Liber Ieremiae, 18

1. verbum quod factum est ad Hieremiam a Domino dicens

1. The word that came from Jeremias to the Lord, saying:

2. surge et descende in domum figuli et ibi audies verba mea

2. Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there thou shalt hear my words.

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

3. And I went down into the potter's house, and behold he was doing a work on the wheel.

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

4. And the vessel was broken which he was making with clay with his hands: and turning he made another vessel, as it seemed good in his eyes to make it.

5. et factum est verbum Domini ad me dicens

5. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

6. numquid sicut figulus iste non potero facere vobis domus Israël ait Dominus ecce sicut lutum in manu figuli sic vos in manu mea domus Israël

6. Cannot I do with you as this potter, saith the Lord? behold as clay is in the hand of the potter, 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. I will suddenly speak against a nation, and against a kingdom, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy it.

8. si pænitentiam egerit gens illa a malo suo quod locutus sum adversum eam agam et ego pænitentiam super malo quod cogitavi ut facerem ei

8. If that nation against which I have spoken, shall repent of their evil, I also will repent of the evil that I have thought to do to them.

9. et subito loquar de gente et regno ut ædificem et ut plantem illud

9. And I will suddenly speak of a nation and of a kingdom, to build up and plant it.

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

10. If it shall do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice: I will repent of the good that I have spoken to do unto it.

11. nunc ergo dic viro Judæ et habitatoribus Hierusalem dicens hæc dicit Dominus ecce ego fingo contra vos malum et cogito contra vos cogitationem revertatur unusquisque a via sua mala et dirigite vias vestras et studia vestra

11. Now therefore tell the men of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: let every man of you return from his evil way, and make ye your ways and your doings good.

12. qui dixerunt desperavimus post cogitationes enim nostras ibimus et unusquisque pravitatem cordis sui mali faciemus

12. And they said: We have no hopes: for we will go after our own thoughts, and we will do every one according to the perverseness of his evil heart.

13. ideo hæc dicit Dominus interrogate gentes quis audivit talia horribilia quæ fecit nimis virgo Israël

13. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Ask among the nations: Who hath heard such horrible things, as the virgin of Israel hath done to excess?

14. numquid deficiet de petra agri nix Libani aut evelli possunt aquæ erumpentes frigidæ et defluentes

14. Shall now the snow of Libanus fail from the rock of the field? or can the cold waters that gush out and run down, be taken away?

15. quia oblitus est mei populus meus frustra libantes et inpingentes in viis suis in semitis sæculi ut ambularent per eas in itinere non trito

15. Because my people have forgotten me, sacrificing in vain, and stumbling in their ways, in ancient paths, to walk by them in a way not trodden:

16. ut fieret terra eorum in desolationem et in sibilum sempiternum omnis qui præterit per eam obstupescet et movebit caput suum

16. That their land might be given up to desolation, and to a perpetual hissing: every one that shall pass by it, shall be astonished, and wag his head.

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

17. As a burning will I scatter them before the enemy: I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their destruction.

18. et dixerunt venite et cogitemus contra Hieremiam cogitationes non enim peribit lex a sacerdote neque consilium a sapiente nec sermo a propheta venite et percutiamus eum lingua et non adtendamus ad universos sermones ejus

18. And they said: Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet: come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his words.

19. adtende Domine ad me et audi vocem adversariorum meorum

19. Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries.

20. numquid redditur pro bono malum quia foderunt foveam animæ meæ recordare quod steterim in conspectu tuo ut loquerer pro eis bonum et averterem indignationem tuam ab eis

20. Shall evil be rendered for good, because they have digged a pit for my soul? Remember that I have stood in thy sight, so speak good for them, and turn away thy indignation from them.

21. propterea da filios eorum in famem et deduc eos in manus gladii fiant uxores eorum absque liberis et viduæ et viri earum interficiantur morte juvenes eorum confodiantur gladio in prœlio

21. Therefore deliver up their children to famine, and bring them into the hands of the sword: let their wives be bereaved of children and widows: and let their husbands be slain by death: let their young men be stabbed with 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. Let a cry be heard out of their houses: for thou shalt bring the robber upon them suddenly: because they have digged a pit to take me, and have hid 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. But thou, O Lord, knowest all their counsel against me unto death: forgive not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from thy sight: let them be overthrown before thy eyes, in the time of thy wrath do thou destroy them.