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Jeremiah 17 (Yirmeyahu) in Hebrew and English

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Tenakh Study · Read Jeremiah in Hebrew and English, one chapter per page. Our Tenakh study meets every Wednesday at 7 pm (Central Time) on Zoom. Text us for the Zoom link.

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Tenakh Study · Jeremiah 17:1–27

Jeremiah, Chapter 17

ירמיהו יז

The sin of Yehudah is engraved on their heart and altars; Hashem curses the man who trusts in man and blesses the man who trusts in Hashem; the prophet prays to be healed and saved, and Hashem sends him to the gates of Yerushalayim to call the people to hallow the sabbath day.

17:1The sin of Yehudah (Judah) is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

אחַטַּ֣את יְהוּדָ֗ה כְּתוּבָ֛ה בְּעֵ֥ט בַּרְזֶ֖ל בְּצִפֹּ֣רֶן שָׁמִ֑יר חֲרוּשָׁה֙ עַל־ל֣וּחַ לִבָּ֔ם וּלְקַרְנ֖וֹת מִזְבְּחוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

17:2Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.

בכִּזְכֹּ֤ר בְּנֵיהֶם֙ מִזְבְּחוֹתָ֔ם וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־עֵ֣ץ רַֽעֲנָ֑ן עַ֖ל גְּבָע֥וֹת הַגְּבֹהֽוֹת׃

17:3O my mountain in the field, I will give your substance and all your treasures to the spoil, and your high places for sin, throughout all your borders.

גהֲרָרִי֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה חֵילְךָ֥ כָל־אוֹצְרוֹתֶ֖יךָ לָבַ֣ז אֶתֵּ֑ן בָּמֹתֶ֕יךָ בְּחַטָּ֖את בְּכָל־גְּבוּלֶֽיךָ׃

17:4And you, even yourself, shall discontinue from your heritage that I gave you; and I will cause you to serve your enemies in the land which you know not: for you have kindled a fire in My anger, which shall burn for ever.

דוְשָׁמַטְתָּ֗ה וּבְךָ֙ מִנַּחֲלָֽתְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תִּי לָ֔ךְ וְהַעֲבַדְתִּ֨יךָ֙ אֶת־אֹ֣יְבֶ֔יךָ בָּאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־יָדָ֑עְתָּ כִּֽי־אֵ֛שׁ קְדַחְתֶּ֥ם בְּאַפִּ֖י עַד־עוֹלָ֥ם תּוּקָֽד׃

Cursed and blessed

17:5Thus says Hashem; “Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from Hashem.

הכֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה אָר֤וּר הַגֶּ֨בֶר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִבְטַ֣ח בָּֽאָדָ֔ם וְשָׂ֥ם בָּשָׂ֖ר זְרֹע֑וֹ וּמִן־יְהוָ֖ה יָס֥וּר לִבּֽוֹ׃

17:6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

ווְהָיָה֙ כְּעַרְעָ֣ר בָּֽעֲרָבָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א יִרְאֶ֖ה כִּי־יָב֣וֹא ט֑וֹב וְשָׁכַ֤ן חֲרֵרִים֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר אֶ֥רֶץ מְלֵחָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תֵשֵֽׁב׃

17:7Blessed is the man that trusts in Hashem, and whose hope Hashem is.

זבָּר֣וּךְ הַגֶּ֔בֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְטַ֖ח בַּֽיהוָ֑ה וְהָיָ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה מִבְטַחֽוֹ׃

17:8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

חוְהָיָ֞ה כְּעֵ֣ץ ׀ שָׁת֣וּל עַל־מַ֗יִם וְעַל־יוּבַל֙ יְשַׁלַּ֣ח שָֽׁרָשָׁ֔יו וְלֹ֤א יִרְאֶה֙ (כתיב ירא) כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣א חֹ֔ם וְהָיָ֥ה עָלֵ֖הוּ רַֽעֲנָ֑ן וּבִשְׁנַ֤ת בַּצֹּ֨רֶת֙ לֹ֣א יִדְאָ֔ג וְלֹ֥א יָמִ֖ישׁ מֵעֲשׂ֥וֹת פֶּֽרִי׃

17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

טעָקֹ֥ב הַלֵּ֛ב מִכֹּ֖ל וְאָנֻ֣שׁ ה֑וּא מִ֖י יֵדָעֶֽנּוּ׃

17:10I Hashem search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

יאֲנִ֧י יְהוָ֛ה חֹקֵ֥ר לֵ֖ב בֹּחֵ֣ן כְּלָי֑וֹת וְלָתֵ֤ת לְאִישׁ֙ כִּדְרָכָ֔יו (כתיב כדרכו) כִּפְרִ֖י מַעֲלָלָֽיו׃

17:11As the partridge sits on eggs, and hatches them not; so he that gets riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.”

יאקֹרֵ֤א דָגַר֙ וְלֹ֣א יָלָ֔ד עֹ֥שֶׂה עֹ֖שֶׁר וְלֹ֣א בְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט בַּחֲצִ֤י יָמָיו֙ (כתיב ימו) יַעַזְבֶ֔נּוּ וּבְאַחֲרִית֖וֹ יִהְיֶ֥ה נָבָֽל׃

The hope of Israel

17:12A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.

יבכִּסֵּ֣א כָב֔וֹד מָר֖וֹם מֵֽרִאשׁ֑וֹן מְק֖וֹם מִקְדָּשֵֽׁנוּ׃

17:13O Hashem, the hope of Israel, all that forsake You shall be ashamed, and they that depart from Me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken Hashem, the fountain of living waters.

יגמִקְוֵ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יְהוָ֔ה כָּל־עֹזְבֶ֖יךָ יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ וְסוּרַי֙ (כתיב יסורי) בָּאָ֣רֶץ יִכָּתֵ֔בוּ כִּ֥י עָזְב֛וּ מְק֥וֹר מַֽיִם־חַיִּ֖ים אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃

17:14Heal me, O Hashem, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for You are my praise.

ידרְפָאֵ֤נִי יְהוָה֙ וְאֵ֣רָפֵ֔א הוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נִי וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה כִּ֥י תְהִלָּתִ֖י אָֽתָּה׃

17:15Behold, they say unto me, “Where is the word of Hashem? let it come now.”

טוהִנֵּה־הֵ֕מָּה אֹמְרִ֖ים אֵלָ֑י אַיֵּ֥ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה יָ֥בוֹא נָֽא׃

17:16As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow You: neither have I desired the woeful day; You know: that which came out of my lips was right before You.

טזוַאֲנִ֞י לֹא־אַ֣צְתִּי ׀ מֵרֹעֶ֣ה אַחֲרֶ֗יךָ וְי֥וֹם אָנ֛וּשׁ לֹ֥א הִתְאַוֵּ֖יתִי אַתָּ֣ה יָדָ֑עְתָּ מוֹצָ֣א שְׂפָתַ֔י נֹ֥כַח פָּנֶ֖יךָ הָיָֽה׃

17:17Be not a terror unto me: You are my hope in the day of evil.

יזאַל־תִּֽהְיֵה־לִ֖י לִמְחִתָּ֑ה מַֽחֲסִי־אַ֖תָּה בְּי֥וֹם רָעָֽה׃

17:18Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.

יחיֵבֹ֤שׁוּ רֹדְפַי֙ וְאַל־אֵבֹ֣שָׁה אָ֔נִי יֵחַ֣תּוּ הֵ֔מָּה וְאַל־אֵחַ֖תָּה אָ֑נִי הָבִ֤יא עֲלֵיהֶם֙ י֣וֹם רָעָ֔ה וּמִשְׁנֶ֥ה שִׁבָּר֖וֹן שָׁבְרֵֽם׃

Hallow the sabbath day

17:19Thus said Hashem unto me; “Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Yehudah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem);

יטכֹּה־אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י הָלֹ֤ךְ וְעָֽמַדְתָּ֙ בְּשַׁ֣עַר בְּנֵֽי־הָעָ֔ם (כתיב עם) אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָבֹ֤אוּ בוֹ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר יֵ֣צְאוּ ב֑וֹ וּבְכֹ֖ל שַׁעֲרֵ֥י יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

17:20And say unto them, ‘Hear you the word of Hashem, you kings of Yehudah, and all Yehudah, and all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, that enter in by these gates:

כוְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲ֠לֵיהֶם שִׁמְע֨וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֜ה מַלְכֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ וְכָל־יְהוּדָ֔ה וְכֹ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם הַבָּאִ֖ים בַּשְּׁעָרִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

17:21Thus says Hashem; “Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Yerushalayim;

כאכֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִשָּׁמְר֖וּ בְּנַפְשֽׁוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְאַל־תִּשְׂא֤וּ מַשָּׂא֙ בְּי֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת וַהֲבֵאתֶ֖ם בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֥י יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

17:22Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do you any work, but hallow you the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.

כבוְלֹא־תוֹצִ֨יאוּ מַשָּׂ֤א מִבָּֽתֵּיכֶם֙ בְּי֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת וְכָל־מְלָאכָ֖ה לֹ֣א תַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ וְקִדַּשְׁתֶּם֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֖יתִי אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

17:23But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

כגוְלֹ֣א שָֽׁמְע֔וּ וְלֹ֥א הִטּ֖וּ אֶת־אָזְנָ֑ם וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־עָרְפָּ֔ם לְבִלְתִּ֣י שְׁמ֔וֹעַ (כתיב שומע) וּלְבִלְתִּ֖י קַ֥חַת מוּסָֽר׃

17:24And it shall come to pass, if you diligently hearken unto Me, says Hashem, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;

כדוְ֠הָיָה אִם־שָׁמֹ֨עַ תִּשְׁמְע֤וּן אֵלַי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לְבִלְתִּ֣י ׀ הָבִ֣יא מַשָּׂ֗א בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֛י הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֖את בְּי֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת וּלְקַדֵּשׁ֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת לְבִלְתִּ֥י עֲשֽׂוֹת־בּ֖וֹ (כתיב בה) כָּל־מְלָאכָֽה׃

17:25Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Yehudah, and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim: and this city shall remain for ever.

כהוּבָ֣אוּ בְשַׁעֲרֵ֣י הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֡את מְלָכִ֣ים ׀ וְשָׂרִ֡ים יֹשְׁבִים֩ עַל־כִּסֵּ֨א דָוִ֜ד רֹכְבִ֣ים ׀ בָּרֶ֣כֶב וּבַסּוּסִ֗ים הֵ֚מָּה וְשָׂ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם אִ֥ישׁ יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְיָשְׁבָ֥ה הָֽעִיר־הַזֹּ֖את לְעוֹלָֽם׃

17:26And they shall come from the cities of Yehudah, and from the places about Yerushalayim, and from the land of Binyamin (Benjamin), and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meal offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of Hashem.

כווּבָ֣אוּ מֵעָרֵֽי־יְ֠הוּדָה וּמִסְּבִיב֨וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ בִּנְיָמִ֗ן וּמִן־הַשְּׁפֵלָ֤ה וּמִן־הָהָר֙ וּמִן־הַנֶּ֔גֶב מְבִאִ֛ים עוֹלָ֥ה וְזֶ֖בַח וּמִנְחָ֣ה וּלְבוֹנָ֑ה וּמְבִאֵ֥י תוֹדָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

17:27But if you will not hearken unto Me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Yerushalayim on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Yerushalayim, and it shall not be quenched.”’”

כזוְאִם־לֹ֨א תִשְׁמְע֜וּ אֵלַ֗י לְקַדֵּשׁ֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת וּלְבִלְתִּ֣י ׀ שְׂאֵ֣ת מַשָּׂ֗א וּבֹ֛א בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֥י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בְּי֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת וְהִצַּ֧תִּי אֵ֣שׁ בִּשְׁעָרֶ֗יהָ וְאָֽכְלָ֛ה אַרְמְנ֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם וְלֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה׃

Sources & method

Hebrew text
The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain) as published by the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0). Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type. A paragraph mark (ס or פ) inside a verse is shown in small type.
English translation
The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the King James spelling in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Yehudah (Judah)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged, and “law” is “Torah” where the Hebrew is תּוֹרָה.
Verse numbers
Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible. In Jeremiah they differ from most English Bibles, or a verse is divided differently, in chapters 8 and 9; a note under the summary on those pages explains how.
Hebrew font
SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.