Liber Ieremiae, 2

1. Et factum est verbum Domini ad me dicens:

1. The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2. “Vade et clama in auribus Ierusalem dicens:Haec dicit Dominus: Recordatus sum tui, caritatis adulescentiae tuae et amoris desponsationis tuae, quando secuta es me in deserto, in terra, quae non seminatur.

2. "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

3. Sanctus Domino Israel, primitiae frugum eius; omnes, qui devorabant eum, delinquebant; mala veniebant super eos, dicit Dominus.

3. Israel was holy to the LORD, the first fruits of his harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; evil came upon them, says the LORD."

4. Audite verbum Domini, domus Iacob et omnes cognationes domus Israel.

4. Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.

5. Haec dicit Dominus: Quid invenerunt patres vestri in me iniquitatis, quia elongaverunt a me et ambulaverunt post vanitatem et vani facti sunt?

5. Thus says the LORD: "What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?

6. Et non dixerunt: “Ubi est Dominus, qui ascendere nos fecit de terra Aegypti, qui traduxit nos per desertum, per terram inhabitabilem et inviam, per terram sitis et caliginis, per terram, in qua non ambulavit vir, neque habitavit homo?”.

6. They did not say, `Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?'

7. Et induxi vos in terram hortorum, ut comederetis fructum eius et optima illius; et ingressi contaminastis terram meam et hereditatem meam posuistis in abominationem.

7. And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.

8. Sacerdotes non dixerunt: “Ubi est Dominus?”. Et tractantes legem nescierunt me, et pastores praevaricati sunt in me, et prophetae prophetaverunt in Baal et, quae nihil prosunt, secuti sunt.

8. The priests did not say, `Where is the LORD?' Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Ba'al, and went after things that do not profit.

9. Propterea adhuc iudicio contendam vobiscum, ait Dominus, et cum filiis filiorum vestrorum disceptabo.

9. "Therefore I still contend with you, says the LORD, and with your children's children I will contend.

10. En transite ad insulas Cetthim et videte et in Cedar mittite et considerate vehementer et videte, si factum est huiuscemodi:

10. For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing.

11. si mutavit gens deos, et certe ipsi non sunt dii; populus vero meus mutavit gloriam suam in id, quod nihil prodest.

11. Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

12. Obstupescite, caeli, super hoc et inhorrescite supra modum, dicit Dominus.

12. Be appalled, O heavens, at this, be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the LORD,

13. Duo enim mala fecit populus meus: me dereliquerunt fontem aquae vivae, ut foderent sibi cisternas, cisternas dissipatas, quae continere non valent aquas.

13. for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

14. Numquid servus est Israel aut vernaculus? Quare ergo factus est in praedam? Super eum rugierunt leones

14. "Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey?

15. et dederunt vocem suam; posuerunt terram eius in solitudinem: civitates eius exustae sunt, et non est qui habitet in eis.

15. The lions have roared against him, they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.

16. Filii quoque Mempheos et Taphnes decalvabunt tibi verticem.

16. Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tah'panhes have broken the crown of your head.

17. Numquid non istud factum est tibi, quia dereliquisti Dominum Deum tuum eo tempore, quo ducebat te per viam?

17. Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way?

18. Et nunc quid tibi vis in via Aegypti, ut bibas aquam Nili? Et quid tibi cum via Assyriorum, ut bibas aquam Fluminis?

18. And now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria, to drink the waters of the Euphra'tes?

19. Arguet te malitia tua, et aversio tua increpabit te; scito et vide quia malum et amarum est reliquisse te Dominum Deum tuum et non esse timorem mei apud te, dicit Dominus, Deus exercituum.

19. Your wickedness will chasten you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, says the Lord GOD of hosts.

20. A saeculo confregisti iugum tuum, rupisti vincula tua et dixisti: “Non serviam”. In omni enim colle sublimi et sub omni ligno frondoso tu prosternebaris meretrix.

20. "For long ago you broke your yoke and burst your bonds; and you said, `I will not serve.' Yea, upon every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down as a harlot.

21. Ego autem plantavi te vineam electam, omne semen verum; quomodo ergo conversa es in palmites vineae alienae?

21. Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?

22. Si laveris te nitro et multiplicaveris tibi herbam fullonum, maculata es in iniquitate tua coram me, dicit Dominus Deus.

22. Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, says the Lord GOD.

23. Quomodo dicis: “Non sum polluta, post Baalim non ambulavi”? Vide viam tuam in convalle, scito quid feceris: camelus levis contorquens vias suas.

23. How can you say, `I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Ba'als'? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done -- a restive young camel interlacing her tracks,

24. Onager assuetus in solitudine in desiderio animae suae attrahit aerem; libidinem eius quis avertet? Omnes, qui quaerunt eam, non deficient, in menstruis eius invenient eam.

24. a wild ass used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.

25. Prohibe pedem tuum a nuditate et guttur tuum a siti. Et dixisti: “Vanum est, nequaquam; adamavi quippe alienos et post eos ambulabo”.

25. Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, `It is hopeless, for I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.'

26. Quomodo confunditur fur, quando deprehenditur, sic confusi sunt domus Israel, ipsi et reges eorum, principes et sacerdotes et prophetae eorum

26. "As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,

27. dicentes ligno: “Pater meus es tu” et lapidi: “Tu me genuisti”. Verterunt ad me tergum et non faciem, sed in tempore afflictionis suae dicent: “Surge et libera nos!”.

27. who say to a tree, `You are my father,' and to a stone, `You gave me birth.' For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, `Arise and save us!'

28. Ubi sunt dii tui, quos fecisti tibi? Surgant et liberent te in tempore afflictionis tuae; secundum numerum quippe civitatum tuarum facti sunt dii tui, Iuda.

28. But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah.

29. Quid vultis mecum iudicio contendere? Omnes praevaricati estis in me, dicit Dominus.

29. "Why do you complain against me? You have all rebelled against me, says the LORD.

30. Frustra percussi filios vestros: disciplinam non receperunt. Devoravit gladius vester prophetas vestros: quasi leo vastator.

30. In vain have I smitten your children, they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.

31. O generatio, vos videte verbum Domini: numquid solitudo factus sum Israeli aut terra tenebrarum? Quare ergo dixit populus meus: “Recessimus, non veniemus ultra ad te”?

31. And you, O generation, heed the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, `We are free, we will come no more to thee'?

32. Numquid obliviscitur virgo ornamenti sui, sponsa fasciae pectoralis suae? Populus vero meus oblitus est mei diebus innumeris.

32. Can a maiden forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

33. Quam bene paras viam tuam ad quaerendum amorem! Et insuper in malum docuisti vias tuas,

33. "How well you direct your course to seek lovers! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.

34. et in fimbriis tuis inventus est sanguis animarum pauperum innocentium: non effringentes invenisti eos; sed in omnibus his

34. Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things

35. dixisti: “Innocens ego sum, propterea aversus est furor eius a me”. Ecce ego iudicio contendam tecum, eo quod dixeris: “Non peccavi”.

35. you say, `I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.' Behold, I will bring you to judgment for saying, `I have not sinned.'

36. Quam leviter mutas vias tuas! Et ab Aegypto confunderis, sicut confusa es ab Assyria.

36. How lightly you gad about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.

37. Nam et ab ista egredieris, et manus tuae erunt super caput tuum, quoniam obtrivit Dominus illos, quibus confisus es, et nihil habebis prosperum in eis.

37. From it too you will come away with your hands upon your head, for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them.