Liber Ieremiae, 4

1. “Si converteris, Israel, ait Dominus, ad me convertere; si abstuleris abominationes tuas a facie mea, non effugies.

1. "If you return, O Israel, says the LORD, to me you should return. If you remove your abominations from my presence, and do not waver,

2. Et iurabis: “Vivit Dominus!” in veritate et in iudicio et in iustitia, et benedicentur in ipso gentes et in ipso gloriabuntur.

2. and if you swear, `As the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in uprightness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory."

3. Haec enim dicit Dominus viro Iudae et Ierusalem: Novate vobis novale et nolite serere super spinas.

3. For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

4. Circumcidimini Domino et auferte praeputia cordium vestrorum, viri Iudae et habitatores Ierusalem, ne forte egrediatur ut ignis indignatio mea et succendatur, et non sit qui exstinguat, propter malitiam operum vestrorum.

4. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your doings."

5. Annuntiate in Iuda et in Ierusalem auditum facite; et loquimini et canite tuba in terra, clamate fortiter et dicite: “Congregamini, et ingrediamur civitates munitas”.

5. Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, "Blow the trumpet through the land; cry aloud and say, `Assemble, and let us go into the fortified cities!'

6. Levate signum in Sion, fugite, nolite stare, quia malum ego adduco ab aquilone et contritionem magnam.

6. Raise a standard toward Zion, flee for safety, stay not, for I bring evil from the north, and great destruction.

7. Ascendit leo de cubili suo, et praedo gentium se levavit; egressus est de loco suo, ut ponat terram tuam in solitudinem: civitates tuae vastabuntur, remanentes absque habitatore.

7. A lion has gone up from his thicket, a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone forth from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will be ruins without inhabitant.

8. Super hoc accingite vos ciliciis, plangite et ululate, quia non est aversa ira furoris Domini a nobis.

8. For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and wail; for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned back from us."

9. Et erit in die illa, dicit Dominus, peribit cor regis et cor principum, et obstupescent sacerdotes, et prophetae consternabuntur”.

9. "In that day, says the LORD, courage shall fail both king and princes; the priests shall be appalled and the prophets astounded."

10. Et dixi: “Heu, Domine Deus! Ergo decepisti populum istum et Ierusalem dicens: “Pax erit vobis”; et ecce pervenit gladius usque ad animam”.

10. Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD, surely thou hast utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, `It shall be well with you'; whereas the sword has reached their very life."

11. In tempore illo dicetur populo huic et Ierusalem: “Ventus urens collium, qui sunt in deserto, invadit filiam populi mei non ad ventilandum et ad purgandum.

11. At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, "A hot wind from the bare heights in the desert toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow or cleanse,

12. Ventus plenior his veniet mihi, nunc et ego loquar iudicia mea cum eis”.

12. a wind too full for this comes for me. Now it is I who speak in judgment upon them."

13. Ecce quasi nubes ascendet, et quasi tempestas currus eius; velociores aquilis equi illius. Vae nobis, quoniam vastati sumus!

13. Behold, he comes up like clouds, his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles -- woe to us, for we are ruined!

14. Lava a malitia cor tuum, Ierusalem, ut salva fias; usquequo morabuntur in te cogitationes iniquae?

14. O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?

15. Vox enim annuntiantis a Dan et notam facientis calamitatem de monte Ephraim.

15. For a voice declares from Dan and proclaims evil from Mount E'phraim.

16. Nuntiate gentibus. Ecce adsunt! Auditum facite hoc super Ierusalem: “Custodes venerunt de terra longinqua et dederunt super civitates Iudae vocem suam;

16. Warn the nations that he is coming; announce to Jerusalem, "Besiegers come from a distant land; they shout against the cities of Judah.

17. quasi custodes agrorum facti sunt super eam in gyro, quia adversus me contumax erat”, dicit Dominus.

17. Like keepers of a field are they against her round about, because she has rebelled against me, says the LORD.

18. Via tua et opera tua fecerunt haec tibi; ista malitia tua, quia amara, quia tetigit cor tuum.

18. Your ways and your doings have brought this upon you. This is your doom, and it is bitter; it has reached your very heart."

19. Viscera mea, viscera mea! Doleo. Parietes cordis mei! Turbatur in me cor meum: non tacebo, quoniam vocem bucinae audivit anima mea, clamorem proelii.

19. My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent; for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

20. Contritio super contritionem vocata est, quoniam vastata est omnis terra, repente vastata sunt tabernacula mea, subito tentoria mea.

20. Disaster follows hard on disaster, the whole land is laid waste. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my curtains in a moment.

21. Usquequo videbo vexillum, audiam vocem bucinae?

21. How long must I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?

22. “Quia stultus populus meus: me non cognoverunt; filii insipientes sunt et vecordes: sapientes sunt, ut faciant mala, bene autem facere nesciunt”.

22. "For my people are foolish, they know me not; they are stupid children, they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but how to do good they know not."

23. Aspexi terram, et ecce vacua erat et deserta; et caelos, et non erat lux in eis.

23. I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light.

24. Aspexi montes, et ecce movebantur, et omnes colles conturbati sunt.

24. I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro.

25. Aspexi, et ecce non erat homo, et omne volatile caeli recesserat.

25. I looked, and lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the air had fled.

26. Aspexi, et ecce hortus desertus, et omnes urbes eius destructae sunt a facie Domini et a facie irae furoris eius.

26. I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the LORD, before his fierce anger.

27. Haec enim dicit Dominus: “Deserta erit omnis terra, sed tamen consummationem non faciam.

27. For thus says the LORD, "The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.

28. Super hoc lugebit terra, et maerebunt caeli desuper, eo quod locutus sum, statui et non paenitet me nec avertar ab eo”.

28. For this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above be black; for I have spoken, I have purposed; I have not relented nor will I turn back."

29. A voce equitis et mittentis sagittam fugit omnis civitas; ingressi sunt silvas condensas et ascenderunt rupes; universae urbes derelictae sunt, et non habitat in eis homo.

29. At the noise of horseman and archer every city takes to flight; they enter thickets; they climb among rocks; all the cities are forsaken, and no man dwells in them.

30. Tu autem, vastata, quid facies? Cum vestieris te coccino, cum ornata fueris monili aureo, et pinxeris stibio oculos tuos, frustra componeris; contempserunt te amatores tui, animam tuam quaerent.

30. And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in scarlet, that you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.

31. Vocem enim quasi parturientis audivi, angustias ut puerperae; vox filiae Sion intermorientis expandentisque manus suas: “Vae mihi, quia defecit anima mea propter interfectores!”.

31. For I heard a cry as of a woman in travail, anguish as of one bringing forth her first child, the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands, "Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers."