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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 5

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Roam the streets of Yerushalayim, Search its squares, Look about and take note: You will not find a man, There is none who acts justly, Who seeks integrity— That I should pardon her.

SHO-t'-TU b'-khu-TZOT ye-ru-sha-LA-im u-RE-u-NA u-d'-U u-va-K'-SHU bir-kho-vo-TE-ha, im-tim-TSE-u EESH im-YESH o-SEH mish-PAT m'-va-KAYSH e-MU-nah v'-es-LAKH LAH

אשׁוֹטְט֞וּ בְּחוּצ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם וּרְאוּ־נָ֤א וּדְעוּ֙ וּבַקְשׁ֣וּ בִרְחוֹבוֹתֶ֔יהָ אִם־תִּמְצְא֣וּ אִ֔ישׁ אִם־יֵ֛שׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֱמוּנָ֑ה וְאֶסְלַ֖ח לָֽהּ׃

2Even when they say, “As Hashem lives,” They are sure to be swearing falsely.

v'-im KHAI a-do-NAI yo-ME-ru, la-KHEN la-SHE-ker yi-sha-VE-u

בוְאִ֥ם חַי־יְהֹוָ֖ה יֹאמֵ֑רוּ לָכֵ֥ן לַשֶּׁ֖קֶר יִשָּׁבֵֽעוּ׃

3Hashem, Your eyes look for integrity. You have struck them, but they sensed no pain; You have consumed them, but they would accept no discipline. They made their faces harder than rock, They refused to turn back.

a-do-NAI, EY-ne-KHA, ha-LO le-e-MU-na, hi-KI-ta-OTAM, v'-LO-cha-LU, ki-LEE-tam, me-a-NU, ka-KHA-ta mu-SAR, hiz-Z'-KU fe-NE-hem, mi-SE-lah, me-a-NU, la-SHU-v.

גיְהֹוָ֗ה עֵינֶ֘יךָ֮ הֲל֣וֹא לֶאֱמוּנָה֒ הִכִּ֤יתָה אֹתָם֙ וְֽלֹא־חָ֔לוּ כִּלִּיתָ֕ם מֵאֲנ֖וּ קַ֣חַת מוּסָ֑ר חִזְּק֤וּ פְנֵיהֶם֙ מִסֶּ֔לַע מֵאֲנ֖וּ לָשֽׁוּב׃

4Then I thought: These are just poor folk; They act foolishly; For they do not know the way of Hashem, The rules of their God.

va-a-NEE a-MAR-TEE akh-da-LEEM HEM no-a-LU kee LO ya-d'-U de-REKH a-do-NAI mish-PAT e-lo-HE-hem

דוַאֲנִ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי אַךְ־דַּלִּ֖ים הֵ֑ם נוֹאֲל֕וּ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָֽדְעוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה מִשְׁפַּ֖ט אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃

5So I will go to the wealthy And speak with them: Surely they know the way of Hashem, The rules of their God. But they as well had broken the yoke, Had snapped the bonds.

e-le-KHA-li el ha-ge-do-LEEM va-a-da-b'-RA-HEM KI he-MAM ya-D'-U de-REKH a-do-NAI mish-PAT e-lo-HE-hem AKH he-MAM ya-KH'-DAV sha-VE-ru OL ni-t'-KU mo-SE-ROT

האֵֽלְכָה־לִּ֤י אֶל־הַגְּדֹלִים֙ וַאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה אוֹתָ֔ם כִּ֣י הֵ֗מָּה יָֽדְעוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה מִשְׁפַּ֖ט אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם אַ֣ךְ הֵ֤מָּה יַחְדָּו֙ שָׁ֣בְרוּ עֹ֔ל נִתְּק֖וּ מוֹסֵרֽוֹת׃

6Therefore, The lion of the forest strikes them down, The wolf of the desert ravages them. A leopard lies in wait by their towns; Whoever leaves them will be torn in pieces. For their transgressions are many, Their rebellious acts unnumbered.

al KAYN hi-KAM ar-YAY mi-YA-ar z'-AYV a-ra-VOT y'-sho-d'-DAYM na-MAYR sho-KAYD al a-ray-HEM kol ha-yo-TZAY may-HAY-nah yi-ta-RAYF KEE ra-BU pish-ay-HEM a-tz'-MU m'-shu-vo-tay-HEM

ועַל־כֵּן֩ הִכָּ֨ם אַרְיֵ֜ה מִיַּ֗עַר זְאֵ֤ב עֲרָבוֹת֙ יְשׇׁדְדֵ֔ם נָמֵ֤ר שֹׁקֵד֙ עַל־עָ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם כׇּל־הַיּוֹצֵ֥א מֵהֵ֖נָּה יִטָּרֵ֑ף כִּ֤י רַבּוּ֙ פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֔ם עָצְמ֖וּ מְשֻׁבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

5:6   The lion of the forest strikes them down

A lion at the Ramat Gan safari

In ancient times, the Land of Israel was filled with a variety of animal species, including lions, wolves and leopards, some of which are still found in Israel today. When the Jewish people were obedient to Hashem, these animals would not pose a threat, as it says in Sefer Vayikra (26:6), “I will grant peace in the land … I will give the land respite from vicious beasts.” Should the people sin, however, the animals would become their enemy (Leviticus 26:22). Reflecting these verses, Yirmiyahu describes the dangers that await the besieged Israelites by comparing them to wild animals preparing to attack.

7Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me And sworn by no-gods. When I fed them their fill, They committed adultery And went trooping to the harlot's house.

ay la-ZOT (es-lo-akh) [es-lakh-]la-KHEM ba-NA-yikh a-za-VU-ni va-yi-sha-VE-u b'-LO e-lo-HIM va-a-s'-BI-a o-TAM va-yin-A-fu u-VAYT zo-NAH yit-go-DA-du

זאֵ֤י לָזֹאת֙ (אסלוח) [אֶֽסְלַֽח־]לָ֔ךְ בָּנַ֣יִךְ עֲזָב֔וּנִי וַיִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ בְּלֹ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים וָאַשְׂבִּ֤עַ אוֹתָם֙ וַיִּנְאָ֔פוּ וּבֵ֥ית זוֹנָ֖ה יִתְגּוֹדָֽדוּ׃

8They were well-fed, lusty stallions, Each neighing at another's wife.

SU-sim me-yu-ZA-nim mash-KIM ha-YU, ISH el-E-SHET re-E-HU yitz-HA-lu.

חסוּסִ֥ים מְיֻזָּנִ֖ים מַשְׁכִּ֣ים הָי֑וּ אִ֛ישׁ אֶל־אֵ֥שֶׁת רֵעֵ֖הוּ יִצְהָֽלוּ׃

9Shall I not punish such deeds? —says Hashem— Shall I not bring retribution On a nation such as this?

ha-AL e-LEH lo e-f'KOD ne-UM a-do-NAI, v'-IM b'-GOY a-SHER ka-ZEH lo tit-na-KEM naf-SHEE.

טהַעַל־אֵ֥לֶּה לֽוֹא־אֶפְקֹ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאִם֙ בְּג֣וֹי אֲשֶׁר־כָּזֶ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם נַפְשִֽׁי׃

10Go up among her vines and destroy; Lop off her trailing branches, For they are not of Hashem. (But do not make an end.)

a-LU v'-sha-RO-te-HA v'-sha-KHE-tu v'-kha-LAH al ta-a-SU ha-SEE-ru n'-ti-sho-TE-ha kee lo la-a-do-NAI he-ME-ha

יעֲל֤וּ בְשָׁרוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ וְשַׁחֵ֔תוּ וְכָלָ֖ה אַֽל־תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ הָסִ֙ירוּ֙ נְטִ֣ישׁוֹתֶ֔יהָ כִּ֛י ל֥וֹא לַיהֹוָ֖ה הֵֽמָּה׃

11For the House of Yisrael and the House of Yehuda Have betrayed Me —declares Hashem.

ki va-GOD ba-GE-du bi, BEIT yis-ra-AYL u-BEIT y'-hu-DAH, n'-UM a-do-NAI

יאכִּי֩ בָג֨וֹד בָּגְד֜וּ בִּ֗י בֵּ֧ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וּבֵ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

12They have been false to Hashem And said: “It is not so! No trouble shall come upon us, We shall not see sword or famine.

ki-KHA-shu va-a-do-NAI, va-yo-MRU lo-HU, v'-lo-ta-VO a-LE-nu ra-AH, v'-khe-REV v'-ra-AV, lo nir-EH

יבכִּֽחֲשׁוּ֙ בַּיהֹוָ֔ה וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לוֹא־ה֑וּא וְלֹֽא־תָב֤וֹא עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ רָעָ֔ה וְחֶ֥רֶב וְרָעָ֖ב ל֥וֹא נִרְאֶֽה׃

13The Neviim shall prove mere wind For the Word is not in them; Thus-and-thus shall be done to them!”

v'-ha-ne-vee-EEM yi-H'-yu l'-RU-akh, v'-ha-di-BAYR AYN ba-HEM, ko YAY-a-SEH la-HEM.

יגוְהַנְּבִיאִים֙ יִהְי֣וּ לְר֔וּחַ וְהַדִּבֵּ֖ר אֵ֣ין בָּהֶ֑ם כֹּ֥ה יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה לָהֶֽם׃

14Assuredly, thus said Hashem, The God of Hosts: Because they said that, I am putting My words into your mouth as fire, And this people shall be firewood, Which it will consume.

la-KHEN ko-A-maR a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY t'-va-OT ya-A-an da-BER-khem et ha-DA-var ha-ZEH, hin-NI no-TAYN d'-va-RAI b'-fi-KHA l'-AYSH v'-ha-A-am ha-ZEH ay-TZEEM va-a-KHA-la-TAM.

ידלָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י צְבָא֔וֹת יַ֚עַן דַּבֶּרְכֶ֔ם אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה הִנְנִ֣י נֹתֵן֩ דְּבָרַ֨י בְּפִ֜יךָ לְאֵ֗שׁ וְהָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֛ה עֵצִ֖ים וַאֲכָלָֽתַם׃

15Lo, I am bringing against you, O House of Yisrael, A nation from afar —declares Hashem; It is an enduring nation, It is an ancient nation; A nation whose language you do not know— You will not understand what they say.

hi-n'-NI me-vee a-LAY-khem go-Y mi-m'-r'-KHAK bayt yis-ra-AYL n'-UM a-do-NAI go-Y ay-TAN hu go-Y me-o-LAM hu go-Y lo-t'-DA l'-sho-NO v'-lo tish-MA mah y'-da-BER

טוהִנְנִ֣י מֵבִיא֩ עֲלֵיכֶ֨ם גּ֧וֹי מִמֶּרְחָ֛ק בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה גּ֣וֹי ׀ אֵיתָ֣ן ה֗וּא גּ֤וֹי מֵֽעוֹלָם֙ ה֔וּא גּ֚וֹי לֹא־תֵדַ֣ע לְשֹׁנ֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁמַ֖ע מַה־יְדַבֵּֽר׃

16Their quivers are like a yawning grave— They are all mighty men.

ash-PA-to k'-KE-ver pa-TO-akh ku-LAM gi-BO-rim

טזאַשְׁפָּת֖וֹ כְּקֶ֣בֶר פָּת֑וּחַ כֻּלָּ֖ם גִּבּוֹרִֽים׃

17They will devour your harvest and food, They will devour your sons and daughters, They will devour your flocks and herds, They will devour your vines and fig trees. They will batter down with the sword The fortified towns on which you rely.

v'-a-KHAL k'-tzi-R'-KHA u-lakh-ME-kha yo-KHE-lu ba-NE-kha u-ve-no-TE-kha yo-KHAL tzo-NE-kha u-ve-ka-RE-kha yo-KHAL ga-f'-NE-kha u-te-E-na-TE-kha ye-ro-SHESH a-RE mi-vtza-RE-kha a-SHER a-TAH bo-TE-akh ba-HE-nah b'-kha-REV

יזוְאָכַ֨ל קְצִֽירְךָ֜ וְלַחְמֶ֗ךָ יֹֽאכְלוּ֙ בָּנֶ֣יךָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יךָ יֹאכַ֤ל צֹֽאנְךָ֙ וּבְקָרֶ֔ךָ יֹאכַ֥ל גַּפְנְךָ֖ וּתְאֵנָתֶ֑ךָ יְרֹשֵׁ֞שׁ עָרֵ֣י מִבְצָרֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֛ה בֹּטֵ֥חַ בָּהֵ֖נָּה בֶּחָֽרֶב׃

18But even in those days—declares Hashem—I will not make an end of you.

v'-GAM ba-ya-MEEM ha-HEM n'-UM a-do-NAI lo e-a-SEH it-KHEM ka-LAH

יחוְגַ֛ם בַּיָּמִ֥ים הָהֵ֖מָּה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה לֹא־אֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה אִתְּכֶ֖ם כָּלָֽה׃

19And when they ask, “Because of what did Hashem our God do all these things?” you shall answer them, “Because you forsook Me and served alien gods on your own land, you will have to serve foreigners in a land not your own.”

v'-ha-YA ki to-M'-RU ta-KHAT meh a-SA a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu LA-nu et-KOL e-LEH v'-a-mar-TA a-LE-hem ka-a-SHER a-za-V'-TEM o-TI va-ta-a-VDU e-lo-HAY n'-KAR b'-ar-t'-KHEM KEN ta-a-VDU za-REEM b'-E-rets lo LA-khem. (P)

יטוְהָיָה֙ כִּ֣י תֹאמְר֔וּ תַּ֣חַת מֶ֗ה עָשָׂ֨ה יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ לָ֖נוּ אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֑לֶּה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר עֲזַבְתֶּ֤ם אוֹתִי֙ וַתַּעַבְד֞וּ אֱלֹהֵ֤י נֵכָר֙ בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם כֵּ֚ן תַּעַבְד֣וּ זָרִ֔ים בְּאֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥א לָכֶֽם׃

20Proclaim this to the House of Yaakov And announce it in Yehuda:

ha-GEE-du zot b'-beit ya-a-KOV v'-hash-mi-U-ha vi-YE-hu-DAH lay-MOR

כהַגִּ֥ידוּ זֹ֖את בְּבֵ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְהַשְׁמִיע֥וּהָ בִיהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃

21Hear this, O foolish people, Devoid of intelligence, That have eyes but can't see, That have ears but can't hear!

shi-MU-na ZOT am sa-KHAL v'-EIN lev e-YI-nayim la-HEM v'-LO yir-U oz-NA-yi-im la-HEM v'-LO yish-MA-u

כאשִׁמְעוּ־נָ֣א זֹ֔את עַ֥ם סָכָ֖ל וְאֵ֣ין לֵ֑ב עֵינַ֤יִם לָהֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א יִרְא֔וּ אׇזְנַ֥יִם לָהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמָֽעוּ׃

22Should you not revere Me —says Hashem— Should you not tremble before Me, Who set the sand as a boundary to the sea, As a limit for all time, not to be transgressed? Though its waves toss, they cannot prevail; Though they roar, they cannot pass it.

ha-o-TI lo-ti-RA-u, ne-um a-do-NAI, im mi-pa-NAI lo ta-KHI-lu, a-SHER saM-tee KHOl ge-VUL la-YAM, khoK-o-LAM, v'-lo ya-a-ve-RE-nu, va-yit-ga-a-SHU, v'-lo yu-KHA-lu, v'-HA-mu ga-LA-yav, v'-lo ya-a-va-ru-nu.

כבהַאוֹתִ֨י לֹא־תִירָ֜אוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֗ה אִ֤ם מִפָּנַי֙ לֹ֣א תָחִ֔ילוּ אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֤מְתִּי חוֹל֙ גְּב֣וּל לַיָּ֔ם חׇק־עוֹלָ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יַעַבְרֶ֑נְהוּ וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יוּכָ֔לוּ וְהָמ֥וּ גַלָּ֖יו וְלֹ֥א יַעַבְרֻֽנְהוּ׃

23Yet this people has a wayward and defiant heart; They have turned aside and gone their way.

v'-la-AHM ha-ZEH ha-YAH LEV so-RAYR u-mo-REH sa-ROO va-y'-LE-khu

כגוְלָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ הָיָ֔ה לֵ֖ב סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמוֹרֶ֑ה סָ֖רוּ וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃

24They have not said to themselves, “Let us revere Hashem our God, Who gives the rain, The early and late rain in season, Who keeps for our benefit The weeks appointed for harvest.”

v'-LO a-M'-RU bil-va-VA-vam ni-RA na et a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu ha-NO-tayn GE-shem (vai-RA) [yo-REH] u-mal-KOSH b'-i-TO, sh'-BU-ot khuk-KOT ka-TZEER yish-MAR-la-NU

כדוְלֽוֹא־אָמְר֣וּ בִלְבָבָ֗ם נִ֤ירָא נָא֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ הַנֹּתֵ֗ן גֶּ֛שֶׁם (וירה) [יוֹרֶ֥ה] וּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ בְּעִתּ֑וֹ שְׁבֻעֹ֛ת חֻקּ֥וֹת קָצִ֖יר יִשְׁמׇר־לָֽנוּ׃

25It is your iniquities that have diverted these things, Your sins that have withheld the bounty from you.

a-vo-NO-te-KHEM hi-TO-e-LEH v'-kha-to-OT-te-KHEM man-OO ha-TOV mi-KHEM

כהעֲוֺנוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם הִטּוּ־אֵ֑לֶּה וְחַטֹּ֣אותֵיכֶ֔ם מָנְע֥וּ הַטּ֖וֹב מִכֶּֽם׃

26For among My people are found wicked men, Who lurk, like fowlers lying in wait; They set up a trap to catch men.

ki-nim-tze-U v'-a-MEE re-sha-EEM ya-SHUR k'-SHAKH ye-ku-SHEEM hit-tzee-VO mash-KHEET a-na-SHEEM yil-KO-du

כוכִּֽי־נִמְצְא֥וּ בְעַמִּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֑ים יָשׁוּר֙ כְּשַׁ֣ךְ יְקוּשִׁ֔ים הִצִּ֥יבוּ מַשְׁחִ֖ית אֲנָשִׁ֥ים יִלְכֹּֽדוּ׃

27As a cage is full of birds, So their houses are full of guile; That is why they have grown so wealthy.

ki-k'-LOV ma-LE o-F k'-N ba-TE-hem m'-LE-eem mir-MAH al k'-N gad-LO va-y'-a-shi-RO

כזכִּכְלוּב֙ מָ֣לֵא ע֔וֹף כֵּ֥ן בָּתֵּיהֶ֖ם מְלֵאִ֣ים מִרְמָ֑ה עַל־כֵּ֥ן גָּדְל֖וּ וַֽיַּעֲשִֽׁירוּ׃

28They have become fat and sleek; They pass beyond the bounds of wickedness, And they prosper. They will not judge the case of the orphan, Nor give a hearing to the plea of the needy.

sha-M'-nu osh-TOO gam a-vo-ROO div-RAY ra, DEEN lo-da-NOO DEEN ya-TOOM v'-yat-z'-lee-KHOO u-mish-PAT ev-yo-NEEM lo sha-FA-too

כחשָֽׁמְנ֣וּ עָֽשְׁת֗וּ גַּ֚ם עָבְר֣וּ דִבְרֵי־רָ֔ע דִּ֣ין לֹא־דָ֔נוּ דִּ֥ין יָת֖וֹם וְיַצְלִ֑יחוּ וּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט אֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים לֹ֥א שָׁפָֽטוּ׃

29Shall I not punish such deeds —says Hashem— Shall I not bring retribution On a nation such as this?

ha-AL e-LEH lo-ef-KOD ne-UM a-do-NAI, im be-GOY a-SHER-ka-ZEH lo tit-na-KEM naf-SHI.

כטהַעַל־אֵ֥לֶּה לֹֽא־אֶפְקֹ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה אִ֚ם בְּג֣וֹי אֲשֶׁר־כָּזֶ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם נַפְשִֽׁי׃

30An appalling, horrible thing Has happened in the land:

sha-MAH v'-sha-a-ru-RAH ni-h'-y'-TAH ba-A-retz

לשַׁמָּה֙ וְשַׁ֣עֲרוּרָ֔ה נִהְיְתָ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

31The Neviim prophesy falsely, And the Kohanim rule accordingly; And My people like it so. But what will you do at the end of it?

ha-ne-vi-IM ni-b'-U va-she-KER v'-ha-ko-ha-NEEM yir-DU al y'-de-HAYM, u-a-MEE a-ha-VU KEN, u-MA ta-a-SU l'-a-cha-ree-TAH

לאהַנְּבִאִ֞ים נִבְּא֣וּ בַשֶּׁ֗קֶר וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ יִרְדּ֣וּ עַל־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם וְעַמִּ֖י אָ֣הֲבוּ כֵ֑ן וּמַֽה־תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ לְאַחֲרִיתָֽהּ׃