Jeremiah 2

وَصَارَتْ إِلَيَّ كَلِمَةُ الرَّبِّ قَائِلاً:

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

«اذْهَبْ وَنَادِ فِي أُذُنَيْ أُورُشَلِيمَ قَائِلاً: هكَذَا قَالَ الرَّبُّ: قَدْ ذَكَرْتُ لَكِ غَيْرَةَ صِبَاكِ، مَحَبَّةَ خِطْبَتِكِ، ذِهَابَكِ وَرَائِي فِي الْبَرِّيَّةِ فِي أَرْضٍ غَيْرِ مَزْرُوعَةٍ.

Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

إِسْرَائِيلُ قُدْسٌ لِلرَّبِّ، أَوَائِلُ غَلَّتِهِ. كُلُّ آكِلِيهِ يَأْثَمُونَ. شَرٌّ يَأْتِي عَلَيْهِمْ، يَقُولُ الرَّبُّ».

Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

اِسْمَعُوا كَلِمَةَ الرَّبِّ يَا بَيْتَ يَعْقُوبَ، وَكُلَّ عَشَائِرِ بَيْتِ إِسْرَائِيلَ.

Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

هكَذَا قَالَ الرَّبُّ: «مَاذَا وَجَدَ فِيَّ آبَاؤُكُمْ مِنْ جَوْرٍ حَتَّى ابْتَعَدُوا عَنِّي وَسَارُوا وَرَاءَ الْبَاطِلِ وَصَارُوا بَاطِلاً؟

Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

وَلَمْ يَقُولُوا: أَيْنَ هُوَ الرَّبُّ الَّذِي أَصْعَدَنَا مِنْ أَرْضِ مِصْرَ، الَّذِي سَارَ بِنَا فِي الْبَرِّيَّةِ فِي أَرْضِ قَفْرٍ وَحُفَرٍ، فِي أَرْضِ يُبُوسَةٍ وَظِلِّ الْمَوْتِ، فِي أَرْضٍ لَمْ يَعْبُرْهَا رَجُلٌ وَلَمْ يَسْكُنْهَا إِنْسَانٌ؟

Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

وَأَتَيْتُ بِكُمْ إِلَى أَرْضِ بَسَاتِينَ لِتَأْكُلُوا ثَمَرَهَا وَخَيْرَهَا. فَأَتَيْتُمْ وَنَجَّسْتُمْ أَرْضِي وَجَعَلْتُمْ مِيرَاثِي رِجْسًا.

And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

اَلْكَهَنَةُ لَمْ يَقُولُوا: أَيْنَ هُوَ الرَّبُّ؟ وَأَهْلُ الشَّرِيعَةِ لَمْ يَعْرِفُونِي، وَالرُّعَاةُ عَصَوْا عَلَيَّ، وَالأَنْبِيَاءُ تَنَبَّأُوا بِبَعْل، وَذَهَبُوا وَرَاءَ مَا لاَ يَنْفَعُ.

The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

«لِذلِكَ أُخَاصِمُكُمْ بَعْدُ، يَقُولُ الرَّبُّ، وَبَنِي بَنِيكُمْ أُخَاصِمُ.

Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.

فَاعْبُرُوا جَزَائِرَ كِتِّيمَ، وَانْظُرُوا، وَأَرْسِلُوا إِلَى قِيدَارَ، وَانْتَبِهُوا جِدًّا، وَانْظُرُوا: هَلْ صَارَ مِثْلُ هذَا؟

For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

هَلْ بَدَلَتْ أُمّةٌ آلِهَةً، وَهِيَ لَيْسَتْ آلِهَةً؟ أَمَّا شَعْبِي فَقَدْ بَدَلَ مَجْدَهُ بِمَا لاَ يَنْفَعُ!

Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

اِبْهَتِي أَيَّتُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ مِنْ هذَا، وَاقْشَعِرِّي وَتَحَيَّرِي جِدًّا، يَقُولُ الرَّبُّ.

Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

لأَنَّ شَعْبِي عَمِلَ شَرَّيْنِ: تَرَكُونِي أَنَا يَنْبُوعَ الْمِيَاهِ الْحَيَّةِ، لِيَنْقُرُوا لأَنْفُسِهِمْ أَبْآرًا، أَبْآرًا مُشَقَّقَةً لاَ تَضْبُطُ مَاءً.

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

«أَعَبْدٌ إِسْرَائِيلُ، أَوْ مَوْلُودُ الْبَيْتِ هُوَ؟ لِمَاذَا صَارَ غَنِيمَةً؟

Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?

زَمْجَرَتْ عَلَيْهِ الأَشْبَالُ. أَطْلَقَتْ صَوْتَهَا وَجَعَلَتْ أَرْضَهُ خَرِبَةً. أُحْرِقَتْ مُدُنُهُ فَلاَ سَاكِنَ.

The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

وَبَنُو نُوفَ وَتَحْفَنِيسَ قَدْ شَجُّوا هَامَتَكِ.

Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.

أَمَا صَنَعْتِ هذَا بِنَفْسِكِ، إِذْ تَرَكْتِ الرَّبَّ إِلهَكِ حِينَمَا كَانَ مُسَيِّرَكِ فِي الطَّرِيقِ؟

Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

وَالآنَ مَا لَكِ وَطَرِيقَ مِصْرَ لِشُرْبِ مِيَاهِ شِيحُورَ؟ وَمَا لَكِ وَطَرِيقَ أَشُّورَ لِشُرْبِ مِيَاهِ النَّهْرِ؟

And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

يُوَبِّخُكِ شَرُّكِ، وَعِصْيَانُكِ يُؤَدِّبُكِ. فَاعْلَمِي وَانْظُرِي أَنَّ تَرْكَكِ الرَّبَّ إِلهَكِ شَرٌّ وَمُرٌّ، وَأَنَّ خَشْيَتِي لَيْسَتْ فِيكِ، يَقُولُ السَّيِّدُ رَبُّ الْجُنُودِ.

Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

«لأَنَّهُ مُنْذُ الْقَدِيمِ كَسَرْتُ نِيرَكِ وَقَطَعْتُ قُيُودَكِ، وَقُلْتِ: لاَ أَتَعَبَّدُ. لأَنَّكِ عَلَى كُلِّ أَكَمَةٍ عَالِيَةٍ وَتَحْتَ كُلِّ شَجَرَةٍ خَضْرَاءَ أَنْتِ اضْطَجَعْتِ زَانِيَةً!

For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

وَأَنَا قَدْ غَرَسْتُكِ كَرْمَةَ سُورَقَ، زَرْعَ حَقّ كُلَّهَا. فَكَيْفَ تَحَوَّلْتِ لِي سُرُوغَ جَفْنَةٍ غَرِيبَةٍ؟

Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

فَإِنَّكِ وَإِنِ اغْتَسَلْتِ بِنَطْرُونٍ، وَأَكْثَرْتِ لِنَفْسِكِ الأُشْنَانَ، فَقَدْ نُقِشَ إِثْمُكِ أَمَامِي، يَقُولُ السَّيِّدُ الرَّبُّ.

For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

كَيْفَ تَقُولِينَ: لَمْ أَتَنَجَّسْ. وَرَاءَ بَعْلِيمَ لَمْ أَذْهَبْ؟ انْظُرِي طَرِيقَكِ فِي الْوَادِي. اِعْرِفِي مَا عَمِلْتِ، يَا نَاقَةً خَفِيفَةً ضَبِعَةً فِي طُرُقِهَا!

How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

يَا أَتَانَ الْفَرَا، قَدْ تَعَوَّدَتِ الْبَرِّيَّةَ! فِي شَهْوَةِ نَفْسِهَا تَسْتَنْشِقُ الرِّيحَ. عِنْدَ ضَبَعِهَا مَنْ يَرُدُّهَا؟ كُلُّ طَالِبِيهَا لاَ يُعْيُونَ. فِي شَهْرِهَا يَجِدُونَهَا.

A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

اِحْفَظِي رِجْلَكِ مِنَ الْحَفَاءِ وَحَلْقَكِ مِنَ الظَّمَإِ. فَقُلْتِ: بَاطِلٌ! لاَ! لأَنِّي قَدْ أَحْبَبْتُ الْغُرَبَاءَ وَوَرَاءَهُمْ أَذْهَبُ.

Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

كَخِزْيِ السَّارِقِ إِذَا وُجِدَ هكَذَا خِزْيُ بَيْتِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، هُمْ وَمُلُوكُهُمْ وَرُؤَسَاؤُهُمْ وَكَهَنَتُهُمْ وَأَنْبِيَاؤُهُمْ،

As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

قَائِلِينَ لِلْعُودِ: أَنْتَ أَبِي، وَلِلْحَجَرِ: أَنْتَ وَلَدْتَنِي. لأَنَّهُمْ حَوَّلُوا نَحْوِي الْقَفَا لاَ الْوَجْهَ، وَفِي وَقْتِ بَلِيَّتِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ: قُمْ وَخَلِّصْنَا.

Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

فَأَيْنَ آلِهَتُكَ الَّتِي صَنَعْتَ لِنَفْسِكَ؟ فَلْيَقُومُوا إِنْ كَانُوا يُخَلِّصُونَكَ فِي وَقْتِ بَلِيَّتِكَ. لأَنَّهُ عَلَى عَدَدِ مُدُنِكَ صَارَتْ آلِهَتُكَ يَا يَهُوذَا.

But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

لِمَاذَا تُخَاصِمُونَنِي؟ كُلُّكُمْ عَصَيْتُمُونِي، يَقُولُ الرَّبُّ.

Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.

لِبَاطِل ضَرَبْتُ بَنِيكُمْ. لَمْ يَقْبَلُوا تَأْدِيبًا. أَكَلَ سَيْفُكُمْ أَنْبِيَاءَكُمْ كَأَسَدٍ مُهْلِكٍ.

In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

«أَنْتُمْ أَيُّهَا الْجِيلُ، انْظُرُوا كَلِمَةَ الرَّبِّ. هَلْ صِرْتُ بَرِّيَّةً لإِسْرَائِيلَ أَوْ أَرْضَ ظَلاَمٍ دَامِسٍ؟ لِمَاذَا قَالَ شَعْبِي: قَدْ شَرَدْنَا، لاَ نَجِيءُ إِلَيْكَ بَعْدُ؟

O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

هَلْ تَنْسَى عَذْرَاءُ زِينَتَهَا، أَوْ عَرُوسٌ مَنَاطِقَهَا؟ أَمَّا شَعْبِي فَقَدْ نَسِيَنِي أَيَّامًا بِلاَ عَدَدٍ.

Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

لِمَاذَا تُحَسِّنِينَ طَرِيقَكِ لِتَطْلُبِي الْمَحَبَّةَ؟ لِذلِكَ عَلَّمْتِ الشِّرِّيرَاتِ أَيْضًا طُرُقَكِ.

Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

أَيْضًا فِي أَذْيَالِكِ وُجِدَ دَمُ نُفُوسِ الْمَسَاكِينِ الأَزْكِيَاءِ. لاَ بِالنَّقْبِ وَجَدْتُهُ، بَلْ عَلَى كُلِّ هذِهِ.

Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

وَتَقُولِينَ: لأَنِّي تَبَرَّأْتُ ارْتَدَّ غَضَبُهُ عَنِّي حَقًّا. هأَنَذَا أُحَاكِمُكِ لأَنَّكِ قُلْتِ: لَمْ أُخْطِئْ.

Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

لِمَاذَا تَرْكُضِينَ لِتَبْدُلِي طَرِيقَكِ؟ مِنْ مِصْرَ أَيْضًا تَخْزَيْنَ كَمَا خَزِيتِ مِنْ أَشُّورَ.

Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

مِنْ هُنَا أَيْضًا تَخْرُجِينَ وَيَدَاكِ عَلَى رَأْسِكِ، لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدْ رَفَضَ ثِقَاتِكِ، فَلاَ تَنْجَحِينَ فِيهَا.

Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.