Liber Ieremiae, 13

1. Haec dixit Dominus ad me: “Vade et posside tibi lumba re lineum et pones illud super lumbos tuos et in aquam non inferes illud”.

1. Thus said the LORD to me, "Go and buy a linen waistcloth, and put it on your loins, and do not dip it in water."

2. Et possedi lumbare iuxta verbum Domini et posui circa lumbos meos.

2. So I bought a waistcloth according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.

3. Et factus est sermo Domini ad me secundo dicens:

3. And the word of the LORD came to me a second time,

4. “Tolle lumbare, quod possedisti, quod est circa lumbos tuos, et surgens vade ad Euphraten et absconde ibi illud in foramine petrae”.

4. "Take the waistcloth which you have bought, which is upon your loins, and arise, go to the Euphra'tes, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock."

5. Et abii et abscondi illud ad Euphraten, sicut praeceperat mihi Dominus.

5. So I went, and hid it by the Euphra'tes, as the LORD commanded me.

6. Et factum est, post dies plurimos dixit Dominus ad me: “Surge, vade ad Euphraten et tolle inde lumbare, quod praecepi tibi, ut absconderes ibi”.

6. And after many days the LORD said to me, "Arise, go to the Euphra'tes, and take from there the waistcloth which I commanded you to hide there."

7. Et abii ad Euphraten et fodi et tuli lumbare de loco, ubi absconderam illud; et ecce, computruerat lumbare, ita ut nulli usui aptum esset.

7. Then I went to the Euphra'tes, and dug, and I took the waistcloth from the place where I had hidden it. And behold, the waistcloth was spoiled; it was good for nothing.

8. Et factum est verbum Domini ad me dicens:

8. Then the word of the LORD came to me:

9. “Haec dicit Dominus: Sic putrescere faciam superbiam Iudae et superbiam Ierusalem multam;

9. "Thus says the LORD: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.

10. populus iste pessimus — qui nolunt audire verba mea et ambulant in pravitate cordis sui abieruntque post deos alienos, ut servirent eis et adorarent eos — erit sicut lumbare istud, quod nulli usui aptum est.

10. This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this waistcloth, which is good for nothing.

11. Sicut enim adhaeret lumbare ad lumbos viri, sic agglutinavi mihi omnem domum Israel et omnem domum Iudae, dicit Dominus, ut esset mihi in populum et in nomen et in laudem et in gloriam, et non audierunt.

11. For as the waistcloth clings to the loins of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.

12. Dices ergo ad eos sermonem istum: Haec dicit Dominus, Deus Israel: Omnis laguncula implebitur vino. Et dicent ad te: “Numquid ignoramus quia omnis laguncula implebitur vino?”.

12. "You shall speak to them this word: `Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "Every jar shall be filled with wine."' And they will say to you, `Do we not indeed know that every jar will be filled with wine?'

13. Et dices ad eos: Haec dicit Dominus: Ecce ego implebo omnes habitatores terrae huius et reges, qui sedent de stirpe David super thronum eius, et sacerdotes et prophetas et omnes habitatores Ierusalem ebrietate;

13. Then you shall say to them, `Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will fill with drunkenness all the inhabitants of this land: the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

14. et collidam eos, virum in fratrem suum et patres et filios pariter, ait Dominus; non parcam et non concedam neque miserebor, ut non disperdam eos”.

14. And I will dash them one against another, fathers and sons together, says the LORD. I will not pity or spare or have compassion, that I should not destroy them.'"

15. Audite et auribus percipite; nolite elevari, quia Dominus locutus est.

15. Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the LORD has spoken.

16. Date Domino Deo vestro gloriam, antequam contenebrescat, et antequam offendant pedes vestri ad montes caliginosos; exspectabitis lucem, et ponet eam in umbram mortis et in caliginem.

16. Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.

17. Quod si hoc non audieritis, in abscondito plorabit anima mea a facie superbiae; plorans plorabit et deducet oculus meus lacrimam, quia captus est grex Domini.

17. But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock has been taken captive.

18. “Dic regi et dominatrici: In humo sedete, quoniam descendit de capite vestro corona gloriae vestrae.

18. Say to the king and the queen mother: "Take a lowly seat, for your beautiful crown has come down from your head."

19. Civitates austri clausae sunt, et non est qui aperiat; translata est omnis Iuda transmigratione perfecta.

19. The cities of the Negeb are shut up, with none to open them; all Judah is taken into exile, wholly taken into exile.

20. Leva oculos tuos et vide venientes ab aquilone: Ubi est grex, qui datus est tibi, pecus inclitum tuum?

20. "Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?

21. Quid dices, cum visitaverit te? Tu enim ipsa docuisti eos adversum te, amicos in caput tuum; numquid non dolores apprehendent te quasi mulierem parturientem?

21. What will you say when they set as head over you those whom you yourself have taught to be friends to you? Will not pangs take hold of you, like those of a woman in travail?

22. Quod si dixeris in corde tuo: “Quare venerunt mihi haec?”. Propter multitudinem iniquitatis tuae revelatae sunt laciniae tuae, pollutae sunt plantae tuae.

22. And if you say in your heart, `Why have these things come upon me?' it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up, and you suffer violence.

23. Numquid mutare potest Aethiops pellem suam aut pardus varietates suas? Tunc et vos poteritis benefacere, cum didiceritis malum.

23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.

24. Et disseminabo eos quasi stipulam, quae raptatur in vento deserti.

24. I will scatter you like chaff driven by the wind from the desert.

25. Haec sors tua parsque mensurae tuae a me, dicit Dominus, quia oblita es mei et confisa es in mendacio.

25. This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you, says the LORD, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies.

26. Unde et ego sublevabo lacinias tuas super faciem tuam, et apparebit ignominia tua,

26. I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen.

27. adulteria tua et hinnitus tuus, scelus fornicationis tuae. Super colles in agro vidi abominationes tuas. Vae tibi, Ierusalem! Non mundaberis; usquequo adhuc?”.

27. I have seen your abominations, your adulteries and neighings, your lewd harlotries, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will it be before you are made clean?"