Jeremiah 4

So many different classes of words. Some you could leave out and there would be no difference in the sense of the passage. Some where one could substitute one for another and who would notice?

Why continue then? I was listening to a very excellent CD today, all music by a living composer in a genre I know, all superbly performed, but it was one miniature by Orlando Gibbons that got me out of my seat to turn up the volume. What is it about the pulse and harmony of the 16th century that captures such essence? The same words were then sung in a modern composition somewhat reminiscent of Britten in its beginning. Complex and hard to execute, energetic and performed with great discipline and capacity. Am I brainwashed that I can only hear some things?

Every chapter now results in my questioning other words in other parts that I have done. It is not methodical. I can't help thinking my approach is almost accidental. The changes are forced upon me by an accidentally repeated sound in English which I had not noticed. My algorithm for instance does not trim the suffix 'ion' or 'ful' so I can miss a gloss that maps back to two distinct Hebrew stems. Maybe I should add those the algorithm! In any case the changes were minor - getting rid of intent in a few places and searching (it turns out unnecessarily) for an additional synonym (rue) in the Grief subdomain. What words do not have intent? I use intent occasionally when the stem is doubled for emphasis (if indeed that is what the doubling intends). Apart from that usage, intend is now only for זמם. Intend can also be just a conjunction after the manner of in order to or the like. I thought עבור was too much to overload in this case. (But you probably would not have noticed!)

Why does he write to me in verse 12? Is the prophet describing the earth or the land? (Both the same in Hebrew ארץ).

Jeremiah 4		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
אִם־תָּשׁ֨וּב יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י תָּשׁ֑וּב וְאִם־תָּסִ֧יר שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָ מִפָּנַ֖י וְלֹ֥א תָנֽוּד	1		If you return, Israel, an oracle of Yahweh, return to me, and if you put aside your detestable things from before me, then you will not be aimless.	3c	4A	14 15
וְנִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ חַי־יְהוָ֔ה בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט וּבִצְדָקָ֑ה וְהִתְבָּ֥רְכוּ ב֛וֹ גּוֹיִ֖ם וּב֥וֹ יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ	2		And you will swear, Yahweh lives in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness, and nations will be blessed in him and in him they will praise.	3d	4B	18 13
כִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה לְאִ֤ישׁ יְהוּדָה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם נִ֥ירוּ לָכֶ֖ם נִ֑יר וְאַֽל־תִּזְרְע֖וּ אֶל־קוֹצִֽים	3		Because thus says Yahweh to each of Judah and to Jerusalem, Till for yourselves what is to be tilled, and do not sow into brambles.	3e	4C	22 8
הִמֹּ֣לוּ לַיהֹוָ֗ה וְהָסִ֙רוּ֙ עָרְל֣וֹת לְבַבְכֶ֔ם אִ֥ישׁ יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם פֶּן־תֵּצֵ֨א כָאֵ֜שׁ חֲמָתִ֗י וּבָעֲרָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין מְכַבֶּ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם	4		Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh, and put aside the foreskins of your heart, everyone of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest as fire, my heat come forth, and it will be kindled, and there is none to quench in the face of the evil of your wantonness.	3e	4B	26 25
הַגִּ֣ידוּ בִֽיהוּדָ֗ה וּבִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ הַשְׁמִ֔יעוּ וְאִמְר֕וּ תִּקְע֥וּ שׁוֹפָ֖ר בָּאָ֑רֶץ קִרְא֤וּ מַלְאוּ֙ וְאִמְר֔וּ הֵאָסְפ֥וּ וְנָב֖וֹאָה אֶל־עָרֵ֥י הַמִּבְצָֽר	5		Make it clear in Judah, and in Jerusalem broadcast it, and say, Sound a shophar in the land. Call. Be filled and say, Gather yourselves and let us enter into the enclosed cities.	3e	4C	24 20
שְׂאוּ־נֵ֣ס צִיּ֔וֹנָה הָעִ֖יזוּ אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹ֑דוּ כִּ֣י רָעָ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י מֵבִ֥יא מִצָּפ֖וֹן וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֽוֹל	6		Lift up a standard toward Zion. Retire. Do not stand. For I will bring evil from the north, and a great shattering.	3d	4B	14 16
עָלָ֤ה אַרְיֵה֙ מִֽסֻּבְּכ֔וֹ וּמַשְׁחִ֣ית גּוֹיִ֔ם נָסַ֖ע יָצָ֣א מִמְּקֹמ֑וֹ לָשׂ֤וּם אַרְצֵךְ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה עָרַ֥יִךְ תִּצֶּ֖ינָה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב	7		A lion has come up from its thicket, and the destroyer of nations has pulled out. He has gone forth from his place, to set your land a desolation. Your cities will struggle without inhabitant.	3e	4C	19 17
עַל־זֹ֛את חִגְר֥וּ שַׂקִּ֖ים סִפְד֣וּ וְהֵילִ֑ילוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־שָׁ֛ב חֲר֥וֹן אַף־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמֶּֽנּוּ	8		Over this wear sackcloth. Wail and howl, for the burning of the anger of Yahweh will not turn from us.	3d	4B	12 12
וְהָיָ֤ה בַיּוֹם־הַהוּא֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה יֹאבַ֥ד לֵב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְלֵ֣ב הַשָּׂרִ֑ים וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וְהַנְּבִיאִ֖ים יִתְמָֽהוּ	9		And it will be on that day, an oracle of Yahweh, the heart of the king will perish and the heart of the nobility, and the priests will be desolate and the prophets will be astonished.	3e	4C	22 15
וָאֹמַ֞ר אֲהָ֣הּ ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה אָכֵן֩ הַשֵּׁ֨א הִשֵּׁ֜אתָ לָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ וְלִירוּשָׁלִַ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר שָׁל֖וֹם יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם וְנָגְעָ֥ה חֶ֖רֶב עַד־הַנָּֽפֶשׁ	10		And I said, Aye yai yai, my Lord Yahweh, notwithstanding, luring you have lured this people and Jerusalem, saying, Peace there will be for you. But the sword touches even the very self.	3e	4C	34 9
בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא יֵאָמֵ֤ר לָֽעָם־הַזֶּה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם ר֣וּחַ צַ֤ח שְׁפָיִים֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר דֶּ֖רֶךְ בַּת־עַמִּ֑י ל֥וֹא לִזְר֖וֹת וְל֥וֹא לְהָבַֽר	11		At that time, it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A glowing wind of the protruding places in the wilderness is on the way to the daughter of my people, not to winnow and not to purify.	3e	4C	30 8
ר֧וּחַ מָלֵ֛א מֵאֵ֖לֶּה יָ֣בוֹא לִ֑י עַתָּ֕ה גַּם־אֲנִ֛י אֲדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּטִ֖ים אוֹתָֽם	12	c	A full wind from these will come to me. Now also I, I will speak judgment to them.	3c	4B	10 13
הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ כַּעֲנָנִ֣ים יַעֲלֶ֗ה וְכַסּוּפָה֙ מַרְכְּבוֹתָ֔יו קַלּ֥וּ מִנְּשָׁרִ֖ים סוּסָ֑יו א֥וֹי לָ֖נוּ כִּ֥י שֻׁדָּֽדְנוּ	13		Behold as clouds it will come up, and as a storm-wind, its chariots. Fleeter than eagles, its horses. Woe to us, for we are devastated.	3e	4B	24 8
כַּבְּסִ֨י מֵרָעָ֤ה לִבֵּךְ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם לְמַ֖עַן תִּוָּשֵׁ֑עִי עַד־מָתַ֛י תָּלִ֥ין בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְ מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת אוֹנֵֽךְ	14		Scour from evil your heart, Jerusalem, so that you will be saved. How long will devices of mischief lodge among you?	3d	4C	18 13
כִּ֛י ק֥וֹל מַגִּ֖יד מִדָּ֑ן וּמַשְׁמִ֥יעַ אָ֖וֶן מֵהַ֥ר אֶפְרָֽיִם	15	d	For a voice announces from Dan, and broadcasts mischief from mount Ephraim.	3d	4A	6 11
הַזְכִּ֣ירוּ לַגּוֹיִ֗ם הִנֵּה֙ הַשְׁמִ֣יעוּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם נֹצְרִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים מֵאֶ֣רֶץ הַמֶּרְחָ֑ק וַֽיִּתְּנ֛וּ עַל־עָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה קוֹלָֽם	16		Remember the nations. Behold, broadcast at Jerusalem, observers coming from a distant land, and they give their voice against the cities of Judah.	3d	4B	26 11
כְּשֹׁמְרֵ֣י שָׂדַ֔י הָי֥וּ עָלֶ֖יהָ מִסָּבִ֑יב כִּי־אֹתִ֥י מָרָ֖תָה נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה	17		As keepers of a field, they will be upon her on every side, for with me she was provocative, an oracle of Yahweh.	3e	4B	13 9
דַּרְכֵּךְ֙ וּמַ֣עֲלָלַ֔יִךְ עָשׂ֥וֹ אֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ זֹ֤את רָעָתֵךְ֙ כִּ֣י מָ֔ר כִּ֥י נָגַ֖ע עַד־לִבֵּֽךְ	18		Your way and your practices have done these for you. This is your hurt, for it is bitter, for it touches to your heart.	3e	4C	13 12
מֵעַ֣י ׀ מֵעַ֨י ׀ אוֹחִ֜ילָה קִיר֥וֹת לִבִּ֛י הֹֽמֶה־לִּ֥י לִבִּ֖י לֹ֣א אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ כִּ֣י ק֤וֹל שׁוֹפָר֙ שָׁמַ֣עַתְּ נַפְשִׁ֔י תְּרוּעַ֖ת מִלְחָמָֽה	19		My inner parts, my inner parts. Writhing are the sidewalls of my heart. My heart murmurs to me. I will not be silent, because you have heard the voice of the shophar, O my very self, the triumph of war.	3d	4C	20 15
שֶׁ֤בֶר עַל־שֶׁ֙בֶר֙ נִקְרָ֔א כִּ֥י שֻׁדְּדָ֖ה כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ פִּתְאֹם֙ שֻׁדְּד֣וּ אֹהָלַ֔י רֶ֖גַע יְרִיעֹתָֽי	20	C	Shattering over shattering is proclaimed, for devastated is all the land. Suddenly are devastated my tents, in a moment, my curtains.	3e	4C	14 13
עַד־מָתַ֖י אֶרְאֶה־נֵּ֑ס אֶשְׁמְעָ֖ה ק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר	21		How long will I see a standard? will I hear the voice of the shophar?	3e	4A	6 6
כִּ֣י ׀ אֱוִ֣יל עַמִּ֗י אוֹתִי֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ בָּנִ֤ים סְכָלִים֙ הֵ֔מָּה וְלֹ֥א נְבוֹנִ֖ים הֵ֑מָּה חֲכָמִ֥ים הֵ֙מָּה֙ לְהָרַ֔ע וּלְהֵיטִ֖יב לֹ֥א יָדָֽעוּ	22	B	For obstinate are my people. Me, they do not know. Silly children, they are, and without understanding they are. Shrewd they are to do evil, but to do good they do not know.	3e	4C	25 15
רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהִנֵּה־תֹ֖הוּ וָבֹ֑הוּ וְאֶל־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ין אוֹרָֽם	23		I saw the land, and behold, formless and void, and to the heavens, and their light was not.	3e	4A	15 9
רָאִ֙יתִי֙ הֶֽהָרִ֔ים וְהִנֵּ֖ה רֹעֲשִׁ֑ים וְכָל־הַגְּבָע֖וֹת הִתְקַלְקָֽלוּ	24		I saw the hills and behold, quaking, and all the hillocks, dwindling.	3e	4A	12 9
רָאִ֕יתִי וְהִנֵּ֖ה אֵ֣ין הָאָדָ֑ם וְכָל־ע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם נָדָֽדוּ	25		I saw and behold, there was no human, and all the fowl of the heavens have fled.	3e	4B	10 9
רָאִ֕יתִי וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַכַּרְמֶ֖ל הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְכָל־עָרָ֗יו נִתְּצוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ	26		I saw and behold, a plantation in the wilderness, and all its cities were broken down from the face of Yahweh, before his fierce anger.	3e	4B	12 16
כִּי־כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שְׁמָמָ֥ה תִהְיֶ֖ה כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכָלָ֖ה לֹ֥א אֶעֱשֶֽׂה	27		Because thus says Yahweh, Desolate, will be all the land, but a consuming end, I will not make.	3e	4B	15 7
עַל־את֙ תֶּאֱבַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ וְקָדְר֥וּ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם מִמָּ֑עַל עַ֤ל כִּי־דִבַּ֙רְתִּי֙ זַמֹּ֔תִי וְלֹ֥א נִחַ֖מְתִּי וְלֹא־אָשׁ֥וּב מִמֶּֽנָּה	28		For this the land will lament and the heavens above will mourn, for I have spoken my intent, and I do not sigh, and I will not turn back from it.	3e	4C	17 18
מִקּ֨וֹל פָּרָ֜שׁ וְרֹ֣מֵה קֶ֗שֶׁת בֹּרַ֙חַת֙ כָּל־הָעִ֔יר בָּ֚אוּ בֶּעָבִ֔ים וּבַכֵּפִ֖ים עָל֑וּ כָּל־הָעִ֣יר עֲזוּבָ֔ה וְאֵין־יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בָּהֵ֖ן אִֽישׁ	29		From the rumbling cavalier and deceiving bow, the whole city will run. They will go with thick clouds and into burrows ascend, the whole city forsaken, and there is no inhabitant in her.	3e	4C	26 13
וְאַ֨תְּ שָׁד֜וּד מַֽה־תַּעֲשִׂ֗י כִּֽי־תִלְבְּשִׁ֨י שָׁנִ֜י כִּי־תַעְדִּ֣י עֲדִי־זָהָ֗ב כִּֽי־תִקְרְעִ֤י בַפּוּךְ֙ עֵינַ֔יִךְ לַשָּׁ֖וְא תִּתְיַפִּ֑י מָאֲסוּ־בָ֥ךְ עֹגְבִ֖ים נַפְשֵׁ֥ךְ יְבַקֵּֽשׁוּ	30		And devastated, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with scarlet, though you deck yourself with trappings of gold, though you segment with antimony your eyes, in vain do you beautify yourself. Those who dote will refuse you. Your very self they will seek.	3e	4C	34 12
כִּי֩ ק֨וֹל כְּחוֹלָ֜ה שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי צָרָה֙ כְּמַבְכִּירָ֔ה ק֧וֹל בַּת־צִיּ֛וֹן תִּתְיַפֵּ֖חַ תְּפָרֵ֣שׂ כַּפֶּ֑יהָ אֽוֹי־נָ֣א לִ֔י כִּֽי־עָיְפָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י לְהֹרְגִֽים	31		For the voice of one enduring birth I have heard, and the anguish as of her firstborn, the voice of the daughter of Zion, gasping for breath, she spreads her palms. Woe now for me, for my very self is exhausted for those who slay.	3c	4B	28 11