Jeremias 12

1 Herre, Retten er din, naar jeg trætter med dig, og dog maa jeg tale med dig om Ret. Hvi følger Lykken de gudløses Vej, hvi er alle troløse trygge?

Righteous are you, O Lord, that I may make my defence to you, yes, I will speak to you [of] judgments. Why [is it] that the way of ungodly [men] prospers? [that] all that deal very treacherously are flourishing?

2 Du planter dem, og de slaar rod, de trives og bærer Frugt. De har dig i Munden, men ikke i Hjertet.

You have planted them, and they have taken root; they have begotten children, and become fruitful; you are near to their mouth, and far from their reins.

3 Du, HERRE, du kender mig, ser mig og prøver mit Hjertelag mod dig. Riv dem bort som Faar til Slagtning, vi dem til Blodbadets Dag!

But you, Lord, know me; you have proved my heart before you; purify them for the day of their slaughter.

4 (Hvor længe skal Landet sørge, al Markens Urter visne? For Indbyggernes Ondskabs Skyld omkommer Dyr og Fugle; thi man siger: »Han skuer ikke, hvorledes det vil gaa os.«)

How long shall the land mourn, and the grass of the field wither, for the wickedness of them, that dwell in it? the beasts and birds are utterly destroyed; because [the people] said, God shall not see our ways.

5 »Naar Fodgængere løber dig træt, hvor kan du da kappes med Heste? Og er du ej tryg i et fredeligt Land, hvad vil du saa gøre i Jordans Stolthed?

Your feet run, and they cause you to faint; how will you prepare [to ride] upon horses? and you have been confident in the land of your peace? how will you do in the roaring of Jordan?

6 Thi selv dine Brødre og din Faders Hus er troløse imod dig, selv de skriger af fuld Hals efter dig; tro dem ikke, naar de giver dig gode Ord!«

For even your brethren and the house of your father, even these have dealt treacherously with you; and they have cried out, they are gathered together in pursuit of you; trust not you in them, though they shall speak fair [words] to you.

7 Mit Hus har jeg opgivet, bortstødt min Arvelod, givet min elskede hen i hendes Fjenders Haand.

I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given my beloved one into the hands of her enemies.

8 Min Arvelod blev for mig som en Løve i Skoven, den løftede Røsten imod mig, derfor maa jeg hade den.

My inheritance has become to me as a lion in a forest; she has uttered her voice against me; therefore have I hated her.

9 Er min Arvelod blevet mig en spraglet Fugl, omgivet af Fugle? Lad alle de vilde Dyr samles, hent dem hid for at æde!

Is not my inheritance to me a hyaena's cave, or a cave round about her? Go you, gather together all the wild beasts of the field, and let them come to devour her.

10 Hyrder i Mængde ødelægger min Vingaard, nedtramper min Arvelod, min yndige Arvelod gør de til øde Ørk;

Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have defiled my portion, they have made my desirable portion a trackless wilderness;

11 de lægger den øde, den sørger øde for mit Aasyn. Hele Landet er ødelagt, thi ingen brød sig om det.

it is made a complete ruin: for my sake the whole land has been utterly ruined, because there is none that lays [the matter] to heart.

12 Over alle Ørkenens nøgne Høje kom Hærværksmænd. Thi HERREN har et Sværd; det fortærer alt fra den ene Ende af Landet til den anden; intet Kød har Fred.

The ravagers are come to every passage in the wilderness: for the sword of the Lord will devour from one end of the land to the other: no flesh has any peace.

13 De saaede Hvede og høstede Torne, sled til ingen Gavn og blev til Skamme med deres Afgrøde for HERRENS glødende Vredes Skyld.

Sow wheat, and reap thorns; their portions shall not profit them: be ashamed of your boasting, because of reproach before the Lord.

14 Saa siger HERREN om alle mine onde Naboer, der rører den Arvelod, jeg gav mit Folk Israel i Eje: Se, jeg rykker dem op af deres Land, og Judas Hus rykker jeg op midt iblandt dem.

For thus says the Lord, concerning all the evil neighbors that touch mine inheritance, which I have divided to my people Israel; Behold, I [will] draw them away from their land, and I will cast out Juda from the midst of them.

15 Men siden, naar jeg har rykket dem op, forbarmer jeg mig atter over dem og bringer dem hjem, hver til sin Arvelod og hver til sit Land.

And it shall come to pass, after I have cast them out, [that] I will return, and have mercy upon them, and will cause them to dwell every one in his inheritance, and every one in his land.

16 Hvis de da lærer mit Folks Veje, saa de sværger ved mit Navn: »Saa sandt HERREN lever!« ligesom de lærte mit Folk at sværge ved Ba'al, skal de opbygges iblandt mit Folk.

And it shall be, if they will indeed learn the way of my people, to swear by my name, [saying], The Lord lives; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall [that nation] be built in the midst of my people.

17 Men hører de ikke, rykker jeg et saadant Folk helt op og tilintetgør det, lyder det fra HERREN.

But if they will not return, then will I cut off that nation with utter ruin and destruction.