إِرْمِيَا 6

١ 1 «اُهْرُبُوا يَا بَنِي بَنْيَامِينَ مِنْ وَسْطِ أُورُشَلِيمَ، وَٱضْرِبُوا بِٱلْبُوقِ فِي تَقُوعَ، وَعَلَى بَيْتِ هَكَّارِيمَ ٱرْفَعُوا عَلَمَ نَارٍ، لِأَنَّ ٱلشَّرَّ أَشْرَفَ مِنَ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَكَسْرٌ عَظِيمٌ.

“You people in Jerusalem who are from [the tribe of] Benjamin, flee from this city! Blow the trumpets in Tekoa [city south of Jerusalem]! Send up a [smoke] signal in Beth-Haccherem [town] [to warn the people of the coming danger]! A powerful [army] will come from the north, and they will cause great destruction.

٢ 2 اَلْجَمِيلَةُ ٱللَّطِيفَةُ ٱبْنَةُ صِهْيَوْنَ أُهْلِكُهَا.

Jerusalem is [like] a beautiful pasture [full of sheep], but it will soon be destroyed.

٣ 3 إِلَيْهَا تَأْتِي ٱلرُّعَاةُ وَقُطْعَانُهُمْ. يَنْصِبُونَ عِنْدَهَا خِيَامًا حَوَالَيْهَا. يَرْعَوْنَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ فِي مَكَانِهِ».

[Enemy kings, not] shepherds [MET], will come [with their armies] and set up their tents around the city, and each [king will choose a part of the city for his soldiers to destroy like] [MET] shepherds divide their pastures for their flocks of sheep.

٤ 4 «قَدِّسُوا عَلَيْهَا حَرْبًا. قُومُوا فَنَصْعَدَ في ٱلظَّهِيرَةِ. وَيْلٌ لَنَا لِأَنَّ ٱلنَّهَارَ مَالَ، لِأَنَّ ظِلَالَ ٱلْمَسَاءِ ٱمْتَدَّتْ.

[The kings will tell their troops], “Get ready for the battle. We should attack them before noontime. But [if we arrive there late in the afternoon] when the shadows are becoming long,

٥ 5 قُومُوا فَنَصْعَدَ في ٱللَّيْلِ وَنَهْدِمَ قُصُورَهَا».

we will attack them at night and tear down their fortresses.”

٦ 6 «لِأَنَّهُ هَكَذَا قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلْجُنُودِ: ٱقْطَعُوا أَشْجَارًا. أَقِيمُوا حَوْلَ أُورُشَلِيمَ مِتْرَسَةً. هِيَ ٱلْمَدِينَةُ ٱلْمُعَاقَبَةُ. كُلُّهَا ظُلْمٌ فِي وَسَطِهَا.

Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of angels in heaven, says this: “[I will command those soldiers to] cut down the trees [outside Jerusalem] and to build dirt ramps up to the top of the city walls [in order that they can enter the city]. This city must be punished because everyone there continually oppresses others.

٧ 7 كَمَا تُنْبِعُ ٱلْعَيْنُ مِيَاهَهَا، هَكَذَا تُنْبِعُ هِيَ شَرَّهَا. ظُلْمٌ وَخَطْفٌ يُسْمَعُ فِيهَا. أَمَامِي دَائِمًا مَرَضٌ وَضَرْبٌ.

[It is as though] the wicked things that the people do pour out of the city like [SIM] water flows out of a spring. [The noise from people doing] violent and destructive actions is heard everywhere. I continually see [people who are] suffering and wounded.

٨ 8 تَأَدَّبِي يَا أُورُشَلِيمُ لِئَلَّا تَجْفُوَكِ نَفْسِي. لِئَلَّا أَجْعَلَكِ خَرَابًا، أَرْضًا غَيْرَ مَسْكُونَةٍ.

Listen to what I am warning you, [you people of] [APO] Jerusalem, because if you do not listen, I will reject you and cause your land to become desolate, a land where no one lives.”

٩ 9 «هَكَذَا قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلْجُنُودِ: تَعْلِيلًا يُعَلِّلُونَ، كَجَفْنَةٍ، بَقِيَّةَ إِسْرَائِيلَ. رُدَّ يَدَكَ كَقَاطِفٍ إِلَى ٱلسِّلَالِ.

Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of angels in heaven, also says this: “[I will tell your enemies] to cause your country to become as desolate [SIM] as a vineyard from which all the grapes have been completely stripped from the vines. [Their soldiers will seize the possessions of] those who remain in Israel [after the others have been exiled] like [SIM] farmers go to the vines again to pick any grapes [that were (left/not picked)].”

١٠ 10 مَنْ أُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَأُنْذِرُهُمْ فَيَسْمَعُوا؟ هَا إِنَّ أُذْنَهُمْ غَلْفَاءُ فَلَا يَقْدِرُونَ أَنْ يَصْغَوْا. هَا إِنَّ كَلِمَةَ ٱلرَّبِّ صَارَتْ لَهُمْ عَارًا. لَا يُسَرُّونَ بِهَا.

[Then I said, “If I speak to the Israeli people] to warn them, (who will listen to me?/No one will listen to me.) [RHQ] [It is as though] their ears are closed, [and as a result] they cannot hear [what I say]. They scorn Yahweh’s messages; they do not want to listen to them at all.

١١ 11 فَٱمْتَلَأْتُ مِنْ غَيْظِ ٱلرَّبِّ. مَلِلْتُ ٱلطَّاقَةَ. أَسْكُبُهُ عَلَى ٱلْأَطْفَالِ فِي ٱلْخَارِجِ وَعَلَى مَجْلِسِ ٱلشُّبَّانِ مَعًا، لِأَنَّ ٱلرَّجُلَ وَٱلْمَرْأَةَ يُؤْخَذَانِ كِلَاهُمَا، وَٱلشَّيْخَ مَعَ ٱلْمُمْتَلِئِ أَيَّامًا.

So [now] I am extremely angry, like Yahweh is angry, and I cannot restrain it any longer.” [So] Yahweh said [to me], “Tell everyone that you are very angry with them. Tell the children in the streets and the young men who gather together. Tell the men and their wives; tell the very old people [DOU], also.

١٢ 12 وَتَتَحَوَّلُ بُيُوتُهُمْ إِلَى آخَرِينَ، ٱلْحُقُولُ وَٱلنِّسَاءُ مَعًا، لِأَنِّي أَمُدُّ يَدِي عَلَى سُكَّانِ ٱلْأَرْضِ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ.

[Tell the men that] I will give their houses to [their enemies], and I will give their property/fields and their wives to them, also, when I punish [IDM] the people who live in this land.

١٣ 13 لِأَنَّهُمْ مِنْ صَغِيرِهِمْ إِلَى كَبِيرِهِمْ، كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مُولَعٌ بِٱلرِّبْحِ. وَمِنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّ إِلَى ٱلْكَاهِنِ، كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ يَعْمَلُ بِٱلْكَذِبِ.

Everyone is trying to get money by tricking others, from the most [important people] to the least [important people]; even the prophets and the priests are trying to deceive [people to get money].

١٤ 14 وَيَشْفُونَ كَسْرَ بِنْتِ شَعْبِي عَلَى عَثَمٍ قَائِلِينَ: سَلَامٌ، سَلَامٌ. وَلَا سَلَامَ.

[They act as though the sins of my people are like] [MET] small wounds that they do not need to put bandages on. They continually [greet people by] saying ‘I hope things are going well with you,’ when things are not going well.

١٥ 15 هَلْ خَزُوا لِأَنَّهُمْ عَمِلُوا رِجْسًا؟ بَلْ لَمْ يَخْزَوْا خِزْيًا وَلَمْ يَعْرِفُوا ٱلْخَجَلَ. لِذَلِكَ يَسْقُطُونَ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّاقِطِينَ. فِي وَقْتِ مُعَاقَبَتِهِمْ يَعْثُرُونَ، قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ.

They should be [RHQ] ashamed about the disgusting things that they do, but they are not ashamed at all. They do not [even] know how to (blush/show on their faces that they are ashamed). So, they also will be among those who will be killed. They will be destroyed when I punish them.”

١٦ 16 «هَكَذَا قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: قِفُوا عَلَى ٱلطُّرُقِ وَٱنْظُرُوا، وَٱسْأَلُوا عَنِ ٱلسُّبُلِ ٱلْقَدِيمَةِ: أَيْنَ هُوَ ٱلطَّرِيقُ ٱلصَّالِحُ؟ وَسِيرُوا فِيهِ، فَتَجِدُوا رَاحَةً لِنُفُوسِكُمْ. وَلَكِنَّهُمْ قَالُوا: لَا نَسِيرُ فِيهِ!

This is [also] what Yahweh said [to the Israeli people]: “Stand at the crossroads and look [at the people who pass by]. Ask them what was the good behavior [that their ancestors had] long ago. [And when they tell you], behave that way. If you do that, you will find rest for your souls.” But you replied, ‘We do not want to do that!’

١٧ 17 وَأَقَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ رُقَبَاءَ قَائِلِينَ: ٱصْغَوْا لِصَوْتِ ٱلْبُوقِ. فَقَالُوا: لَا نَصْغَى!

I sent [my prophets who were like] [MET] watchmen. They said, ‘Listen carefully when we blow the trumpets [to warn you that your enemies are approaching],’ but you said, ‘[No], we do not want to listen.’

١٨ 18 لِذَلِكَ ٱسْمَعُوا يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلشُّعُوبُ، وَٱعْرِفِي أَيَّتُهَا ٱلْجَمَاعَةُ مَا هُوَ بَيْنَهُمْ.

Therefore, you people in the other nations, listen to this: Pay attention to what is going to happen to the [Israeli people].

١٩ 19 اِسْمَعِي أَيَّتُهَا ٱلْأَرْضُ: هَأَنَذَا جَالِبٌ شَرًّا عَلَى هَذَا ٱلشَّعْبِ ثَمَرَ أَفْكَارِهِمْ، لِأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَصْغَوْا لِكَلَامِي، وَشَرِيعَتِي رَفَضُوهَا.

Listen, all of you! I am going to cause the [Israeli] people to experience disasters. That is what will happen to them because they have refused to listen to what I told them. They have refused to obey my laws.

٢٠ 20 لِمَاذَا يَأْتِي لِي ٱللُّبَانُ مِنْ شَبَا، وَقَصَبُ ٱلذَّرِيرَةِ مِنْ أَرْضٍ بَعِيدَةٍ؟ مُحْرَقَاتُكُمْ غَيْرُ مَقْبُولَةٍ، وَذَبَائِحُكُمْ لَا تَلُذُّ لِي.

[You Israeli people], when you burn frankincense that came from [far away in] Sheba, and [when you offer to me] sweet-smelling anointing oil that came from far away, I will not [RHQ] be pleased with your sacrifices. I will not accept the sacrifices that are completely burned on the altar; I am not pleased with [any of] your sacrifices.

٢١ 21 لِذَلِكَ هَكَذَا قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: هَأَنَذَا جَاعِلٌ لِهَذَا ٱلشَّعْبِ مَعْثَرَاتٍ فَيَعْثُرُ بِهَا ٱلْآبَاءُ وَٱلْأَبْنَاءُ مَعًا. اَلْجَارُ وَصَاحِبُهُ يَبِيدَانِ.

Therefore, I will put obstacles on the roads on which my people will travel. Men and their sons and people’s neighbors and friends will stumble over those obstacles and fall down; everyone will die.”

٢٢ 22 هَكَذَا قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: هُوَذَا شَعْبٌ قَادِمٌ مِنْ أَرْضِ ٱلشِّمَالِ، وَأُمَّةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ تَقُومُ مِنْ أَقَاصِي ٱلْأَرْضِ.

Yahweh [also] says this: “You will see a [huge] army marching [towards you] from the north. [An army of] a great nation very far away is preparing [to attack you].

٢٣ 23 تُمْسِكُ ٱلْقَوْسَ وَٱلرُّمْحَ. هِيَ قَاسِيَةٌ لَا تَرْحَمُ. صَوْتُهَا كَٱلْبَحْرِ يَعِجُّ، وَعَلَى خَيْلٍ تَرْكَبُ، مُصْطَفَّةً كَإِنْسَانٍ لِمُحَارَبَتِكِ يَا ٱبْنَةَ صِهْيَوْنَ».

They have bows [and arrows] and spears; they are [very] cruel, and do not act mercifully [to anyone]. As they ride along on their horses, the horses’ feet sound like the roaring of the ocean [waves]; they are riding in battle formation to attack you people of Jerusalem.”

٢٤ 24 سَمِعْنَا خَبَرَهَا. اِرْتَخَتْ أَيْدِينَا. أَمْسَكَنَا ضِيقٌ وَوَجَعٌ كَٱلْمَاخِضِ.

[The people of Jerusalem say], “We have heard reports about the enemy; [so] we are very frightened, with the result that we feel weak. We are very afraid, and worried, like [SIM] women who are about to give birth to babies.

٢٥ 25 لَا تَخْرُجُوا إِلَى ٱلْحَقْلِ وَفِي ٱلطَّرِيقِ لَا تَمْشُوا، لِأَنَّ سَيْفَ ٱلْعَدُوِّ خَوْفٌ مِنْ كُلِّ جِهَةٍ.

[So one person says to another], ‘Do not go out into the fields! Do not go on the roads, because the enemy [soldiers] have swords [and they are everywhere]; they are coming from all directions, and we are extremely afraid.’”

٢٦ 26 يَا ٱبْنَةَ شَعْبِي، تَنَطَّقِي بِمِسْحٍ وَتَمَرَّغِي فِي ٱلرَّمَادِ. نَوْحَ وَحِيدٍ ٱصْنَعِي لِنَفْسِكِ مَنَاحَةً مُرَّةً، لِأَنَّ ٱلْمُخَرِّبَ يَأْتِي عَلَيْنَا بَغْتَةً.

[So I say], “My dear people, put on (sackcloth/rough clothes) and sit in ashes [to show that you are sorry for your sins]. Mourn and cry very much, like [SIM] [a woman would cry] if her only son had died, because your enemies are very near, and they are going to destroy [everything].”

٢٧ 27 «قَدْ جَعَلْتُكَ بُرْجًا فِي شَعْبِي، حِصْنًا، لِتَعْرِفَ وَتَمْتَحِنَ طَرِيقَهُمْ.

[Then Yahweh said to me], “[Jeremiah], I have caused you to become [like] [MET] someone who heats metal very hot [to completely burn the impurities]. You will examine my people’s behavior.

٢٨ 28 كُلُّهُمْ عُصَاةٌ مُتَمَرِّدُونَ سَاعُونَ فِي ٱلْوِشَايَةِ. هُمْ نُحَاسٌ وَحَدِيدٌ. كُلُّهُمْ مُفْسِدُونَ.

You will find out that they are very stubborn rebels, they are always slandering others. [Their inner beings] are as hard as bronze or iron; they all [continually] deceive others.

٢٩ 29 اِحْتَرَقَ ٱلْمِنْفَاخُ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ. فَنِيَ ٱلرِّصَاصُ. بَاطِلًا صَاغَ ٱلصَّائِغُ، وَٱلْأَشْرَارُ لَا يُفْرَزُونَ.

[A metalworker causes] the bellows to blow very hard to [make the fire very hot to] completely burn up the impurities [MET]. [But just as] a fire does not cause all the waste material to run off, it is impossible to separate [the righteous people from the wicked people, and punish only] the wicked people.

٣٠ 30 فِضَّةً مَرْفُوضَةً يُدْعَوْنَ. لِأَنَّ ٱلرَّبَّ قَدْ رَفَضَهُمْ».

[I], Yahweh, have rejected them; I say that they are [like] [MET] worthless silver.”