Jeremias 2

1 HERRENs Ord kom til mig således:

The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

2 Gå hen og råb Jerusalem i Ørene: Så siger HERREN: Jeg mindes din Kærlighed som ung, din Elskov som Brud, at du fulgte mig i Ørkenen, et Land, hvor der ikke sås;

“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 helliget HERREN, hans Førstegrøde, alle, som åd det, måtte bøde, Ulykke ramte dem, lyder det fra 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 Hør HERRENs Ord, Jakobs Hus og alle Slægter i Israels Hus:

Hear the LORD’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!

5 Så siger HERREN: Hvad ondt fandt eders Fædre hos mig, siden de gik bort fra mig og holdt sig til Tomhed, til de selv blev tomme?

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 De spurgte ikke: "Hvor er HERREN, som førte os op fra Ægypten og ledte os i Ørkenen, Ødemarkens og Kløfternes Land, Tørkens og Mulmets Land, Landet, hvor ingen færdes eller bor?"

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 Jeg bragte eder til Frugthavens Land, at I kunde nyde dets Frugt og Goder; men da I kom derind, gjorde I mit Land urent og min Arvelod vederstyggelig.

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 spurgte ikke: "Hvor er HERREN?" De, der syslede med Loven, kendte mig ikke, Hyrderne faldt fra mig, og Profeterne profeterede ved Ba'al og holdt sig til Guder, som intet evner.

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 må jeg fremdeles gå i Rette med eder, lyder det fra HERREN, og med eders Sønners Sønner må jeg gå i Rette.

“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says the LORD, “and I will contend with your children’s children.

10 Drag engang over til Kittæernes Strande og se efter, send Bud til Kedar og spørg jer nøje for; se efter, om sligt er hændet før!

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 Har et Hedningefolk nogen Sinde skiftet Guder? Og så er de endda ikke Guder. Men mit Folk har skiftet sin Ære bort for det, der intet gavner.

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 Gys derover, I Himle, Skræk og Rædsel gribe eder, lyder det fra HERREN;

“Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says the LORD.

13 thi to onde Ting har mit Folk gjort: Mig, en Kilde med levende Vand, har de forladt for at hugge sig Cisterner, sprukne Cisterner, der ikke kan 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 da en Træl, en hjemmefødt Træl? Hvorfor er han blevet til Bytte?

Is Israel a slave? Is he born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?

15 Løver brøler imod ham med rungende Røst; hans Land har de gjort til en Ørk, hans Byer er brændt, så ingen bor der.

The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices. They have made his land waste. His cities are burnt up, without inhabitant.

16 Selv Nofs og Takpankes's Sønner afgnaver din Isse.

The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.

17 Mon ikke det times dig, fordi du svigted mig? lyder det fra HERREN din Gud.

“Haven’t you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD your God, when he led you by the way?

18 Hvorfor skal du nu til Ægypten og drikke af Sjihor? Hvorfor skal du nu til Assur og drikke af Floden?

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 Lad din Ulykke gøre dig klog og lær af dit Frafald, kend og se, hvor ondt og bittert det er, at du svigted HERREN din Gud; Frygt for mig findes ikke hos dig, så lyder det fra Herren, Hærskarers HERRE.

“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 the LORD your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, GOD of Armies.

20 Thi længst har du brudt dit Åg og sprængt dine Bånd. Du siger: "Ej vil jeg tjene!" Nej, Skøgeleje har du på hver en Høj, under alle de grønne Træer.

“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 Som en Ædelranke plantede jeg dig, en fuldgod Stikling; hvor kunde du da blive Vildskud, en uægte Ranke?

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 Om du end tor dig med Lud og ødsler med Sæbe, jeg ser dog din Brødes Snavs, så lyder det fra HERREN.

For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord GOD.

23 Hvor kan du sige: "Ej er jeg uren, til Ba'alerne holdt jeg mig ikke!" Se på din Færd i Dalen, kend, hvad du gjorde, en let Kamelhoppe, løbende hid og did,

“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 et Vildæsel, kendt med Steppen! Den snapper i Brynde efter Luft, hvo tæmmer dens Brunst? At søge den trætter ingen, den findes i sin Måned.

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 Spar dog din Fod for Slid, din Strube for Tørst! Dog siger du: "Nej, lad mig være! Jeg elsker de fremmede, dem vil jeg holde mig til."

“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 Som Tyven får Skam, når han gribes, så Israels Hus, de, deres Konger og Fyrster, Præster og 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 siger til Træ: "Min Fader!" til Sten: "Du har født mig." Thi Ryggen og ikke Ansigtet vender de til mig, men siger i Ulykkestid: "Stå 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 er de da, dine Guder, dem, du har gjort dig? Lad dem stå op! Kan de frelse dig i Ulykkestiden? Thi som dine Byers Tal er dine Guders, 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 tvistes I med mig? I har alle forbrudt jer imod mig, lyder det fra HERREN.

“Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says the LORD.

30 Forgæves slog jeg eders Børn, de tog ikke ved Lære, som hærgende Løve fortærede Sværdet Profeterne.

“I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

31 Du onde Slægt, så mærk jer dog HERRENs Ord! Har jeg været en Ørk for Israel, et bælgmørkt Land? Hvorfor mon mit Folk da siger: "Vi går, hvor vi vil, og kommer ej mer 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 Glemmer en Jomfru sit Smykke, en Brud sit Bælte? Og mig har mit Folk dog glemt i talløse Dage.

“Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.

33 Hvor snildt du dog går til Værks for at søge dig Elskov! Du vænned dig derfor også til ondt i din Færd.

How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.

34 Endog findes Blod på dine Hænder af fattige, skyldfri Sjæle, Blod, jeg ej fandt hos en Tyv, men på alle disse.

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 du siger: "Jeg er frikendt, hans Vrede har vendt sig fra mig." Se, med dig går jeg i Rette, da 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 Hvor let det dog falder for dig at skifte din Vej! Du skal også få Skam af Ægypten, som du fik det af Assur;

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 også derfra skal du gå med Hænder på Hoved, thi HERREN har forkastet dine Støtter, de båder dig intet.

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.