¹ Guai ai pastori che distruggono e disperdono il gregge del mio pascolo! dice l’Eterno.

² Perciò così parla l’Eterno, l’Iddio d’Israele, riguardo ai pastori che pascono il mio popolo: Voi avete disperse le mie pecore, le avete scacciate, e non ne avete avuto cura; ecco, io vi punirò, per la malvagità delle vostre azioni, dice l’Eterno.

³ E raccoglierò il rimanente delle mie pecore da tutti i paesi dove le ho cacciate, e le ricondurrò ai loro pascoli, e saranno feconde, e moltiplicheranno.

⁴ E costituirò su loro de’ pastori che le pastureranno, ed esse non avranno più paura né spavento, e non ne mancherà alcuna, dice l’Eterno.

⁵ Ecco, i giorni vengono, dice l’Eterno, quand’io farò sorgere a Davide un germoglio giusto, il quale regnerà da re e prospererà, e farà ragione e giustizia nel paese.

⁶ Ai giorni d’esso, Giuda sarà salvato, e Israele starà sicuro nella sua dimora: e questo sarà il nome col quale sarà chiamato: "l’Eterno nostra giustizia".

⁷ Perciò, ecco, i giorni vengono, dice l’Eterno, che non si dirà più: "l’Eterno è vivente, egli che ha tratto i figliuoli d’Israele fuori del paese d’Egitto",

⁸ ma: "l’Eterno è vivente, egli che ha tratto fuori e ha ricondotto la progenie della casa d’Israele dal paese del settentrione, e da tutti i paesi dove io li avevo cacciati"; ed essi dimoreranno nel loro paese.

⁹ Contro i profeti. Il cuore mi si spezza in seno, tutte le mie ossa tremano; io sono come un ubriaco, come un uomo sopraffatto dal vino, a cagione dell’Eterno e a cagione delle sue parole sante.

¹⁰ Poiché il paese è pieno di adulteri; poiché il paese fa cordoglio a motivo della maledizione che lo colpisce; i pascoli del deserto sono inariditi. La corsa di costoro è diretta al male, la loro forza non tende al bene.

¹¹ Profeti e sacerdoti sono empi, nella mia casa stessa ho trovato la loro malvagità, dice l’Eterno.

¹² Perciò la loro via sarà per loro come luoghi lùbrici in mezzo alle tenebre; essi vi saranno spinti, e cadranno; poiché io farò venir su loro la calamità, l’anno in cui li visiterò, dice l’Eterno.

¹³ Avevo ben visto cose insulse tra i profeti di Samaria; profetizzavano nel nome di Baal, e traviavano il mio popolo d’Israele.

¹⁴ Ma fra i profeti di Gerusalemme ho visto cose nefande: commettono adulteri, procedono con falsità, fortificano le mani de’ malfattori, talché nessuno si converte dalla sua malvagità; tutti quanti sono per me come Sodoma, e gli abitanti di Gerusalemme, come quei di Gomorra.

¹⁵ Perciò così parla l’Eterno degli eserciti riguardo ai profeti: Ecco, io farò loro mangiare dell’assenzio, e farò loro bere dell’acqua avvelenata; poiché dai profeti di Gerusalemme l’empietà s’è sparsa per tutto il paese.

¹⁶ Così parla l’Eterno degli eserciti: Non ascoltate le parole de’ profeti che vi profetizzano; essi vi pascono di cose vane; vi espongono le visioni del loro proprio cuore, e non ciò che procede dalla bocca dell’Eterno.

¹⁷ Dicono del continuo a quei che mi sprezzano: "L’Eterno ha detto: Avrete pace"; e a tutti quelli che camminano seguendo la caparbietà del proprio cuore: "Nessun male v’incoglierà";

¹⁸ poiché chi ha assistito al consiglio dell’Eterno, chi ha veduto, chi ha udito la sua parola? Chi ha prestato orecchio alla sua parola e l’ha udita?

¹⁹ Ecco, la tempesta dell’Eterno, il furore scoppia, la tempesta scroscia, scroscia sul capo degli empi.

²⁰ L’ira dell’Eterno non si acqueterà, finché non abbia eseguito, compiuto i disegni del suo cuore; negli ultimi giorni, lo capirete appieno.

²¹ Io non ho mandato que’ profeti; ed essi son corsi; io non ho parlato loro, ed essi hanno profetizzato.

²² Se avessero assistito al mio consiglio, avrebbero fatto udire le mie parole al mio popolo, e li avrebbero stornati dalla loro cattiva via e dalla malvagità delle loro azioni.

²³ Son io soltanto un Dio da vicino, dice l’Eterno, e non un Dio da lungi?

²⁴ Potrebbe uno nascondersi in luogo occulto sì ch’io non lo vegga? dice l’Eterno. Non riempio io il cielo e la terra? dice l’Eterno.

²⁵ Io ho udito quel che dicono i profeti che profetizzano menzogne nel mio nome, dicendo: "Ho avuto un sogno! ho avuto un sogno!"

²⁶ Fino a quando durerà questo? Hanno essi in mente, questi profeti che profetizzan menzogne, questi profeti dell’inganno del cuor loro,

²⁷ pensan essi di far dimenticare il mio nome al mio popolo coi loro sogni che si raccontan l’un l’altro, come i loro padri dimenticarono il mio nome per Baal?

²⁸ Il profeta che ha avuto un sogno, racconti il sogno, e colui che ha udito la mia parola riferisca la mia parola fedelmente. Che ha da fare la paglia col frumento? dice l’Eterno.

²⁹ La mia parola non è essa come il fuoco? dice l’Eterno; e come un martello che spezza il sasso?

³⁰ Perciò, ecco, dice l’Eterno, io vengo contro i profeti che ruban gli uni agli altri le mie parole.

³¹ Ecco, dice l’Eterno, io vengo contro i profeti che fan parlar la loro propria lingua, eppure dicono: "Egli dice".

³² Ecco, dice l’Eterno, io vengo contro quelli che profetizzano sogni falsi, che li raccontano e traviano il mio popolo con le loro menzogne e con la loro temerità, benché io non li abbia mandati e non abbia dato loro alcun ordine, ed essi non possan recare alcun giovamento a questo popolo, dice l’Eterno.

³³ Se questo popolo o un profeta o sacerdote ti domandano: "Qual è l’oracolo dell’Eterno?" Tu risponderai loro: "Qual oracolo? Io vi rigetterò, dice l’Eterno".

³⁴ E quanto al profeta, al sacerdote, o al popolo che dirà: "Oracolo dell’Eterno", io lo punirò: lui, e la sua casa.

³⁵ Direte così, ognuno al suo vicino, ognuno al suo fratello: "Che ha risposto l’Eterno?" e: "Che ha detto l’Eterno?"

³⁶ Ma l’oracolo dell’Eterno non lo mentoverete più; poiché la parola di ciascuno sarà per lui il suo oracolo, giacché avete tòrte le parole dell’Iddio vivente, dell’Eterno degli eserciti, dell’Iddio nostro.

³⁷ Tu dirai così al profeta: "Che t’ha risposto l’Eterno?" e: "Che ha detto l’Eterno?"

³⁸ E se dite ancora: "Oracolo dell’Eterno", allora l’Eterno parla così: "Siccome avete detto questa parola "oracolo dell’Eterno", benché io v’avessi mandato a dire: "Non dite più: Oracolo dell’Eterno",

³⁹ ecco, io vi dimenticherò del tutto, e vi rigetterò lungi dalla mia faccia, voi e la città che avevo data a voi e ai vostri padri,

⁴⁰ e vi coprirò d’un obbrobrio eterno e d’un’eterna vergogna, che non saran mai dimenticati".

¹ It happened on the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it, with all its furniture, and the altar with all its vessels, and had anointed and sanctified them;

² that the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers' houses, offered. These were the princes of the tribes. These are they who were over those who were numbered:

³ and they brought their offering before Yahweh, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for every two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they presented them before the tabernacle.

⁴ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

⁵ "Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the Tent of Meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service."

⁶ Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.

⁷ He gave two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their service:

⁸ and he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

⁹ But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonged to them; they carried it on their shoulders.

¹⁰ The princes gave offerings for the dedication of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes gave their offerings before the altar.

¹¹ Yahweh said to Moses, "They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedication of the altar."

¹² He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah,

¹³ and his offering was: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

¹⁴ one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;

¹⁵ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

¹⁶ one male goat for a sin offering;

¹⁷ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

¹⁸ On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, gave his offering.

¹⁹ He offered for his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

²⁰ one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;

²¹ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

²² one male goat for a sin offering;

²³ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.

²⁴ On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun

²⁵ gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

²⁶ one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;

²⁷ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

²⁸ one male goat for a sin offering;

²⁹ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.

³⁰ On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben

³¹ gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

³² one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;

³³ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

³⁴ one male goat for a sin offering;

³⁵ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

³⁶ On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon

³⁷ gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

³⁸ one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;

³⁹ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

⁴⁰ one male goat for a sin offering;

⁴¹ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

⁴² On the sixth day, Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad

⁴³ gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

⁴⁴ one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;

⁴⁵ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

⁴⁶ one male goat for a sin offering;

⁴⁷ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

⁴⁸ On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim

⁴⁹ gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

⁵⁰ one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;

⁵¹ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

⁵² one male goat for a sin offering;

⁵³ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

⁵⁴ On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh

⁵⁵ gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

⁵⁶ one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;

⁵⁷ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

⁵⁸ one male goat for a sin offering;

⁵⁹ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

⁶⁰ On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin

⁶¹ gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

⁶² one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;

⁶³ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

⁶⁴ one male goat for a sin offering;

⁶⁵ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

⁶⁶ On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan

⁶⁷ gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

⁶⁸ one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;

⁶⁹ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

⁷⁰ one male goat for a sin offering;

⁷¹ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

⁷² On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, prince of the children of Asher

⁷³ gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

⁷⁴ one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;

⁷⁵ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

⁷⁶ one male goat for a sin offering;

⁷⁷ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.

⁷⁸ On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali

⁷⁹ gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

⁸⁰ one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense;

⁸¹ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

⁸² one male goat for a sin offering;

⁸³ and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

⁸⁴ This was the dedication of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, twelve golden ladles;

⁸⁵ each silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary;

⁸⁶ the twelve golden ladles, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the ladles weighed one hundred twenty shekels;

⁸⁷ all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, and their meal offering; and the male goats for a sin offering twelve;

⁸⁸ and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after it was anointed.

⁸⁹ When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Yahweh, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spoke to him.