Chapter 23

1Ah, shepherds who let the flock of My pasture stray and scatter!—declares Hashem.

אהוֹי רֹעִים מְאַבְּדִים וּמְפִצִים אֶת־צֹאן מַרְעִיתִי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃

2Assuredly, thus said Hashem, the God of Yisrael, concerning the shepherds who should tend My people: It is you who let My flock scatter and go astray. You gave no thought to them, but I am going to give thought to you, for your wicked acts—declares Hashem.

בלָכֵן כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל־הָרֹעִים הָרֹעִים אֶת־עַמִּי אַתֶּם הֲפִצֹתֶם אֶת־צֹאנִי וַתַּדִּחוּם וְלֹא פְקַדְתֶּם אֹתָם הִנְנִי פֹקֵד עֲלֵיכֶם אֶת־רֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃

3And I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will bring them back to their pasture, where they shall be fertile and increase.

גוַאֲנִי אֲקַבֵּץ אֶת־שְׁאֵרִית צֹאנִי מִכֹּל הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר־הִדַּחְתִּי אֹתָם שָׁם וַהֲשִׁבֹתִי אֶתְהֶן עַל־נְוֵהֶן וּפָרוּ וְרָבוּ׃

4And I will appoint over them shepherds who will tend them; they shall no longer fear or be dismayed, and none of them shall be missing—declares Hashem.

דוַהֲקִמֹתִי עֲלֵיהֶם רֹעִים וְרָעוּם וְלֹא־יִירְאוּ עוֹד וְלֹא־יֵחַתּוּ וְלֹא יִפָּקֵדוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃

5See, a time is coming—declares Hashem—when I will raise up a true branch of David's line. He shall reign as king and shall prosper, and he shall do what is just and right in the land.

ההִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וַהֲקִמֹתִי לְדָוִד צֶמַח צַדִּיק וּמָלַךְ מֶלֶךְ וְהִשְׂכִּיל וְעָשָׂה מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה בָּאָרֶץ׃

6In his days Yehuda shall be delivered and Yisrael shall dwell secure. And this is the name by which he shall be called: “Hashem is our Vindicator.”

b'-ya-MAV ti-va-SHA y'-hu-DAH v'-yis-ra-AYL yish-KON la-VE-takh v'-zeh sh'-MO a-sher yik-r'-U a-do-NAI tzid-KAY-nu

ובְּיָמָיו תִּוָּשַׁע יְהוּדָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל יִשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח וְזֶה־שְּׁמוֹ אֲ‍שֶׁר־יִקְרְאוֹ יְהֹוָה צִדְקֵנוּ׃

7Assuredly, a time is coming—declares Hashem—when it shall no more be said, “As Hashem lives, who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt,”

זלָכֵן הִנֵּה־יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וְלֹא־יֹאמְרוּ עוֹד חַי־יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָה אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם׃

8but rather, “As Hashem lives, who brought out and led the offspring of the House of Yisrael from the northland and from all the lands to which I have banished them.” And they shall dwell upon their own soil.

חכִּי אִם־חַי־יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָה וַאֲשֶׁר הֵבִיא אֶת־זֶרַע בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ צָפוֹנָה וּמִכֹּל הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר הִדַּחְתִּים שָׁם וְיָשְׁבוּ עַל־אַדְמָתָם׃

9Concerning the Neviim. My heart is crushed within me, All my bones are trembling; I have become like a drunken man, Like one overcome by wine— Because of Hashem and His holy word.

טלַנְּבִאִים נִשְׁבַּר לִבִּי בְקִרְבִּי רָחֲפוּ כָּל־עַצְמוֹתַי הָיִיתִי כְּאִישׁ שִׁכּוֹר וּכְגֶבֶר עֲבָרוֹ יָיִן מִפְּנֵי יְהֹוָה וּמִפְּנֵי דִּבְרֵי קָדְשׁוֹ׃

10For the land is full of adulterers, The land mourns because of a curse; The pastures of the wilderness are dried up. For they run to do evil, They strain to do wrong.

יכִּי מְנָאֲפִים מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ כִּי־מִפְּנֵי אָלָה אָבְלָה הָאָרֶץ יָבְשׁוּ נְאוֹת מִדְבָּר וַתְּהִי מְרוּצָתָם רָעָה וּגְבוּרָתָם לֹא־כֵן׃

11For both Navi and Kohen are godless; Even in My House I find their wickedness —declares Hashem.

יאכִּי־גַם־נָבִיא גַם־כֹּהֵן חָנֵפוּ גַּם־בְּבֵיתִי מָצָאתִי רָעָתָם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃

12Assuredly, Their path shall become Like slippery ground; They shall be thrust into darkness And there they shall fall; For I will bring disaster upon them, The year of their doom —declares Hashem.

יבלָכֵן יִהְיֶה דַרְכָּם לָהֶם כַּחֲלַקְלַקּוֹת בָּאֲפֵלָה יִדַּחוּ וְנָפְלוּ בָהּ כִּי־אָבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם רָעָה שְׁנַת פְּקֻדָּתָם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃

13In the Neviim of Shomron I saw a repulsive thing: They prophesied by Baal And led My people Yisrael astray.

יגוּבִנְבִיאֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן רָאִיתִי תִפְלָה הִנַּבְּאוּ בַבַּעַל וַיַּתְעוּ אֶת־עַמִּי אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

14But what I see in the Neviim of Yerushalayim Is something horrifying: Adultery and false dealing. They encourage evildoers, So that no one turns back from his wickedness. To Me they are all like Sodom, And [all] its inhabitants like Gomorrah.

ידוּבִנְבִאֵי יְרוּשָׁלַ ִם רָאִיתִי שַׁעֲרוּרָה נָאוֹף וְהָלֹךְ בַּשֶּׁקֶר וְחִזְּקוּ יְדֵי מְרֵעִים לְבִלְתִּי־שָׁבוּ אִישׁ מֵרָעָתוֹ הָיוּ־לִי כֻלָּם כִּסְדֹם וְיֹשְׁבֶיהָ כַּעֲמֹרָה׃

15Assuredly, thus said the lord of Hosts concerning the Neviim: I am going to make them eat wormwood And drink a bitter draft; For from the Neviim of Yerushalayim Godlessness has gone forth to the whole land.

טולָכֵן כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עַל־הַנְּבִאִים הִנְנִי מַאֲכִיל אוֹתָם לַעֲנָה וְהִשְׁקִתִים מֵי־רֹאשׁ כִּי מֵאֵת נְבִיאֵי יְרוּשָׁלַ ִם יָצְאָה חֲנֻפָּה לְכָל־הָאָרֶץ׃

16Thus said the lord of Hosts: Do not listen to the words of the Neviim Who prophesy to you. They are deluding you, The prophecies they speak are from their own minds, Not from the mouth of Hashem.

טזכֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת אַל־תִּשְׁמְעוּ עַל־דִּבְרֵי הַנְּבִאִים הַנִּבְּאִים לָכֶם מַהְבִּלִים הֵמָּה אֶתְכֶם חֲזוֹן לִבָּם יְדַבֵּרוּ לֹא מִפִּי יְהֹוָה׃

17They declare to men who despise Me: Hashem has said: “All shall be well with you”; And to all who follow their willful hearts they say: “No evil shall befall you.”

יזאֹמְרִים אָמוֹר לִמְנַאֲצַי דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה שָׁלוֹם יִהְיֶה לָכֶם וְכֹל הֹלֵךְ בִּשְׁרִרוּת לִבּוֹ אָמְרוּ לֹא־תָבוֹא עֲלֵיכֶם רָעָה׃

18But he who has stood in the council of Hashem, And seen, and heard His word— He who has listened to His word must obey.

יחכִּי מִי עָמַד בְּסוֹד יְהֹוָה וְיֵרֶא וְיִשְׁמַע אֶת־דְּבָרוֹ מִי־הִקְשִׁיב דברי [דְּבָרוֹ] וַיִּשְׁמָע׃

19Lo, the storm of Hashem goes forth in fury, A whirling storm, It shall whirl down upon the heads of the wicked.

יטהִנֵּה סַעֲרַת יְהֹוָה חֵמָה יָצְאָה וְסַעַר מִתְחוֹלֵל עַל רֹאשׁ רְשָׁעִים יָחוּל׃

20The anger of Hashem shall not turn back Till it has fulfilled and completed His purposes. In the days to come You shall clearly perceive it.

כלֹא יָשׁוּב אַף־יְהֹוָה עַד־עֲשֹׂתוֹ וְעַד־הֲקִימוֹ מְזִמּוֹת לִבּוֹ בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים תִּתְבּוֹנְנוּ בָהּ בִּינָה׃

21I did not send those Neviim, But they rushed in; I did not speak to them, Yet they prophesied.

כאלֹא־שָׁלַחְתִּי אֶת־הַנְּבִאִים וְהֵם רָצוּ לֹא־דִבַּרְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶם וְהֵם נִבָּאוּ׃

22If they have stood in My council, Let them announce My words to My people And make them turn back From their evil ways and wicked acts.

כבוְאִם־עָמְדוּ בְּסוֹדִי וְיַשְׁמִעוּ דְבָרַי אֶת־עַמִּי וִישִׁבוּם מִדַּרְכָּם הָרָע וּמֵרֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶם׃

23Am I only a Hashem near at hand —says Hashem— And not a Hashem far away?

כגהַאֱלֹהֵי מִקָּרֹב אָנִי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וְלֹא אֱלֹהֵי מֵרָחֹק׃

24If a man enters a hiding place, Do I not see him? —says Hashem. For I fill both heaven and earth —declares Hashem.

כדאִם־יִסָּתֵר אִישׁ בַּמִּסְתָּרִים וַאֲנִי לֹא־אֶרְאֶנּוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה הֲלוֹא אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֲנִי מָלֵא נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃

25I have heard what the Neviim say, who prophesy falsely in My name: “I had a dream, I had a dream.”

כהשָׁמַעְתִּי אֵת אֲשֶׁר־אָמְרוּ הַנְּבִאִים הַנִּבְּאִים בִּשְׁמִי שֶׁקֶר לֵאמֹר חָלַמְתִּי חָלָמְתִּי׃

26How long will there be in the minds of the Neviim who prophesy falsehood—the Neviim of their own deceitful minds—

כועַד־מָתַי הֲיֵשׁ בְּלֵב הַנְּבִאִים נִבְּאֵי הַשָּׁקֶר וּנְבִיאֵי תַּרְמִת לִבָּם׃

27the plan to make My people forget My name, by means of the dreams which they tell each other, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal?

כזהַחֹשְׁבִים לְהַשְׁכִּיחַ אֶת־עַמִּי שְׁמִי בַּחֲלוֹמֹתָם אֲשֶׁר יְסַפְּרוּ אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכְחוּ אֲבוֹתָם אֶת־שְׁמִי בַּבָּעַל׃

28Let the Navi who has a dream tell the dream; and let him who has received My word report My word faithfully! How can straw be compared to grain?—says Hashem.

כחהַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ חֲלוֹם יְסַפֵּר חֲלוֹם וַאֲשֶׁר דְּבָרִי אִתּוֹ יְדַבֵּר דְּבָרִי אֱמֶת מַה־לַתֶּבֶן אֶת־הַבָּר נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃

29Behold, My word is like fire—declares Hashem—and like a hammer that shatters rock!

כטהֲלוֹא כֹה דְבָרִי כָּאֵשׁ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וּכְפַטִּישׁ יְפֹצֵץ סָלַע׃

30Assuredly, I am going to deal with the Neviim—declares Hashem—who steal My words from one another.

ללָכֵן הִנְנִי עַל־הַנְּבִאִים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה מְגַנְּבֵי דְבָרַי אִישׁ מֵאֵת רֵעֵהוּ׃

31I am going to deal with the Neviim—declares Hashem—who wag their tongues and make oracular utterances.

לאהִנְנִי עַל־הַנְּבִיאִם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה הַלֹּקְחִים לְשׁוֹנָם וַיִּנְאֲמוּ נְאֻם׃

32I am going to deal with those who prophesy lying dreams—declares Hashem—who relate them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies, when I did not send them or command them. They do this people no good—declares Hashem.

לבהִנְנִי עַל־נִבְּאֵי חֲלֹמוֹת שֶׁקֶר נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וַיְסַפְּרוּם וַיַּתְעוּ אֶת־עַמִּי בְּשִׁקְרֵיהֶם וּבְפַחֲזוּתָם וְאָנֹכִי לֹא־שְׁלַחְתִּים וְלֹא צִוִּיתִים וְהוֹעֵיל לֹא־יוֹעִילוּ לָעָם־הַזֶּה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃

33And when this people—or a Navi or a Kohen—asks you, “What is the burden of Hashem?” you shall answer them, “What is the burden? I will cast you oV”—declares Hashem.

לגוְכִי־יִשְׁאָלְךָ הָעָם הַזֶּה אוֹ־הַנָּבִיא אוֹ־כֹהֵן לֵאמֹר מַה־מַשָּׂא יְהֹוָה וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם אֶת־מַה־מַשָּׂא וְנָטַשְׁתִּי אֶתְכֶם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃

34As for the Navi or Kohen or layman who shall say “the burden of Hashem,” I will punish that person and his house.

לדוְהַנָּבִיא וְהַכֹּהֵן וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר מַשָּׂא יְהֹוָה וּפָקַדְתִּי עַל־הָאִישׁ הַהוּא וְעַל־בֵּיתוֹ׃

35Thus you shall speak to each other, every one to his fellow, “What has Hashem answered?” or “What has Hashem spoken?”

להכֹּה תֹאמְרוּ אִישׁ עַל־רֵעֵהוּ וְאִישׁ אֶל־אָחִיו מֶה־עָנָה יְהֹוָה וּמַה־דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה׃

36But do not mention “the burden of Hashem” any more. Does a man regard his own word as a “burden,” that you pervert the words of the living Hashem, the lord of Hosts, our God?

לווּמַשָּׂא יְהֹוָה לֹא תִזְכְּרוּ־עוֹד כִּי הַמַּשָּׂא יִהְיֶה לְאִישׁ דְּבָרוֹ וַהֲפַכְתֶּם אֶת־דִּבְרֵי אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהֵינוּ׃

37Thus you shall speak to the Navi: “What did Hashem answer you?” or “What did Hashem speak?”

לזכֹּה תֹאמַר אֶל־הַנָּבִיא מֶה־עָנָךְ יְהֹוָה וּמַה־דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה׃

38But if you say “the burden of Hashem”—assuredly, thus said Hashem: Because you said this thing, “the burden of Hashem,” whereas I sent word to you not to say “the burden of Hashem,”

לחוְאִם־מַשָּׂא יְהֹוָה תֹּאמֵרוּ לָכֵן כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה יַעַן אֲמָרְכֶם אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה מַשָּׂא יְהֹוָה וָאֶשְׁלַח אֲלֵיכֶם לֵאמֹר לֹא תֹאמְרוּ מַשָּׂא יְהֹוָה׃

39I will utterly forget you and I will cast you away from My presence, together with the city that I gave to you and your fathers.

לטלָכֵן הִנְנִי וְנָשִׁיתִי אֶתְכֶם נָשֹׁא וְנָטַשְׁתִּי אֶתְכֶם וְאֶת־הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לָכֶם וְלַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶם מֵעַל פָּנָי׃

40And I will lay upon you a disgrace for all time, shame for all time, which shall never be forgotten.

מוְנָתַתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם חֶרְפַּת עוֹלָם וּכְלִמּוּת עוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר לֹא תִשָּׁכֵחַ׃