Liber Ieremiae, 21

1. Verbum, quod factum est ad Ieremiam a Domino, quando misit ad eum rex Sedecias Phassur filium Melchiae et Sophoniam filium Maasiae sacerdotem dicens:

1. This is the word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Zedeki'ah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchi'ah and Zephani'ah the priest, the son of Ma-asei'ah, saying,

2. “Interroga pro nobis Dominum, quia Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis proeliatur adversum nos; si forte faciat Dominus nobiscum secundum omnia mirabilia sua, et recedat a nobis”.

2. "Inquire of the LORD for us, for Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon is making war against us; perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all his wonderful deeds, and will make him withdraw from us."

3. Et dixit Ieremias ad eos: “Sic dicetis Sedeciae:

3. Then Jeremiah said to them:

4. Haec dicit Dominus, Deus Israel: Ecce ego convertam vasa belli, quae in manibus vestris sunt et quibus vos pugnatis adversum regem Babylonis et Chaldaeos, qui obsident vos in circuitu murorum; et congregabo eos in medio civitatis huius.

4. "Thus you shall say to Zedeki'ah, `Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war which are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chalde'ans who are besieging you outside the walls; and I will bring them together into the midst of this city.

5. Et debellabo ego vos in manu extenta et in brachio forti et in furore et in indignatione et in ira grandi

5. I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.

6. et percutiam habitatores civitatis huius, homines et bestias: pestilentia magna morientur.

6. And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they shall die of a great pestilence.

7. Et post haec, ait Dominus, dabo Sedeciam regem Iudae et servos eius et populum eius, qui derelicti sunt in civitate hac a peste et gladio et fame, in manu Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis et in manu inimicorum eorum et in manu quaerentium animam eorum; et percutiet eos in ore gladii et non flectetur neque parcet nec miserebitur.

7. Afterward, says the LORD, I will give Zedeki'ah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people in this city who survive the pestilence, sword, and famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon and into the hand of their enemies, into the hand of those who seek their lives. He shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not pity them, or spare them, or have compassion.'

8. Et ad populum hunc dices: Haec dicit Dominus: Ecce ego do coram vobis viam vitae et viam mortis:

8. "And to this people you shall say: `Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

9. qui habitaverit in urbe hac, morietur gladio et fame et peste; qui autem egressus fuerit et transfugerit ad Chaldaeos, qui obsident vos, vivet, et erit ei anima sua quasi spolium.

9. He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and surrenders to the Chalde'ans who are besieging you shall live and shall have his life as a prize of war.

10. Posui enim faciem meam super civitatem hanc in malum et non in bonum, ait Dominus: in manu regis Babylonis dabitur, et exuret eam igni.

10. For I have set my face against this city for evil and not for good, says the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.'

11. Et domui regis Iudae: Audite verbum Domini,

11. "And to the house of the king of Judah say, `Hear the word of the LORD,

12. domus David. Haec dicit Dominus: Iudicate mane iudicium et eruite vi oppressum de manu expoliantis, ne forte egrediatur ut ignis indignatio mea et succendatur, et non sit qui exstinguat, propter malitiam operum vestrorum.

12. O house of David! Thus says the LORD: "`Execute justice in the morning, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of your evil doings.'"

13. Ecce ego ad te, habitatricem vallis, petram in planitie, ait Dominus; qui dicitis: “Quis invadet nos? Et quis ingredietur domos nostras?”.

13. "Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, O rock of the plain, says the LORD; you who say, `Who shall come down against us, or who shall enter our habitations?'

14. Et visitabo super vos iuxta fructum operum vestrorum, dicit Dominus; et succendam ignem in saltu eius, et devorabit omnia in circuitu eius”.

14. I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, says the LORD; I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is round about her."