Liber Ieremiae, 29

1. Et haec sunt verba epistulae, quam misit Ieremias propheta de Ierusalem ad reliquias seniorum transmigrationis et ad sacerdotes et ad prophetas et ad omnem populum, quem traduxerat Nabuchodonosor de Ierusalem in Babylonem,

1. These are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnez'zar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

2. postquam egressus est Iechonias rex et domina et eunuchi et principes Iudae et Ierusalem et faber et inclusor de Ierusalem,

2. This was after King Jeconi'ah, and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.

3. in manu Elasa filii Saphan et Gamariae filii Helciae, quos misit Sedecias rex Iudae ad Nabuchodonosor regem Babylonis in Babylonem dicens:

3. The letter was sent by the hand of Ela'sah the son of Shaphan and Gemari'ah the son of Hilki'ah, whom Zedeki'ah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon. It said:

4. “Haec dicit Dominus exercituum, Deus Israel, omni transmigrationi, quam transtuli de Ierusalem in Babylonem:

4. "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

5. Aedificate domos et habitate et plantate hortos et comedite fructum eorum,

5. Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce.

6. accipite uxores et generate filios et filias et date filiis vestris uxores et filias vestras date viris, et pariant filios et filias, et multiplicamini ibi et nolite esse pauci numero.

6. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.

7. Et quaerite pacem civitatis, ad quam transmigrare vos feci, et orate pro ea ad Dominum, quia in pace illius erit pax vobis.

7. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

8. Haec enim dicit Dominus exercituum, Deus Israel: Non vos seducant prophetae vestri, qui sunt in medio vestrum, et divini vestri, et ne attendatis ad somnia vestra, quae vos somniatis,

8. For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream,

9. quia falso ipsi prophetant vobis in nomine meo, et non misi eos, dicit Dominus.

9. for it is a lie which they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, says the LORD.

10. Quia haec dicit Dominus: Cum impleti fuerint in Babylone septuaginta anni, visitabo vos et suscitabo super vos verbum meum bonum, ut reducam vos ad locum istum.

10. "For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfil to you my promise and bring you back to this place.

11. Ego enim scio cogitationes, quas ego cogito super vos, ait Dominus, cogitationes pacis et non afflictionis, ut dem vobis posteritatem et spem.

11. For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

12. Et invocabitis me et ibitis; et orabitis me, et ego exaudiam vos.

12. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.

13. Quaeretis me et invenietis, cum quaesieritis me in toto corde vestro.

13. You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart,

14. Et inveniar a vobis, ait Dominus, et reducam captivitatem vestram et congregabo vos de universis gentibus et de cunctis locis, ad quae expuli vos, dicit Dominus; et reverti vos faciam ad locum, de quo transmigrare vos feci.

14. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

15. Quia dixistis: “Suscitavit nobis Dominus prophetas in Babylone”.

15. "Because you have said, `The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,' --

16. Quia haec dicit Dominus ad regem, qui sedet super solium David, et ad omnem populum habitatorem urbis huius, ad fratres vestros, qui non sunt egressi vobiscum in transmigrationem,

16. Thus says the LORD concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your kinsmen who did not go out with you into exile:

17. haec dicit Dominus exercituum: Ecce mittam in eis gladium et famem et pestem et ponam eos quasi ficus malas, quae comedi non possunt, eo quod pessimae sint;

17. `Thus says the LORD of hosts, Behold, I am sending on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs which are so bad they cannot be eaten.

18. et persequar eos in gladio et in fame et in pestilentia et dabo eos in vexationem universis regnis terrae, in maledictionem et in stuporem et in sibilum et in opprobrium cunctis gentibus, ad quas ego eieci eos,

18. I will pursue them with sword, famine, and pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,

19. eo quod non audierint verba mea, dicit Dominus, quae misi ad eos per servos meos prophetas, de nocte consurgens et mittens, et non audistis, dicit Dominus.

19. because they did not heed my words, says the LORD, which I persistently sent to you by my servants the prophets, but you would not listen, says the LORD.' --

20. Vos ergo audite verbum Domini, omnis transmigratio, quam emisi de Ierusalem in Babylonem.

20. Hear the word of the LORD, all you exiles whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon:

21. Haec dicit Dominus exercituum, Deus Israel, ad Achab filium Colaiae et ad Sedeciam filium Maasiae, qui prophetant vobis in nomine meo mendaciter: Ecce ego tradam eos in manu Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis, et percutiet eos in oculis vestris;

21. `Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kola'iah and Zedeki'ah the son of Ma-asei'ah, who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon, and he shall slay them before your eyes.

22. et assumetur ex eis maledictio omni transmigrationi Iudae, quae est in Babylone, dicentium: “Ponat te Dominus sicut Sedeciam et sicut Achab, quos frixit rex Babylonis in igne!”;

22. Because of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: "The LORD make you like Zedeki'ah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,"

23. pro eo quod fecerint stultitiam in Israel et moechati sunt in uxores amicorum suorum et locuti sunt verbum in nomine meo mendaciter, quod non mandavi eis. Ego enim scio et sum testis, dicit Dominus.

23. because they have committed folly in Israel, they have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and they have spoken in my name lying words which I did not command them. I am the one who knows, and I am witness, says the LORD.'"

24. Et ad Semeiam Nehelamiten dices:

24. To Shemai'ah of Nehel'am you shall say:

25. Haec dicit Dominus exercituum, Deus Israel, pro eo quod misisti in nomine tuo epistulas ad omnem populum, qui est in Ierusalem, et ad Sophoniam filium Maasiae sacerdotem et ad universos sacerdotes dicens:

25. "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: You have sent letters in your name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to Zephani'ah the son of Ma-asei'ah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,

26. “Dominus dedit te sacerdotem pro Ioiada sacerdote, ut sis praefectus in domo Domini super omnem virum arrepticium et prophetantem, ut mittas eum in nervum et in vincula.

26. `The LORD has made you priest instead of Jehoi'ada the priest, to have charge in the house of the LORD over every madman who prophesies, to put him in the stocks and collar.

27. Et nunc quare non increpasti Ieremiam Anathothiten, qui prophetat vobis?

27. Now why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of An'athoth who is prophesying to you?

28. Quia super hoc misit ad nos in Babylonem dicens: Longum est; aedificate domos et habitate et plantate hortos et comedite fructum eorum””.

28. For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, "Your exile will be long; build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their produce."'"

29. Legit ergo Sophonias sacerdos epistulam istam in auribus Ieremiae prophetae.

29. Zephani'ah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet.

30. Et factum est verbum Domini ad Ieremiam dicens:

30. Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:

31. “Mitte ad omnem transmigrationem dicens: Haec dicit Dominus ad Semeiam Nehelamiten: Pro eo quod prophetavit vobis Semeias, et ego non misi eum, et fecit vos confidere in mendacio,

31. "Send to all the exiles, saying, `Thus says the LORD concerning Shemai'ah of Nehel'am: Because Shemai'ah has prophesied to you when I did not send him, and has made you trust in a lie,

32. idcirco haec dicit Dominus: Ecce ego visitabo super Semeiam Nehelamiten et super semen eius; non erit ei vir sedens in medio populi huius, et non videbit bonum, quod ego faciam populo meo, ait Dominus, quia praevaricationem locutus est adversus Dominum”.

32. therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I will punish Shemai'ah of Nehel'am and his descendants; he shall not have any one living among this people to see the good that I will do to my people, says the LORD, for he has talked rebellion against the LORD.'"