1  Hear ye the word which YHWH speaketh unto you, O house of Israel;

1  Listen to the word that the Lord has spoken concerning you, O house of Israel.

2  thus saith YHWH: Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them.

2  Thus saith the Lord, Learn ye not the ways of the heathen, and be not alarmed at the signs of the sky; for they are alarmed at them, falling on their faces.

2  Thus says the Lord: “Do not choose to learn according to the ways of the Gentiles. And do not be willing to dread the signs of heaven, which the Gentiles fear.

3  For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for it is but a tree which one cutteth out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.

3  For the laws of the people are empty. For the work of the hand of the craftsman has cut a tree from the forest with an axe.

3  For the gods of the Gentiles are nothing; they are cut from a tree in the forest, the work of the hands of a carpenter, things made with a plane.

4  They deck it with silver and with gold, they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

4  They are beautified with silver and gold, they fix them with hammers and nails;

5  They are like a pillar in a garden of cucumbers, and speak not; they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.

5  they will set them up that they may not move; it is wrought silver, they will not walk, it is forged silver(10:5) They must certainly be borne, for they cannot ride of themselves. Fear them not; for they cannot do any evil, and there is no good in them.

5  They have been fabricated in the likeness of a palm tree, and they will not speak. They must be carried to be moved, because they do not have the ability to walk. Therefore, do not be willing to fear them, for they can do neither evil nor good.”

6  There is none like unto Thee, O YHWH; Thou art great, and Thy name is great in might.

6  O Lord, there is nothing similar to you. You are great, and your name is great in strength.

7  Who would not fear Thee, O king of the nations? For it befitteth Thee; forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royalty, there is none like unto Thee.

7  Who will not fear you, O King of the nations? For honor is yours. Among all the wise of the nations, and within all their kingdoms, there is nothing similar to you.

8  But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the vanities by which they are instructed are but a stock;

8  Together, they will all be proven to be unwise and foolish. The doctrine of their vanity is made of wood.

8  But altogether the vain doctrines of wooden image worship shall be utterly destroyed and consumed.

9  Silver beaten into plates which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple is their clothing; they are all the work of skilful men.

9  brought from Tharsis, gold will come from Mophaz, and the work of goldsmiths: they are all the works of craftsmen, they will clothe themselves with blue and scarlet.

9  Fine silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Ophir; they are the work of the carpenter and of the hands of the silversmith; blue and purple is their clothing; they are woven by cunning men.

10  But YHWH God is the true God, He is the living God, and the everlasting King; at His wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide His indignation.

10  But the Lord is the true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King. Before his indignation, the earth will shake. And the Gentiles will not be able to withstand his threats.

11  Thus shall ye say unto them: 'The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, these shall perish from the earth, and from under the heavens.'

11  “And so, you shall speak to them in this way: The gods that have not made heaven and earth, let them perish from the earth and from among those places which are under heaven.

12  He that hath made the earth by His power, that hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His understanding;

12  It is the Lord that made the earth by his strength, who set up the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the sky,

12  He made the earth by his power, he prepared the world in his wisdom, and he stretched out the heavens with his understanding.

13  At the sound of His giving a multitude of waters in the heavens, when He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; when He maketh lightnings with the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of His treasuries;

13  and set abundance of waters in the sky, and brought up clouds from the ends of the earth; he made lightnings for the rain, and brought forth light out of his treasures.

14  Every man is proved to be brutish, without knowledge, every goldsmith is put to shame by the graven image, his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

14  Every man has acted foolishly because of lack of knowledge; all those who work in gold are ashamed because of the graven images which they made; for molten images are falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

15  They are vanity, a work of delusion; in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

15  These things are empty, and they are a work deserving of ridicule. In the time of their visitation, they will perish.

16  Not like these is the portion of Jacob; for He is the former of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; YHWH of hosts is His name.

16  Such is not the portion of Jacob; for he that formed all things, he is his inheritance; the Lord is his name.

16  Jacob’s portion is not like their portion. For his portion is from the One who formed all things. And Israel is the staff of his inheritance. The Lord of hosts is his name.

17  Gather up thy wares from the ground, O thou that abidest in the siege.

17  He has gathered thy substance from without the lodged in choice vessels.

18  For thus saith YHWH: Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may feel it.

19  Woe is me for my hurt! My wound is grievous; but I said: 'This is but a sickness, and I must bear it.'

19  Alas for thy ruin! thy plague is grievous: and I said, Surely this is thy wound, and it has overtaken thee.

19  Woe to me, concerning my destruction! My wound is very grievous. And yet I said: Clearly, this infirmity is mine, and I will carry it.

20  My tent is spoiled, and all my cords are broken; my children are gone forth of me, and they are not; there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.

20  Thy tabernacle is in a ruinous state, it has perished; and all thy curtains have been torn asunder: my children and my cattle are no more: there is no more any place for my tabernacle, nor place for my curtains.

21  For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of YHWH; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.

21  For the pastors have acted foolishly, and they have not sought the Lord. Because of this, they have not understood, and all their flock has been dispersed.

22  Hark! a report, behold, it cometh, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, a dwelling-place of jackals.

22  Behold, there comes a sound of a noise, and a great earthquake from the land of the north, to make the cities of Juda a desolation, and a resting-place for ostriches.

23  O YHWH, I know that man's way is not his own; it is not in man to direct his steps as he walketh.

23  I know, O Lord, that man’s way is not his own; neither shall a man go, and direct his going.

23  I know that the ways of the LORD are not like the ways of men; he does not walk as a man directing his steps.

24  O YHWH, correct me, but in measure; not in Thine anger, lest Thou diminish me.

24  Correct me, O Lord, yet truly, do so with judgment, and not in your fury. Otherwise, you will reduce me to nothing.

25  Pour out Thy wrath upon the nations that know Thee not, and upon the families that call not on Thy name; for they have devoured Jacob, yea, they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.

25  Pour out your indignation upon the nations that have not known you, and upon the provinces that have not invoked your name. For they have fed upon Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and they have utterly destroyed his honor.

11:1  The word that came to Jeremiah from YHWH, saying

11:2  'Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

11:3  and say thou unto them: Thus saith YHWH, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man that heareth not the words of this covenant,

3  and thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Cursed is the man, who shall not hearken to the words of this covenant,

3  And you shall say to them. Thus says the LORD God of Israel: Cursed be the man who does not obey the words of this covenant

11:4  which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying: Hearken to My voice, and do them, according to all which I command you; so shall ye be My people, and I will be your God;

11:5  that I may establish the oath which I swore unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day.' Then answered I, and said: 'Amen, O YHWH.'

5  So shall I uphold the oath which I swore to your fathers, that I would give them a land flowing with milk and honey, just as it is this day.” And I answered by saying: “Amen, O Lord.”

11:6  And YHWH said unto me: 'Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.

6  And the Lord said to me: “Shout all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Listen to the words of the covenant, and do them.

11:7  For I earnestly forewarned your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, forewarning betimes and often, saying: Hearken to My voice.

7  For when testing, I tested your fathers in the day when I led them away from the land of Egypt, even until this day. Rising early, I tested them, and I said: Listen to my voice.

7  For I have solemnly testified against your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day; I sent messengers in advance, warning them, saying, Obey my voice.

11:8  Yet they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the stubbornness of their evil heart; therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did them not.'

8  But they did them not.

8  But they did not listen, nor did they incline their ear. Instead, each one of them walked in the depravity of his own evil heart. And so, I brought over them all the words of this covenant, which I instructed them to do. But they would not do them.”

11:9  And YHWH said unto me: 'A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

9  And the Lord said to me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Juda, and among the dwellers in Jerusalem.

11:10  They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear My words; and they are gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.

10  They have returned to the former iniquities of their fathers, who refused to listen to my words. And likewise, they have gone after strange gods, so that they may serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have treated as void my covenant, which I made with their fathers.

11:11  Therefore thus saith YHWH: Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto Me, I will not hearken unto them.

11  For this reason, thus says the Lord: Behold, I will lead evils over them, from which they will not be able to escape. And they will cry out to me, and I will not heed them.

11:12  Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer; but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.

12  And the cities of Juda and the dwellers in Jerusalem shall go, and cry to the gods to whom they burn incense; which shall not deliver them in the time of their troubles.

12  And the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go forth, and they will cry out to the gods, to whom they offer libations, and they will not save them in the time of their affliction.

11:13  For according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to offer unto Baal.

11:14  Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto Me for their trouble.'

14  And thou, pray not for this people, and intercede not for them in supplication and prayer: for I will not hear in the day in which they call upon me, in the day of their affliction.

14  Therefore, you should not choose to pray for this people, and you should not take up praise and petitioning on their behalf. For I will not heed them in the time of their outcry to me, in the time of their affliction.

11:15  What hath My beloved to do in My house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the hallowed flesh is passed from thee? When thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.

15  Why has my beloved wrought abomination in my house? will prayers and holy offerings take away thy wickedness from thee, or shalt thou escape by these things?

11:16  YHWH called thy name a leafy olive-tree, fair with goodly fruit; with the noise of a great tumult He hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

16  The Lord called thy name a fair olive tree, of a goodly shade in appearance, at the noise of its being lopped, fire was kindled against it; great is the affliction coming upon thee: her branches are become good for nothing.

16  The Lord has called your name: a beautiful, fruitful, splendid, and productive olive tree. At the voice of a word, a great fire was kindled in it, and its greenery was burned up.

11:17  For YHWH of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have wrought for themselves in provoking Me by offering unto Baal.

17  And the Lord that planted thee has pronounced evils against thee, because of the iniquity of the house of Israel and the house of Juda, whatsoever they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger by burning incense to Baal.

17  And the Lord of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced an evil against you, concerning the evils of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, which they have done to themselves so as to provoke me, by offering libations to Baal.”

11:18  And YHWH gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it; then Thou showedst me their doings.

18  O Lord, teach me, and I shall know: then I saw their practices.

18  But you, O Lord, have revealed this to me, and I have understood. Then you displayed their efforts to me.

11:19  But I was like a docile lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me: 'Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.'

19  But I as an innocent lamb led to the slaughter, knew not: against me they devised an evil device, saying, Come and let us put wood into his bread, and let us utterly destroy him from off the land of the living, and let his name not be remembered any more.

19  And I was like a meek lamb, who is being carried to be a victim. And I did not realize that they had devised plans against me, saying: “Let us place wood upon his bread, and let us eradicate him from the land of the living, and let his name no longer be remembered.”

11:20  But, O YHWH of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see Thy vengeance on them; for unto Thee have I revealed my cause.

20  O Lord, that judgest righteously, trying the reins and hearts, let me see thy vengeance taken upon them, for to thee I have declared my cause.

11:21  Therefore thus saith YHWH concerning the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying: 'Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of the YHWH, that thou die not by our hand';

21  Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, that seek my life, that say, Thou shalt not prophesy at all in the name of the Lord, but if thou dost, thou shalt die by our hands

21  “Because of this, thus says the Lord to the men of Anathoth, who are seeking your life, and who are saying: ‘You shall not prophesy in the name of the Lord, and you shall not die by our hands.’

11:22  therefore thus saith YHWH of hosts: Behold, I will punish them; the young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine;

22  behold, I will visit them: their young men shall die by the sword; and their sons and their daughters shall die of famine

22  Because of this, thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will visit upon them. Their young men will die by the sword. Their sons and their daughters will die by famine.

11:23  And there shall be no remnant unto them; for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.

12:1  Right wouldest Thou be, O YHWH, were I to contend with Thee, yet will I reason with Thee: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? Wherefore are all they secure that deal very treacherously?

1  Righteous art thou, O Lord, that I may make my defence to thee, yea, I will speak to thee of judgements. Why is it that the way of ungodly men prospers? that all that deal very treacherously are flourishing?

1  Certainly, O Lord, you are just. But if I may contend with you, while still speaking what is just to you: Why does the way of the impious prosper? Why is it well with all those who transgress and act unfairly?

12:2  Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root; they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit; Thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

2  You planted them, and they took root. They are prospering and bearing fruit. You are near to their mouths, but far from their hearts.

12:3  But Thou, O YHWH, knowest me, Thou seest me, and triest my heart toward Thee; pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

3  But thou, Lord, knowest me; thou hast proved my heart before thee; purify them for the day of their slaughter.

3  And you, O Lord, have known me well. You have seen me, and you have tested my heart with you. Gather them together like a flock for the sacrifice and sanctify them for the day of slaughter.

12:4  How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole field wither? For the wickedness of them that dwell therein, the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said: 'He seeth not our end.'

4  How long shall the earth mourn? And how long shall the plants of every field whither because of the wickedness of the inhabitants within them? It has consumed the wild animals and the birds. For they said: “He will not see our very end.”

12:5  'If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And though in a land of peace thou art secure, yet how wilt thou do in the thickets of the Jordan?

5  “If you have struggled to run on foot, how will you be able to compete with horses? And if you have been secure in a land of peace, what will you do about the arrogance of the Jordan?

12:6  For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee, even they have cried aloud after thee; believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.'

6  For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even these have fought against you. And they have cried out after you with loud voice: ‘You should not believe them, when they speak good things to you.’ ”

6  For since your brethren and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously against you; yea, they also have gossiped about you; believe them not when they speak well of you.

12:7  I have forsaken My house, I have cast off My heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.

7  “I have abandoned my house. I have disowned my inheritance. I have given my beloved soul into the hand of its enemies.

12:8  My heritage is become unto Me as a lion in the forest; she hath uttered her voice against Me; therefore have I hated her.

8  My inheritance has become for me like a lion in the forest. It has uttered a voice against me, therefore, I have hated it.

12:9  Is My heritage unto Me as a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her round about? Come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, bring them to devour.

9  Is not my inheritance to me a hyaena’s cave, or a cave round about her? Go ye, gather together all the wild beasts of the field, and let them come to devour her.

12:10  Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard, they have trodden My portion under foot, they have made My pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

10  Many pastors have demolished my vineyard. They have trampled my portion. They have made my desirable portion into a desert of solitude.

12:11  They have made it a desolation, it mourneth unto Me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.

11  it is made a complete ruin: for my sake the whole land has been utterly ruined, because there is none that lays the matter to heart.

11  They have squandered it, and it has grieved concerning me. The entire earth has become utterly desolate, because there is no one who understands with the heart.”

12:12  Upon all the high hills in the wilderness spoilers are come; for the sword of YHWH devoureth from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land, no flesh hath peace.

12  The ravagers are come to every passage in the wilderness: for the sword of the Lord will devour from one end of the land to the other: no flesh has any peace.

12  The devastators have arrived, over all the ways of the wilderness. For the sword of the Lord will devour, from one end of the earth even to its furthest limits. There is no peace for all that is flesh.

12:13  They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, they profit not; be ye then ashamed of your increase, because of the fierce anger of YHWH.

13  Sow wheat, and reap thorns; their portions shall not profit them: be ashamed of your boasting, because of reproach before the Lord.

13  They sowed wheat, but they reaped thorns. They received an inheritance, but it will not benefit them. You will be confounded by your own fruits, because of the wrath of the fury of the Lord.

12:14  Thus saith YHWH: As for all Mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit, behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.

12:15  And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them; and I will bring them back, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.

15  And when I have rooted them out, I will turn back and take pity on them. And I will lead them back, one man to his inheritance, and another man to his land.

15  And after I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage and every man to his land.

12:16  And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of My people to swear by My name: 'As YHWH liveth,' even as they taught My people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of My people.

16  And this shall be: if they are taught and they learn the ways of my people, so that they swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ just as they had taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the midst of my people.

12:17  But if they will not hearken, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, saith YHWH.

17  But if they will not obey, then I will utterly pluck up and destroy this people, says the LORD.