1  At that time, saith YHWH, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves;

2  and they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped; they shall not be gathered, nor be buried, they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.

2  And they will spread them out before the sun and the moon and the entire army of the heavens, which they have loved, and served, and followed, and which they have sought and adored. They will not be collected, and they will not be buried. They will be like manure upon the face of the earth.

3  And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue that remain of this evil family, that remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith YHWH of hosts.

3  because they chose death rather than life, even to all the remnant that are left of that family, in every place whither I shall drive them out.

3  And they will greatly prefer death to life: all those who will have been left from this wicked kindred, in all the forsaken places to which I will cast them out, says the Lord of hosts.

4  Moreover thou shalt say unto them: Thus saith YHWH: Do men fall, and not rise up again? Doth one turn away, and not return?

4  For thus saith the Lord, Shall not he that falls arise? or he that turns away, shall he not turn back again?

5  Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.

5  Wherefore has this my people turned away with a shameless revolting, and strengthened themselves in their willfulness, and refused to return?

5  Then why have this people in Jerusalem turned away with a contentious loathing? They have taken hold of what is false, and they are not willing to return.

6  I attended and listened, but they spoke not aright; no man repenteth him of his wickedness, saying: 'What have I done?' Every one turneth away in his course, as a horse that rusheth headlong in the battle.

6  I paid close attention and I listened carefully. No one is speaking what is good. There is no one who does penance for his sin, saying: ‘What have I done?’ They have all turned to their own course, like a horse rushing with fury into battle.

6  I have given ear and heard, but they did not speak aright; no one repented of his evil, saying, What have I done? All of them walk according to their own will, as a horse that rushes into the battle.

7  Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but My people know not the ordinance of YHWH.

7  The hawk in the heavens has known her time. The turtledove, and the swallow, and the stork have kept the time of their arrival. But my people have not known the judgment of the Lord.

8  How do ye say: 'We are wise, and the Law of YHWH is with us'? Lo, certainly in vain hath wrought the vain pen of the scribes.

8  How do you say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, surely the lying pen of the scribes has made it for falsehood.

9  The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken; Lo, they have rejected the word of YHWH; and what wisdom is in them?

9  The wise men have been confounded; they were terrified and captured. For they cast aside the word of the Lord, and there is no wisdom in them.

10  Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall possess them; for from the least even unto the greatest every one is greedy for gain, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

10  Therefore will I give their wives to others, and their fields to new inheritors; and they shall gather their fruits, saith the Lord.

10  Because of this, I will give their wives to outsiders and their fields to others as an inheritance. For from the least, even to the greatest, they all pursue avarice; from the prophet, even to the priest, they all act with deceit.

11  And they have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people lightly, saying: 'Peace, peace', when there is no peace.

11  And they healed the destruction of the daughter of my people with disgrace, by saying: ‘Peace, peace,’ though there was no peace.

12  They shall be put to shame because they have committed abomination; yea, they are not at all ashamed, neither know they how to blush; therefore shall they fall among them that fall, in the time of their visitation they shall stumble, saith YHWH.

12  They have been confounded because they committed abomination. Or rather, they have not been confounded with shame, for they do not know how to blush. For this reason, they will fall among the fallen. In the time of their visitation, they will fall, says the Lord.

12  Now they are ashamed because they have committed abomination, but the impudent are not at all ashamed, neither do they know what chastisement is. Therefore they fall among the fallen; in the time of their punishment they shall be overthrown, says the LORD.

13  I will utterly consume them, saith YHWH; there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig-tree, and the leaf is faded; and I gave them that which they transgress.

13  There are no grapes on the vines, and there are no figs on the fig-trees, and the leaves have fallen off.

13  When gathering, I will gather them together, says the Lord. There are no grapes on the vine, and there are no figs on the fig tree. The leaves have fallen. And I have given them the things that have passed away.”

14  'Why do we sit still? Assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fortified cities, and let us be cut off there; for YHWH our God hath cut us off, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the YHWH.

14  “Why are we sitting still? Assemble, and let us enter the fortified city, and let us remain silent there. For the Lord our God has brought us to silence, and he has given us the water of gall as a drink. For we have sinned against the Lord.

14  And they shall say, Why do we dwell here? Let us gather together and let us enter into the fortified cities and let us be silent there; for the LORD our God has silenced us and has given us bitter water to drink because we have sinned against the LORD.

15  We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold terror!'

15  We assembled for peace, but there was no prosperity; for a time of healing, but behold anxiety.

15  We expected peace, but there was nothing good. We expected a time of health, and behold, dread.”

16  The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan; at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones the whole land trembleth; for they are come, and have devoured the land and all that is in it, the city and those that dwell therein.

16  “From Dan, the snorting of his horses was heard; the entire land was shaken by the voice of the neighing of his fighters. And they arrived and devoured the land and its plenitude, the city and its inhabitants.

17  For, behold, I will send serpents, basilisks, among you, which will not be charmed; and they shall bite you, saith YHWH.

17  For, behold, I send forth against you deadly serpents, which cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you

17  For behold, I will send among you serpents, king snakes, against which there is no charm, and they will bite you, says the Lord.

18  Though I would take comfort against sorrow, my heart is faint within me.

18  mortally with the pain of your distressed heart.

18  My sorrow is beyond sorrow; my heart mourns within me.

19  Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people from a land far off: 'Is not YHWH in Zion? Is not her King in her?'-- 'Why have they provoked Me with their graven images, and with strange vanities?'--

19  Behold, there is a sound of the cry of the daughter of my people from a land afar off: Is not the Lord in Sion? is there not a king there? because they have provoked me with their graven images, and with strange vanities.

20  'The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.'

20  The harvest has passed by, the summer is at an end, and we have not been saved.

21  For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I seized with anguish; I am black, appalment hath taken hold on me.

21  For the breach of the daughter of my people I have been saddened: in my perplexity pangs have seized upon me as of a woman in travail.

21  Over the destruction of the daughter of my people, I am contrite and saddened; astonishment has taken hold of me.

22  Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

22  And is there no balm in Galaad, or is there no physician there? why has not the healing of the daughter of my people taken place?

9:2  Oh that I were in the wilderness, in a lodging-place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people, and go from them! For they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

2  Who would give me a most distant lodge in the wilderness, that I might leave my people, and depart from them? for they all commit adultery, an assembly of treacherous men.

2  Who will provide me, in the wilderness, with a lodging place along the road? And then I will forsake my people, and withdraw from them. For they are all adulterers, a union of transgressors.

9:3  And they bend their tongue, their bow of falsehood; and they are grown mighty in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and Me they know not, saith YHWH.

3  And they have bent their tongue like a bow: falsehood and not faithfulness has prevailed upon the earth; for they have gone on from evil to evil, and have not known me, saith the Lord.

9:4  Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother; for every brother acteth subtly, and every neighbour goeth about with slanders.

4  Beware ye each of his neighbour, and trust ye not in your brethren: for every one will surely supplant, and every friend will walk craftily.

4  Let each one guard himself against his neighbor, and let him have no trust in any brother of his. For every brother will utterly overthrow, and every friend will advance deceitfully.

9:5  And they deceive every one his neighbour, and truth they speak not; they have taught their tongue to speak lies, they weary themselves to commit iniquity.

5  Every one will mock his friend; they will not speak truth: their tongue has learned to speak falsehoods; they have committed iniquity, they ceased not, so as to return.

5  And every man will lie against his neighbor and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongues to speak lies, they are weary and worn out.

9:6  Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know Me, saith YHWH.

6  There is usury upon usury, and deceit upon deceit: they would not know me, saith the Lord.

6  Your habitation is in the midst of deceit. In their deceitfulness, they have refused to know me, says the Lord.”

9:7  Therefore thus saith YHWH of hosts: Behold, I will smelt them, and try them; for how else should I do, because of the daughter of My people?

7  Because of this, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will refine them, and I will test them. For what else can I do before the face of the daughter of my people?

9:8  Their tongue is a sharpened arrow, it speaketh deceit; one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth wait for him.

9:9  Shall I not punish them for these things? saith YHWH; Shall not My soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

9  Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a people as this?

9  Shall I not visit upon them concerning these things, says the Lord? Or shall my soul not take vengeance on a nation of this kind?

9:10  For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the pastures of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none passeth through. And they hear not the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled, and gone.

10  Take up a lamentation for the mountains, and a mournful dirge for the paths of the wilderness, for they are desolate for want of men; they heard not the sound of life from the birds of the sky, nor the cattle: they were amazed, they are gone.

10  I will take up weeping and lamentation over the mountains, and mourning over the beautiful places in the desert. For they have been scorched because no man is passing through them. And they have not heard the voice of any occupant. From the birds of the air, even to the cattle, they have migrated and withdrawn.

9:11  And I will make Jerusalem heaps, a lair of jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without an inhabitant.

11  And I will remove the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and make it a dwelling-place of dragons; and I will utterly waste the cities of Juda, so that they shall not be inhabited.

9:12  Who is the wise man, that he may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of YHWH hath spoken, that he may declare it? Wherefore is the land perished and laid waste like a wilderness, so that none passeth through?

9:13  And YHWH saith: Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not hearkened to My voice, neither walked therein;

13  And the Lord said to me, Because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them, and have not hearkened to my voice;

13  And the Lord said: “It is because they have abandoned my law, which I gave to them, and they have not listened to my voice, and they have not walked by it.

9:14  But have walked after the stubbornness of their own heart, and after the Baalim, which their fathers taught them.

14  And they have gone after the depravity of their own heart, and after Baal, which they learned from their fathers.”

9:15  Therefore thus saith YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.

15  therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I will feed them with trouble and will cause them to drink water of gall

15  For this reason, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will feed this people with absinthe, and I will give them the water of gall to drink.

9:16  I will scatter them also among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them.

16  And I will disperse them among nations, which they and their fathers have not known. And I will send the sword after them, until they are consumed.”

9:17  Thus saith YHWH of hosts: Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for the wise women, that they may come;

17  Thus saith the Lord, Call ye the mourning women, and let them come; and send to the wise women, and let them utter their voice;

17  Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Consider and call upon the women mourners, and let them approach. And send to those women who are wise, and let them hurry.

9:18  And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.

18  and let them take up a lamentation for you, and let your eyes pour down tears, and your eyelids drop water.

18  ‘Let them hasten to take up a lamentation over us. Let our eyes shed tears, and our eyelids run with water.’

9:19  For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion: 'How are we undone! We are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.'

19  For a voice of lamentation has been heard in Sion, How are we become wretched! we are greatly ashamed, for we have forsaken the land, and have abandoned our tabernacles!

9:20  Yea, hear the word of YHWH, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of His mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation

20  “Therefore, listen, O women, to the word of the Lord! And let your ears take up the word of his mouth. And teach your daughters to lament. And let each one teach her neighbor to mourn

20  Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O women, and let your ears receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters lamentations, and every one to her neighbor a melody.

9:21  'For death is come up into our windows, it is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from the street, and the young men from the broad places.--

21  For death has come up through your windows, it has entered into our land, to destroy the infants without, and the young men from the streets.

21  ‘For death has climbed through our windows. It has entered our houses to perish the little children from the outdoors, the youths from the streets.’ ”

9:22  Speak: Thus saith YHWH--And the carcasses of men fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, which none gathereth.'

22  And the carcases of the men shall be for an example on the face of the field of your land, like grass after the mower, and there shall be none to gather them.

22  “Speak: Thus says the Lord: And the corpses of men will fall like manure over the face of the countryside, and like hay behind the back of the reaper, and there will be no one to gather it.”

9:23  Thus saith YHWH: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;

23  Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, and let not the strong man boast in his strength, and let not the rich man boast in his wealth;

23  Thus says the Lord: “The wise man should not glory in his wisdom, and the strong man should not glory in his strength, and the rich man should not glory in his riches.

9:24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth, and knoweth Me, that I am YHWH who exercise mercy, justice, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the YHWH.

24  But he who glories should glory in this: to know me and to know me well. For I am the Lord, who accomplishes mercy and judgment and justice upon the earth. For these things are pleasing to me, says the Lord.

24  But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who executes lovingkindness, justice and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says the LORD.

9:25  Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will punish all them that are circumcised in their uncircumcision

9:26  Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that have the corners of their hair polled, that dwell in the wilderness; for all the nations are uncircumcised, but all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

26  on Egypt, and on Idumea, and on Edom, and on the children of Ammon, and on the children of Moab, and on every one that shaves his face round about, even them that dwell in the wilderness; for all the Gentiles are uncircumcised in flesh, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in their hearts.

26  upon Egypt, and upon Judah, and upon Edom, and upon the sons of Ammon, and upon Moab, and upon all who have shaved off their hair, living in the desert. For all the nations are uncircumcised in body, but all the house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”

10:1  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.

10:2  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.

10:3  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.

10:4  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;

10:5  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.”

10:6  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.

10:7  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.

10:8  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.

10:9  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.

10:10  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.

10:11  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.

10:12  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.

10:13  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.

10:14  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.

10:15  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.

10:16  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.

10:17  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.

10:18  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.

10:19  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.

10:20  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.

10:21  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.

10:22  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.

10:23  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.

10:24  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.

10:25  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.

13:1  Thus said YHWH unto me: 'Go, and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.'

1  Thus saith the Lord, Go and procure for thyself a linen girdle, and put it about thy loins, and let it not be put in water.

1  Thus says the Lord to me: “Go, and obtain for yourself a linen waistcloth. And you shall place it over your loins, and you shall not put it into water.”

13:2  So I got a girdle according to the word of YHWH, and put it upon my loins.

2  So I procured the girdle according to the word of the Lord, and put it about my loins.

2  And so I obtained a waistcloth, according to the word of the Lord, and I placed it around my loins.

13:3  And the word of YHWH came unto me the second time, saying

13:4  'Take the girdle that thou hast gotten, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Perath, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.'

4  “Take the waistcloth, which you obtained, which is around your loins, and, rising up, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in an opening of the rock.”

13:5  So I went, and hid it in Perath, as YHWH commanded me.

5  And so I went, and I hid it by the Euphrates, just as the Lord had instructed me.

5  So I went and buried it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.

13:6  And it came to pass after many days, that YHWH said unto me: 'Arise, go to Perath, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.'

6  And it happened that, after many days, the Lord said to me: “Rise up, go to the Euphrates, and take from there the waistcloth, which I instructed you to hide there.”

13:7  Then I went to Perath, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it; and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.

7  So I went to the river Euphrates, and dug, and took the girdle out of the place where I had buried it: and, behold, it was rotten, utterly good for nothing.

7  And so I went to the Euphrates, and I dug up and took the waistcloth from the place where I had hidden it. And behold, the waistcloth had rotted, so that it was not fit for any use.

13:8  Then the word of YHWH came unto me, saying

8  And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thus saith the Lord,

13:9  Thus saith YHWH: After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem,

9  Thus will I mar the pride of Juda, and the pride of Jerusalem;

9  Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: In this manner will I destroy the proud men of Judah and the proud men of Jerusalem that are many.

13:10  even this evil people, that refuse to hear My words, that walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and are gone after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, that it be as this girdle, which is profitable for nothing.

10  This most wicked people, they are not willing to listen to my words, for they walk in the depravity of their own heart, and they have gone after strange gods, so as to serve them and to adore them. And so, they will become like this waistcloth, which is not fit for any use.

13:11  For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto Me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith YHWH, that they might be unto Me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory; but they would not hearken.

11  For as a girdle cleaves about the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave to myself the house of Israel, and the whole house of Juda; that they might be to me a famous people, and a praise, and a glory: but they did not hearken to me.

11  For just as the waistcloth clings to the loins of a man, so have I brought close to me the entire house of Israel and the entire house of Judah, says the Lord, so that they would be to me: a people, and a name, and a praise, and a glory. But they did not listen.

13:12  Moreover thou shalt speak unto them this word: Thus saith YHWH, the God of Israel: 'Every bottle is filled with wine'; and when they shall say unto thee: 'Do we not know that every bottle is filled with wine?'

12  And thou shalt say to this people, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and it shall come to pass, if they shall say to thee, Shall we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? that thou shalt say to them,

13:13  Then shalt thou say unto them: Thus saith YHWH: Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.

13  Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will fill the inhabitants of this land, and their kings the sons of David that sit upon their throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and Juda and all the dwellers in Jerusalem, with strong drink.

13  And you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, and the kings from the stock of David who sit upon his throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, unto inebriation.

13:14  And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith YHWH; I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them.

14  And I will scatter them a man and his brother, and their fathers and their sons together: I will not have compassion, saith the Lord, and I will not spare, neither will I pity to save them from destruction.

14  And I will scatter them and separate them every man from his brother, even fathers and their children together, says the LORD; I will not pity, nor have mercy, nor spare, but destroy them.

13:15  Hear ye, and give ear, be not proud; for YHWH hath spoken.

15  Hear and pay close attention. Do not choose to lift yourself up, for the Lord has spoken.

13:16  Give glory to YHWH your God, before it grow dark, and before your feet stumble upon the mountains of twilight, and, while ye look for light, He turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

16  Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and ye shall wait for light, and behold the shadow of death, and they shall be brought into darkness.

13:17  But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and mine eyes shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because YHWH'S flock is carried away captive.

17  But if ye will not hearken, your soul shall weep in secret because of pride, and your eyes shall pour down tears, because the Lord’s flock is sorely bruised.

17  But if you will not listen to this, then my soul will weep in secret before the face of your pride. It will weep bitterly, and my eyes will flow with tears, because the flock of the Lord has been taken captive.

13:18  Say thou unto the king and to the queen-mother: 'Sit ye down low; for your headtires are come down, even your beautiful crown.'

18  Say ye to the king and the princes, Humble yourselves, and sit down; for your crown of glory is removed from your head.

18  “Say to the king and to the female ruler: Humble yourselves, sit down. For the crown of your glory has gone down from your head.

13:19  The cities of the South are shut up, and there is none to open them; Judah is carried away captive all of it; it is wholly carried away captive.

19  The cities toward the south were shut, and there was none to open them: Juda is removed into captivity, they have suffered a complete removal.

13:20  Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north; where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?

20  Lift up thine eyes, O Jerusalem, and behold them that come from the north; where is the flock that was given thee, the sheep of thy glory?

20  Lift up your eyes and see, you who are arriving from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, your famous cattle?

13:21  What wilt thou say, when He shall set the friends over thee as head, whom thou thyself hast trained against thee? Shall not pangs take hold of thee, as of a woman in travail?

21  What wilt thou say when they shall visit thee, for thou didst teach them lessons for rule against thyself; shall not pangs seize thee as a woman in travail?

21  What will you say when he visits upon you? For you have taught them against you, and you have instructed them with your own head. Will not pains take hold of you, as with a woman in labor?

13:22  And if thou say in thy heart: 'Wherefore are these things befallen me?'--for the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts uncovered, and thy heels suffer violence.

22  But if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things happened to me?’ it is because of the greatness of your iniquity that your shame has been uncovered and the soles of your feet have been defiled.

22  And if you say in your heart, Why have these things come upon me? For the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts uncovered and your heels made bare.

13:23  Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

23  If the Ethiopian shall change his skin, or the leopardess her spots, then shall ye be able to do good, having learnt evil.

23  Just as a Hindu cannot change his skin or a leopard his spots, you also cannot do good because you are accustomed to do evil.

13:24  Therefore will I scatter them, as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.

24  So I scattered them as sticks carried by the wind into the wilderness.

24  And I will scatter them like chaff, which is carried away by the wind in the desert.

13:25  This is thy lot, the portion measured unto thee from Me, saith YHWH; because thou hast forgotten Me, and trusted in falsehood.

25  Thus is thy lot, and the reward of your disobedience to me, saith the Lord; as thou didst forget me, and trust in lies,

25  This is your lot, and this is the portion of your measure from me, says the Lord, because you have forgotten me, and you have had confidence in what is false.

13:26  Therefore will I also uncover thy skirts upon thy face, and thy shame shall appear.

13:27  Thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy harlotry, on the hills in the field have I seen thy detestable acts. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! thou wilt not be made clean! When shall it ever be?

27  For I have seen your adulteries, and your neighing for the wickedness of your fornication, and your abominations upon the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! How much longer before you will be made clean after me?”