Liber Ieremiae, 18

1. Verbum, quod factum est ad Ieremiam a Domino dicens:

1. The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

2. “Surge et descende in domum figuli et ibi audies verba mea”.

2. "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words."

3. Et descendi in domum figuli, et ecce ipse faciebat opus super rotam;

3. So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel.

4. et dissipatum est vas, quod ipse faciebat e luto manibus suis, et rursus fecit illud vas alterum, sicut placuerat in oculis eius, ut faceret.

4. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.

5. Et factum est verbum Domini ad me dicens:

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

6. “Numquid sicut figulus iste non potero vobis facere, domus Israel?, ait Dominus. Ecce, sicut lutum in manu figuli, sic vos in manu mea, domus Israel.

6. "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? says the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

7. Repente loquar adversum gentem et adversum regnum, ut eradicem et destruam et disperdam illud;

7. If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it,

8. si paenitentiam egerit gens illa a malo suo, propter quod locutus sum adversus eam, agam et ego paenitentiam super malo, quod cogitavi ut facerem ei.

8. and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will repent of the evil that I intended to do to it.

9. Et subito loquar de gente et de regno, ut aedificem et plantem illud;

9. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it,

10. si fecerit malum in oculis meis, ut non audiat vocem meam, paenitentiam agam super bono, quod locutus sum ut facerem ei.

10. and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will repent of the good which I had intended to do to it.

11. Nunc ergo, dic viro Iudae et habitatoribus Ierusalem dicens: Haec dicit Dominus: Ecce ego fingo contra vos malum et cogito contra vos cogitationem; revertatur unusquisque a via sua mala, et dirigite vias vestras et opera vestra”.

11. Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: `Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.'

12. Qui dixerunt: “Vanum est; post cogitationes enim nostras ibimus et unusquisque pravitatem cordis sui mali faciemus”.

12. "But they say, `That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'

13. Ideo haec dicit Dominus: “Interrogate gentes: quis audivit talia horribilia, quae fecit nimis virgo Israel?

13. "Therefore thus says the LORD: Ask among the nations, who has heard the like of this? The virgin Israel has done a very horrible thing.

14. Numquid deficiet de petra agri nix Libani, aut arescent aquae erumpentes frigidae et defluentes?

14. Does the snow of Lebanon leave the crags of Si'rion? Do the mountain waters run dry, the cold flowing streams?

15. Quia oblitus est mei populus meus, vanitati sacrificantes et impingentes in viis suis, in semitis antiquis, ut ambularent per calles in itinere non trito,

15. But my people have forgotten me, they burn incense to false gods; they have stumbled in their ways, in the ancient roads, and have gone into bypaths, not the highway,

16. ut poneret terram eorum in desolationem et in sibilum sempiternum: omnis, qui praeterierit per eam, obstupescet et movebit caput suum.

16. making their land a horror, a thing to be hissed at for ever. Every one who passes by it is horrified and shakes his head.

17. Sicut ventus urens dispergam eos coram inimico; dorsum et non faciem ostendam eis in die perditionis eorum”.

17. Like the east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back, not my face, in the day of their calamity."

18. Et dixerunt: “Venite, et cogitemus contra Ieremiam cogitationes; non enim peribit lex a sacerdote, neque consilium a sapiente, nec sermo a propheta. Venite, et percutiamus eum lingua et non attendamus ad universos sermones eius”.

18. Then they said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not heed any of his words."

19. Attende, Domine, ad me et audi vocem adversariorum meorum.

19. Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to my plea.

20. Numquid redditur pro bono malum, quia foderunt foveam animae meae? Recordare quod steterim in conspectu tuo, ut loquerer pro eis bonum et averterem indignationem tuam ab eis.

20. Is evil a recompense for good? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before thee to speak good for them, to turn away thy wrath from them.

21. Propterea da filios eorum in famem et deduc eos in manus gladii; fiant uxores eorum absque liberis et viduae, et viri eorum interficiantur morte, iuvenes eorum confodiantur gladio in proelio.

21. Therefore deliver up their children to famine; give them over to the power of the sword, let their wives become childless and widowed. May their men meet death by pestilence, their youths be slain by the sword in battle.

22. Audiatur clamor de domibus eorum; adduces enim super eos latronem repente, quia foderunt foveam, ut caperent me, et laqueos absconderunt pedibus meis.

22. May a cry be heard from their houses, when thou bringest the marauder suddenly upon them! For they have dug a pit to take me, and laid snares for my feet.

23. Tu autem, Domine, scis omne consilium eorum adversum me in mortem; ne propitieris iniquitati eorum, et peccatum eorum a facie tua non deleatur. Fiant corruentes in conspectu tuo; in tempore furoris tui abutere eis.

23. Yet, thou, O LORD, knowest all their plotting to slay me. Forgive not their iniquity, nor blot out their sin from thy sight. Let them be overthrown before thee; deal with them in the time of thine anger.