The Funeral Song for an Empire.

וַֽיְהִי֙ בִּשְׁתֵּ֣י עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה בִּשְׁנֵי־עָשָׂ֥ר חֹ֖דֶשׁ בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ הָיָ֥ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃

In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:

בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם שָׂ֤א קִינָה֙ עַל־פַּרְעֹ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֔יִם וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֔יו כְּפִ֥יר גּוֹיִ֖ם נִדְמֵ֑יתָ וְאַתָּה֙ כַּתַּנִּ֣ים בַּיַּמִּ֔ים וַתָּ֣גַח בְּנַהֲרוֹתֶ֗יךָ וַתִּדְלַח־מַ֙יִם֙ בְּרַגְלֶ֔יךָ וַתִּרְפֹּ֖ס נַהֲרוֹתָֽם׃

[2] “Son of man, raise a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: “You consider yourself a lion of the nations, but you are like a dragon in the seas; you burst forth in your rivers, trouble the waters with your feet, and foul their rivers.

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה וּפָרַשְׂתִּ֤י עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־רִשְׁתִּ֔י בִּקְהַ֖ל עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים וְהֶעֱל֖וּךָ בְּחֶרְמִֽי׃

[3] Thus says the Lord God : I will throw my net over you with a host of many peoples, and they will haul you up in my dragnet.

וּנְטַשְׁתִּ֣יךָ בָאָ֔רֶץ עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה אֲטִילֶ֑ךָ וְהִשְׁכַּנְתִּ֤י עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ כָּל־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְהִשְׂבַּעְתִּ֥י מִמְּךָ֖ חַיַּ֥ת כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

[4] And I will cast you on the ground; on the open field I will fling you, and will cause all the birds of the heavens to settle on you, and I will gorge the beasts of the whole earth with you.

וְנָתַתִּ֥י אֶת־בְּשָׂרְךָ֖ עַל־הֶֽהָרִ֑ים וּמִלֵּאתִ֥י הַגֵּאָי֖וֹת רָמוּתֶֽךָ׃

[5] I will strew your flesh upon the mountains and fill the valleys with your carcass.

וְהִשְׁקֵיתִ֨י אֶ֧רֶץ צָפָתְךָ֛ מִדָּמְךָ֖ אֶל־הֶֽהָרִ֑ים וַאֲפִקִ֖ים יִמָּלְא֥וּן מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

[6] I will drench the land even to the mountains with your flowing blood, and the ravines will be full of you.

וְכִסֵּיתִ֤י בְכַבּֽוֹתְךָ֙ שָׁמַ֔יִם וְהִקְדַּרְתִּ֖י אֶת־כֹּֽכְבֵיהֶ֑ם שֶׁ֚מֶשׁ בֶּעָנָ֣ן אֲכַסֶּ֔נּוּ וְיָרֵ֖חַ לֹא־יָאִ֥יר אוֹרֽוֹ׃

[7] When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light.

כָּל־מְא֤וֹרֵי אוֹר֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם אַקְדִּירֵ֖ם עָלֶ֑יךָ וְנָתַ֤תִּי חֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ עַֽל־אַרְצְךָ֔ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃

[8] All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land, declares the Lord God .

וְהִ֨כְעַסְתִּ֔י לֵ֖ב עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים בַּהֲבִיאִ֤י שִׁבְרְךָ֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם עַל־אֲרָצ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתָּֽם׃

[9] “I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries that you have not known.

וַהֲשִׁמּוֹתִ֨י עָלֶ֜יךָ עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים וּמַלְכֵיהֶם֙ יִשְׂעֲר֤וּ עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ שַׂ֔עַר בְּעוֹפְפִ֥י חַרְבִּ֖י עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וְחָרְד֤וּ לִרְגָעִים֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְנַפְשׁ֔וֹ בְּי֖וֹם מַפַּלְתֶּֽךָ׃ ס

[10] I will make many peoples appalled at you, and the hair of their kings shall bristle with horror because of you, when I brandish my sword before them. They shall tremble every moment, every one for his own life, on the day of your downfall.

כִּ֛י כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה חֶ֥רֶב מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל תְּבוֹאֶֽךָ׃

[11] “For thus says the Lord God : The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you.

בְּחַרְב֤וֹת גִּבּוֹרִים֙ אַפִּ֣יל הֲמוֹנֶ֔ךָ עָרִיצֵ֥י גוֹיִ֖ם כֻּלָּ֑ם וְשָֽׁדְדוּ֙ אֶת־גְּא֣וֹן מִצְרַ֔יִם וְנִשְׁמַ֖ד כָּל־הֲמוֹנָֽהּ׃

[12] I will cause your multitude to fall by the swords of mighty ones, all of them most ruthless of nations. “They shall bring to ruin the pride of Egypt, and all its multitude shall perish.

וְהַֽאֲבַדְתִּי֙ אֶת־כָּל־בְּהֶמְתָּ֔הּ מֵעַ֖ל מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים וְלֹ֨א תִדְלָחֵ֤ם רֶֽגֶל־אָדָם֙ ע֔וֹד וּפַרְס֥וֹת בְּהֵמָ֖ה לֹ֥א תִדְלָחֵֽם׃

[13] I will destroy all its beasts from beside many waters; and no foot of man shall trouble them anymore, nor shall the hoofs of beasts trouble them.

אָ֚ז אַשְׁקִ֣יעַ מֵֽימֵיהֶ֔ם וְנַהֲרוֹתָ֖ם כַּשֶּׁ֣מֶן אוֹלִ֑יךְ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃

[14] Then I will make their waters clear, and cause their rivers to run like oil, declares the Lord God .

בְּתִתִּי֩ אֶת־אֶ֨רֶץ מִצְרַ֜יִם שְׁמָמָ֣ה וּנְשַׁמָּ֗ה אֶ֚רֶץ מִמְּלֹאָ֔הּ בְּהַכּוֹתִ֖י אֶת־כָּל־י֣וֹשְׁבֵי בָ֑הּ וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

[15] When I make the land of Egypt desolate, and when the land is desolate of all that fills it, when I strike down all who dwell in it, then they will know that I am the Lord .

קִינָ֥ה הִיא֙ וְק֣וֹנְנ֔וּהָ בְּנ֥וֹת הַגּוֹיִ֖ם תְּקוֹנֵ֣נָּה אוֹתָ֑הּ עַל־מִצְרַ֤יִם וְעַל־כָּל־הֲמוֹנָהּ֙ תְּקוֹנֵ֣נָּה אוֹתָ֔הּ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ פ

[16] This is a lamentation that shall be chanted; the daughters of the nations shall chant it; over Egypt, and over all her multitude, shall they chant it, declares the Lord God .”

וַֽיְהִי֙ בִּשְׁתֵּ֣י עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ הָיָ֥ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃

[17] In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם נְהֵ֛ה עַל־הֲמ֥וֹן מִצְרַ֖יִם וְהוֹרִדֵ֑הוּ א֠וֹתָהּ וּבְנ֨וֹת גּוֹיִ֧ם אַדִּרִ֛ם אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ תַּחְתִּיּ֖וֹת אֶת־י֥וֹרְדֵי בֽוֹר׃

[18] “Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt, and send them down, her and the daughters of majestic nations, to the world below, to those who have gone down to the pit:

מִמִּ֖י נָעָ֑מְתָּ רְדָ֥ה וְהָשְׁכְּבָ֖ה אֶת־עֲרֵלִֽים׃

[19] ‘Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down and be laid to rest with the uncircumcised.’

בְּת֥וֹךְ חַלְלֵי־חֶ֖רֶב יִפֹּ֑לוּ חֶ֣רֶב נִתָּ֔נָה מָשְׁכ֥וּ אוֹתָ֖הּ וְכָל־הֲמוֹנֶֽיהָ׃

[20] They shall fall amid those who are slain by the sword. Egypt is delivered to the sword; drag her away, and all her multitudes.

יְדַבְּרוּ־ל֞וֹ אֵלֵ֧י גִבּוֹרִ֛ים מִתּ֥וֹךְ שְׁא֖וֹל אֶת־עֹֽזְרָ֑יו יָֽרְד֛וּ שָׁכְב֥וּ הָעֲרֵלִ֖ים חַלְלֵי־חָֽרֶב׃

[21] The mighty chiefs shall speak of them, with their helpers, out of the midst of Sheol: ‘They have come down, they lie still, the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.’

שָׁ֤ם אַשּׁוּר֙ וְכָל־קְהָלָ֔הּ סְבִֽיבוֹתָ֖יו קִבְרֹתָ֑יו כֻּלָּ֣ם חֲלָלִ֔ים הַנֹּפְלִ֖ים בֶּחָֽרֶב׃

[22] “Assyria is there, and all her company, its graves all around it, all of them slain, fallen by the sword,

אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִתְּנ֤וּ קִבְרֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ בְּיַרְכְּתֵי־ב֔וֹר וַיְהִ֣י קְהָלָ֔הּ סְבִיב֖וֹת קְבֻרָתָ֑הּ כֻּלָּ֤ם חֲלָלִים֙ נֹפְלִ֣ים בַּחֶ֔רֶב אֲשֶׁר־נָתְנ֥וּ חִתִּ֖ית בְּאֶ֥רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃

[23] whose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the pit; and her company is all around her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who spread terror in the land of the living.

שָׁ֤ם עֵילָם֙ וְכָל־הֲמוֹנָ֔הּ סְבִיב֖וֹת קְבֻרָתָ֑הּ כֻּלָּ֣ם חֲלָלִים֩ הַנֹּפְלִ֨ים בַּחֶ֜רֶב אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־יָרְד֥וּ עֲרֵלִ֣ים׀ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ תַּחְתִּיּ֗וֹת אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתְנ֤וּ חִתִּיתָם֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּ֔ים וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ כְלִמָּתָ֖ם אֶת־י֥וֹרְדֵי בֽוֹר׃

[24] “Elam is there, and all her multitude around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who went down uncircumcised into the world below, who spread their terror in the land of the living; and they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.

בְּת֣וֹךְ חֲ֠לָלִים נָתְנ֨וּ מִשְׁכָּ֥ב לָהּ֙ בְּכָל־הֲמוֹנָ֔הּ סְבִֽיבוֹתָ֖יו קִבְרֹתֶ֑הָ כֻּלָּ֣ם עֲרֵלִ֣ים חַלְלֵי־חֶ֡רֶב כִּֽי־נִתַּ֨ן חִתִּיתָ֜ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּ֗ים וַיִּשְׂא֤וּ כְלִמָּתָם֙ אֶת־י֣וֹרְדֵי ב֔וֹר בְּת֥וֹךְ חֲלָלִ֖ים נִתָּֽן׃

[25] They have made her a bed among the slain with all her multitude, her graves all around it, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for terror of them was spread in the land of the living, and they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are placed among the slain.

שָׁ֣ם מֶ֤שֶׁךְ תֻּבַל֙ וְכָל־הֲמוֹנָ֔הּ סְבִֽיבוֹתָ֖יו קִבְרוֹתֶ֑יהָ כֻּלָּ֤ם עֲרֵלִים֙ מְחֻ֣לְלֵי חֶ֔רֶב כִּֽי־נָתְנ֥וּ חִתִּיתָ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃

[26] “Meshech-Tubal is there, and all her multitude, her graves all around it, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for they spread their terror in the land of the living.

וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁכְּבוּ֙ אֶת־גִּבּוֹרִ֔ים נֹפְלִ֖ים מֵעֲרֵלִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָרְדֽוּ־שְׁא֣וֹל בִּכְלֵֽי־מִלְחַמְתָּם֩ וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ אֶת־חַרְבוֹתָ֜ם תַּ֣חַת רָאשֵׁיהֶ֗ם וַתְּהִ֤י עֲוֺֽנֹתָם֙ עַל־עַצְמוֹתָ֔ם כִּֽי־חִתִּ֥ית גִּבּוֹרִ֖ים בְּאֶ֥רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃

[27] And they do not lie with the mighty, the fallen from among the uncircumcised, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were laid under their heads, and whose iniquities are upon their bones; for the terror of the mighty men was in the land of the living.

וְאַתָּ֗ה בְּת֧וֹךְ עֲרֵלִ֛ים תִּשָּׁבַ֥ר וְתִשְׁכַּ֖ב אֶת־חַלְלֵי־חָֽרֶב׃

[28] But as for you, you shall be broken and lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword.

שָׁ֣מָּה אֱד֗וֹם מְלָכֶ֙יהָ֙ וְכָל־נְשִׂיאֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁר־נִתְּנ֥וּ בִגְבוּרָתָ֖ם אֶת־חַלְלֵי־חָ֑רֶב הֵ֛מָּה אֶת־עֲרֵלִ֥ים יִשְׁכָּ֖בוּ וְאֶת־יֹ֥רְדֵי בֽוֹר׃

[29] “Edom is there, her kings and all her princes, who for all their might are laid with those who are killed by the sword; they lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.

שָׁ֣מָּה נְסִיכֵ֥י צָפ֛וֹן כֻּלָּ֖ם וְכָל־צִֽדֹנִ֑י אֲשֶׁר־יָרְד֣וּ אֶת־חֲלָלִ֗ים בְּחִתִּיתָ֤ם מִגְבֽוּרָתָם֙ בּוֹשִׁ֔ים וַיִּשְׁכְּב֤וּ עֲרֵלִים֙ אֶת־חַלְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶב וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ כְלִמָּתָ֖ם אֶת־י֥וֹרְדֵי בֽוֹר׃

[30] “The princes of the north are there, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who have gone down in shame with the slain, for all the terror that they caused by their might; they lie uncircumcised with those who are slain by the sword, and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.

אוֹתָם֙ יִרְאֶ֣ה פַרְעֹ֔ה וְנִחַ֖ם ׳עַל־כָּל־הֲמוֹנֹה׳ ״עַל־כָּל־הֲמוֹנ֑וֹ״ חַלְלֵי־חֶ֙רֶב֙ פַּרְעֹ֣ה וְכָל־חֵיל֔וֹ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃

[31] “When Pharaoh sees them, he will be comforted for all his multitude, Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword, declares the Lord God .

כִּֽי־נָתַ֥תִּי ׳אֶת־חִתִּיתוֹ׳ ״אֶת־חִתִּיתִ֖י״ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּ֑ים וְהֻשְׁכַּב֩ בְּת֨וֹךְ עֲרֵלִ֜ים אֶת־חַלְלֵי־חֶ֗רֶב פַּרְעֹה֙ וְכָל־הֲמוֹנֹ֔ה נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ פ

[32] For I spread terror in the land of the living; and he shall be laid to rest among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword, Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord God .”