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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 42

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Then all the army officers, with Yochanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the rest of the people, great and small, approached

vai-yi-g'-SHU kol sa-RAY ha-cha-ya-LEEM v'-yo-KHA-nan ben ka-RAY-akh vi-za-NYAH ben ho-sha-YAH v'-kol ha-AM mi-ka-TON v'-ad go-DOL

אוַֽיִּגְּשׁוּ֙ כׇּל־שָׂרֵ֣י הַחֲיָלִ֔ים וְיֽוֹחָנָן֙ בֶּן־קָרֵ֔חַ וִיזַנְיָ֖ה בֶּן־הוֹשַֽׁעְיָ֑ה וְכׇל־הָעָ֖ם מִקָּטֹ֥ן וְעַד־גָּדֽוֹל׃

2the Navi Yirmiyahu and said, “Grant our plea, and pray for us to Hashem your God, for all this remnant! For we remain but a few out of many, as you can see.

va-yo-m'-RU el yir-m'-YA-hu ha-na-VEE ti-pol NA t'-khi-na-TAY-nu l'-fa-NE-kha v'-hit-pa-LAYL ba-a-DAY-nu el a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha b'-AD kol ha-sh'-ay-REET ha-ZOT kee nish-AR-nu m'-AT may-har-BAY ka-a-SHER ay-NE-kha ro-OT o-TA-nu

בוַיֹּאמְר֞וּ אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֗יא תִּפׇּל־נָ֤א תְחִנָּתֵ֙נוּ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל בַּעֲדֵ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּעַ֖ד כׇּל־הַשְּׁאֵרִ֣ית הַזֹּ֑את כִּֽי־נִשְׁאַ֤רְנוּ מְעַט֙ מֵֽהַרְבֵּ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עֵינֶ֖יךָ רֹא֥וֹת אֹתָֽנוּ׃

42:2   For we remain but a few out of many 

The people, in panic over the upcoming invasion from Babylonia, turn to the prophet and ask him to pray for guidance. Yirmiyahu counsels them against going down to Egypt. However, in their final act of disobedience against God, they flee to Egypt, forcefully taking Yirmiyahu with them. Their statement that they were once many, but now have become few, represents an undoing of the divine promises. Sefer Devarim (10:22) describes how God took a few people, made them many, and brought them from Egypt to the Land of Israel. Now, they leave Eretz Yisrael headed for Egypt, few instead of many; a painful reminder of the damage caused by refusing to listen to the word of God.

3Let Hashem your God tell us where we should go and what we should do.”

v'-ya-GED LA-nu a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha et ha-DE-rekh a-SHER NE-lekh-BAH v'-et ha-DA-var a-SHER na-a-SEH

גוְיַגֶּד־לָ֙נוּ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֶת־הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נֵֽלֶךְ־בָּ֑הּ וְאֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃

4The Navi Yirmiyahu answered them, “Agreed: I will pray to Hashem your God as you request, and I will tell you whatever response Hashem gives for you. I will withhold nothing from you.”

vai-YO-mer a-LAY-hem yir-m'-YA-hu ha-NA-vee sha-MA-ti, hin-NEE mit-pa-LAYL el a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-khem k'-div-ray-KHEM, v'-ha-YA kol ha-DA-var a-SHER ya-a-NEH a-do-NAI et-KHEM a-GID la-KHEM lo e-m'-NA mi-KHEM DA-var

דוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם יִרְמְיָ֤הוּ הַנָּבִיא֙ שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי הִנְנִ֧י מִתְפַּלֵּ֛ל אֶל־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם כְּדִבְרֵיכֶ֑ם וְֽהָיָ֡ה כׇּֽל־הַדָּבָר֩ אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲנֶ֨ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶתְכֶם֙ אַגִּ֣יד לָכֶ֔ם לֹא־אֶמְנַ֥ע מִכֶּ֖ם דָּבָֽר׃

5Thereupon they said to Yirmiyahu, “Let Hashem be a true and faithful witness against us! We swear that we will do exactly as Hashem your God instructs us through you—

v'-he-Ma a-M'-RU el yir-m'-YA-hu, y'-hi a-do-NAI ba-NU l'-AYD e-MET v'-ne-e-MAHN, im-LO k'-KOL ha-DA-var a-SHER yish-la-KHA a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha e-lei-NU k'-N na-a-SEH

הוְהֵ֙מָּה֙ אָמְר֣וּ אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ יְהִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ בָּ֔נוּ לְעֵ֖ד אֱמֶ֣ת וְנֶאֱמָ֑ן אִם־לֹ֡א כְּֽכׇל־הַ֠דָּבָ֠ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֜ יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ כֵּ֥ן נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃

6Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will obey Hashem our God to whom we send you, in order that it may go well with us when we obey Hashem our God.”

im-Tov v'-im-Ra b'-KOL a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu a-SHER (a-NU) [a-NAKH-nu] sho-l'-KHEEM ot-KHA e-LAV nish-MA l'-ma-an a-SHER yi-TAV-la-NU ki nish-MA b'-KOL a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu.

ואִם־ט֣וֹב וְאִם־רָ֔ע בְּק֣וֹל ׀ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ אֲשֶׁ֨ר (אנו) [אֲנַ֜חְנוּ] שֹׁלְחִ֥ים אֹתְךָ֛ אֵלָ֖יו נִשְׁמָ֑ע לְמַ֙עַן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִֽיטַב־לָ֔נוּ כִּ֣י נִשְׁמַ֔ע בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

7After ten days, the word of Hashem came to Yirmiyahu.

vai-HI mi-KETZ a-se-RET ya-MEEM, vai-HI d'-var a-do-NAI el yir-m'-YA-hu

זוַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת יָמִ֑ים וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָֽהוּ׃

8He called Yochanan son of Kareah and all the army officers, and the rest of the people, great and small,

vai-YIK-ra el yo-KHA-nan ben ka-RAY-akh v'-EL kol sa-RAY ha-kha-ya-LEEM a-SHER i-TO u-l'-KOL ha-A-am l'-mi-KA-ton v'-ad go-DOL

חוַיִּקְרָ֗א אֶל־יֽוֹחָנָן֙ בֶּן־קָרֵ֔חַ וְאֶ֛ל כׇּל־שָׂרֵ֥י הַחֲיָלִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ וּ֨לְכׇל־הָעָ֔ם לְמִקָּטֹ֖ן וְעַד־גָּדֽוֹל׃

9and said to them, “Thus said Hashem, the God of Yisrael, to whom you sent me to present your supplication before Him:

vai-YO-mer a-LAY-hem KO-a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL a-SHER sh'-LAKH-TEM o-TEE e-LA-yav l'-ha-peeL t'-khi-NAT-khem l'-fa-NAV

טוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּה־אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר שְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם אֹתִי֙ אֵלָ֔יו לְהַפִּ֥יל תְּחִנַּתְכֶ֖ם לְפָנָֽיו׃

10If you remain in this land, I will build you and not overthrow, I will plant you and not uproot; for I regret the punishment I have brought upon you.

im-SHOV te-SHE-vu ba-A-retz ha-ZOT u-va-NI-tee et-KHEM v'-lo e-HE-ros v'-na-ta-TEE et-KHEM v'-lo e-TOSh KEE ni-KHAM-tee el-ha-RA-a a-SHER a-SEE-tee la-KHEM

יאִם־שׁ֤וֹב תֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וּבָנִ֤יתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א אֶהֱרֹ֔ס וְנָטַעְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם וְלֹ֣א אֶתּ֑וֹשׁ כִּ֤י נִחַ֙מְתִּי֙ אֶל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי לָכֶֽם׃

11Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you fear; do not be afraid of him—declares Hashem—for I am with you to save you and to rescue you from his hands.

al-ti-RE-u mi-p'-NAY me-LEKH ba-VEL a-SHER a-TEM ye-RE-eem mi-pa-NAV, al-ti-RE-u mi-ME-nu, ne-um a-do-NAI, kee i-t'-KHEM a-NEE l'-ho-SHEE-a et-KHEM u-l'-ha-TZEEL et-KHEM mi-YA-do.

יאאַל־תִּֽירְא֗וּ מִפְּנֵי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם יְרֵאִ֖ים מִפָּנָ֑יו אַל־תִּֽירְא֤וּ מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּֽי־אִתְּכֶ֣ם אָ֔נִי לְהוֹשִׁ֧יעַ אֶתְכֶ֛ם וּלְהַצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדֽוֹ׃

12I will dispose him to be merciful to you: he shall show you mercy and bring you back to your own land.

v'-e-TEYN la-KHEM ra-cha-MEEM v'-ri-KHAM et-KHEM v'-he-SHEEV et-KHEM el-ad-mat-KHEM

יבוְאֶתֵּ֥ן לָכֶ֛ם רַחֲמִ֖ים וְרִחַ֣ם אֶתְכֶ֑ם וְהֵשִׁ֥יב אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֶל־אַדְמַתְכֶֽם׃

13“But if you say, ‘We will not stay in this land'—thus disobeying Hashem your God—

v'-im-o-M'-reem a-TEM lo nay-SHEV ba-A-rets ha-ZOT l'-vil-TEE sh'-MO-a b'-KOL a-do-NAI e-lo-hay-KHEM

יגוְאִם־אֹמְרִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם לֹ֥א נֵשֵׁ֖ב בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את לְבִלְתִּ֣י שְׁמֹ֔עַ בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

14if you say, ‘No! We will go to the land of Egypt, so that we may not see war or hear the sound of the shofar, and so that we may not hunger for bread; there we will stay,'

lay-MOR lo KEE E-rets mitz-RA-yim na-VO a-SHER lo nir-EH mil-cha-MAH v'-KOL sho-FAR lo nish-MA v'-la-LE-khem lo nir-AV v'-SHAM ne-SHEV

ידלֵאמֹ֗ר לֹ֚א כִּ֣י אֶ֤רֶץ מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ נָב֔וֹא אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־נִרְאֶה֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה וְק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָ֖ר לֹ֣א נִשְׁמָ֑ע וְלַלֶּ֥חֶם לֹֽא־נִרְעָ֖ב וְשָׁ֥ם נֵשֵֽׁב׃

15then hear the word of Hashem, O remnant of Yehuda! Thus said the lord of Hosts, the God of Yisrael: If you turn your faces toward Egypt, and you go and sojourn there,

v'-a-TAH la-KHEN shim-U d'-var a-do-NAI sh'-E-rit y'-hu-DAH, koh-a-MAR a-do-NAI t'-za-VA-OT, e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL, im a-TEM soM t'-si-MUN p'-NE-khem la-VO mitz-RA-yim, u-va-TEM la-GUR sham.

טווְעַתָּ֕ה לָכֵ֛ן שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְהוּדָ֑ה כֹּֽה־אָמַר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אִם־אַ֠תֶּ֠ם שׂ֣וֹם תְּשִׂמ֤וּן פְּנֵיכֶם֙ לָבֹ֣א מִצְרַ֔יִם וּבָאתֶ֖ם לָג֥וּר שָֽׁם׃

16the sword that you fear shall overtake you there, in the land of Egypt, and the famine you worry over shall follow at your heels in Egypt too; and there you shall die.

v'-ha-YE-tah ha-KHE-rev a-SHER a-TEM ye-RE-im mi-ME-nah, SHAM ta-SEEK et-KHEM b'-E-retz mitz-RA-yim, v'-ha-RA-av a-SHER a-TEM do-a-GIM mi-ME-nu, SHAM yid-BAK a-cha-RE-khem mitz-RA-yim, v'-SHAM ta-MU-tu.

טזוְהָיְתָ֣ה הַחֶ֗רֶב אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ יְרֵאִ֣ים מִמֶּ֔נָּה שָׁ֛ם תַּשִּׂ֥יג אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְהָרָעָ֞ב אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֣ם ׀ דֹּאֲגִ֣ים מִמֶּ֗נּוּ שָׁ֣ם יִדְבַּ֧ק אַחֲרֵיכֶ֛ם מִצְרַ֖יִם וְשָׁ֥ם תָּמֻֽתוּ׃

17All the men who turn their faces toward Egypt, in order to sojourn there, shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. They shall have no surviving remnant of the disaster that I will bring upon them.

v'-yi-HU kol-ha-a-na-SHEEM a-SHER-sa-MU et p'-NE-hem la-VO mitz-RA-yim la-GUR sham ya-MU-tu ba-KHE-rev ba-RAV u-va-DA-ver v'-LO yi-HEH la-HEM sa-REED u-fa-LEET mi-p'-NEI ha-RA-a a-SHER a-NEE may-VEE a-LAY-hem

יזוְיִֽהְי֣וּ כׇל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֨מוּ אֶת־פְּנֵיהֶ֜ם לָב֤וֹא מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לָג֣וּר שָׁ֔ם יָמ֕וּתוּ בַּחֶ֖רֶב בָּרָעָ֣ב וּבַדָּ֑בֶר וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֤ה לָהֶם֙ שָׂרִ֣יד וּפָלִ֔יט מִפְּנֵי֙ הָרָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י מֵבִ֥יא עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

18For thus said the lord of Hosts, the God of Yisrael: As My anger and wrath were poured out upon the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, so will My wrath be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You shall become an execration of woe, a curse and a mockery; and you shall never again see this place.

ki kho a-MAR a-do-NAI t'-va-OT e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL, ka-a-SHER ni-TAKH a-PI va-kha-MA-TEE al yo-she-VAY ye-ru-sha-LA-im, KEN ti-TAKH kha-MA-TEE a-LE-khem b'-bo-a-KHEM mitz-RA-yim, vi-h'-yi-TEM l'-a-LAH u-l'-sha-MAH u-li-k'-la-LAH u-l'-kher-PAH, v'-lo-tir-U OD et ha-ma-KOM ha-ZEH.

יחכִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָאוֹת֮ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ נִתַּ֨ךְ אַפִּ֜י וַחֲמָתִ֗י עַל־יֹֽשְׁבֵי֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם כֵּ֣ן תִּתַּ֤ךְ חֲמָתִי֙ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם בְּבֹאֲכֶ֖ם מִצְרָ֑יִם וִהְיִיתֶ֞ם לְאָלָ֤ה וּלְשַׁמָּה֙ וְלִקְלָלָ֣ה וּלְחֶרְפָּ֔ה וְלֹא־תִרְא֣וּ ע֔וֹד אֶת־הַמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

19Hashem has spoken against you, O remnant of Yehuda! Do not go to Egypt! Know well, then—for I warn you this day

di-BER a-do-NAI a-LE-khem, she-E-REET ye-HU-da, al ta-VO-u mitz-RA-yim, ya-DO-a te-d'-U, ki ha-i-DO-tee va-KHEM ha-YOM

יטדִּבֶּ֨ר יְהֹוָ֤ה עֲלֵיכֶם֙ שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה אַל־תָּבֹ֖אוּ מִצְרָ֑יִם יָדֹ֙עַ֙ תֵּדְע֔וּ כִּֽי־הַעִידֹ֥תִי בָכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃

20that you were deceitful at heart when you sent me to Hashem your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to Hashem our God; and whatever Hashem our God may say, just tell us and we will do it.'

KI (hit-a-TIM) [hit-e-TE-tem] b'-naf-sho-TE-khem, KI a-TEM sh'-LA-khem o-TEE el a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-khem, lay-MOR hit-pa-LEL ba-a-DAY-nu el a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-nu, u-k'-KOL a-SHER yo-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-nu, KEN ha-GED-la-NU v'-a-SEE-nu.

ככִּ֣י (התעתים) [הִתְעֵיתֶם֮] בְּנַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם֒ כִּֽי־אַתֶּ֞ם שְׁלַחְתֶּ֣ם אֹתִ֗י אֶל־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל בַּעֲדֵ֔נוּ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וּכְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֹאמַ֜ר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ כֵּ֥ן הַגֶּד־לָ֖נוּ וְעָשִֽׂינוּ׃

21I told you today, and you have not obeyed Hashem your God in respect to all that He sent me to tell you—

va-a-GID la-KHEM ha-YOM v'-LO sh'-ma-TEM b'-KOL a-do-NAI e-lo-HEI-khem u-l'-KOL a-SHER sh'-la-KHA-ni a-lei-KHEM

כאוָאַגִּ֥ד לָכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֗ם בְּקוֹל֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם וּלְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃

22know well, then, that you shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence in the place where you want to go and sojourn.”

v'-a-TAH ya-DO-a tay-d'-U, KEE ba-KHE-rev ba-ra-AV u-va-DE-ver ta-MU-tu, ba-ma-KOM a-SHER kha-fa-TZ'-TEM la-VO la-GUR sham.

כבוְעַתָּה֙ יָדֹ֣עַ תֵּדְע֔וּ כִּ֗י בַּחֶ֛רֶב בָּרָעָ֥ב וּבַדֶּ֖בֶר תָּמ֑וּתוּ בַּמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חֲפַצְתֶּ֔ם לָב֖וֹא לָג֥וּר שָֽׁם׃