Jeremiah 14

Only in Jeremiah do we get 5 verses announcing the word of Yahweh where the first word in the verse is the relative pronoun אשׁר. My coach explains that there is a difference in the form of the word to be in these five sentences (1.2, 14.1,46.1, 47.1, 49.34): "The form of ויהי traditionally refers to actual events, whereas אשר היה (which was) pertains to the record of what was said, or occurred." It is almost too subtle to put across in English, since both verbs are rendered by a past participle.

The poignancy of little ones in verse 3 seems simply wrong. To date I have used טף for little ones. The contrast here is between the majestic ones and those of lesser account sent to do the hard work of finding water.

It is a drought, but the word used in verse 1 is not related to thirst (צמא), but to enclosure (בצר). [Found another usage in Jeremiah 17 that also suggests drought - so made the substitution. Could also use the archaic dearth. New words at this stage of the project are always a challenge.]

Verse 4 - chapped is a nice word - but I didn't use it. The ground is dismayed and, like the gates in verse 2, is personified. But the cracked surface of a dried out ground is nicely caught by chapped.

Jeremiah 14		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיָ֤ה דְבַר־יְהוָה֙ אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ עַל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַבַּצָּרֽוֹת	1		The word of Yahweh that happened to Jeremiah, over the words of the drought.	3e	4C	20
אָבְלָ֣ה יְהוּדָ֔ה וּשְׁעָרֶ֥יהָ אֻמְלְל֖וּ קָדְר֣וּ לָאָ֑רֶץ וְצִוְחַ֥ת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם עָלָֽתָה	2		Worn out is Judah and her gates are enfeebled. They are in mourning for the land, and the complaint of Jerusalem has gone up.	3e	4B	17 10
וְאַדִּ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם שָׁלְח֥וּ צְעִירֵיהֶ֖ם לַמָּ֑יִם בָּ֣אוּ עַל־גֵּבִ֞ים לֹא־מָ֣צְאוּ מַ֗יִם שָׁ֤בוּ כְלֵיהֶם֙ רֵיקָ֔ם בֹּ֥שׁוּ וְהָכְלְמ֖וּ וְחָפ֥וּ רֹאשָֽׁם	3		And their majestic ones have sent those of lesser account to the water. They go to the arches. They do not find water. They have returned, their vessels empty. They were ashamed and humiliated, and they hooded their heads.	3e	4C	14 27
בַּעֲב֤וּר הָאֲדָמָה֙ חַ֔תָּה כִּ֛י לֹא־הָיָ֥ה גֶ֖שֶׁם בָּאָ֑רֶץ בֹּ֥שׁוּ אִכָּרִ֖ים חָפ֥וּ רֹאשָֽׁם	4		The ground was dismayed, for there were no showers in the land. The farmers were ashamed. They hooded their heads.	3d	4C	17 9
כִּ֤י גַם־אַיֶּ֙לֶת֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה יָלְדָ֖ה וְעָז֑וֹב כִּ֥י לֹֽא־הָיָ֖ה דֶּֽשֶׁא	5	C	For even the hart in the field gave birth and forsook, for there was no vegetation.	3e	4C	13 5
וּפְרָאִים֙ עָמְד֣וּ עַל־שְׁפָיִ֔ם שָׁאֲפ֥וּ ר֖וּחַ כַּתַּנִּ֑ים כָּל֥וּ עֵינֵיהֶ֖ם כִּי־אֵ֥ין עֵֽשֶׂב	6		And the wild donkeys stood at protruding places. They sighed heavily in the wind like dragons, their eyes fainting, for there was no field-grass.	3e	4B	17 9
אִם־עֲוֺנֵ֙ינוּ֙ עָ֣נוּ בָ֔נוּ יְהוָ֕ה עֲשֵׂ֖ה לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־רַבּ֥וּ מְשׁוּבֹתֵ֖ינוּ לְךָ֥ חָטָֽאנוּ	7		If our iniquities answer against us, Yahweh, do for the sake of your name, because our turnings are multiplied. Against you we have sinned.	3e	4B	19 12
מִקְוֵה֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֽוֹשִׁיע֖וֹ בְּעֵ֣ת צָרָ֑ה לָ֤מָּה תִֽהְיֶה֙ כְּגֵ֣ר בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּכְאֹרֵ֖חַ נָטָ֥ה לָלֽוּן	8		O expectation of Israel, saviour in a time of trouble, why should you be as guest in the land, and as a wayfarer stretching out to lodge?	3e	4C	12 17
לָ֤מָּה תִֽהְיֶה֙ כְּאִ֣ישׁ נִדְהָ֔ם כְּגִבּ֖וֹר לֹא־יוּכַ֣ל לְהוֹשִׁ֑יעַ וְאַתָּ֧ה בְקִרְבֵּ֣נוּ יְהוָ֗ה וְשִׁמְךָ֛ עָלֵ֥ינוּ נִקְרָ֖א אַל־תַּנִּחֵֽנוּ	9	C	Why should you be as a person astounded, as one who prevails that is not able to save? But you are among us, Yahweh, and your name over us is called. Do not leave us.	3c	4C	17 22
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה כֵּ֤ן אָֽהֲבוּ֙ לָנ֔וּעַ רַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֣א חָשָׂ֑כוּ וַיהוָה֙ לֹ֣א רָצָ֔ם עַתָּה֙ יִזְכֹּ֣ר עֲוֺנָ֔ם וְיִפְקֹ֖ד חַטֹּאתָֽם	10		Thus says Yahweh to this people, Thus they have loved to waver to and fro. Their feet they do not resist, but Yahweh does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and visit their sins.	3e	4C	23 18
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י אַל־תִּתְפַּלֵּ֛ל בְּעַד־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה לְטוֹבָֽה	11		And Yahweh said to me, Do not pray concerning this people for good.	3d	4A	7 13
כִּ֣י יָצֻ֗מוּ אֵינֶ֤נִּי שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ אֶל־רִנָּתָ֔ם וְכִ֧י יַעֲל֛וּ עֹלָ֥ה וּמִנְחָ֖ה אֵינֶ֣נִּי רֹצָ֑ם כִּ֗י בַּחֶ֙רֶב֙ וּבָרָעָ֣ב וּבַדֶּ֔בֶר אָנֹכִ֖י מְכַלֶּ֥ה אוֹתָֽם	12	B	When they fast, there is no me to hear their shout, and if they offer up a burnt offering and a gift, there is no me to accept them, but by the sword and by famine and by pestilence, I myself will consume them.	3c	4C	29 20
וָאֹמַ֞ר אֲהָ֣הּ ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה הַנְּבִאִ֜ים אֹמְרִ֤ים לָהֶם֙ לֹֽא־תִרְא֣וּ חֶ֔רֶב וְרָעָ֖ב לֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־שְׁל֤וֹם אֱמֶת֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם בַּמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּֽה	13		And I said, Aye yai yai, my Lord Yahweh. Behold, the prophets are saying to them, You will not see sword or famine. It will not be there for you, but true peace I will give to you in this place.	3e	4C	32 14
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י שֶׁ֚קֶר הַנְּבִאִים֙ נִבְּאִ֣ים בִּשְׁמִ֔י לֹ֤א שְׁלַחְתִּים֙ וְלֹ֣א צִוִּיתִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א דִבַּ֖רְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם חֲז֨וֹן שֶׁ֜קֶר וְקֶ֤סֶם וֶֽאֱלִיל֙ וְתַרְמִ֣ית לִבָּ֔ם הֵ֖מָּה מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֥ים לָכֶֽם	14		And Yahweh said to me, The prophets prophesied falsehood in my name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them, nor did I speak to them. With a vision of falsehood and soothsaying and good for nothing, they deceive themselves in their heart from their prophesying to you.	3e	4C	33 22
לָכֵ֞ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה עַֽל־הַנְּבִאִ֞ים הַנִּבְּאִ֣ים בִּשְׁמִי֮ וַאֲנִ֣י לֹֽא־שְׁלַחְתִּים֒ וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ אֹֽמְרִ֔ים חֶ֣רֶב וְרָעָ֔ב לֹ֥א יִהְיֶ֖ה בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את בַּחֶ֤רֶב וּבָֽרָעָב֙ יִתַּ֔מּוּ הַנְּבִאִ֖ים הָהֵֽמָּה	15		Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets prophesying in my name and I not have sent them, but they are saying, Sword and famine will not be in this land, By the sword and by famine, those prophets will be completed.	3e	4C	41 16
וְהָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֣מָּה נִבְּאִ֣ים לָהֶ֡ם יִֽהְי֣וּ מֻשְׁלָכִים֩ בְּחֻצ֨וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם מִפְּנֵ֣י ׀ הָרָעָ֣ב וְהַחֶ֗רֶב וְאֵ֤ין מְקַבֵּר֙ לָהֵ֔מָּה הֵ֣מָּה נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְנֹֽתֵיהֶ֑ם וְשָׁפַכְתִּ֥י עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם אֶת־רָעָתָֽם	16		And the people to whom they prophesy will be cast out into the streets of Jerusalem in the face of the famine and the sword, and there will be none to entomb them, themselves, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, and I will pour out on them their evil.	3e	4C	52 11
וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה תֵּרַ֨דְנָה עֵינַ֥י דִּמְעָ֛ה לַ֥יְלָה וְיוֹמָ֖ם וְאַל־תִּדְמֶ֑ינָה כִּי֩ שֶׁ֨בֶר גָּד֜וֹל נִשְׁבְּרָ֗ה בְּתוּלַת֙ בַּת־עַמִּ֔י מַכָּ֖ה נַחְלָ֥ה מְאֹֽד	17		And you will say to them this word, Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not be mute, for he has broken with a great break the virgin daughter of my people, striking sickness excessively.	3d	4C	30 20
אִם־יָצָ֣אתִי הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּה֙ חַלְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶב וְאִם֙ בָּ֣אתִי הָעִ֔יר וְהִנֵּ֖ה תַּחֲלוּאֵ֣י רָעָ֑ב כִּֽי־גַם־נָבִ֧יא גַם־כֹּהֵ֛ן סָחֲר֥וּ אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ וְלֹ֥א יָדָֽעוּ	18		If I go forth into the field, then behold those profaned by sword, or if I enter the city, then behold those diseased with famine, for both prophet and priest are vendors to a land that they do not know.	3c	4B	28 17
הֲמָאֹ֨ס מָאַ֜סְתָּ אֶת־יְהוּדָ֗ה אִם־בְּצִיּוֹן֙ גָּעֲלָ֣ה נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ מַדּ֙וּעַ֙ הִכִּיתָ֔נוּ וְאֵ֥ין לָ֖נוּ מַרְפֵּ֑א קַוֵּ֤ה לְשָׁלוֹם֙ וְאֵ֣ין ט֔וֹב וּלְעֵ֥ת מַרְפֵּ֖א וְהִנֵּ֥ה בְעָתָֽה	19		Have you refused Judah? Has your integrity loathed Zion? Why have you struck us and there is for us no healing? We waited for peace and there was no good, and for a time of healing, and behold alarm.	3e	4C	33 18
יָדַ֧עְנוּ יְהוָ֛ה רִשְׁעֵ֖נוּ עֲוֺ֣ן אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ כִּ֥י חָטָ֖אנוּ לָֽךְ	20		We know, Yahweh, our wickedness, the iniquity of our ancestors, because we have sinned against you.	3c	4B	14 5
אַל־תִּנְאַץ֙ לְמַ֣עַן שִׁמְךָ֔ אַל־תְּנַבֵּ֖ל כִּסֵּ֣א כְבוֹדֶ֑ךָ זְכֹ֕ר אַל־תָּפֵ֥ר בְּרִֽיתְךָ֖ אִתָּֽנוּ	21		Do not spurn for the sake of your name. Do not make senseless the throne of your glory. Remember. Do not annul your covenant with us.	3e	4B	18 11
הֲיֵ֨שׁ בְּהַבְלֵ֤י הַגּוֹיִם֙ מַגְשִׁמִ֔ים וְאִם־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם יִתְּנ֣וּ רְבִבִ֑ים הֲלֹ֨א אַתָּה־ה֜וּא יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּ֨נְקַוֶּה־לָּ֔ךְ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֵֽלֶּה	22		Are there rain-makers among the futilities of the nations? Or the heavens, can they give copious showers? Are not you, he, Yahweh our God? So we will wait for you because you yourself have made all these.	3e	4C	21 24