< Jeremias 18 >

1 Det Ord, som kom til Jeremias fra Herren, saalydende:
Yahweh gave another message to me. [He said],
2 Staa op og gaa ned til Pottemagerens Hus, og der vil jeg lade dig høre mine Ord.
“Go to the shop of the man who makes clay pots. I will give you a message there.”
3 Og jeg gik ned til Pottemagerens Hus, og se, han gjorde et Arbejde paa Skiven.
So I went to that shop, and I saw the man who makes pots. He was working at the wheel [that he uses to form pots].
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 when he finished making one jar, it was not as good as he hoped/wanted it to be. [So], he took that clay and formed it into another jar, shaping it as he desired.
5 Da kom Herrens Ord til mig saaledes:
Then Yahweh gave me this message:
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.
“Perhaps the people of Israel [think that] I cannot do to them like this man who makes pots has done [RHQ]. [But what they think is wrong]. I [can control what happens to them like] this man [controls what he does with the clay] in his hands.
7 I eet Øjeblik taler jeg imod et Folk og imod et Rige, til at oprykke og til at ødelægge det;
There may be a time when I proclaim that I will get rid of a nation or kingdom, [like someone] pulls up [a plant with its roots], and smashes it, and destroys it.
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.
But if [the people of] that nation repent of doing evil things, I will not send to them the disasters that I planned to send.
9 Og i eet Øjeblik taler jeg om et Folk og om et Rige til at bygge og til at plante det;
And there may be a time when I proclaim that I will establish a nation or kingdom and cause it to be strong [MET].
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 [the people of] that nation [start to] do evil things and refuse to obey me, then I will not bless them as I said that I would do.
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!
Therefore, [Jeremiah, go and warn all] the people in Jerusalem and [in other places] in Judah. Say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh says: “I am planning to cause you to experience a disaster [DOU]. [So], each of you should turn from your evil behavior and start doing what is right, [in order that you will not experience that disaster].”’’”
12 Men de sige: Det er forgæves! thi vi ville vandre efter vore egne Tanker og gøre hver efter sit onde Hjertes Stivhed.
[So I told that message to the people], but they replied, “It is useless [for you to tell us that]. We will [continue to] be stubborn and behave as we want to.”
13 Derfor, saa siger Herren: Spørger dog iblandt Hedningerne: „Hvo har hørt saadanne Ting?‟ Noget saare grueligt har Israels Jomfru begaaet.
So, this is what Yahweh says: “Ask the [people who live in other] nations if they have [RHQ] ever heard of such a thing. My Israeli people, who [have been pure like] [MET] virgins, have done a terrible thing!
14 Mon Libanons Sne gaar bort fra Klippen paa Marken? eller mon de fremtrængende, friske, rindende Vande standse?
The snow certainly never [RHQ] completely disappears/melts from the rocky slopes of the mountains in Lebanon. The cold streams that flow down from those distant mountains never [RHQ] cease flowing.
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 [are not as reliable as those streams: ] They have abandoned me. They burn incense to [honor/worship] worthless idols. [It is as though] they have stumbled as they walked along very old roads that are good roads, and now, instead, they are walking on dirt paths.
16 til at gøre deres Land til en Gru, til en evig Spot; hver som gaar derover, gruer og ryster med sit Hoved.
Therefore, their land will become desolate, and people who see it will hiss [to ridicule it]. Everyone who passes by will be appalled; they will shake their heads [to show that they are shocked].
17 Som Østenvejret vil jeg adsprede dem for Fjendens Ansigt; jeg vil vende Ryggen og ikke Ansigtet til dem paa deres Trængsels Dag.
I will scatter the people when their enemies [attack them] like dust is scattered by an east wind. And when they experience all those difficulties/disasters, I will turn my back on them [and refuse] to help them.”
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!
Then some of the people said, “Come, let’s plan to attack Jeremiah. We have [many] priests who teach us God’s laws, and wise men who give us good advice, and prophets who tell us [what will happen. We do not need Jeremiah!] So, let’s slander him and not pay attention to anything that he says.”
19 Herre! giv Agt paa mig, og hør deres Røst, som trætte imod mig.
[Then I prayed], “Yahweh, [please] listen to me! And listen to what my enemies are saying about me.
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.
I am doing things that are good, so it is disgusting that [RHQ] they are paying me back by doing evil [things to me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into] and die. Do not forget that [one time] I stood in front of you and pleaded for you [to help them], and I tried to prevent you from [punishing them] [MTY], even though you were very 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!
So [now], allow their children to die from hunger! Or cause them to be killed by [their enemies’] swords! Cause their wives to become widows, whose children are all dead! Cause their [old] men to die in a plague, and cause their young men to be killed in battles!
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.
Cause people to scream in their homes when enemy soldiers suddenly come into their houses! [Cause all those things to happen to them] because they [want to kill me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into], and they have hidden traps along my path.
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!
Yahweh, you know all the things that they are planning to do to kill me. Do not forgive them for their crimes or blot out [the record of] their sins. Cause them to be destroyed; punish them because of your being angry [with them]!”

< Jeremias 18 >