Yaram'Yahu (Jeremiah) — 4

1 “O Yashar'AL,” says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, “if you wanted to return to me, you could, you could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more.

2 Then when you swear by my Name, saying, ‘As surely as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH lives, ’you could do so with truth, justice, and righteousness, then you would be a Barakah to the nations of the world, and all people would come and praise my Name.”

Coming Judgment against Yahudah

3 This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar to the people of Yahudah and Yahushalam: “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns.

4 O people of Yahudah and Yahushalam, surrender your pride and power, Change your hearts before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins.

5 “Shout to Yahudah, and broadcast to Yahushalam! Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land: ‘Run for your lives! Flee to the fortified cities!’

6 Raise a signal flag as a warning for Yahushalam: ‘Flee now! Do not delay! ’For I am bringing terrible destruction upon you from the north.”

7 A lion stalks from its den, a destroyer of nations, It has left its lair and is headed your way, It is going to devastate your land! Your towns will lie in ruins, with no one living in them anymore.

8 So put on clothes of mourning and weep with broken hearts, for the fierce anger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is still upon us.

9 “In that day,” says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, “the king and the officials will tremble in fear, the Kuhanym will be struck with horror, and the Nabyms will be appalled.”

10 Then I said, “O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Tsaba'ut, the people have been deceived by what you said, for you promised Shalum for Yahushalam. But the sword is held at their throats!”

11 The time is coming when 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will say to the people of Yahushalam, “My dear people, a burning wind is blowing in from the desert, and it is not a gentle breeze useful for winnowing grain.

12 It is a roaring blast sent by me! Now I will pronounce your destruction!”

13 Our enemy rushes down on us like storm clouds! his chariots are like whirlwinds, his horses are swifter than eagles, how terrible it will be, for we are doomed!

14 O Yahushalam, cleanse your heart that you may be saved, How long will you harbor your evil thoughts?

15 Your destruction has been announced    from Dan and the hill country of Aphraim.

16 “Warn the surrounding nations and announce this to Yahushalam: The enemy is coming from a distant land, raising a battle cry against the towns of Yahudah.

17 They surround Yahushalam like watchmen around a field, for my people have rebelled against me,” says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.

18 “Your own actions have brought this upon you, this punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart!”

Yaramyahu Weeps for His People

19 My heart, my heart, I writhe in pain! My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still, For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets and the roar of their battle cries.

20 Waves of destruction roll over the land, until it lies in complete desolation, suddenly my tents are destroyed; in a moment my shelters are crushed.

21 How long must I see the battle flags and hear the trumpets of war?

22 “My people are foolish and do not know me,” says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, “They are stupid children who have no understanding, they are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do right!”

Yaramyahu’s Vision of Coming Disaster

23 I looked at the Arath, and it was empty and formless, I looked at the Shamaym, and there was no light.

24 I looked at the mountains and hills, and they trembled and shook.

25 I looked, and all the people were gone, all the birds of the sky had flown away.

26 I looked, and the fertile fields had become a wilderness, the towns lay in ruins, crushed by 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s fierce anger.

27 This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar: “The whole land will be ruined, but I will not destroy it completely.

28 The Arath will mourn and the Shamaym will be draped in black because of my decree against my people, I have made up my mind and will not change it.”

29 At the noise of charioteers and archers, the people flee in terror, they hide in the bushes and run for the mountains, all the towns have been abandoned, not a person remains!

30 What are you doing, you who have been plundered? Why do you dress up in beautiful clothing and put on gold jewelry? Why do you brighten your eyes with mascara? Your primping will do you no good! The allies who were your lovers despise you and seek to kill you.

31 I hear a cry, like that of a woman in labor, the groans of a woman giving birth to her first child, It is beautiful Yahushalam gasping for breath and crying out, “Help! I am being murdered!”