Liber Ieremiae, 10

1. Audite verbum, quod locutus est Dominus super vos, domus Israel.

1. Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.

2. Haec dicit Dominus: “Iuxta vias gentium nolite discere et a signis caeli nolite metuere, quae timent gentes,

2. Thus says the LORD: "Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them,

3. quia leges populorum vanae sunt. Quia lignum de saltu praecidit opus manuum artificis in ascia,

3. for the customs of the peoples are false. A tree from the forest is cut down, and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.

4. argento et auro decoravit illud, clavis et malleis firmavit, ut non moveatur;

4. Men deck it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move.

5. sicut formido in cucumerario sunt et non loquentur, portantur, quia incedere non valent: nolite ergo timere ea, quia nec male possunt facere nec bene”.

5. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good."

6. Non est similis tui, Domine; magnus es tu, et magnum nomen tuum in fortitudine.

6. There is none like thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

7. Quis non timebit te, o rex gentium? Te enim decet, quoniam inter cunctos sapientes gentium et in universis regnis earum nullus est similis tui.

7. Who would not fear thee, O King of the nations? For this is thy due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like thee.

8. Pariter insipientes et fatui sunt; doctrina vanitatis eorum lignum est.

8. They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood!

9. Argentum involutum, quod de Tharsis affertur, et aurum de Ophaz, opus artificis et manuum aurificis, hyacinthus et purpura indumentum eorum; opus artificum universa haec.

9. Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men.

10. Dominus autem Deus verus est, ipse Deus vivens et rex sempiternus; ab indignatione eius commovebitur terra, et non sustinebunt gentes comminationem eius.

10. But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

11. Sic ergo dicetis eis: “Dii, qui caelos et terram non fecerunt, pereant de terra et de his, quae sub caelis sunt”.

11. Thus shall you say to them: "The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens."

12. Qui fecit terram in fortitudine sua, firmavit orbem in sapientia sua et prudentia sua extendit caelos.

12. It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

13. Ad vocem suam dat multitudinem aquarum in caelo et elevat nebulas ab extremitatibus terrae; fulgura in pluviam facit et educit ventum de thesauris suis.

13. When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

14. Stultus factus est omnis homo absque scientia; confusus est omnis artifex in sculptili, quoniam falsum est, quod conflavit, et non est spiritus in eis.

14. Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; for his images are false, and there is no breath in them.

15. Vana sunt et opus risu dignum; in tempore visitationis suae peribunt.

15. They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.

16. Non est his similis pars Iacob: qui enim formavit omnia, ipse est, et Israel tribus hereditatis eius, Dominus exercituum nomen illi.

16. Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name.

17. Congrega de terra sarcinam tuam, quae habitas in obsidione,

17. Gather up your bundle from the ground, O you who dwell under siege!

18. quia haec dicit Dominus: “Ecce ego longe proiciam habitatores terrae in hac vice et tribulabo eos, ita ut inveniant me”.

18. For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and I will bring distress on them, that they may feel it."

19. Vae mihi super contritione mea, pessima plaga mea! Ego autem dixi: “Plane haec infirmitas mea est, et portabo illam”.

19. Woe is me because of my hurt! My wound is grievous. But I said, "Truly this is an affliction, and I must bear it."

20. Tabernaculum meum vastatum est, omnes funiculi mei dirupti sunt; filii mei exierunt a me et non subsistunt, non est qui extendat ultra tentorium meum et erigat pelles meas.

20. My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken; my children have gone from me, and they are not; there is no one to spread my tent again, and to set up my curtains.

21. Quia stulte egerunt pastores et Dominum non quaesierunt; propterea non prosperati sunt, et omnis grex eorum dispersus est.

21. For the shepherds are stupid, and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.

22. Vox auditionis ecce venit et commotio magna de terra aquilonis, ut ponat civitates Iudae solitudinem et habitaculum thoum.

22. Hark, a rumor! Behold, it comes! -- a great commotion out of the north country to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a lair of jackals.

23. “Scio, Domine, quia non est hominis via eius, nec viri est, ut ambulet et dirigat gressus suos.

23. I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

24. Corripe me, Domine, verumtamen in iudicio et non in furore tuo, ne forte ad nihilum redigas me”.

24. Correct me, O LORD, but in just measure; not in thy anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

25. Effunde indignationem tuam super gentes, quae non cognoverunt te, et super cognationes, quae nomen tuum non invocaverunt; quia comederunt Iacob et devoraverunt eum et consumpserunt illum et pascua eius dissipaverunt.

25. Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, and upon the peoples that call not on thy name; for they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.