Jeremias 18
1 Det Ord, som kom til Jeremias fra Herren, saalydende:
This message came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
2 Staa op og gaa ned til Pottemagerens Hus, og der vil jeg lade dig høre mine Ord.
Go down right away to the potter's house. I will give you my message there.
3 Og jeg gik ned til Pottemagerens Hus, og se, han gjorde et Arbejde paa Skiven.
I went down to the potter's house and saw him working at his potter's wheel.
4 Og naar det Kar, som han gjorde, mislykkedes, som det kan gaa med Leret i Pottemagerens Haand, saa begyndte han igen og gjorde et andet Kar deraf, saaledes som det var ret for Pottemagerens Øjne at gøre.
But the pot that he was making from the clay went wrong. So he made it into something different as he thought best.
5 Da kom Herrens Ord til mig saaledes:
The Lord's message came to me, saying,
6 Mon jeg ikke kan gøre ved eder, Israels Hus, ligesom denne Pottemager? siger Herren; se, ligesom Leret er i Pottemagerens Haand, saaledes ere I, Israels Hus, i min Haand.
People of Israel, declares the Lord, can't I deal with you just like this potter does with his clay? I hold you in my hand just like clay in the potter's hand, people of Israel.
7 I eet Øjeblik taler jeg imod et Folk og imod et Rige, til at oprykke og til at ødelægge det;
At one time it could happen that I announce that a nation or a kingdom is going to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed.
8 men naar dette Folk, imod hvilket jeg har talt, omvender sig fra sin Ondskab, da skal jeg angre det onde, som jeg havde tænkt at gøre ved det.
However, if that nation I warned gives up its evil ways, then I will change my mind regarding the disaster I was about to bring.
9 Og i eet Øjeblik taler jeg om et Folk og om et Rige til at bygge og til at plante det;
At another time I could announce that I'm going to build up and give power to a nation or a kingdom.
10 men naar det gør, hvad der er ondt for mine Øjne, saa at det ikke hører min Røst, da skal jeg angre det gode, med hvilket jeg havde sagt at ville gøre vel imod det.
But if it does evil in my sight and refuses to listen to my voice, then I will change my mind regarding the good I had planned for it.
11 Og nu, sig dog til Judas Mænd og til Jerusalems Indbyggere: Saa siger Herren: Se, jeg bereder Ulykke over eder og udtænker et Anslag imod eder; vender dog om, hver fra sin onde Vej, og bedrer eders Veje og eders Idrætter!
So tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem that this is what the Lord says: Watch out! I am preparing disaster for you, and working out a plan against you. All of you, give up your evil ways. Live right and act right!
12 Men de sige: Det er forgæves! thi vi ville vandre efter vore egne Tanker og gøre hver efter sit onde Hjertes Stivhed.
But they'll say, “We just can't! We'll do whatever we want. Each of us will stubbornly follow our own evil thinking.”
13 Derfor, saa siger Herren: Spørger dog iblandt Hedningerne: „Hvo har hørt saadanne Ting?‟ Noget saare grueligt har Israels Jomfru begaaet.
Consequently this is what the Lord says: Ask around the nations—has anybody ever heard anything like this? Virgin Israel has acted really badly.
14 Mon Libanons Sne gaar bort fra Klippen paa Marken? eller mon de fremtrængende, friske, rindende Vande standse?
Does the snow of Lebanon ever disappear from its rocky mountain-tops? Do its cool waters that flow from such distant sources ever dry up?
15 Dog mit Folk har glemt mig, de gøre Røgelse for, hvad der er Forfængelighed, og de bragtes til at snuble paa deres Veje og de evige Baner, saa at de gik ind paa Stier, paa en Vej, som ikke var banet,
But my people have rejected me! They burn incense to useless idols which trip them up, making them leave the old roads in order to walk down unmade paths instead of the highway.
16 til at gøre deres Land til en Gru, til en evig Spot; hver som gaar derover, gruer og ryster med sit Hoved.
They have turned their country into a horrific wasteland, a place that will always be treated with contempt. People passing by will be shocked, shaking their heads in disbelief.
17 Som Østenvejret vil jeg adsprede dem for Fjendens Ansigt; jeg vil vende Ryggen og ikke Ansigtet til dem paa deres Trængsels Dag.
Like a strong wind from the east I will scatter them before the enemy. I will turn my back on them and not look at them when their time of trouble comes.
18 Men de sagde: Kommer og lader os optænke Anslag imod Jeremias; thi Loven gaar ikke tabt for Præsten, eller Raadet for den vise, eller Ordet for Profeten; kommer og lader os slaa ham med Tungen, og lader os ikke give Agt paa noget af hans Ord!
Some people decided, “We need a plan to deal with Jeremiah. There'll still be priests to explain the law, there'll still be wise people to give advice, and there'll still be prophets to give prophecies. Let's organize a smear campaign against him so we don't have to listen to a word he says.”
19 Herre! giv Agt paa mig, og hør deres Røst, som trætte imod mig.
Lord, please pay attention to what's happening to me! Listen to what my accusers are saying!
20 Mon man skulde betale ondt for godt? thi de have gravet en Grav for min Sjæl; kom i Hu, hvorledes jeg har staaet for dit Ansigt for at tale godt for dem, for at bortvende din Vrede fra dem.
Should good be paid back with evil? Yet they have dug a pit to trap me! Remember how I stood before you to plead on their behalf, to stop you being angry with them?
21 Derfor giv deres Børn hen til Hungeren, og overlad dem i Sværdets Vold, og lad deres Hustruer blive barnløse og Enker og deres Mænd ihjelslagne ved Døden; lad deres unge Karle blive dræbte med Sværd i Krigen!
But now may their children starve; may they be killed by the sword. May their wives lose their children and their husbands; may their husbands die from disease; may their young men be killed in battle.
22 Lad der høres Skrig fra deres Huse, naar du lader en Trop pludselig komme over dem; thi de grove en Grav for at fange mig og skjulte Snarer for mine Fødder.
May cries of agony be heard from their houses when you suddenly bring invaders to attack them, because they dug a pit to capture me and hid traps to catch me as I walk along.
23 Men du, Herre! du ved alt deres Raad imod mig til Døden, son ikke deres Misgerning, og udslet ikke deres Synd for dit Ansigt; lad dem være nedstyrtede for dit Ansigt, handle med dem i din Vredes Tid!
But Lord, you know about all their plots to try and kill me. Don't forgive their wickedness; don't wipe away their sin. Bring them down! Deal with them when you're angry!
