< Jeremias 2 >

1 Og Herrens Ord kom til mig, idet han sagde:
The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
2 Gak hen, og raab for Jerusalems Øren og sig: Saa siger Herren: Jeg ihukommer dig din Ungdoms Hengivenhed og din Trolovelsesstands Kærlighed, at du gik efter mig i Ørken, i Landet, som ikke var besaaet.
“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘The LORD says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3 Israel var Herrens Helligdom, hans Førstegrøde; alle, som vilde fortære ham, bleve skyldige, Ulykke kom over dem, siger Herren.
Israel was holiness to the LORD, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says the LORD.”
4 Hører Herrens Ord, Jakobs Hus og alle Israels Huses Slægter!
Hear the LORD’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
5 Saa siger Herren: Hvad Uret have eders Fædre fundet hos mig, at de have holdt sig langt fra mig? og at de vandrede efter Forfængelighed og bleve til Forfængelighed?
The LORD says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?
6 Og de sagde ikke: Hvor er Herren, han, som førte os op af Ægyptens Land, han, som ledede os i Ørken, i et Land, som var øde og fuldt af Huller, i Tørheds og Dødens Skygges Land, i et Land, som ingen havde vandret igennem, og hvor intet Menneske havde boet?
They didn’t say, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that no one passed through, and where no man lived?’
7 Og jeg førte eder ind udi et frugtbart Land, at I skulde æde dets Frugt og dets Gode; men der I kom derind, da besmittede I mit Land og gjorde min Arv til en Vederstyggelighed.
I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
8 Præsterne sagde ikke: Hvor er Herren? og de, som omgikkes med Loven, kendte mig ikke, og Hyrderne gjorde Overtrædelse imod mig; og Profeterne spaaede ved Baal og vandrede efter dem, der ikke kunde gavne.
The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.
9 Derfor maa jeg endnu trætte med eder, siger Herren, og med eders Børnebørn maa jeg trætte.
“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says the LORD, “and I will contend with your children’s children.
10 Thi drager over til Kithims Øer, og ser til og sender Bud til Kedar, og lægger nøje Mærke og ser, om noget saadant er sket.
For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.
11 Mon et Hedningefolk har skiftet Guder, som dog ikke vare Guder? men mit Folk har omskiftet sin Herlighed med det, som ikke kan gavne.
Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.
12 Gyser over det, I Himle! og vorder forfærdede, ja vorder saare forskrækkede, siger Herren.
“Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says the LORD.
13 Thi tvende onde Ting har mit Folk gjort: Mig, den levende Vandkilde, have de forladt for at hugge sig Brønde, revnede Brønde, som ikke kunde holde Vand.
“For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.
14 Er Israel en købt Træl, eller er han en hjemfødt Træl? hvorfor er han bleven til Bytte?
Is Israel a slave? Is he born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?
15 Unge Løver brølede imod ham, de lode deres Røst høre, og de gjorde hans Land til en Ødelæggelse, hans Stæder ere opbrændte, at ingen bor deri.
The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.
16 Ogsaa Nofs og Takfanes Børn gjorde din Hovedisse skaldet.
The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.
17 Hvad der volder dig saadant, er det ikke dette, at du har forladt Herren, din Gud, den Tid, han ledede dig paa Vejen?
“Haven’t you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD your God, when he led you by the way?
18 Og nu, hvad har du at gøre med Vejen til Ægypten for at drikke Sihors Vand? og hvad har du at gøre med Vejen til Assur for at drikke Flodens Vand?
Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
19 Din Ondskab skal tugte dig og dine Afvigelser straffe dig; vid da og se, at det er ondt og besk, at du har forladt Herren din Gud, og at Frygt for mig ikke er hos dig, siger Herren, den Herre Zebaoth.
“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken GOD your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, the LORD of Hosts.
20 Thi jeg har fra fordums Tid sønderbrudt dit Aag, sønderrevet dine Baand, men du sagde: Jeg vil ikke tjene; thi du gav dig hen paa alle ophøjede Høje og under hvert grønt Træ som en Skøge.
“For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.
21 Og jeg har plantet dig som ædle Vinkviste, ægte Planter til Hobe; hvorledes har du da forvendt dig for mig til Ranker af et fremmed Vintræ?
Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a pure and faithful seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
22 Thi om du end vilde to dig med Lud og tage dig megen Sæbe, saa pletter din Misgerning dig dog for mit Ansigt, siger den Herre, Herre.
For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord GOD.
23 Hvorledes kan du sige: Jeg er ikke uren, jeg vandrer ikke efter Baalerne? se hen til din Gang i Dalen, kend, hvad du har gjort, du lette Kamelhoppe! der løber hid og did paa egne Veje,
“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways,
24 som Vildæselinden, der er vant til Ørken og i sin Sjæls Begæring snapper efter Vejret; naar hun er i Brynde, hvo kan holde hende tilbage? alle de, som søge hende, behøve ikke at trætte sig, de ville finde hende i hendes Maaned.
a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.
25 „Hold din Fod tilbage fra at blive barfodet og din Strube fra at blive tørstig‟; men du siger: Det er forgæves! Nej! thi jeg elsker fremmede, og efter dem vil jeg gaa.
“Keep your feet from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.’
26 Ligesom en Tyv bliver til Skamme, naar han gribes, saa ere de af Israels Hus blevne til Skamme, de, deres Konger, deres Fyrster og deres Præster og deres Profeter,
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so the house of Israel is ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,
27 som sige til Træ: Du er min Fader, og til Sten: Du fødte mig; thi de have vendt Ryg til mig og ikke Ansigt; men i deres Ulykkes Tid sige de: Staa op og frels os!
who tell wood, ‘You are my father,’ and a stone, ‘You have given birth to me,’ for they have turned their back to me, and not their face, but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise, and save us!’
28 Hvor ere dine Guder, som du har gjort dig? lad dem staa op, om de kunne frelse dig i din Ulykkes Tid; thi saa mange som dine Stæder ere, vare dine Guder, Juda!
“But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
29 Hvorfor ville I trætte med mig? I have alle gjort Overtrædelse imod mig, siger Herren.
“Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says the LORD.
30 Jeg slog eders Børn forgæves, de annammede ikke Tugt; eders Sværd fortærede eders Profeter ligesom en ødelæggende Løve.
“I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 O Slægt, som I ere, ser hen til Herrens Ord! Er jeg bleven Israel til en Ørk eller til et Mørkheds Land? hvorfor sagde da mit Folk: Vi have gjort os frie, vi ville ikke mere komme til dig.
Generation, consider the LORD’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more’?
32 Mon en Jomfru glemmer sin Prydelse, en Brud sine Hovedbaand? men mit Folk har glemt mig utallige Dage.
“Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
33 Hvor godt ved du dog at vælge din Vej for at søge Kærlighed, derfor har du ogsaa lært dine Veje at kende det onde.
How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.
34 Tilmed findes paa dine Flige de arme uskyldige Sjæles Blod; du har ikke grebet dem, der de brøde ind, men det var for alle disse Tings Skyld.
Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You didn’t find them breaking in, but it is because of all these things.
35 Og dog sagde du: Jeg er uskyldig, hans Vrede har vendt sig fra mig; se, jeg vil gaa i Rette med dig, fordi du siger: Jeg har ikke syndet.
“Yet you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 Hvorfor løber du saa ivrigt bort for at omskifte din Vej? ogsaa ved Ægypten skal du blive til Skamme, ligesom du blev til Skamme ved Assyrien.
Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 Ogsaa derfra skal du gaa ud, med Hænderne over dit Hoved; thi Herren forkaster dem, til hvilke du satte Lid, og du skal ikke faa Lykke ved dem.
You will also leave that place with your hands on your head; for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you won’t prosper with them.

< Jeremias 2 >