שׁוֹטְטוּ בְּחוּצוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם וּרְאוּ נָא וּדְעוּ וּבַקְשׁוּ בִרְחוֹבוֹתֶיהָ אִם־תִּמְצְאוּ אִישׁ אִם־יֵשׁ עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט מְבַקֵּשׁ אֱמוּנָה וְאֶסְלַח לָהּ

Wander through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, know, and seek in its thoroughfares. If you find even a single good man, if there is a performer of justice, a seeker of faithfulness, I will forgive it, all of Jerusalem. There is no one who can be trusted in the entire city.

וְאִם חַי־ה' יֹאמֵרוּ לָכֵן לַשֶּׁקֶר יִשָּׁבֵעוּ

As the people are all liars, even if they say: As the Lord lives, thereby uttering an oath in the name of God, they will therefore still be taking oaths falsely.

ה' עֵינֶיךָ הֲלוֹא לֶאֱמוּנָה הִכִּיתָה אֹתָם וְלֹא־חָלוּ כִּלִּיתָם מֵאֲנוּ קַחַת מוּסָר חִזְּקוּ פְנֵיהֶם מִסֶּלַע מֵאֲנוּ לָשׁוּב

Lord, are Your eyes that watch over the world, that mark actions for reward and punishment, and that represent Your will not toward faithfulness? You want people to be upright and faithful, strong and stable. You smote them to bring them to change their ways, but they did not tremble; You annihilated them, but they still refused to accept chastisement. They hardened their faces more than a rock, and they refused to repent. Although they have been punished and have suffered, they have not changed their ways.

וַאֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי אַךְ־דַּלִּים הֵם נוֹאֲלוּ כִּי לֹא יָדְעוּ דֶּרֶךְ ה' מִשְׁפַּט אֱלֹהֵיהֶם

And I said in defense of the inhabitants of Jerusalem: They are merely poor, both financially and intellectually. Therefore, they acted foolishly, as they did not know the way of the Lord and the ordinance of their God. They stubbornly refuse to change their ways because they are misguided and ignorant.

אֵלְכָה־לִּי אֶל־הַגְּדֹלִים וַאֲדַבְּרָה אוֹתָם כִּי הֵמָּה יָדְעוּ דֶּרֶךְ ה' מִשְׁפַּט אֱלֹהֵיהֶם אַךְ הֵמָּה יַחְדָּו שָׁבְרוּ עֹל נִתְּקוּ מוֹסֵרוֹת

Consequently, I will abandon those who lack knowledge, and I will go to the great ones, and I will speak with them matters of rebuke, as they have known the way of the Lord and the ordinance of their God. However, together as one they broke the yoke of Heaven and they snapped the restraints. They too act as they wish, without any sense of responsibility for their behavior. Their superior knowledge has no positive effect on their way of life.

עַל־כֵּן הִכָּם אַרְיֵה מִיַּעַר זְאֵב עֲרָבוֹת יְשָׁדְדֵם נָמֵר שֹׁקֵד עַל־עָרֵיהֶם כָּל־הַיּוֹצֵא מֵהֵנָּה יִטָּרֵף כִּי רַבּוּ פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם עָצְמוּ מְשֻׁבוֹתֵיהֶם

Therefore, a lion from the forest has smitten them, a wolf of the deserts plunders them, a leopard lies in wait by their cities to destroy them, and everyone who emerges from them will be mauled. These images represent attacks by other nations or by bandits, from which the people will not be saved. This is because their transgressions have magnified, and their deviances, their straying from the proper path, have intensified.

אֵי לָזֹאת אֶסְלַח־לָךְ! בָּנַיִךְ עֲזָבוּנִי וַיִּשָּׁבְעוּ בְּלֹא אֱלֹהִים וָאַשְׂבִּעַ אוֹתָם וַיִּנְאָפוּ וּבֵית זוֹנָה יִתְגּוֹדָדוּ

The prophet again addresses Israel in God’s name: How can I forgive you for this? Your children forsook Me and took oaths by non-gods. Alternatively, they did not mention the name of God in their oaths, and even if they did so, their oaths lacked credibility. I satiated them with all types of blessings, but they committed adultery, using their wealth for licentious purposes. They congregate at the harlot’s house. Some explain that this means they quarrel with and harm each other.

סוּסִים מְיֻזָּנִים מַשְׁכִּים הָיוּ אִישׁ אֶל־אֵשֶׁת רֵעֵהוּ יִצְהָלוּ

They have become like horses in heat rising early; each neighs to his neighbor’s wife. The prophet compares their noisy, inappropriate excitement when they greet their neighbors’ wives to the neighing of horses.

הַעַל־אֵלֶּה לוֹא־אֶפְקֹד ! נְאֻם־ה' וְאִם בְּגוֹי אֲשֶׁר־כָּזֶה לֹא תִתְנַקֵּם נַפְשִׁי!

Will I not reckon, punish them, for these transgressions – the utterance of the Lord – and will My soul not be avenged on a nation like this? Is it not appropriate to take vengeance upon such a people?

עֲלוּ בְשָׁרוֹתֶיהָ וְשַׁחֵתוּ וְכָלָה אַל־תַּעֲשׂוּ הָסִירוּ נְטִישׁוֹתֶיהָ כִּי לוֹא לַה' הֵמָּה

Consequently come, nations, enter within its, Jerusalem’s, walls and destroy them, but do not engender annihilation; remove its large offshoots, wild branches that extend beyond the boundaries of a vineyard or orchard, as they are not the Lord’s.

כִּי בָגוֹד בָּגְדוּ בִּי בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבֵית יְהוּדָה נְאֻם־ה'

For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have betrayed Me – the utterance of the Lord.

כִּחֲשׁוּ בַּה' וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹא־הוּא וְלֹא־תָבוֹא עָלֵינוּ רָעָה וְחֶרֶב וְרָעָב לוֹא נִרְאֶה

They have denied and ignored the Lord. They said: We will not heed Him, for we believe He is not present in this world and does not reward righteousness or punish evil, and evil will not befall us, and we will not see sword or famine.

וְהַנְּבִיאִים יִהְיוּ לְרוּחַ וְהַדִּבֵּר אֵין בָּהֶם כֹּה יֵעָשֶׂה לָהֶם

The house of Israel and the house of Judah further state: The prophets are like the wind, as they issue only fanciful statements without substance. The word is not with them, as their comments are meaningless. So let it be done to them, the prophets, in accordance with all of the evils they claim will befall us.

לָכֵן כֹּה־אָמַר ה' אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאוֹת יַעַן דַּבֶּרְכֶם אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה הִנְנִי נֹתֵן דְּבָרַי בְּפִיךָ לְאֵשׁ וְהָעָם הַזֶּה עֵצִים וַאֲכָלָתַם

Therefore, so said the Lord, God of hosts: Due to your speaking this matter, which expresses your disrespect toward God, His laws, and your special relationship with Him, and due to your mocking the prophets in your midst, their predictions will not remain mere speeches. Rather, behold, I am rendering My words in your, Jeremiah’s, mouth fire, and this people will be like wood, and it, the fire of the prophecy, will consume them.

הִנְנִי מֵבִיא עֲלֵיכֶם גּוֹי מִמֶּרְחָק בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל נְאֻם־ה' גּוֹי אֵיתָן הוּא גּוֹי מֵעוֹלָם הוּא גּוֹי לֹא־תֵדַע לְשֹׁנוֹ וְלֹא תִשְׁמַע מַה־יְּדַבֵּר

Behold, I am bringing a nation upon you from a distance, house of Israel – the utterance of the Lord. It is not a small people from a far-flung corner of the world, but a resolute nation; it is an ancient nation with old traditions. However, it will be a foreign nation whose language you do not know and whose sayings you do not understand. If you were attacked by nations from your region, whose language is similar to yours, you would be able to plead your case to them.

אַשְׁפָּתוֹ כְּקֶבֶר פָּתוּחַ כֻּלָּם גִּבּוֹרִים

Its quiver is like an open grave. That nation’s arsenal of arrows, with its lethal potential, will not be depleted. As for their soldiers, they are all mighty and will fight to the bitter end.

וְאָכַל קְצִירְךָ וְלַחְמֶךָ יֹאכְלוּ בָּנֶיךָ וּבְנוֹתֶיךָ יֹאכַל צֹאנְךָ וּבְקָרֶךָ יֹאכַל גַּפְנְךָ וּתְאֵנָתֶךָ יְרֹשֵׁשׁ עָרֵי מִבְצָרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה בּוֹטֵחַ בָּהֵנָּה בֶּחָרֶב

It, the enemy, will consume your reaping and your bread; they will consume your sons and your daughters. Alternatively, the verse means that they will consume your bread, which is generally eaten by your sons and your daughters. Likewise, it, the enemy, will consume your flocks and your herds, and it will consume your vines and your fig trees. It will plunder everything that you own. Moreover, it will impoverish your fortified cities, upon which you rely, with the sword.

וְגַם בַּיָּמִים הָהֵמָּה נְאֻם־ה' לֹא־אֶעֱשֶׂה אִתְּכֶם כָּלָה

But even in those days – the utterance of the Lord – I will not engender your annihilation.

וְהָיָה כִּי תֹאמְרוּ תַּחַת מֶה עָשָׂה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ לָנוּ אֶת־כָּל אֵלֶּה וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר עֲזַבְתֶּם אוֹתִי וַתַּעַבְדוּ אֱלֹהֵי נֵכָר בְּאַרְצְכֶם כֵּן תַּעַבְדוּ זָרִים בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא לָכֶם

It shall be when you will say: Because of what did the Lord our God do all these acts of retribution to us? You, the prophet, will say to them in My name: Just as you forsook Me and worshipped strange gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land not yours.

הַגִּידוּ זֹאת בְּבֵית יַעֲקֹב וְהַשְׁמִיעוּהָ בִיהוּדָה לֵאמֹר׃

Tell this in the house of Jacob, and proclaim it in Judah, saying:

שִׁמְעוּ־נָא זֹאת עַם סָכָל וְאֵין לֵב עֵינַיִם לָהֶם – וְלֹא יִרְאוּ אָזְנַיִם לָהֶם – וְלֹא יִשְׁמָעוּ

Hear this, please, foolish people who are without a heart, that is, without understanding. The heart, rather than the mind, is considered the seat of wisdom in the Bible. They have eyes, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear.

הַאוֹתִי לֹא־תִירָאוּ נְאֻם־ה' אִם מִפָּנַי לֹא תָחִילוּ ! אֲשֶׁר־שַׂמְתִּי חוֹל גְּבוּל לַיָּם חָק־עוֹלָם וְלֹא יַעַבְרֶנְהוּ וַיִּתְגָּעֲשׁוּ וְלֹא יוּכָלוּ וְהָמוּ גַלָּיו וְלֹא־יַעַבְרֻנְהוּ

Will you not fear Me – the utterance of the Lord – will you not tremble before Me? For I am the One who set the sand as a boundary for the sea, an eternal statute, and it, the sea, will not cross it. They, the sea’s waves, rage, but they do not prevail over the sand; its waves roar, but they will not cross it.

וְלָעָם הַזֶּה הָיָה לֵב סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה סָרוּ וַיֵּלֵכוּ

The raging sea is contained and tamed, but to this people there was a defiant and rebellious heart. Although they witnessed God’s power, no one was afraid of Him or humbled himself before Him; they turned away and they left, wandering off in any direction they fancied.

וְלוֹא־אָמְרוּ בִלְבָבָם נִירָא נָא אֶת־ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ הַנֹּתֵן גֶּשֶׁם יוֹרֶה וּמַלְקוֹשׁ בְּעִתּוֹ שְׁבֻעֹת חֻקּוֹת קָצִיר יִשְׁמָר־לָנוּ

They did not say in their heart: Let us now fear the Lord our God, who gives rain, the early rain and the late rain, at its appointed time; He will maintain for us the set weeks of the harvest so that they come at their appropriate time.

עֲוֹנוֹתֵיכֶם הִטּוּ אֵלֶּה וְחַטֹּאותֵיכֶם מָנְעוּ הַטּוֹב מִכֶּם

Your iniquities have diverted these, correct knowledge and understanding, from you. Alternatively, your iniquities have diverted the rain and the harvest from arriving in their proper time. And your sins have withheld good from you.

כִּי־נִמְצְאוּ בְעַמִּי רְשָׁעִים יָשׁוּר כְּשַׁךְ יְקוּשִׁים הִצִּיבוּ מַשְׁחִית אֲנָשִׁים יִלְכֹּדוּ

For among My people wicked men have been found. He, a wicked man, lies in wait, like the setter of traps. So too they, the wicked of My nation, set an ambush, with which they capture people.

כִּכְלוּב מָלֵא עוֹף כֵּן בָּתֵּיהֶם מְלֵאִים מִרְמָה עַל־כֵּן גָּדְלוּ וַיַּעֲשִׁירוּ

Like a cage full of captured birds, so their houses, those of the wicked, are full of deceit; therefore, they have become great and have grown rich.

שָׁמְנוּ עָשְׁתוּ גַּם עָבְרוּ דִבְרֵי־רָע דִּין לֹא־דָנוּ דִּין יָתוֹם וְיַצְלִיחוּ וּמִשְׁפַּט אֶבְיוֹנִים לֹא שָׁפָטוּ

They have grown fat and become sleek, and they have also transgressed in evil ways. They have not performed judgment, the judgment of the orphan, but they succeed nevertheless, and they have not adjudicated the trial of the indigent. Although they have an organized system of justice, it does not effectively support the poor and the orphan, who are most in need of it.

הַעַל־אֵלֶּה לֹא־אֶפְקֹד נְאֻם־ה'! אִם בְּגוֹי אֲשֶׁר־כָּזֶה לֹא תִתְנַקֵּם נַפְשִׁי!

Will I not reckon, punish you, for these sins – the utterance of the Lord – will My soul not be avenged on a nation like this? Look at how you behave. Do you not deserve all these punishments?

שַׁמָּה וְשַׁעֲרוּרָה נִהְיְתָה בָּאָרֶץ

An astonishment and a scandal have come to be in the land. The term shamma refers to a situation that arouses astonishment, hishtomemut.

הַנְּבִאִים נִבְּאוּ בַשֶּׁקֶר וְהַכֹּהֲנִים יִרְדּוּ עַל־יְדֵיהֶם וְעַמִּי אָהֲבוּ כֵן וּמַה־תַּעֲשׂוּ לְאַחֲרִיתָהּ

The prophets have prophesied falsehood, and the priests have dominated through them. When the leadership’s credibility was questioned, the prophets who were recruited by those leaders would defend their practices. In effect, the spiritual leaders merely justified the prevailing political system. And My people, the common folk, have liked it so as well, this collusion between the false prophets and the false priests. But what will you do at its conclusion, when this fantasy dissolves before your eyes? Where will you turn then?