< Jeremiah 50 >

1 Yahweh gave to [me, ] Jeremiah the prophet, a message about Babylon [city] and the country of Babylonia.
הדבר אשר דבר יהוה אל בבל--אל ארץ כשדים ביד ירמיהו הנביא
2 [This is what Yahweh says]: “Proclaim [DOU] [a message] among the nations; do not withhold any of it; raise up a signal flag to announce that Babylon will be captured. [Its chief god] Marduk, [whose other name is] Bel, will be completely disgraced, and all the [other] statues and idols will be shattered.
הגידו בגוים והשמיעו ושאו נס השמיעו אל תכחדו אמרו נלכדה בבל הביש בל חת מרדך הבישו עצביה חתו גלוליה
3 [The army of] a nation will come from the north to attack Babylon and destroy the city very thoroughly, [with the result that] no one will live there [again]. Both people and animals will run away.”
כי עלה עליה גוי מצפון הוא ישית את ארצה לשמה ולא יהיה יושב בה מאדם ועד בהמה נדו הלכו
4 “But [I, ] Yahweh, say that in the future, when that is about to happen, the people of Israel and the people of Judah will join together. They will be weeping and wanting [to worship] me, their God.
בימים ההמה ובעת ההיא נאם יהוה יבאו בני ישראל המה ובני יהודה יחדו הלוך ובכו ילכו ואת יהוה אלהיהם יבקשו
5 They will inquire about the road to Jerusalem, [and then] they will start traveling [IDM] toward it. They will say [to each other], ‘We must return to Yahweh [again]!’ They will make an everlasting agreement with me that they will never forget.
ציון ישאלו דרך הנה פניהם באו ונלוו אל יהוה ברית עולם לא תשכח
6 My people have been [like] [MET] lost sheep. Their [leaders/rulers] have caused them [to abandon me] like [MET] shepherds who have allowed their sheep to wander in the hills and mountains. [My people are like] [MET] sheep that do not know the path to return to the sheepfold.
צאן אבדות היה (היו) עמי--רעיהם התעום הרים שובבים (שובבום) מהר אל גבעה הלכו שכחו רבצם
7 All their enemies who found them attacked them. They said, ‘We did not sin [by attacking them], because they sinned against Yahweh; he is the one who provides what they need; he is the one to whom they should have remained faithful; he is the one whom their ancestors confidently expected [to help them].’
כל מוצאיהם אכלום וצריהם אמרו לא נאשם תחת אשר חטאו ליהוה נוה צדק ומקוה אבותיהם יהוה
8 [But now, I say to the leaders of my people], ‘Flee from Babylon! Leave the land of Babylonia! Be like [SIM] male goats [that go] in front of [the rest of] the flock; [lead my people back to their own land].
נדו מתוך בבל ומארץ כשדים יצאו (צאו) והיו כעתודים לפני צאן
9 [Do that] because I am going to gather an army of great nations to the north [of Babylon]. They will join together to attack Babylon and will capture it. Their arrows will be like [SIM] skilled warriors that always hit what they aim at.
כי הנה אנכי מעיר ומעלה על בבל קהל גוים גדלים מארץ צפון וערכו לה משם תלכד חציו כגבור משכיל לא ישוב ריקם
10 Babylonia will be conquered, and those who conquer it will take away everything they want. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.’”
והיתה כשדים לשלל כל שלליה ישבעו נאם יהוה
11 “You people [of Babylon] who (plundered/stole everything valuable from) my chosen people, now you are very happy [DOU]. You run around joyfully like [SIM] a calf in a meadow, and are happy like [SIM] male horses are happy when they are neighing.
כי תשמחי (תשמחו) כי תעלזי (תעלזו) שסי נחלתי כי תפושי (תפושו) כעגלה דשה ותצהלי (ותצהלו) כאברים
12 But [soon] your people will be very disgraced [DOU] [as a result of being conquered]. Your country will be the most insignificant nation; it will be a desert, a dry and deserted land.
בושה אמכם מאד חפרה יולדתכם הנה אחרית גוים מדבר ציה וערבה
13 Because [I, ] Yahweh, am angry [with you people of Babylon], I will cause your city to become completely deserted. All who pass by will be horrified and will (gasp/be shocked) because of the destruction there.
מקצף יהוה לא תשב והיתה שממה כלה כל עבר על בבל ישם וישרק על כל מכותיה
14 [All you nations that surround Babylon, ] prepare to attack it! Tell your archers to shoot at their enemies; shoot all of your arrows at them [LIT], because [the people/leaders of Babylon have sinned against me, ] Yahweh.
ערכו על בבל סביב כל דרכי קשת ידו אליה אל תחמלו אל חץ כי ליהוה חטאה
15 Shout [war-cries] against Babylon from all sides [of the city]. [The soldiers of] Babylon will surrender; the towers and walls will be torn down. It is [I, ] Yahweh, who will be getting revenge [on the people of Babylon], [so help me to] get revenge. Do to [the people of] Babylon what they have done to others!
הריעו עליה סביב נתנה ידה נפלו אשויתיה (אשיותיה) נהרסו חומותיה כי נקמת יהוה היא הנקמו בה כאשר עשתה עשו לה
16 Take away from Babylon those who plant [crops] and those who reap the harvests! Because of the swords carried by those who will attack [Babylon], [those people in Babylon who have come from other countries] should all run away, back to their own countries [DOU]!”
כרתו זורע מבבל ותפש מגל בעת קציר--מפני חרב היונה איש אל עמו יפנו ואיש לארצו ינסו
17 “The Israeli [people] are [like] [MET] sheep that have been scattered by lions. First [the army of] the King of Assyria defeated them. Then [the army of] King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon smashed them.
שה פזורה ישראל אריות הדיחו הראשון אכלו מלך אשור וזה האחרון עצמו נבוכדראצר מלך בבל
18 So this is what I, the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom the Israeli people [worship], say: ‘Now I will punish the King of Babylon and the people of his land, like I punished the King of Assyria.
לכן כה אמר יהוה צבאות אלהי ישראל הנני פקד אל מלך בבל ואל ארצו--כאשר פקדתי אל מלך אשור
19 And I will bring the people of Israel back to their own land where they will eat [the food that grows] in the fields of the Carmel and Bashan [regions], and [the people in] the hilly areas of Ephraim and Gilead will have all they want to eat.
ושבבתי את ישראל אל נוהו ורעה הכרמל והבשן ובהר אפרים והגלעד תשבע נפשו
20 At that time, there will not be people in Israel and in Judah who [are still guilty for having] sinned [DOU], because I will forgive the small group of people whom I enable to still be alive.’”
בימים ההם ובעת ההיא נאם יהוה יבקש את עון ישראל ואיננו ואת חטאת יהודה ולא תמצאינה כי אסלח לאשר אשאיר
21 “[So, I, Yahweh, say to the enemies of Babylonia, ]‘Attack [the people who live in] the Merathaim [region] and the people in the Pekod [region of Babylonia]. Pursue them, kill them, and completely get rid of them, as I have commanded you to do.
על הארץ מרתים עלה עליה ואל יושבי פקוד חרב והחרם אחריהם נאם יהוה ועשה ככל אשר צויתיך
22 Shout your battle cries throughout the land; shout [when you are causing] great destruction.
קול מלחמה בארץ--ושבר גדול
23 [The army of Babylon is like] [MET] the most powerful hammer on the earth, but it will be completely shattered. Babylon will be deserted among the [other] nations.’
איך נגדע וישבר פטיש כל הארץ איך היתה לשמה בבל בגוים
24 You [people of] Babylon, [listen, ] [because] I have set a trap for you; you will be caught [in that trap], because you fought against me.
יקשתי לך וגם נלכדת בבל ואת לא ידעת נמצאת וגם נתפשת--כי ביהוה התגרית
25 [It is as though] I have opened the place where I store my weapons, and I have brought out [all] the weapons [to use against the people with whom] I am angry. [I, ] the Commander of the armies of angels, have [a lot of] work to do [to punish] the people of Babylonia.
פתח יהוה את אוצרו ויוצא את כלי זעמו כי מלאכה היא לאדני יהוה צבאות--בארץ כשדים
26 [So, you enemies of Babylonia, ] come from distant lands and attack it. Break open the places where they store the grain. Crush the walls of the city and the houses and pile up [the rubble like] [SIM] heaps of grain. Destroy everything; do not leave anything that is not destroyed.
באו לה מקץ פתחו מאבסיה סלוה כמו ערמים והחרימוה אל תהי לה שארית
27 Destroy all the [young men who are as strong as] [MET] bulls; take them to where you will slaughter them. It will be terrible for them, because it will be time for them to be punished.
חרבו כל פריה ירדו לטבח הוי עליהם כי בא יומם עת פקדתם
28 Listen to the people who have fled and escaped from Babylon while they tell in Jerusalem how [I, ] Yahweh, have gotten revenge against those who destroyed my temple [in Jerusalem].
קול נסים ופלטים מארץ בבל להגיד בציון את נקמת יהוה אלהינו--נקמת היכלו
29 Summon archers [DOU] to come to attack Babylon; surround the city in order that no one will escape. Do to [the people of] Babylon what they have done to others [DOU], because they have defied [me, ] the Holy One of the Israeli [people].
השמיעו אל בבל רבים כל דרכי קשת חנו עליה סביב אל יהי (לה) פליטה שלמו לה כפעלה ככל אשר עשתה עשו לה כי אל יהוה זדה אל קדוש ישראל
30 The young men of Babylon will fall in the streets; all their soldiers will be killed in one day.
לכן יפלו בחוריה ברחבתיה וכל אנשי מלחמתה ידמו ביום ההוא נאם יהוה
31 [I, ] the Commander of the armies of angels, say this: ‘You arrogant/proud people, it is now the time; it is the time [DOU] when I will punish you.
הנני אליך זדון נאם אדני יהוה צבאות כי בא יומך עת פקדתיך
32 [Your land is full of] proud people, but you will stumble and fall, and no one will lift you up [again]. I will light a fire in the cities in Babylonia that will burn up everything that is nearby.’
וכשל זדון ונפל ואין לו מקים והצתי אש בעריו ואכלה כל סביבתיו
33 [I], the Commander of the armies of angels, also say this: ‘The people of Israel and Judah were (oppressed/treated cruelly); those who captured them guarded them carefully and would not allow them to leave [Babylon].
כה אמר יהוה צבאות עשוקים בני ישראל ובני יהודה יחדו וכל שביהם החזיקו בם מאנו שלחם
34 But I am strong, and I will free them. I am the Commander of the armies of angels; I will defend my people and enable them [to return to] their land where they will have peace, but the people of Babylonia will not have peace.
גאלם חזק יהוה צבאות שמו--ריב יריב את ריבם למען הרגיע את הארץ והרגיז לישבי בבל
35 [I will send enemy soldiers carrying] swords [PRS] to strike the people of Babylonia; they will strike the officials and wise men and all the [other] people who live in Babylon.
חרב על כשדים נאם יהוה ואל ישבי בבל ואל שריה ואל חכמיה
36 They will strike their false prophets with swords and they will become foolish. They will strike the [strongest] warriors of Babylonia, and they will all be terrified.
חרב אל הבדים ונאלו חרב אל גבוריה וחתו
37 They will strike their horses and chariots and the foreigners who are in the army of Babylonia, and they will [all] become [as weak] as [MET] women. They will seize [MTY] all the valuable things there in Babylon and take them away.
חרב אל סוסיו ואל רכבו ואל כל הערב אשר בתוכה--והיו לנשים חרב אל אוצרתיה ובזזו
38 [I] cause the streams to become dry. [I will do all those things] because the [entire] land [of Babylonia] is filled with idols, and those [horrible] idols have caused the people [who worship them] to become crazy.
חרב אל מימיה ויבשו כי ארץ פסלים היא ובאימים יתהללו
39 [Soon only] hyenas and [other] wild creatures will live there; and it will be a place where owls live. People will never live there again; it will be uninhabited forever [DOU].
לכן ישבו ציים את איים וישבו בה בנות יענה ולא תשב עוד לנצח ולא תשכון עד דור ודר
40 [I will destroy Babylon] like I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the nearby towns; no one will [ever] live there [again] [DOU].
כמהפכת אלהים את סדם ואת עמרה ואת שכניה--נאם יהוה לא ישב שם איש ולא יגור בה בן אדם
41 Look! A [great] army will come from the north. A great nation far away with many kings is preparing [to attack you people of Babylon].
הנה עם בא מצפון וגוי גדול ומלכים רבים יערו מירכתי ארץ
42 Their [army] has bows [and arrows] and spears; they are [very] cruel, and do not act mercifully [to anyone]. [As] they ride along on [their] horses, the sound of the horses’ hooves is like [SIM] the roaring of the ocean [waves]; they are riding in battle formation to attack you, you people of Babylon.
קשת וכידן יחזיקו אכזרי המה ולא ירחמו--קולם כים יהמה ועל סוסים ירכבו ערוך כאיש למלחמה עליך בת בבל
43 The King of Babylon says, “[I] have heard reports about the enemy [approaching]; [so I am very frightened, with the result that] I am weak. I am [very fearful, and] anguished/worried, like [SIM] a woman who is about to give birth to a baby.”
שמע מלך בבל את שמעם ורפו ידיו צרה החזיקתהו--חיל כיולדה
44 I, [Yahweh], will come to Babylon [suddenly] like a lion comes out of the jungle and [leaps on the sheep that are eating] the good pastureland. I will quickly chase the people of Babylonia from their land. And [then] I will appoint for them [a leader] whom I will choose; [I will do that] because there is no one [RHQ] like me who can say that what I have done is not right. No ruler can [RHQ] oppose me.
הנה כאריה יעלה מגאון הירדן אל נוה איתן--כי ארגעה ארוצם (אריצם) מעליה ומי בחור אליה אפקד כי מי כמוני ומי יועדני ומי זה רעה אשר יעמד לפני
45 Listen to what I have planned to do to the people of Babylon [city] and the rest of Babylonia: [even] the little children will be dragged away, and I will completely destroy the people [MET] who live there.
לכן שמעו עצת יהוה אשר יעץ אל בבל ומחשבותיו אשר חשב אל ארץ כשדים אם לא יסחבום צעירי הצאן אם לא ישים עליהם נוה
46 When Babylon is destroyed, the noise will be extremely loud, with the result that the earth will shake, and the wailing of the people will be heard by the [people of other] nations.’”
מקול נתפשה בבל נרעשה הארץ וזעקה בגוים נשמע

< Jeremiah 50 >