Seventy Years of Captivity
הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֤ה עַֽל־יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ עַל־כָּל־עַ֣ם יְהוּדָ֔ה בַּשָּׁנָה֙ הָֽרְבִעִ֔ית לִיהוֹיָקִ֥ים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה הִ֗יא הַשָּׁנָה֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ית לִנְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֖ר מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃
This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֜ר יִרְמְיָ֤הוּ הַנָּבִיא֙ עַל־כָּל־עַ֣ם יְהוּדָ֔ה וְאֶ֛ל כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃
So the prophet Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and all the residents of Jerusalem as follows:
מִן־שְׁלֹ֣שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֡ה לְיֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ בֶן־אָמוֹן֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֜ה וְעַ֣ד׀ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה זֶ֚ה שָׁלֹ֤שׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה הָיָ֥ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י וָאֲדַבֵּ֧ר אֲלֵיכֶ֛ם אַשְׁכֵּ֥ים וְדַבֵּ֖ר וְלֹ֥א שְׁמַעְתֶּֽם׃
“From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—twenty-three years—the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
וְשָׁלַח֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֲלֵיכֶ֜ם אֶֽת־כָּל־עֲבָדָ֧יו הַנְּבִאִ֛ים הַשְׁכֵּ֥ם וְשָׁלֹ֖חַ וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם וְלֹֽא־הִטִּיתֶ֥ם אֶֽת־אָזְנְכֶ֖ם לִשְׁמֹֽעַ׃
And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear.
לֵאמֹ֗ר שֽׁוּבוּ־נָ֞א אִ֣ישׁ מִדַּרְכּ֤וֹ הָֽרָעָה֙ וּמֵרֹ֣עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם וּשְׁבוּ֙ עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם וְלַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם לְמִן־עוֹלָ֖ם וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
The prophets told you, ‘Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and deeds, and you can dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever.
וְאַל־תֵּלְכ֗וּ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים לְעָבְדָ֖ם וּלְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם וְלֹֽא־תַכְעִ֤יסוּ אוֹתִי֙ בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יְדֵיכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א אָרַ֖ע לָכֶֽם׃
Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’
וְלֹֽא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֥ם אֵלַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה לְמַ֧עַן הַכְעִיסֵ֛נִי בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיכֶ֖ם לְרַ֥ע לָכֶֽם׃ ס
‘But to your own harm, you have not listened to Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘so you have provoked Me to anger with the works of your hands.’
לָכֵ֕ן כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת יַ֕עַן אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־דְּבָרָֽי׃
Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Because you have not obeyed My words,
הִנְנִ֣י שֹׁלֵ֡חַ וְלָקַחְתִּי֩ אֶת־כָּל־מִשְׁפְּח֨וֹת צָפ֜וֹן נְאֻם־יְהוָ֗ה וְאֶל־נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֮ עַבְדִּי֒ וַהֲבִ֨אֹתִ֜ים עַל־הָאָ֤רֶץ הַזֹּאת֙ וְעַל־יֹ֣שְׁבֶ֔יהָ וְעַ֛ל כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֥ם הָאֵ֖לֶּה סָבִ֑יב וְהַ֣חֲרַמְתִּ֔ים וְשַׂמְתִּים֙ לְשַׁמָּ֣ה וְלִשְׁרֵקָ֔ה וּלְחָרְב֖וֹת עוֹלָֽם׃
behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation.
וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֣י מֵהֶ֗ם ק֤וֹל שָׂשׂוֹן֙ וְק֣וֹל שִׂמְחָ֔ה ק֥וֹל חָתָ֖ן וְק֣וֹל כַּלָּ֑ה ק֥וֹל רֵחַ֖יִם וְא֥וֹר נֵֽר׃
Moreover, I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.
וְהָֽיְתָה֙ כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את לְחָרְבָּ֖ה לְשַׁמָּ֑ה וְעָ֨בְד֜וּ הַגּוֹיִ֥ם הָאֵ֛לֶּה אֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל שִׁבְעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃
And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.
וְהָיָ֣ה כִמְלֹ֣אות שִׁבְעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֡ה אֶפְקֹ֣ד עַל־מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֩ וְעַל־הַגּ֨וֹי הַה֧וּא נְאֻם־יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־עֲוֹנָ֖ם וְעַל־אֶ֣רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים וְשַׂמְתִּ֥י אֹת֖וֹ לְשִֽׁמְמ֥וֹת עוֹלָֽם׃
But when seventy years are complete, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, declares the LORD, and I will make it an everlasting desolation.
וְהֵֽבֵאתִי֙ עַל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֔יא אֶת־כָּל־דְּבָרַ֖י אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֣רְתִּי עָלֶ֑יהָ אֵ֤ת כָּל־הַכָּתוּב֙ בַּסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נִבָּ֥א יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ עַל־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃
I will bring upon that land all the words I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.
כִּ֣י עָֽבְדוּ־בָ֤ם גַּם־הֵ֙מָּה֙ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֔ים וּמְלָכִ֖ים גְּדוֹלִ֑ים וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֥י לָהֶ֛ם כְּפָעֳלָ֖ם וּכְמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃ ס
For many nations and great kings will enslave them, and I will repay them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands.’”
The Cup of God’s Wrath
כִּ֣י כֹה֩ אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֵלַ֔י קַ֠ח אֶת־כּ֨וֹס הַיַּ֧יִן הַחֵמָ֛ה הַזֹּ֖את מִיָּדִ֑י וְהִשְׁקִיתָ֤ה אֹתוֹ֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י שֹׁלֵ֥חַ אוֹתְךָ֖ אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.
וְשָׁת֕וּ וְהִֽתְגֹּֽעֲשׁ֖וּ וְהִתְהֹלָ֑לוּ מִפְּנֵ֣י הַחֶ֔רֶב אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י שֹׁלֵ֖חַ בֵּינֹתָֽם׃
And they will drink and stagger and go out of their minds, because of the sword that I will send among them.”
וָאֶקַּ֥ח אֶת־הַכּ֖וֹס מִיַּ֣ד יְהוָ֑ה וָֽאַשְׁקֶה֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־שְׁלָחַ֥נִי יְהוָ֖ה אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand and made all the nations drink from it, each one to whom the LORD had sent me,
אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ וְאֶת־עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וְאֶת־מְלָכֶ֖יהָ אֶת־שָׂרֶ֑יהָ לָתֵ֨ת אֹתָ֜ם לְחָרְבָּ֧ה לְשַׁמָּ֛ה לִשְׁרֵקָ֥ה וְלִקְלָלָ֖ה כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
to make them a ruin, an object of horror and contempt and cursing, as they are to this day—Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and officials;
אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֧ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֛יִם וְאֶת־עֲבָדָ֥יו וְאֶת־שָׂרָ֖יו וְאֶת־כָּל־עַמּֽוֹ׃
Pharaoh king of Egypt, his officials, his leaders, and all his people;
וְאֵת֙ כָּל־הָעֶ֔רֶב וְאֵ֕ת כָּל־מַלְכֵ֖י אֶ֣רֶץ הָע֑וּץ וְאֵ֗ת כָּל־מַלְכֵי֙ אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְאֶת־אַשְׁקְל֤וֹן וְאֶת־עַזָּה֙ וְאֶת־עֶקְר֔וֹן וְאֵ֖ת שְׁאֵרִ֥ית אַשְׁדּֽוֹד׃
all the mixed tribes; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines: Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;
וְאֵת֙ כָּל־מַלְכֵי־צֹ֔ר וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־מַלְכֵ֣י צִיד֑וֹן וְאֵת֙ מַלְכֵ֣י הָאִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעֵ֥בֶר הַיָּֽם׃
all the kings of Tyre and Sidon; the kings of the coastlands across the sea;
וְאֶת־דְּדָ֤ן וְאֶת־תֵּימָא֙ וְאֶת־בּ֔וּז וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־קְצוּצֵ֥י פֵאָֽה׃
Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair;
וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־מַלְכֵ֣י עֲרָ֑ב וְאֵת֙ כָּל־מַלְכֵ֣י הָעֶ֔רֶב הַשֹּׁכְנִ֖ים בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mixed tribes who dwell in the desert;
וְאֵ֣ת׀ כָּל־מַלְכֵ֣י זִמְרִ֗י וְאֵת֙ כָּל־מַלְכֵ֣י עֵילָ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־מַלְכֵ֥י מָדָֽי׃
all the kings of Zimri, Elam, and Media;
וְאֵ֣ת׀ כָּל־מַלְכֵ֣י הַצָּפ֗וֹן הַקְּרֹבִ֤ים וְהָֽרְחֹקִים֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֔יו וְאֵת֙ כָּל־הַמַּמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וּמֶ֥לֶךְ שֵׁשַׁ֖ךְ יִשְׁתֶּ֥ה אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃
all the kings of the north, both near and far, one after another—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshach will drink it too.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֡ם ס כֹּֽה־אָמַר֩ יְהוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל שְׁת֤וּ וְשִׁכְרוּ֙ וּקְי֔וּ וְנִפְל֖וּ וְלֹ֣א תָק֑וּמוּ מִפְּנֵ֣י הַחֶ֔רֶב אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י שֹׁלֵ֖חַ בֵּינֵיכֶֽם׃
“Then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Drink, get drunk, and vomit. Fall down and never get up again, because of the sword I will send among you.’
וְהָיָ֗ה כִּ֧י יְמָאֲנ֛וּ לָקַֽחַת־הַכּ֥וֹס מִיָּדְךָ֖ לִשְׁתּ֑וֹת וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שָׁת֥וֹ תִשְׁתּֽוּ׃
If they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink it, you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘You most certainly must drink it!
כִּי֩ הִנֵּ֨ה בָעִ֜יר אֲשֶׁ֧ר נִֽקְרָא־שְׁמִ֣י עָלֶ֗יהָ אָֽנֹכִי֙ מֵחֵ֣ל לְהָרַ֔ע וְאַתֶּ֖ם הִנָּקֵ֣ה תִנָּק֑וּ לֹ֣א תִנָּק֔וּ כִּ֣י חֶ֗רֶב אֲנִ֤י קֹרֵא֙ עַל־כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃
For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’
וְאַתָּה֙ תִּנָּבֵ֣א אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם יְהוָ֞ה מִמָּר֤וֹם יִשְׁאָג֙ וּמִמְּע֤וֹן קָדְשׁוֹ֙ יִתֵּ֣ן קוֹל֔וֹ שָׁאֹ֤ג יִשְׁאַג֙ עַל־נָוֵ֔הוּ הֵידָד֙ כְּדֹרְכִ֣ים יַֽעֲנֶ֔ה אֶ֥ל כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאָֽרֶץ׃
So you are to prophesy all these words against them and say to them: ‘The LORD will roar from on high; He will raise His voice from His holy habitation. He will roar loudly over His pasture; like those who tread the grapes, He will call out with a shout against all the inhabitants of the earth.
בָּ֤א שָׁאוֹן֙ עַד־קְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֣י רִ֤יב לַֽיהוָה֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם נִשְׁפָּ֥ט ה֖וּא לְכָל־בָּשָׂ֑ר הָרְשָׁעִ֛ים נְתָנָ֥ם לַחֶ֖רֶב נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ ס
The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth because the LORD brings a charge against the nations. He brings judgment on all mankind and puts the wicked to the sword,’” declares the LORD.
כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הִנֵּ֥ה רָעָ֛ה יֹצֵ֖את מִגּ֣וֹי אֶל־גּ֑וֹי וְסַ֣עַר גָּד֔וֹל יֵע֖וֹר מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.”
וְהָי֞וּ חַֽלְלֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא מִקְצֵ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ וְעַד־קְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ לֹ֣א יִסָּפְד֗וּ וְלֹ֤א יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִקָּבֵ֔רוּ לְדֹ֛מֶן עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָ֖ה יִֽהְיֽוּ׃
Those slain by the LORD on that day will be spread from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned, gathered, or buried. They will be like dung lying on the ground.
The Cry of the Shepherds
הֵילִ֨ילוּ הָרֹעִ֜ים וְזַעֲק֗וּ וְהִֽתְפַּלְּשׁוּ֙ אַדִּירֵ֣י הַצֹּ֔אן כִּֽי־מָלְא֥וּ יְמֵיכֶ֖ם לִטְב֑וֹחַ וּתְפוֹצ֣וֹתִיכֶ֔ם וּנְפַלְתֶּ֖ם כִּכְלִ֥י חֶמְדָּֽה׃
Wail, you shepherds, and cry out; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For the days of your slaughter have come; you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery.
וְאָבַ֥ד מָנ֖וֹס מִן־הָֽרֹעִ֑ים וּפְלֵיטָ֖ה מֵאַדִּירֵ֥י הַצֹּֽאן׃
Flight will evade the shepherds, and escape will elude the leaders of the flock.
ק֚וֹל צַעֲקַ֣ת הָֽרֹעִ֔ים וִֽילְלַ֖ת אַדִּירֵ֣י הַצֹּ֑אן כִּֽי־שֹׁדֵ֥ד יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מַרְעִיתָֽם׃
Hear the cry of the shepherds, the wailing of the leaders of the flock, for the LORD is destroying their pasture.
וְנָדַ֖מּוּ נְא֣וֹת הַשָּׁל֑וֹם מִפְּנֵ֖י חֲר֥וֹן אַף־יְהוָֽה׃
The peaceful meadows have been silenced because of the LORD’s burning anger.
עָזַ֥ב כַּכְּפִ֖יר סֻכּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־הָיְתָ֤ה אַרְצָם֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה מִפְּנֵי֙ חֲר֣וֹן הַיּוֹנָ֔ה וּמִפְּנֵ֖י חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ׃ פ
He has left His den like a lion, for their land has been made a desolation by the sword of the oppressor, and because of the fierce anger of the LORD.