Liber Ieremiae, 23

1. “Vae pastoribus, qui disper dunt et dissipant gregem pascuae meae!, dicit Dominus.

1. "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" says the LORD.

2. Ideo haec dicit Dominus, Deus Israel, ad pastores, qui pascunt populum meum: Vos dissipastis gregem meum et eiecistis eos et non visitastis eos; ecce ego visitabo super vos malitiam operum vestrorum, ait Dominus.

2. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: "You have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD.

3. Et ego congregabo reliquias gregis mei de omnibus terris, ad quas eiecero eos, et convertam eos ad rura sua, et crescent et multiplicabuntur.

3. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.

4. Et suscitabo super eos pastores, et pascent eos; non formidabunt ultra et non pavebunt, et nullus quaeretur ex numero, dicit Dominus.

4. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, says the LORD.

5. Ecce dies veniunt, dicit Dominus, et suscitabo David germen iustum; et regnabit rex et sapiens erit et faciet iudicium et iustitiam in terra.

5. "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

6. In diebus illis salvabitur Iuda, et Israel habitabit confidenter; et hoc est nomen, quod vocabunt eum: Dominus iustitia nostra.

6. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: `The LORD is our righteousness.'

7. Propter hoc ecce dies veniunt, dicit Dominus, et non dicent ultra: “Vivit Dominus, qui eduxit filios Israel de terra Aegypti!”,

7. "Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when men shall no longer say, `As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,'

8. sed: “Vivit Dominus, qui eduxit et adduxit semen domus Israel de terra aquilonis et de cunctis terris!”, ad quas eieceram eos; et habitabunt in terra sua”.

8. but `As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.' Then they shall dwell in their own land."

9. Ad prophetas. Contritum est cor meum in medio mei, contremuerunt omnia ossa mea; factus sum quasi vir ebrius et quasi homo madidus a vino, a facie Domini et a facie verborum sanctorum eius;

9. Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me, all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the LORD and because of his holy words.

10. quia adulteris repleta est terra, quia a facie maledictionis luxit terra, arefacta sunt arva deserti, factus est cursus eorum malus, et fortitudo eorum iniustitia.

10. For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right.

11. “Propheta namque et sacerdos polluti sunt, et in domo mea inveni malum eorum, ait Dominus.

11. "Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their wickedness, says the LORD.

12. Idcirco via eorum erit quasi lubricum; in tenebras proicientur et cadent in eis; afferam enim super eos mala, annum visitationis eorum, ait Dominus.

12. Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall; for I will bring evil upon them in the year of their punishment, says the LORD.

13. Et in prophetis Samariae vidi fatuitatem: prophetabant in Baal et decipiebant populum meum Israel.

13. In the prophets of Sama'ria I saw an unsavory thing: they prophesied by Ba'al and led my people Israel astray.

14. Et in prophetis Ierusalem vidi horribilia: adulterium faciunt et in mendacio ambulant; et confortaverunt manus pessimorum, ut non converteretur unusquisque a malitia sua: facti sunt mihi omnes ut Sodoma, et habitatores eius quasi Gomorra”.

14. But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his wickedness; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomor'rah."

15. Propterea haec dicit Dominus exercituum ad prophetas: “Ecce ego cibabo eos absinthio et potabo eos felle; a prophetis enim Ierusalem egressa est pollutio super omnem terram.

15. Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: "Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and give them poisoned water to drink; for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone forth into all the land."

16. Haec dicit Dominus exercituum: Nolite audire verba prophetarum, qui prophetant vobis et decipiunt vos; visionem cordis sui loquuntur, non de ore Domini.

16. Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes; they speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

17. Dicunt his, qui despiciunt me: “Locutus est Dominus: Pax erit vobis”; et omni, qui ambulat in pravitate cordis sui, dixerunt: “Non veniet super vos malum”.

17. They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, `It shall be well with you'; and to every one who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, `No evil shall come upon you.'"

18. Quis enim affuit in consilio Domini et vidit et audivit sermonem eius? Quis consideravit verbum illius et audivit?

18. For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to perceive and to hear his word, or who has given heed to his word and listened?

19. Ecce turbo Domini, indignatio egressa est, et tempestas erumpens super caput impiorum irruet.

19. Behold, the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked.

20. Non cessabit furor Domini, usque dum faciat et usque dum compleat cogitationes cordis sui; in novissimis diebus intellegetis consilium eius.

20. The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his mind. In the latter days you will understand it clearly.

21. Non mittebam prophetas, et ipsi currebant; non loquebar ad eos, et ipsi prophetabant.

21. "I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.

22. Si stetissent in consilio meo, nota fecissent verba mea populo meo et avertissent utique eos a via sua mala et ab operibus suis pessimis.

22. But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

23. Putasne Deus e vicino ego sum, dicit Dominus, et non Deus de longe?

23. "Am I a God at hand, says the LORD, and not a God afar off?

24. Si occultabitur vir in absconditis, ego non videbo eum?, dicit Dominus. Numquid non caelum et terram ego impleo?, dicit Dominus.

24. Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? says the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD.

25. Audivi, quae dixerunt prophetae prophetantes in nomine meo mendacium atque dicentes: “Somniavi, somniavi”.

25. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, `I have dreamed, I have dreamed!'

26. Usquequo istud est in corde prophetarum vaticinantium mendacium et prophetantium seductionem cordis sui?

26. How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart,

27. Qui volunt facere, ut obliviscatur populus meus nominis mei, propter somnia eorum, quae narrat unusquisque ad proximum suum, sicut obliti sunt patres eorum nominis mei propter Baal.

27. who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams which they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Ba'al?

28. Propheta, qui habet somnium, narret somnium et, qui habet sermonem meum, loquatur sermonem meum vere. Quid paleis ad triticum?, dicit Dominus.

28. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the LORD.

29. Numquid non verba mea sunt quasi ignis, dicit Dominus, et quasi malleus conterens petram?

29. Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer which breaks the rock in pieces?

30. Propterea ecce ego ad prophetas, ait Dominus, qui furantur verba mea unusquisque a proximo suo.

30. Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal my words from one another.

31. Ecce ego ad prophetas, ait Dominus, qui assumunt linguas suas et aiunt: “Dicit Dominus”.

31. Behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their tongues and say, `Says the LORD.'

32. Ecce ego ad prophetantes somnia mendacii, ait Dominus, qui narraverunt ea et seduxerunt populum meum in mendaciis suis et in iactantia sua, cum ego non misissem eos nec mandassem eis; qui nihil profuerunt populo huic, dicit Dominus.

32. Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them; so they do not profit this people at all, says the LORD.

33. Si interrogaverit te populus iste vel propheta aut sacerdos dicens: “Quod est onus Domini”, dices ad eos: Vos estis onus; proiciam quippe vos, dicit Dominus.

33. "When one of this people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, `What is the burden of the LORD?' you shall say to them, `You are the burden, and I will cast you off, says the LORD.'

34. Et propheta et sacerdos et populus, qui dicit: “Onus Domini”, visitabo super virum illum et super domum eius.

34. And as for the prophet, priest, or one of the people who says, `The burden of the LORD,' I will punish that man and his household.

35. Haec dicetis unusquisque ad proximum et ad fratrem suum: “Quid respondit Dominus?” et “Quid locutus est Dominus?”.

35. Thus shall you say, every one to his neighbor and every one to his brother, `What has the LORD answered?' or `What has the LORD spoken?'

36. Sed “Onus Domini” ultra non memorabitis, quia onus erit unicuique sermo suus, et pervertitis verba Dei viventis, Domini exercituum, Dei nostri.

36. But `the burden of the LORD' you shall mention no more, for the burden is every man's own word, and you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.

37. Haec dices ad prophetam: “Quid respondit tibi Dominus?” et “Quid locutus est Dominus?”.

37. Thus you shall say to the prophet, `What has the LORD answered you?' or `What has the LORD spoken?'

38. Si autem “Onus Domini” dixeritis, propter hoc haec dicit Dominus: Quia dixistis sermonem istum: “Onus Domini”, et misi ad vos dicens: Nolite dicere: “Onus Domini”;

38. But if you say, `The burden of the LORD,' thus says the LORD, `Because you have said these words, "The burden of the LORD," when I sent to you, saying, "You shall not say, `The burden of the LORD,'"

39. propterea, ecce ego tollam vos portans et proiciam vos et civitatem, quam dedi vobis et patribus vestris, a facie mea;

39. therefore, behold, I will surely lift you up and cast you away from my presence, you and the city which I gave to you and your fathers.

40. et dabo vos in opprobrium sempiternum et in ignominiam aeternam, quae numquam oblivione delebitur”.

40. And I will bring upon you everlasting reproach and perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.'"