Jeremiah 4 יִרְמְיָהוּ פרק ד׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Jeremiah 4 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   אִם־תָּשׁוּבif returnיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelנְאֻם־יְהֹוָהsays the LORDאֵלַיto meתָּשׁוּבreturnוְאִם־תָּסִירand if you will removeשִׁקּוּצֶיךָyour detestable thingsמִפָּנַיfrom my faceוְלֹאand notתָנוּד׃you will waver

   If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.

2. 2

   וְנִשְׁבַּעְתָּand you will swearחַי־יְהֹוָהas the LORD-livesבֶּאֱמֶתin truthבְּמִשְׁפָּטin judgmentוּבִצְדָקָהand with righteousnessוְהִתְבָּרְכוּand they will bless themselvesבוֹin himגּוֹיִםnationsוּבוֹand in itיִתְהַלָּלוּ׃they boast

   And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

3. 3

   כִּי־כֹהbecause thusאָמַרsaidיְהֹוָהthe LORDלְאִישׁto the men ofיְהוּדָהJudahוְלִירוּשָׁלַ͏ִםand to Jerusalemנִירוּbreak upלָכֶםto youנִירfallow groundוְאַל־תִּזְרְעוּand do not you sowאֶל־קֹצִים׃to thorns

   For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

4. 4

   הִמֹּלוּcircumcise yourselvesלַיהֹוָהto the LORDוְהָסִרוּand removeעׇרְלוֹתthe foreskins ofלְבַבְכֶםyour heartsאִישׁthe men ofיְהוּדָהJudahוְיֹשְׁבֵיand the inhabitants ofיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִםJerusalemפֶּן־תֵּצֵאlest shall go forthכָאֵשׁas the fireחֲמָתִיMy furyוּבָעֲרָהand it shall burnוְאֵיןand there is noמְכַבֶּהone who extinguishesמִפְּנֵיbecause ofרֹעַthe wickedness ofמַעַלְלֵיכֶם׃your doings

   Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

5. 5

   הַגִּידוּdeclareבִיהוּדָהagainst Judahוּבִירוּשָׁלַ͏ִםand in Jerusalemהַשְׁמִיעוּtellוְאִמְרוּand say(ותקעו)[תִּקְעוּ]blowשׁוֹפָרa ram's hornבָּאָרֶץin the landקִרְאוּcallמַלְאוּgather togetherוְאִמְרוּand sayהֵאָסְפוּassemble yourselvesוְנָבוֹאָהso let us goאֶל־עָרֵיto the cities ofהַמִּבְצָר׃the stronghold

   Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.

6. 6

   שְׂאוּ־נֵסlift up a bannerצִיּוֹנָהto Zionהָעִיזוּtake refugeאַל־תַּעֲמֹדוּdo not you will stand stillכִּיforרָעָהevilאָנֹכִיIמֵבִיאam bringingמִצָּפוֹןfrom the northוְשֶׁבֶרand destructionגָּדוֹל׃great

   Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

7. 7

   עָלָהascendedאַרְיֵהa lionמִסֻּבְּכוֹfrom its thicketוּמַשְׁחִיתand a destroyer ofגּוֹיִםnationsנָסַעhe journeyedיָצָאhe went forthמִמְּקֹמוֹfrom his placeלָשׂוּםto putאַרְצֵךְyour landלְשַׁמָּהdesolateעָרַיִךְyour citiesתִּצֶּינָהthey will fall in ruinsמֵאֵיןwithoutיוֹשֵׁב׃inhabitant

   The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

8. 8

   עַל־זֹאתupon thisחִגְרוּgird onשַׂקִּיםsacksסִפְדוּmournוְהֵילִילוּand wailכִּיbecauseלֹא־שָׁבis not turned awayחֲרוֹןfierceאַף־יְהֹוָהthe anger of the LORDמִמֶּנּוּ׃from us

   For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.

9. 9

   וְהָיָהand beבַיּוֹם־הַהוּאin that dayנְאֻם־יְהֹוָהsays the LORDיֹאבַדshall perishלֵב־הַמֶּלֶךְthe heart of the kingוְלֵבand the heart ofהַשָּׂרִיםthe princesוְנָשַׁמּוּand shall be astonishedהַכֹּהֲנִיםthe priestsוְהַנְּבִאִיםand the prophetsיִתְמָהוּ׃they shall be amazed

   And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.

10. 10

    וָאֹמַרand I saidאֲהָהּalas!אֲדֹנָיLordיֱהֹוִהGODאָכֵןsurelyהַשֵּׁאgreatlyהִשֵּׁאתָyou have deceivedלָעָםto the peopleהַזֶּהthisוְלִירוּשָׁלַ͏ִםand to Jerusalemלֵאמֹרsayingשָׁלוֹםpeaceיִהְיֶהshall beלָכֶםto youוְנָגְעָהand it will reachחֶרֶבthe sword ofעַד־הַנָּפֶשׁ׃unto the soul

    Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

11. 11

    בָּעֵתat the timeהַהִיאthatיֵאָמֵרit is saidלָעָם־הַזֶּהto the people thisוְלִירוּשָׁלַ͏ִםand to Jerusalemרוּחַa windצַחdryשְׁפָיִםbare heightsבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessדֶּרֶךְthe way ofבַּת־עַמִּיdaughter of my peopleלוֹאnotלִזְרוֹתto winnowוְלוֹאand notלְהָבַר׃to cleanse

    At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,

12. 12

    רוּחַa windמָלֵאfullerמֵאֵלֶּהthan theseיָבוֹאshall comeלִיto meעַתָּהnowגַּם־אֲנִיalso IאֲדַבֵּרI speakמִשְׁפָּטִיםjudgmentsאוֹתָם׃them

    Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.

13. 13

    הִנֵּהbeholdכַּעֲנָנִיםlike cloudsיַעֲלֶהhe shall come upוְכַסּוּפָהand like the storm windמַרְכְּבוֹתָיוhis chariotsקַלּוּare swifterמִנְּשָׁרִיםmore than eaglesסוּסָיוhis horsesאוֹיwoe beלָנוּto usכִּיforשֻׁדָּדְנוּ׃we are devastated

    Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.

14. 14

    כַּבְּסִיwashמֵרָעָהfrom evilלִבֵּךְyour heartיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםJerusalemלְמַעַןin order thatתִּוָּשֵׁעִיyou may be savedעַד־מָתַיuntil whenתָּלִיןit lodgesבְּקִרְבֵּךְin your midstמַחְשְׁבוֹתpurposes ofאוֹנֵךְ׃your wickedness

    O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

15. 15

    כִּיforקוֹלthe voice ofמַגִּידdeclareמִדָּןfrom Danוּמַשְׁמִיעַand is proclaimingאָוֶןiniquityמֵהַרfrom the mountain ofאֶפְרָיִם׃Ephraim

    For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.

16. 16

    הַזְכִּירוּmake mentionלַגּוֹיִםto the nationsהִנֵּהbeholdהַשְׁמִיעוּtellעַל־יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםupon Jerusalemנֹצְרִיםwatchersבָּאִיםcomeמֵאֶרֶץfrom the land ofהַמֶּרְחָקthe distanceוַיִּתְּנוּand they gaveעַל־עָרֵיupon the cities ofיְהוּדָהJudahקוֹלָם׃their voices

    Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.

17. 17

    כְּשֹׁמְרֵיlike those who guardשָׂדַיthe fieldהָיוּwereעָלֶיהָupon itמִסָּבִיבall aroundכִּי־אֹתִיbecause meמָרָתָהshe has been rebelliousנְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃says the LORD

    As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.

18. 18

    דַּרְכֵּךְyour journeyוּמַעֲלָלַיִךְand your deedsעָשׂוֹthey have brought aboutאֵלֶּהtheseלָךְto youזֹאתthisרָעָתֵךְyour wickednessכִּיbecauseמָרbitterכִּיbecauseנָגַעhas touchedעַד־לִבֵּךְ׃until your heart

    Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

19. 19

    מֵעַיmy bowelsמֵעַיmy bowels[אוֹחִילָה]I writheקִירוֹתthe walls ofלִבִּיmy heartהֹמֶה־לִּיis noisy to meלִבִּיmy heartלֹאnotאַחֲרִשׁI will hold my peaceכִּיbecauseקוֹלthe voice ofשׁוֹפָרa ram's horn(שמעתי)[שָׁמַעַתְּ]you have heardנַפְשִׁיO my soulתְּרוּעַתthe shout ofמִלְחָמָה׃war

    My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

20. 20

    שֶׁבֶרdestructionעַל־שֶׁבֶרupon destructionנִקְרָאis criedכִּיforשֻׁדְּדָהit has been devastatedכׇּל־הָאָרֶץall the landפִּתְאֹםsuddenlyשֻׁדְּדוּthey have been devastatedאֹהָלַיmy tentsרֶגַעa momentיְרִיעֹתָי׃my tent curtains

    Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.

21. 21

    עַד־מָתַיuntil whenאֶרְאֶה־נֵּסI shall see a standardאֶשְׁמְעָהI will listen toקוֹלthe voice ofשׁוֹפָר׃a ram's horn

    How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?

22. 22

    כִּיforאֱוִילfoolעַמִּיmy peopleאוֹתִיmeלֹאnotיָדָעוּthey knowבָּנִיםsonsסְכָלִיםfoolsהֵמָּהtheyוְלֹאand notנְבוֹנִיםwiseהֵמָּהtheyחֲכָמִיםwiseהֵמָּהtheyלְהָרַעto do evilוּלְהֵיטִיבand to do goodלֹאnotיָדָעוּ׃they know

    For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

23. 23

    רָאִיתִיI sawאֶת־הָאָרֶץthe earthוְהִנֵּה־תֹהוּand behold naughtוָבֹהוּand voidוְאֶל־הַשָּׁמַיִםand the heavensוְאֵיןand there is noאוֹרָם׃their light

    I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

24. 24

    רָאִיתִיI sawהֶהָרִיםthe mountainsוְהִנֵּהand beholdרֹעֲשִׁיםthey were quakingוְכׇל־הַגְּבָעוֹתand all the hillsהִתְקַלְקָלוּ׃they shook to and fro

    I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

25. 25

    רָאִיתִיI sawוְהִנֵּהand beholdאֵיןthere is noהָאָדָםmanוְכׇל־עוֹףand all birdsהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavensנָדָדוּ׃they have fled

    I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.

26. 26

    רָאִיתִיI sawוְהִנֵּהand beholdהַכַּרְמֶלthe fruitful landהַמִּדְבָּרthe wildernessוְכׇל־עָרָיוand all his citiesנִתְּצוּthey had been pulled downמִפְּנֵיbecause ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDמִפְּנֵיbecause ofחֲרוֹןfierceאַפּוֹ׃His wrath

    I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.

27. 27

    כִּי־כֹהbecause thusאָמַרsaidיְהֹוָהthe LORDשְׁמָמָהdesolateתִהְיֶהbeכׇּל־הָאָרֶץall the landוְכָלָהand a full endלֹאnotאֶעֱשֶׂה׃I do

    For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

28. 28

    עַל־זֹאתupon thisתֶּאֱבַלit will mournהָאָרֶץthe earthוְקָדְרוּand they will be darkהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavensמִמָּעַלfrom aboveעַלuponכִּי־דִבַּרְתִּיbecause I spokeזַמֹּתִיI have resolvedוְלֹאand notנִחַמְתִּיI regretוְלֹא־אָשׁוּבand not I returnמִמֶּנָּה׃from it

    For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

29. 29

    מִקּוֹלat the voice ofפָּרָשׁa horsemanוְרֹמֵהand a shooter ofקֶשֶׁתa bowבֹּרַחַתis fleeingכׇּל־הָעִירall the cityבָּאוּcameבֶּעָבִיםin the thicketsוּבַכֵּפִיםand on the rocksעָלוּthey ascendedכׇּל־הָעִירall the cityעֲזוּבָהforsakenוְאֵין־יוֹשֵׁבand there is none dwellingבָּהֵןin themאִישׁ׃a man

    The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.

30. 30

    (ואתי)[וְאַתְּ]and youשָׁדוּדspoiledמַה־תַּעֲשִׂיwhat you will doכִּי־תִלְבְּשִׁיbecause you are dressingשָׁנִיa scarlet threadכִּי־תַעְדִּיbecause you ornament yourselfעֲדִי־זָהָבornaments of goldכִּי־תִקְרְעִיbecause you tear openבַפּוּךְwith the eye paintעֵינַיִךְyour eyesלַשָּׁוְאin vainתִּתְיַפִּיyou beautify yourselfמָאֲסוּ־בָךְrejected youעֹגְבִיםloversנַפְשֵׁךְyour lifeיְבַקֵּשׁוּ׃they seek

    And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.

31. 31

    כִּיbecauseקוֹלthe voice ofכְּחוֹלָהlike a woman in travailשָׁמַעְתִּיI have heardצָרָהafflictionכְּמַבְכִּירָהlike a woman bearing a first childקוֹלthe voice ofבַּת־צִיּוֹןthe daughter of Zionתִּתְיַפֵּחַshe is gasping for breathתְּפָרֵשׂshe is spreading outכַּפֶּיהָher palmsאוֹי־נָאwoe be I prayלִיto meכִּי־עָיְפָהbecause it is wearyנַפְשִׁיmy lifeלְהֹרְגִים׃to murderers

    For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.