כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְנִי֙ מֵעִ֣יר עַל־בָּבֶ֔ל וְאֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י לֵ֣ב קָמָ֑י ר֖וּחַ מַשְׁחִֽית׃ Thus said GOD:
See, I am rousing a destructive wind
Against Babylon and the inhabitants of Leb-kamai.aLeb-kamai A cipher for Kasdim “Chaldea.”
וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֨י לְבָבֶ֤ל ׀ זָרִים֙ וְזֵר֔וּהָ וִיבֹקְק֖וּ אֶת־אַרְצָ֑הּ כִּי־הָי֥וּ עָלֶ֛יהָ מִסָּבִ֖יב בְּי֥וֹם רָעָֽה׃ I will send strangersbstrangers Change of vocalization yields “winnowers.” against Babylon, and they shall winnow her.
And they shall strip her land bare;
They shall beset her on all sides
On the day of disaster.
אֶֽל־יִדְרֹ֤ךְ (ידרך) הַדֹּרֵךְ֙ קַשְׁתּ֔וֹ וְאֶֽל־יִתְעַ֖ל בְּסִרְיֹנ֑וֹ וְאַֽל־תַּחְמְלוּ֙ אֶל־בַּ֣חֻרֶ֔יהָ הַחֲרִ֖ימוּ כׇּל־צְבָאָֽהּ׃ LetcLet Some Heb. mss. and ancient versions read “Let not” here and in next line. the archer draw his bow,
And let him stand ready in his coat of mail!
Show no pity to her young men,
Wipe out all her host!
וְנָפְל֥וּ חֲלָלִ֖ים בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים וּמְדֻקָּרִ֖ים בְּחוּצוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ Let them fall slain in the land of Chaldea,
Pierced through in her streets.
כִּ֠י לֹֽא־אַלְמָ֨ן יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל וִֽיהוּדָה֙ מֵאֱלֹהָ֔יו מֵיְהֹוָ֖ה צְבָא֑וֹת כִּ֤י אַרְצָם֙ מָלְאָ֣ה אָשָׁ֔ם מִקְּד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ For Israel and Judah were not bereftdbereft Lit. “widowed.”
Of their God— GOD of Hosts,
But their land was filled with guilt
Before the Holy One of Israel.
נֻ֣סוּ ׀ מִתּ֣וֹךְ בָּבֶ֗ל וּמַלְּטוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ נַפְשׁ֔וֹ אַל־תִּדַּ֖מּוּ בַּעֲוֺנָ֑הּ כִּי֩ עֵ֨ת נְקָמָ֥ה הִיא֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה גְּמ֕וּל ה֥וּא מְשַׁלֵּ֖ם לָֽהּ׃ Flee from the midst of Babylon
And save your lives, each of you!
Do not perish for her iniquity;
For this is a time of vengeance for GOD,
Who will deal retribution to her.
כּוֹס־זָהָ֤ב בָּבֶל֙ בְּיַד־יְהֹוָ֔ה מְשַׁכֶּ֖רֶת כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ מִיֵּינָהּ֙ שָׁת֣וּ גוֹיִ֔ם עַל־כֵּ֖ן יִתְהֹלְל֥וּ גוֹיִֽם׃ Babylon was a golden cup in GOD’s hand,
It made the whole earth drunk;
The nations drank of her wine—
That is why the nations are mad.
פִּתְאֹ֛ם נָפְלָ֥ה בָבֶ֖ל וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֑ר הֵילִ֣ילוּ עָלֶ֗יהָ קְח֤וּ צֳרִי֙ לְמַכְאוֹבָ֔הּ אוּלַ֖י תֵּרָפֵֽא׃ Suddenly Babylon has fallen and is shattered;
Howl over her!
Get balm for her wounds:
Perhaps she can be healed.
רִפִּ֤אנוּ אֶת־בָּבֶל֙ וְלֹ֣א נִרְפָּ֔תָה עִזְב֕וּהָ וְנֵלֵ֖ךְ אִ֣ישׁ לְאַרְצ֑וֹ כִּֽי־נָגַ֤ע אֶל־הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ מִשְׁפָּטָ֔הּ וְנִשָּׂ֖א עַד־שְׁחָקִֽים׃ We tried to cure Babylon
But she was incurable.
Let us leave her and go,
Each to our own land;
For her punishment reaches to heaven,
It is as high as the sky.
הוֹצִ֥יא יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־צִדְקֹתֵ֑ינוּ בֹּ֚אוּ וּנְסַפְּרָ֣ה בְצִיּ֔וֹן אֶֽת־מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ {ס}
GOD
has proclaimed our vindication;
Come, let us recount in Zion
The deeds of the ETERNAL our God.
הָבֵ֣רוּ הַחִצִּים֮ מִלְא֣וּ הַשְּׁלָטִים֒ הֵעִ֣יר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶת־ר֙וּחַ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י מָדַ֔י כִּֽי־עַל־בָּבֶ֥ל מְזִמָּת֖וֹ לְהַשְׁחִיתָ֑הּ כִּֽי־נִקְמַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ הִ֔יא נִקְמַ֖ת הֵיכָלֽוֹ׃ Polish the arrows,
Fill the quivers!
GOD
has roused the spirit of the kings of Media,
For the divine plan against Babylon is to destroy her.
This is GOD’s vengeance,
Vengeance for the holyethe holy Lit. “His.” temple.
אֶל־חוֹמֹ֨ת בָּבֶ֜ל שְׂאוּ־נֵ֗ס הַחֲזִ֙יקוּ֙ הַמִּשְׁמָ֔ר הָקִ֙ימוּ֙ שֹֽׁמְרִ֔ים הָכִ֖ינוּ הָאֹֽרְבִ֑ים כִּ֚י גַּם־זָמַ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה גַּם־עָשָׂ֕ה אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֖ר אֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י בָבֶֽל׃ Raise a standard against the walls of Babylon!
Set up a blockade; station watchmen;
Prepare those in ambush.
For GOD has both planned and performed
What was decreed against the inhabitants of Babylon.
(שכנתי) [שֹׁכַנְתְּ֙] עַל־מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֔ים רַבַּ֖ת אוֹצָרֹ֑ת בָּ֥א קִצֵּ֖ךְ אַמַּ֥ת בִּצְעֵֽךְ׃ O you who dwell by great waters,
With vast storehouses,
Your time is come, the hour of your end.fthe hour of your end Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
נִשְׁבַּ֛ע יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת בְּנַפְשׁ֑וֹ כִּ֣י אִם־מִלֵּאתִ֤יךְ אָדָם֙ כַּיֶּ֔לֶק וְעָנ֥וּ עָלַ֖יִךְ הֵידָֽד׃ {ס}
GOD
of Hosts has wholeheartedly sworn:
I will fill you with enemiesgenemies Lit. “people.” like a locust swarm,
They will raise a shout against you.
עֹשֵׂ֥ה אֶ֙רֶץ֙ בְּכֹח֔וֹ מֵכִ֥ין תֵּבֵ֖ל בְּחׇכְמָת֑וֹ וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹ נָטָ֥ה שָׁמָֽיִם׃ [God] made the earth by might,
Established the world by wisdom,
And with understanding stretched out the skies.
לְק֨וֹל תִּתּ֜וֹ הֲמ֥וֹן מַ֙יִם֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיַּ֥עַל נְשִׂאִ֖ים מִקְצֵה־אָ֑רֶץ בְּרָקִ֤ים לַמָּטָר֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וַיּ֥וֹצֵא ר֖וּחַ מֵאֹצְרֹתָֽיו׃ When [God] bellows,hWhen [God] bellows Lit. “At the sound of His making.”
There is a rumbling of waters in the skies;
Vapors rise from the end of the earth,
Lightning accompanies the rain,
And wind is brought forth from God’s treasuries.
נִבְעַ֤ר כׇּל־אָדָם֙ מִדַּ֔עַת הֹבִ֥ישׁ כׇּל־צֹרֵ֖ף מִפָּ֑סֶל כִּ֛י שֶׁ֥קֶר נִסְכּ֖וֹ וְלֹא־ר֥וּחַ בָּֽם׃ Every mortal is proved dull, without knowledge;
Every goldsmith is put to shame because of the idol,
For their molten images are a deceit—
There is no breath in them.
הֶ֣בֶל הֵ֔מָּה מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה תַּעְתֻּעִ֑ים בְּעֵ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם יֹאבֵֽדוּ׃ They are delusion, a work of mockery;
In their hour of doom, they shall perish.
לֹֽא־כְאֵ֜לֶּה חֵ֣לֶק יַעֲק֗וֹב כִּֽי־יוֹצֵ֤ר הַכֹּל֙ ה֔וּא וְשֵׁ֖בֶט נַחֲלָת֑וֹ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ {פ}
Not like these is the Portion of Jacob—
The One who formed all things,
With Israel as a permanent possession—
Whose name is GOD of Hosts.
מַפֵּץ־אַתָּ֣ה לִ֔י כְּלֵ֖י מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִפַּצְתִּ֤י בְךָ֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם וְהִשְׁחַתִּ֥י בְךָ֖ מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃ You are My war club, [My] weapons of battle;
With you I clubbed nations,
With you I destroyed kingdoms;
וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ ס֖וּס וְרֹכְב֑וֹ וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ רֶ֖כֶב וְרֹכְבֽוֹ׃ With you I clubbed horse and rider,
With you I clubbed chariot and driver,
וְנִפַּצְתִּ֤י בְךָ֙ אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֔ה וְנִפַּצְתִּ֥י בְךָ֖ זָקֵ֣ן וָנָ֑עַר וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ בָּח֖וּר וּבְתוּלָֽה׃ With you I clubbed man and woman,
With you I clubbed graybeard and boy,
With you I clubbed youth and maiden;
וְנִפַּצְתִּ֤י בְךָ֙ רֹעֶ֣ה וְעֶדְר֔וֹ וְנִפַּצְתִּ֥י בְךָ֖ אִכָּ֣ר וְצִמְדּ֑וֹ וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ פַּח֖וֹת וּסְגָנִֽים׃ With you I clubbed shepherd and flock,
With you I clubbed plower and team,
With you I clubbed governors and prefects.
וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֨י לְבָבֶ֜ל וּלְכֹ֣ל ׀ יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י כַשְׂדִּ֗ים אֵ֧ת כׇּל־רָעָתָ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֥וּ בְצִיּ֖וֹן לְעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} But I will requite Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea
For all the wicked things they did to Zion before your eyes
—declares GOD.
הִנְנִ֨י אֵלֶ֜יךָ הַ֤ר הַמַּשְׁחִית֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה הַמַּשְׁחִ֖ית אֶת־כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְנָטִ֨יתִי אֶת־יָדִ֜י עָלֶ֗יךָ וְגִלְגַּלְתִּ֙יךָ֙ מִן־הַסְּלָעִ֔ים וּנְתַתִּ֖יךָ לְהַ֥ר שְׂרֵפָֽה׃ See, I will deal with you, O mountain of the destroyer
—declares GOD—
Destroyer of the whole earth!
I will stretch out My hand against you
And roll you down from the crags,
And make you a burnt-out mountain.
וְלֹֽא־יִקְח֤וּ מִמְּךָ֙ אֶ֣בֶן לְפִנָּ֔ה וְאֶ֖בֶן לְמוֹסָד֑וֹת כִּֽי־שִׁמְמ֥וֹת עוֹלָ֛ם תִּהְיֶ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ They shall never take from you
A cornerstone or foundation stone;
You shall be a desolation for all time
—declares GOD.
שְׂאוּ־נֵ֣ס בָּאָ֗רֶץ תִּקְע֨וּ שׁוֹפָ֤ר בַּגּוֹיִם֙ קַדְּשׁ֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם הַשְׁמִ֧יעוּ עָלֶ֛יהָ מַמְלְכ֥וֹת אֲרָרַ֖ט מִנִּ֣י וְאַשְׁכְּנָ֑ז פִּקְד֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ טִפְסָ֔ר הַעֲלוּ־ס֖וּס כְּיֶ֥לֶק סָמָֽר׃ Raise a standard on earth,
Sound a horn among the nations,
Appoint nations against her,
Assemble kingdoms against her—
Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz—
Designate a marshal against her,
Bring up horses like swarmingiswarming Meaning of Heb. uncertain. locusts!
קַדְּשׁ֨וּ עָלֶ֤יהָ גוֹיִם֙ אֶת־מַלְכֵ֣י מָדַ֔י אֶת־פַּחוֹתֶ֖יהָ וְאֶת־כׇּל־סְגָנֶ֑יהָ וְאֵ֖ת כׇּל־אֶ֥רֶץ מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃ Appoint nations for war against her—
The kings of Media,
Her governors and all her prefects,
And all the lands they rule!
וַתִּרְעַ֥שׁ הָאָ֖רֶץ וַתָּחֹ֑ל כִּ֣י קָ֤מָה עַל־בָּבֶל֙ מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת יְהֹוָ֔ה לָשׂ֞וּם אֶת־אֶ֧רֶץ בָּבֶ֛ל לְשַׁמָּ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ Then the earth quakes and writhes,
For GOD’s purpose is fulfilled against Babylon,
To make the land of Babylon
A waste without inhabitant.
חָדְלוּ֩ גִבּוֹרֵ֨י בָבֶ֜ל לְהִלָּחֵ֗ם יָֽשְׁבוּ֙ בַּמְּצָד֔וֹת נָשְׁתָ֥ה גְבוּרָתָ֖ם הָי֣וּ לְנָשִׁ֑ים הִצִּ֥יתוּ מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יהָ נִשְׁבְּר֥וּ בְרִיחֶֽיהָ׃ The warriors of Babylon stop fighting,
They sit in the strongholds,
Their might is dried up,
They become women.
Her dwellings are set afire,
Her bars are broken.
רָ֤ץ לִקְרַאת־רָץ֙ יָר֔וּץ וּמַגִּ֖יד לִקְרַ֣את מַגִּ֑יד לְהַגִּיד֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל כִּֽי־נִלְכְּדָ֥ה עִיר֖וֹ מִקָּצֶֽה׃ Runner dashes to meet runner,
Messenger to meet messenger,
To report to the king of Babylon
That his city is captured, from end to end.
וְהַמַּעְבָּר֣וֹת נִתְפָּ֔שׂוּ וְאֶת־הָאֲגַמִּ֖ים שָׂרְפ֣וּ בָאֵ֑שׁ וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה נִבְהָֽלוּ׃ {ס} The fords are captured,
And the swamp thicketsjthickets Meaning of Heb. uncertain. are consumed in fire;
And the warriors are in panic.
כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בַּת־בָּבֶ֕ל כְּגֹ֖רֶן עֵ֣ת הִדְרִיכָ֑הּ ע֣וֹד מְעַ֔ט וּבָ֥אָה עֵֽת־הַקָּצִ֖יר לָֽהּ׃ For thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel:
Fair Babylon is like a threshing floor
Ready to be trodden;
In a little while her harvesttime will come.
(אכלנו) [אֲכָלַ֣נִי] (הממנו) [הֲמָמַ֗נִי] נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר֮ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶל֒ (הציגנו) [הִצִּיגַ֙נִי֙] כְּלִ֣י רִ֔יק (בלענו) [בְּלָעַ֙נִי֙] כַּתַּנִּ֔ין מִלָּ֥א כְרֵשׂ֖וֹ מֵעֲדָנָ֑י (הדיחנו) [הֱדִיחָֽנִי]׃ “Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon
Devoured me and discomfited me;
He swallowed me like a dragon,
He filled his belly with my dainties,
And set me down like an empty dish;
Then he rinsed me out.krinsed me out Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
חֲמָסִ֤י וּשְׁאֵרִי֙ עַל־בָּבֶ֔ל תֹּאמַ֖ר יֹשֶׁ֣בֶת צִיּ֑וֹן וְדָמִי֙ אֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י כַשְׂדִּ֔ים תֹּאמַ֖ר יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {ס} Let the violence done me and my kindred
Be upon Babylon,”
Says the inhabitant of Zion;
“And let my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,”
Says Jerusalem.
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְנִי־רָב֙ אֶת־רִיבֵ֔ךְ וְנִקַּמְתִּ֖י אֶת־נִקְמָתֵ֑ךְ וְהַֽחֲרַבְתִּי֙ אֶת־יַמָּ֔הּ וְהֹֽבַשְׁתִּ֖י אֶת־מְקוֹרָֽהּ׃ Assuredly, thus said GOD:
I am going to uphold your cause
And take vengeance for you;
I will dry up her sea
And make her fountain run dry.
וְהָיְתָה֩ בָבֶ֨ל ׀ לְגַלִּ֧ים ׀ מְעוֹן־תַּנִּ֛ים שַׁמָּ֥ה וּשְׁרֵקָ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ Babylon shall become rubble,
A den for jackals,
An object of horror and hissing,lhissing See note at 18.16.
Without inhabitant.
יַחְדָּ֖ו כַּכְּפִרִ֣ים יִשְׁאָ֑גוּ נָעֲר֖וּ כְּגוֹרֵ֥י אֲרָיֽוֹת׃ Like lions, they roar together,
They growl like lion cubs.
בְּחֻמָּ֞ם אָשִׁ֣ית אֶת־מִשְׁתֵּיהֶ֗ם וְהִשְׁכַּרְתִּים֙ לְמַ֣עַן יַעֲלֹ֔זוּ וְיָשְׁנ֥וּ שְׁנַת־עוֹלָ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יָקִ֑יצוּ נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה׃ When they are heated, I will set out their drink
And get them drunk, that they may become hilariousmWhen they are heated, I will set out their drink / And get them drunk, that they may become hilarious Emendation yields “With poison [so Syriac] will I set out their drink / And get them drunk till they fall unconscious” (so ancient versions).
And then sleep an endless sleep,
Never to awake
—declares GOD.
אוֹרִידֵ֖ם כְּכָרִ֣ים לִטְב֑וֹחַ כְּאֵילִ֖ים עִם־עַתּוּדִֽים׃ I will bring them down like lambs for slaughter,
Like rams and he-goats.
אֵ֚יךְ נִלְכְּדָ֣ה שֵׁשַׁ֔ךְ וַתִּתָּפֵ֖שׂ תְּהִלַּ֣ת כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֵ֣יךְ הָיְתָ֧ה לְשַׁמָּ֛ה בָּבֶ֖ל בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃ How has SheshachnSheshach See note at 25.26. been captured,
The praise of the whole earth been taken!
How has Babylon become
A horror to the nations!
עָלָ֥ה עַל־בָּבֶ֖ל הַיָּ֑ם בַּהֲמ֥וֹן גַּלָּ֖יו נִכְסָֽתָה׃ The sea has risen over Babylon,
She is covered by its roaring waves.
הָי֤וּ עָרֶ֙יהָ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה אֶ֖רֶץ צִיָּ֣ה וַעֲרָבָ֑ה אֶ֗רֶץ לֹֽא־יֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּהֵן֙ כׇּל־אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹֽא־יַעֲבֹ֥ר בָּהֵ֖ן בֶּן־אָדָֽם׃ Her towns are a desolation,
A land of desert and steppe,
A land nobody at all lives in
And no human passes through.
וּפָקַדְתִּ֨י עַל־בֵּ֜ל בְּבָבֶ֗ל וְהֹצֵאתִ֤י אֶת־בִּלְעוֹ֙ מִפִּ֔יו וְלֹא־יִנְהֲר֥וּ אֵלָ֛יו ע֖וֹד גּוֹיִ֑ם גַּם־חוֹמַ֥ת בָּבֶ֖ל נָפָֽלָה׃ And I will deal with Bel in Babylon,
And make him disgorge what he has swallowed,
And nations shall no more gaze on him with joy.
Even the wall of Babylon shall fall.
צְא֤וּ מִתּוֹכָהּ֙ עַמִּ֔י וּמַלְּט֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־נַפְשׁ֑וֹ מֵחֲר֖וֹן אַף־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Depart from there, O My people,
Save your lives, each of you,
From GOD’s furious anger.
וּפֶן־יֵרַ֤ךְ לְבַבְכֶם֙ וְתִֽירְא֔וּ בַּשְּׁמוּעָ֖ה הַנִּשְׁמַ֣עַת בָּאָ֑רֶץ וּבָ֧א בַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁמוּעָ֗ה וְאַחֲרָ֤יו בַּשָּׁנָה֙ הַשְּׁמוּעָ֔ה וְחָמָ֣ס בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּמֹשֵׁ֖ל עַל־מֹשֵֽׁל׃ Do not be downhearted or afraid
At the rumors heard in the land:
A rumor will come one year,
And another rumor the next year
Of violence in the land,
And of ruler against ruler.
לָכֵן֙ הִנֵּ֣ה יָמִ֣ים בָּאִ֔ים וּפָֽקַדְתִּי֙ עַל־פְּסִילֵ֣י בָבֶ֔ל וְכׇל־אַרְצָ֖הּ תֵּב֑וֹשׁ וְכׇל־חֲלָלֶ֖יהָ יִפְּל֥וּ בְתוֹכָֽהּ׃ Assuredly, days are coming,
When I will deal with Babylon’s images;
Her whole land shall be shamed,
And all her slain shall fall in her midst.
וְרִנְּנ֤וּ עַל־בָּבֶל֙ שָׁמַ֣יִם וָאָ֔רֶץ וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם כִּ֧י מִצָּפ֛וֹן יָבוֹא־לָ֥הּ הַשּׁוֹדְדִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Heavens and earth and all that is in them
Shall shout over Babylon;
For the ravagers shall come upon her from the north
—declares GOD.
גַּם־בָּבֶ֕ל לִנְפֹּ֖ל חַֽלְלֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל גַּם־לְבָבֶ֥ל נָפְל֖וּ חַֽלְלֵ֥י כׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ Yes, Babylon is to fall
[For] the slain of Israel,
As the slain of all the earth
Have fallen through Babylon.
פְּלֵטִ֣ים מֵחֶ֔רֶב הִלְכ֖וּ אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹ֑דוּ זִכְר֤וּ מֵרָחוֹק֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה וִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם תַּעֲלֶ֥ה עַל־לְבַבְכֶֽם׃ You fugitives from the sword,
Go, don’t delay!
Remember GOD from afar,
And call Jerusalem to mind.
בֹּ֚שְׁנוּ כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֣עְנוּ חֶרְפָּ֔ה כִּסְּתָ֥ה כְלִמָּ֖ה פָּנֵ֑ינוּ כִּ֚י בָּ֣אוּ זָרִ֔ים עַֽל־מִקְדְּשֵׁ֖י בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
“We were shamed, we heard taunts;
Humiliation covered our faces,
When aliens entered
The sacred areas of GOD’s House.”
לָכֵ֞ן הִנֵּֽה־יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וּפָקַדְתִּ֖י עַל־פְּסִילֶ֑יהָ וּבְכׇל־אַרְצָ֖הּ יֶאֱנֹ֥ק חָלָֽל׃ Assuredly, days are coming
—declares GOD—
When I will deal with her images,
And throughout her land the dying shall groan.
כִּֽי־תַעֲלֶ֤ה בָבֶל֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְכִ֥י תְבַצֵּ֖ר מְר֣וֹם עֻזָּ֑הּ מֵאִתִּ֗י יָבֹ֧אוּ שֹׁדְדִ֛ים לָ֖הּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} Though Babylon should climb to the skies,
Though she fortify her strongholds up to heaven,
The ravagers would come against her from Me
—declares GOD.
ק֥וֹל זְעָקָ֖ה מִבָּבֶ֑ל וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּד֖וֹל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃ Hark! an outcry from Babylon,
Great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans.
כִּֽי־שֹׁדֵ֤ד יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־בָּבֶ֔ל וְאִבַּ֥ד מִמֶּ֖נָּה ק֣וֹל גָּד֑וֹל וְהָמ֤וּ גַלֵּיהֶם֙ כְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּ֔ים נִתַּ֥ן שְׁא֖וֹן קוֹלָֽם׃ For GOD is ravaging Babylon;
He will put an end to her great din,
Whose roar is like waves of mighty waters,
Whose tumultuous noise resounds.
כִּי֩ בָ֨א עָלֶ֤יהָ עַל־בָּבֶל֙ שׁוֹדֵ֔ד וְנִלְכְּדוּ֙ גִּבּוֹרֶ֔יהָ חִתְּתָ֖ה קַשְּׁתוֹתָ֑ם כִּ֣י אֵ֧ל גְּמֻל֛וֹת יְהֹוָ֖ה שַׁלֵּ֥ם יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ For a ravager is coming upon Babylon,
Her warriors shall be captured, their bows shall be snapped.
For the ETERNAL is a God of requital—
Who deals retribution.
וְ֠הִשְׁכַּרְתִּ֠י שָׂרֶ֨יהָ וַחֲכָמֶ֜יהָ פַּחוֹתֶ֤יהָ וּסְגָנֶ֙יהָ֙ וְגִבּוֹרֶ֔יהָ וְיָשְׁנ֥וּ שְׁנַת־עוֹלָ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יָקִ֑יצוּ נְאֻ֨ם־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ {ס} I will make her officials and her sages drunk,
Her governors and prefects and warriors;
And they shall sleep an endless sleep,
Never to awaken
—declares the KingoKing See note at 46.18. whose name is GOD of Hosts.
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת חֹ֠מ֠וֹת בָּבֶ֤ל הָרְחָבָה֙ עַרְעֵ֣ר תִּתְעַרְעָ֔ר וּשְׁעָרֶ֥יהָ הַגְּבֹהִ֖ים בָּאֵ֣שׁ יִצַּ֑תּוּ וְיִֽגְע֨וּ עַמִּ֧ים בְּדֵי־רִ֛יק וּלְאֻמִּ֥ים בְּדֵי־אֵ֖שׁ וְיָעֵֽפוּ׃ {ס} Thus said GOD of Hosts:
Babylon’s broad wall shall be knocked down,
And her high gates set afire.
Peoples shall labor for naught,
And nations have wearied themselves for fire.
הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֣ה ׀ יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֗יא אֶת־שְׂרָיָ֣ה בֶן־נֵרִיָּה֮ בֶּן־מַחְסֵיָה֒ בְּלֶכְתּ֞וֹ אֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֤הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ בָּבֶ֔ל בִּשְׁנַ֥ת הָרְבִעִ֖ית לְמׇלְכ֑וֹ וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה שַׂ֥ר מְנוּחָֽה׃ The instructions that the prophet Jeremiah gave to Seraiah son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, when the latter went withpwith Emendation yields “at the instance of.” King Zedekiah of Judah to Babylonia, in the fourth year of [Zedekiah’s] reign. Seraiah was quartermaster.qquartermaster Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ אֵ֧ת כׇּל־הָרָעָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־תָּב֥וֹא אֶל־בָּבֶ֖ל אֶל־סֵ֣פֶר אֶחָ֑ד אֵ֚ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה הַכְּתֻבִ֖ים אֶל־בָּבֶֽל׃ Jeremiah wrote down in one scroll all the disaster that would come upon Babylon, all these things that are written concerning Babylon.
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־שְׂרָיָ֑ה כְּבֹאֲךָ֣ בָבֶ֔ל וְֽרָאִ֔יתָ וְֽקָרָ֔אתָ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read out all these words.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ יְהֹוָה֙ אַתָּ֨ה דִבַּ֜רְתָּ אֶל־הַמָּק֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ לְהַכְרִית֔וֹ לְבִלְתִּ֤י הֱיֽוֹת־בּוֹ֙ יוֹשֵׁ֔ב לְמֵאָדָ֖ם וְעַד־בְּהֵמָ֑ה כִּֽי־שִׁמְמ֥וֹת עוֹלָ֖ם תִּהְיֶֽה׃ And say, ‘O ETERNAL One, You Yourself have declared concerning this place that it shall be cut off, without inhabitants—humans or animals; that it shall be a desolation for all time.’
וְהָיָה֙ כְּכַלֹּ֣תְךָ֔ לִקְרֹ֖א אֶת־הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֑ה תִּקְשֹׁ֤ר עָלָיו֙ אֶ֔בֶן וְהִשְׁלַכְתּ֖וֹ אֶל־תּ֥וֹךְ פְּרָֽת׃ And when you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and hurl it into the Euphrates.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ כָּ֠כָה תִּשְׁקַ֨ע בָּבֶ֤ל וְלֹֽא־תָקוּם֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מֵבִ֥יא עָלֶ֖יהָ וְיָעֵ֑פוּ עַד־הֵ֖נָּה דִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָֽהוּ׃ {פ}
And say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink and never rise again, because of the disaster that I will bring upon it. And [nations] shall have wearied themselves [for fire].’”r[for fire] Cf. v. 58, last line. Thus far the words of Jeremiah.