ית לִיהוּדָ֑ה וְכִי֙ הִפְקִ֣יד עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־אֲחִיקָ֥ם בֶּן־שָׁפָֽן׃
12All these Judeans returned from all the places to which they had scattered. They came to the land of Yehuda, to Gedalya at Mitzpa, and they gathered large quantities of wine and figs.
vai-ya-SHU-vu kol ha-y'-hu-DEEM mi-KOL ha-m'-ko-MOT a-SHER ni-d'-KHU-SHAM, va-ya-VO-u E-retz y'-hu-DAH el g'-dal-YA-hu ha-mitz-PA-ta, va-ya-a-S'-FU ya-YIN va-KAYTZ har-BAY m'-OD. (s)
יבוַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ כׇל־הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים מִכׇּל־הַמְּקֹמוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִדְּחוּ־שָׁ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ אֶרֶץ־יְהוּדָ֛ה אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה וַיַּאַסְפ֛וּ יַ֥יִן וָקַ֖יִץ הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃
13Yochanan son of Kareah, and all the officers of the troops in the open country, came to Gedalya at Mitzpa
v'-yo-KHA-nan ben ka-RAY-akh v'-kol sa-RAY ha-kha-ya-LEEM a-SHER ba-sa-DEH ba-U el g'-da-lya-HU ha-mitz-pa-TAH
יגוְיֽוֹחָנָן֙ בֶּן־קָרֵ֔חַ וְכׇל־שָׂרֵ֥י הַחֲיָלִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה בָּ֥אוּ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ הַמִּצְפָּֽתָה׃
14and said to him, “Do you know that King Baalis of Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?” But Gedalya son of Achikam would not believe them.
va-yo-M'ru e-LAV ha-ya-DO-a t'-DA ka-YI ba-a-LIS m'-LEKH b'-NAY a-MON sha-LAKH et yish-ma-EL ben n'-ta-NYA l'-ha-KOT-kha NA-fesh v'-lo he-e-MEEN la-HEM g'-da-LI-a-HU ben a-khi-KAM
ידוַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו הֲיָדֹ֤עַ תֵּדַע֙ כִּ֞י בַּעֲלִ֣יס ׀ מֶ֣לֶךְ בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֗וֹן שָׁלַח֙ אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֔ה לְהַכֹּתְךָ֖ נָ֑פֶשׁ וְלֹא־הֶאֱמִ֣ין לָהֶ֔ם גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־אֲחִיקָֽם׃
15Yochanan son of Kareah also said secretly to Gedalya at Mitzpa, “Let me go and strike down Ishmael son of Nethaniah before anyone knows about it; otherwise he will kill you, and all the Judeans who have gathered about you will be dispersed, and the remnant of Yehuda will perish!”
v'-yo-KHA-nan ben-ka-RAY-a a-MAR el g'-da-lya-HU ba-SE-ter ba-mitz-PAH lay-MOR: el-KHA NA v'-a-KEH et yish-ma-EYL ben-ne-ta-NYA v'-ISH lo ya-DA, la-MAH ya-KE-kah NE-fesh v'-na-FO-tzu kol y'-hu-DAH ha-nik-BA-tzeeM e-LE-kha v'-o-VE-da she-E-reet y'-hu-DAH
טווְיוֹחָנָ֣ן בֶּן־קָרֵ֡חַ אָמַ֣ר אֶל־גְּדַלְיָהוּ֩ בַסֵּ֨תֶר בַּמִּצְפָּ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר אֵ֤לְכָה נָּא֙ וְאַכֶּה֙ אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֔ה וְאִ֖ישׁ לֹ֣א יֵדָ֑ע לָ֧מָּה יַכֶּ֣כָּה נֶּ֗פֶשׁ וְנָפֹ֙צוּ֙ כׇּל־יְהוּדָה֙ הַנִּקְבָּצִ֣ים אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְאָבְדָ֖ה שְׁאֵרִ֥ית יְהוּדָֽה׃
16But Gedalya son of Achikam answered Yochanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing: what you are saying about Ishmael is not true!”
vai-YO-mer g'-da-lya-HU ben a-khi-KAM el yo-kha-NAN ben ka-RAY-akh, al ta-a-SEH et ha-DA-var ha-ZEH, kee-SHE-ker a-TAH do-BAYR el yish-ma-AYL.
טזוַיֹּ֨אמֶר גְּדַלְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָם֙ אֶל־יוֹחָנָ֣ן בֶּן־קָרֵ֔חַ אַֽל־[תַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה] (תעש) אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה כִּי־שֶׁ֛קֶר אַתָּ֥ה דֹבֵ֖ר אֶל־יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל׃