Jeremiah 2 יִרְמְיָהוּ פרק ב׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Jeremiah 2 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיְהִיand it came to passדְבַר־יְהֹוָהthe word of the LORDאֵלַיto meלֵאמֹר׃saying

   Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2. 2

   הָלֹךְgoוְקָרָאתָand you shall proclaimבְאׇזְנֵיin the ears ofיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםJerusalemלֵאמֹרsayingכֹּהthusאָמַרsaidיְהֹוָהthe LORDזָכַרְתִּיI rememberedלָךְto youחֶסֶדthe kindness ofנְעוּרַיִךְyour youthאַהֲבַתlove ofכְּלוּלֹתָיִךְyour betrothalלֶכְתֵּךְyour goingאַחֲרַיafter meבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofלֹאnotזְרוּעָה׃sown

   Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

3. 3

   קֹדֶשׁholyיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelלַיהֹוָהto the LORDרֵאשִׁיתthe firstfruits ofתְּבוּאָתֹהhis increaseכׇּל־אֹכְלָיוall those who eat itיֶאְשָׁמוּthey will be held guiltyרָעָהevilתָּבֹאcomesאֲלֵיהֶםto themנְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃says the LORD

   Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

4. 4

   שִׁמְעוּhearדְבַר־יְהֹוָהthe word of the LORDבֵּיתthe house ofיַעֲקֹבJacobוְכׇל־מִשְׁפְּחוֹתand all families ofבֵּיתthe house ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Israel

   Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

5. 5

   כֹּהthusאָמַרsaidיְהֹוָהthe LORDמַה־מָּצְאוּwhat did they findאֲבוֹתֵיכֶםyour fathersבִּיin meעָוֶלiniquityכִּיthatרָחֲקוּthey have gone farמֵעָלָיfrom meוַיֵּלְכוּand they wentאַחֲרֵיafterהַהֶבֶלvanityוַיֶּהְבָּלוּ׃and they became vain

   Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

6. 6

   וְלֹאand notאָמְרוּthey saidאַיֵּהwhere isיְהֹוָהthe LORDהַמַּעֲלֶהthe one who brought upאֹתָנוּusמֵאֶרֶץfrom the land ofמִצְרָיִםEgyptהַמּוֹלִיךְthe leadingאֹתָנוּusבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofעֲרָבָהa desert plainוְשׁוּחָהand pitבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofצִיָּהdryוְצַלְמָוֶתand shadow of deathבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofלֹא־עָבַרnot passedבָּהּin itאִישׁa manוְלֹא־יָשַׁבand not dweltאָדָםmanשָׁם׃there

   Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

7. 7

   וָאָבִיאand I broughtאֶתְכֶםyouאֶל־אֶרֶץto the land ofהַכַּרְמֶלplentyלֶאֱכֹלto eatפִּרְיָהּits fruitוְטוּבָהּand its good thingsוַתָּבֹאוּand you cameוַתְּטַמְּאוּand you made uncleanאֶת־אַרְצִיmy landוְנַחֲלָתִיand my inheritanceשַׂמְתֶּםyou madeלְתוֹעֵבָה׃an abomination

   And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

8. 8

   הַכֹּהֲנִיםthe priestsלֹאnotאָמְרוּthey saidאַיֵּהwhere isיְהֹוָהthe LORDוְתֹפְשֵׂיand those who handledהַתּוֹרָהthe Lawלֹאnotיְדָעוּנִיthey knew meוְהָרֹעִיםand the shepherdsפָּשְׁעוּthey transgressedבִיagainst Meוְהַנְּבִאִיםand the prophetsנִבְּאוּhave prophesiedבַבַּעַלby the Baalוְאַחֲרֵיand afterלֹא־יוֹעִלוּnot they profitהָלָכוּ׃they walked

   The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

9. 9

   לָכֵןthereforeעֹדagainאָרִיבI will contendאִתְּכֶםwith youנְאֻם־יְהֹוָהsays the LORDוְאֶת־בְּנֵיand sons ofבְנֵיכֶםyour sonsאָרִיב׃I will contend

   Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.

10. 10

    כִּיforעִבְרוּpass overאִיֵּיthe isles ofכִתִּיִּיםCyprusוּרְאוּand seeוְקֵדָרand Kedarשִׁלְחוּsendוְהִתְבּוֹנְנוּand consider carefullyמְאֹדexceedinglyוּרְאוּand seeהֵןbeholdהָיְתָהwasכָּזֹאת׃such

    For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

11. 11

    הַהֵימִירhas it exchangedגּוֹיnationאֱלֹהִיםgodsוְהֵמָּהand theyלֹאnotאֱלֹהִיםgodsוְעַמִּיand my peopleהֵמִירit has exchangedכְּבוֹדוֹits gloryבְּלוֹאwith notיוֹעִיל׃profits

    Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

12. 12

    שֹׁמּוּbe appalledשָׁמַיִםthe heavensעַל־זֹאתupon thisוְשַׂעֲרוּand shudderחׇרְבוּbe desolateמְאֹדexceedinglyנְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃says the LORD

    Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

13. 13

    כִּי־שְׁתַּיִםbecause twoרָעוֹתevilsעָשָׂהhas doneעַמִּיmy peopleאֹתִיmeעָזְבוּleftמְקוֹרfountain ofמַיִםwaterחַיִּיםlivingלַחְצֹבto hewלָהֶםto themבֹּארוֹתcisternsבֹּארֹתcisternsנִשְׁבָּרִיםbrokenאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־יָכִלוּnot they can holdהַמָּיִם׃the water

    For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

14. 14

    הַעֶבֶדa slaveיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelאִם־יְלִידor one born ofבַּיִתhouseהוּאheמַדּוּעַwhyהָיָהwasלָבַז׃plunder

    Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?

15. 15

    עָלָיוupon himיִשְׁאֲגוּthey have been roaringכְפִרִיםyoung lionsנָתְנוּthey gaveקוֹלָםtheir voicesוַיָּשִׁיתוּand they have madeאַרְצוֹhis landלְשַׁמָּהdesolateעָרָיוhis cities(נצתה)[נִצְּתוּ]are burnedמִבְּלִיwithoutיֹשֵׁב׃inhabitant

    The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

16. 16

    גַּם־בְּנֵי־נֹףalso sons of Noph[וְתַחְפַּנְחֵס]and Tahpanhesיִרְעוּךְhave brokenקׇדְקֹד׃the crown of your head

    Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.

17. 17

    הֲלוֹא־זֹאתis it not thisתַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּךְyou make to youעׇזְבֵךְyour forsakingאֶת־יְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהַיִךְyour Godבְּעֵתat the timeמוֹלִכֵךְwho led youבַּדָּרֶךְ׃by the way

    Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

18. 18

    וְעַתָּהand nowמַה־לָּךְwhat to youלְדֶרֶךְto a pathמִצְרַיִםEgyptלִשְׁתּוֹתto drinkמֵיthe waters ofשִׁחוֹרthe Shihorוּמַה־לָּךְyea and what to youלְדֶרֶךְto a pathאַשּׁוּרAssyriaלִשְׁתּוֹתto drinkמֵיthe waters ofנָהָר׃the river

    And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

19. 19

    תְּיַסְּרֵךְit will punish youרָעָתֵךְyour wickednessוּמְשֻׁבוֹתַיִךְand your apostasiesתּוֹכִחֻךְthey will rebuke youוּדְעִיand knowוּרְאִיand beholdכִּי־רַעbecause evilוָמָרand bitterעׇזְבֵךְyour forsakingאֶת־יְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהָיִךְyour Godוְלֹאand notפַחְדָּתִיmy fearאֵלַיִךְin youנְאֻם־אֲדֹנָיsays LordיֱהֹוִהGODצְבָאוֹת׃of Hosts

    Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

20. 20

    כִּיbecauseמֵעוֹלָםlong agoשָׁבַרְתִּיI brokeעֻלֵּךְyour yokeנִתַּקְתִּיI tore offמוֹסְרוֹתַיִךְyour bandsוַתֹּאמְרִיand you saidלֹאnot[אֶעֱבוֹר]I will transgressכִּיbecauseעַל־כׇּל־גִּבְעָהupon every hillגְּבֹהָהhighוְתַחַתand underכׇּל־עֵץevery treeרַעֲנָןluxuriantאַתְּyouצֹעָהhave been lying downזֹנָה׃a prostitute

    For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

21. 21

    וְאָנֹכִיyet IנְטַעְתִּיךְI had planted youשׂוֹרֵקa noble vineכֻּלֹּהall of itזֶרַעseedאֱמֶתtruthוְאֵיךְand howנֶהְפַּכְתְּhave you changed yourselfלִיto meסוּרֵיthe degenerate ones ofהַגֶּפֶןthe vineנׇכְרִיָּה׃foreign

    Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

22. 22

    כִּיforאִם־תְּכַבְּסִיif you will washבַּנֶּתֶרwith the sodaוְתַרְבִּי־לָךְso you may increase for youבֹּרִיתsoapנִכְתָּםis stainedעֲוֺנֵךְyour iniquityלְפָנַיbefore meנְאֻםsaysאֲדֹנָיLordיֱהֹוִה׃GOD

    For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

23. 23

    אֵיךְhowתֹּאמְרִיyou are sayingלֹאnotנִטְמֵאתִיI have made myself uncleanאַחֲרֵיafterהַבְּעָלִיםthe BaalimלֹאnotהָלַכְתִּיI wentרְאִיseeדַרְכֵּךְyour conductבַּגַּיְאin the valleyדְּעִיknowמֶהwhatעָשִׂיתhave you doneבִּכְרָהa young camelקַלָּהswiftמְשָׂרֶכֶתentwiningדְּרָכֶיהָ׃her ways

    How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

24. 24

    פֶּרֶהa wild donkeyלִמֻּדaccustomed toמִדְבָּרwilderness ofבְּאַוַּתin the lust of(נפשו)[נַפְשָׁהּ]her soulשָׁאֲפָהit sniffsרוּחַthe windתַּאֲנָתָהּits heatמִיwhoיְשִׁיבֶנָּהshall turn it backכׇּל־מְבַקְשֶׁיהָall those who seek itלֹאnotיִיעָפוּthey will grow wearyבְּחׇדְשָׁהּin its monthיִמְצָאוּנְהָ׃they will find it

    A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

25. 25

    מִנְעִיrestrainרַגְלֵךְyour footמִיָּחֵףfrom barefoot[וּגְרוֹנֵךְ]and your throatמִצִּמְאָהfrom thirstוַתֹּאמְרִיand you saidנוֹאָשׁdespairingלוֹאnotכִּי־אָהַבְתִּיbecause I have lovedזָרִיםstrangersוְאַחֲרֵיהֶםand after themאֵלֵךְ׃will go

    Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

26. 26

    כְּבֹשֶׁתlike the shame ofגַּנָּבa thiefכִּיbecauseיִמָּצֵאhe is foundכֵּןthusהֹבִישׁוּthey have been put to shameבֵּיתthe house ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelהֵמָּהtheyמַלְכֵיהֶםtheir kingsשָׂרֵיהֶםtheir princesוְכֹהֲנֵיהֶםand their priestsוּנְבִיאֵיהֶם׃and their prophets

    As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

27. 27

    אֹמְרִיםsayלָעֵץunto the treeאָבִיmy fatherאַתָּהyouוְלָאֶבֶןand to stoneאַתְּyou(ילדתני)[יְלִדְתָּנוּ]you gave birth to usכִּי־פָנוּbecause did they turnאֵלַיto meעֹרֶףthe neckוְלֹאand notפָנִיםthe faceוּבְעֵתand at the timeרָעָתָםtheir wickednessיֹאמְרוּshall sayקוּמָהariseוְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ׃and save us

    Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

28. 28

    וְאַיֵּהand where isאֱלֹהֶיךָyour godsאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשִׂיתָyou didלָּךְto youיָקוּמוּlet them ariseאִם־יוֹשִׁיעוּךָif they will save youבְּעֵתat the timeרָעָתֶךָyour harmכִּיforמִסְפַּרthe number ofעָרֶיךָyour citiesהָיוּwereאֱלֹהֶיךָyour godsיְהוּדָה׃Judah

    But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

29. 29

    לָמָּהwhyתָרִיבוּyou shall contendאֵלָיunto meכֻּלְּכֶםall youפְּשַׁעְתֶּםyou have rebelledבִּיagainst meנְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃says the LORD

    Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.

30. 30

    לַשָּׁוְאin vainהִכֵּיתִיI have smittenאֶת־בְּנֵיכֶםyour sonsמוּסָרdisciplineלֹאnotלָקָחוּthey tookאָכְלָהit consumedחַרְבְּכֶםyour swordנְבִיאֵיכֶםyour prophetsכְּאַרְיֵהas a lionמַשְׁחִית׃destroys

    In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

31. 31

    הַדּוֹרthe generationאַתֶּםyou areרְאוּbeholdדְבַר־יְהֹוָהthe word of the LORDהֲמִדְבָּרis it a wildernessהָיִיתִיI wasלְיִשְׂרָאֵלto Israelאִםifאֶרֶץthe land ofמַאְפֵּלְיָהdarknessמַדּוּעַwhyאָמְרוּthey saidעַמִּיmy peopleרַדְנוּwe are freeלוֹא־נָבוֹאnot comeעוֹדany moreאֵלֶיךָ׃to you

    O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

32. 32

    הֲתִשְׁכַּחcan forgetבְּתוּלָהa virginעֶדְיָהּher ornamentsכַּלָּהa brideקִשֻּׁרֶיהָher sashesוְעַמִּיand my peopleשְׁכֵחוּנִיthey have forgotten meיָמִיםdaysאֵיןthere is noמִסְפָּר׃number

    Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

33. 33

    מַה־תֵּיטִבִיwhat you make goodדַרְכֵּךְyour conductלְבַקֵּשׁto seekאַהֲבָהloveלָכֵןthereforeגַּםalsoאֶת־הָרָעוֹתthe wicked women(למדתי)[לִמַּדְתְּ]you taughtאֶת־דְּרָכָיִךְ׃your ways

    Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

34. 34

    גַּםalsoבִּכְנָפַיִךְon your skirtsנִמְצְאוּthey were foundדַּםthe blood ofנַפְשׁוֹתsouls ofאֶבְיוֹנִיםneedyנְקִיִּיםinnocentלֹא־בַמַּחְתֶּרֶתnot in the breaking inמְצָאתִיםI found themכִּיbecauseעַל־כׇּל־אֵלֶּה׃upon all these

    Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

35. 35

    וַתֹּאמְרִיand you saidכִּיbecauseנִקֵּיתִיI am innocentאַךְbutשָׁבreturnedאַפּוֹHis angerמִמֶּנִּיfrom meהִנְנִיbehold Iנִשְׁפָּטwho enters into judgmentאוֹתָךְyouעַל־אׇמְרֵךְupon your sayingלֹאnotחָטָאתִי׃have I sinned

    Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

36. 36

    מַה־תֵּזְלִיwhat do you treat lightlyמְאֹדexceedinglyלְשַׁנּוֹתto changeאֶת־דַּרְכֵּךְyour journeyגַּםalsoמִמִּצְרַיִםout of Egyptתֵּבֹשִׁיyou will be ashamedכַּאֲשֶׁר־בֹּשְׁתְּas you were ashamedמֵאַשּׁוּר׃from Assyria

    Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

37. 37

    גַּםalsoמֵאֵתfromזֶהthisתֵּצְאִיyou will go outוְיָדַיִךְand your handsעַל־רֹאשֵׁךְupon your headכִּי־מָאַסbecause has refusedיְהֹוָהthe LORDבְּמִבְטַחַיִךְyour objects of confidenceוְלֹאand notתַצְלִיחִיyou will prosperלָהֶם׃to them

    Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.