Jeremiah 4 (Yirmeyahu) in Hebrew and English

4:1If you will return, O Israel, says Hashem, return unto Me: and if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, then shall you not remove.

אאִם־תָּשׁ֨וּב יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י תָּשׁ֑וּב וְאִם־תָּסִ֧יר שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָ מִפָּנַ֖י וְלֹ֥א תָנֽוּד׃

4:2And you shall swear, “Hashem lives,” in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory.

בוְנִשְׁבַּ֨עְתָּ֙ חַי־יְהוָ֔ה בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט וּבִצְדָקָ֑ה וְהִתְבָּ֥רְכוּ ב֛וֹ גּוֹיִ֖ם וּב֥וֹ יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃

4:3For thus says Hashem to the men of Yehudah (Judah) and Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), “Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

גכִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה לְאִ֤ישׁ יְהוּדָה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם נִ֥ירוּ לָכֶ֖ם נִ֑יר וְאַֽל־תִּזְרְע֖וּ אֶל־קוֹצִֽים׃

4:4Circumcise yourselves to Hashem, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Yehudah and inhabitants of Yerushalayim: lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.”

דהִמֹּ֣לוּ לַיהֹוָ֗ה וְהָסִ֨רוּ֙ עָרְל֣וֹת לְבַבְכֶ֔ם אִ֥ישׁ יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם פֶּן־תֵּצֵ֨א כָאֵ֜שׁ חֲמָתִ֗י וּבָעֲרָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין מְכַבֶּ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃

4:5Declare you in Yehudah, and publish in Yerushalayim; and say, “Blow you the shofar (trumpet) in the land”: cry, gather together, and say, “Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.”

ההַגִּ֣ידוּ בִֽיהוּדָ֗ה וּבִירוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ הַשְׁמִ֔יעוּ וְאִמְר֕וּ תִּקְע֥וּ (כתיב ותקעו) שׁוֹפָ֖ר בָּאָ֑רֶץ קִרְא֤וּ מַלְאוּ֙ וְאִמְר֔וּ הֵאָסְפ֥וּ וְנָב֖וֹאָה אֶל־עָרֵ֥י הַמִּבְצָֽר׃

4:6Set up the standard toward Tziyon (Zion): retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

ושְׂאוּ־נֵ֣ס צִיּ֔וֹנָה הָעִ֖יזוּ אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹ֑דוּ כִּ֣י רָעָ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י מֵבִ֥יא מִצָּפ֖וֹן וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֽוֹל׃

4:7The 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 your land desolate; and your cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

זעָלָ֤ה אַרְיֵה֙ מִֽסֻּבְּכ֔וֹ וּמַשְׁחִ֣ית גּוֹיִ֔ם נָסַ֖ע יָצָ֣א מִמְּקֹמ֑וֹ לָשׂ֤וּם אַרְצֵךְ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה עָרַ֥יִךְ תִּצֶּ֖ינָה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃

4:8For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of Hashem is not turned back from us.

חעַל־זֹ֛את חִגְר֥וּ שַׂקִּ֖ים סִפְד֣וּ וְהֵילִ֑ילוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־שָׁ֛ב חֲר֥וֹן אַף־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

4:9And it shall come to pass at that day, says Hashem, 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.

טוְהָיָ֤ה בַיּוֹם־הַהוּא֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה יֹאבַ֥ד לֵב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְלֵ֣ב הַשָּׂרִ֑ים וְנָשַׁ֨מּוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וְהַנְּבִיאִ֖ים יִתְמָֽהוּ׃

4:10Then said I, “Ah, Lord Hashem! surely You have greatly deceived this people and Yerushalayim, saying, ‘You shall have peace’; whereas the sword reaches unto the soul.”

יוָאֹמַ֞ר אֲהָ֣הּ ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה אָכֵן֩ הַשֵּׁ֨א הִשֵּׁ֜אתָ לָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ וְלִירוּשָׁלִַ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר שָׁל֖וֹם יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם וְנָגְעָ֥ה חֶ֖רֶב עַד־הַנָּֽפֶשׁ׃

4:11At that time shall it be said to this people and to Yerushalayim, “A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,

יאבָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא יֵאָמֵ֤ר לָֽעָם־הַזֶּה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם ר֣וּחַ צַ֤ח שְׁפָיִים֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר דֶּ֖רֶךְ בַּת־עַמִּ֑י ל֥וֹא לִזְר֖וֹת וְל֥וֹא לְהָבַֽר׃

4:12Even a full wind from those places shall come unto Me: now also will I give sentence against them.”

יבר֧וּחַ מָלֵ֛א מֵאֵ֖לֶּה יָ֣בוֹא לִ֑י עַתָּ֕ה גַּם־אֲנִ֛י אֲדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּטִ֖ים אוֹתָֽם׃

4:13Behold, 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.

יגהִנֵּ֣ה ׀ כַּעֲנָנִ֣ים יַעֲלֶ֗ה וְכַסּוּפָה֙ מַרְכְּבוֹתָ֔יו קַלּ֥וּ מִנְּשָׁרִ֖ים סוּסָ֑יו א֥וֹי לָ֖נוּ כִּ֥י שֻׁדָּֽדְנוּ׃

4:14O Yerushalayim, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your vain thoughts lodge within you?

ידכַּבְּסִ֨י מֵרָעָ֤ה לִבֵּךְ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם לְמַ֖עַן תִּוָּשֵׁ֑עִי עַד־מָתַ֛י תָּלִ֥ין בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְ מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת אוֹנֵֽךְ׃

4:15For a voice declares from Dan, and publishes affliction from mount Efrayim (Ephraim).

טוכִּ֛י ק֥וֹל מַגִּ֖יד מִדָּ֑ן וּמַשְׁמִ֥יעַ אָ֖וֶן מֵהַ֥ר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

4:16Make you mention to the nations; behold, publish against Yerushalayim, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Yehudah.

טזהַזְכִּ֣ירוּ לַגּוֹיִ֗ם הִנֵּה֙ הַשְׁמִ֣יעוּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם נֹצְרִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים מֵאֶ֣רֶץ הַמֶּרְחָ֑ק וַֽיִּתְּנ֛וּ עַל־עָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה קוֹלָֽם׃

4:17As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she has been rebellious against Me, says Hashem.

יזכְּשֹׁמְרֵ֣י שָׂדַ֔י הָי֥וּ עָלֶ֖יהָ מִסָּבִ֑יב כִּי־אֹתִ֥י מָרָ֖תָה נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

4:18Your way and your doings have procured these things unto you; this is your wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reaches unto your heart.

יחדַּרְכֵּךְ֙ וּמַ֣עֲלָלַ֔יִךְ עָשׂ֥וֹ אֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ זֹ֤את רָעָתֵךְ֙ כִּ֣י מָ֔ר כִּ֥י נָגַ֖ע עַד־לִבֵּֽךְ׃

4:19My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the shofar, the alarm of war.

יטמֵעַ֣י ׀ מֵעַ֨י ׀ אוֹחִ֜ילָה (כתיב אחולה) קִיר֥וֹת לִבִּ֛י הֹֽמֶה־לִּ֥י לִבִּ֖י לֹ֣א אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ כִּ֣י ק֤וֹל שׁוֹפָר֙ שָׁמַ֣עַתְּ (כתיב שמעתי) נַפְשִׁ֔י תְּרוּעַ֖ת מִלְחָמָֽה׃

4:20Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.

כשֶׁ֤בֶר עַל־שֶׁ֨בֶר֙ נִקְרָ֔א כִּ֥י שֻׁדְּדָ֖ה כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ פִּתְאֹם֙ שֻׁדְּד֣וּ אֹהָלַ֔י רֶ֖גַע יְרִיעֹתָֽי׃

4:21How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the shofar?

כאעַד־מָתַ֖י אֶרְאֶה־נֵּ֑ס אֶשְׁמְעָ֖ה ק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃

4:22For 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.

כבכִּ֣י ׀ אֱוִ֣יל עַמִּ֗י אוֹתִי֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ בָּנִ֤ים סְכָלִים֙ הֵ֔מָּה וְלֹ֥א נְבוֹנִ֖ים הֵ֑מָּה חֲכָמִ֥ים הֵ֨מָּה֙ לְהָרַ֔ע וּלְהֵיטִ֖יב לֹ֥א יָדָֽעוּ׃

4:23I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

כגרָאִ֨יתִי֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהִנֵּה־תֹ֖הוּ וָבֹ֑הוּ וְאֶל־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ין אוֹרָֽם׃

4:24I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

כדרָאִ֨יתִי֙ הֶֽהָרִ֔ים וְהִנֵּ֖ה רֹעֲשִׁ֑ים וְכָל־הַגְּבָע֖וֹת הִתְקַלְקָֽלוּ׃

4:25I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.

כהרָאִ֕יתִי וְהִנֵּ֖ה אֵ֣ין הָאָדָ֑ם וְכָל־ע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם נָדָֽדוּ׃

4:26I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of Hashem, and by His fierce anger.

כורָאִ֕יתִי וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַכַּרְמֶ֖ל הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְכָל־עָרָ֗יו נִתְּצוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ׃

4:27For thus has Hashem said, “The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

כזכִּי־כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שְׁמָמָ֥ה תִהְיֶ֖ה כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכָלָ֖ה לֹ֥א אֶעֱשֶֽׂה׃

4:28For 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.”

כחעַל־זֹאת֙ תֶּאֱבַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ וְקָדְר֥וּ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם מִמָּ֑עַל עַ֤ל כִּי־דִבַּ֨רְתִּי֙ זַמֹּ֔תִי וְלֹ֥א נִחַ֖מְתִּי וְלֹא־אָשׁ֥וּב מִמֶּֽנָּה׃

4:29The 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.

כטמִקּ֨וֹל פָּרָ֜שׁ וְרֹ֣מֵה קֶ֗שֶׁת בֹּרַ֨חַת֙ כָּל־הָעִ֔יר בָּ֚אוּ בֶּעָבִ֔ים וּבַכֵּפִ֖ים עָל֑וּ כָּל־הָעִ֣יר עֲזוּבָ֔ה וְאֵין־יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בָּהֵ֖ן אִֽישׁ׃

4:30And when you are spoiled, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with crimson, though you deck you with ornaments of gold, though you rend your face with painting, in vain shall you make yourself fair; your lovers will despise you, they will seek your life.

לוְאַ֨תְּ (כתיב ואתי) שָׁד֜וּד מַֽה־תַּעֲשִׂ֗י כִּֽי־תִלְבְּשִׁ֨י שָׁנִ֜י כִּי־תַעְדִּ֣י עֲדִי־זָהָ֗ב כִּֽי־תִקְרְעִ֤י בַפּוּךְ֙ עֵינַ֔יִךְ לַשָּׁ֖וְא תִּתְיַפִּ֑י מָאֲסוּ־בָ֥ךְ עֹגְבִ֖ים נַפְשֵׁ֥ךְ יְבַקֵּֽשׁוּ׃

4:31For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Tziyon, that bewails herself, that spreads her hands, saying, “Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.”

לאכִּי֩ ק֨וֹל כְּחוֹלָ֜ה שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי צָרָה֙ כְּמַבְכִּירָ֔ה ק֧וֹל בַּת־צִיּ֛וֹן תִּתְיַפֵּ֖חַ תְּפָרֵ֣שׂ כַּפֶּ֑יהָ אֽוֹי־נָ֣א לִ֔י כִּֽי־עָיְפָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י לְהֹרְגִֽים׃