Jeremiah 18
1 This message came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
LA palabra que fué á Jeremías de Jehová, diciendo:
2 Go down right away to the potter's house. I will give you my message there.
Levántate, y vete á casa del alfarero, y allí te haré oir mis palabras.
3 I went down to the potter's house and saw him working at his potter's wheel.
Y descendí á casa del alfarero, y he aquí que él hacía obra sobre la rueda.
4 But the pot that he was making from the clay went wrong. So he made it into something different as he thought best.
Y el vaso que él hacía de barro se quebró en la mano del alfarero; y tornó é hízolo otro vaso, según que al alfarero pareció mejor hacerlo.
5 The Lord's message came to me, saying,
Entonces fué á mí palabra de Jehová, diciendo:
6 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.
¿No podré yo hacer de vosotros como este alfarero, oh casa de Israel, dice Jehová? He aquí que como el barro en la mano del alfarero, así sois vosotros en mi mano, oh casa de Israel.
7 At one time it could happen that I announce that a nation or a kingdom is going to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed.
En un instante hablaré contra gentes y contra reinos, para arrancar, y disipar, y destruir.
8 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.
Empero si esas gentes se convirtieren de su maldad, de que habré hablado, yo me arrepentiré del mal que había pensado hacerles.
9 At another time I could announce that I'm going to build up and give power to a nation or a kingdom.
Y en un instante hablaré de la gente y del reino, para edificar y para plantar;
10 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.
Pero si hiciere lo malo delante de mis ojos, no oyendo mi voz, arrepentiréme del bien que había determinado hacerle.
11 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!
Ahora pues habla luego á todo hombre de Judá, y á los moradores de Jerusalem, diciendo: Así ha dicho Jehová: He aquí que yo dispongo mal contra vosotros, y trazo contra vosotros designios: conviértase ahora cada uno de su mal camino, y mejorad vuestros caminos y vuestras obras.
12 But they'll say, “We just can't! We'll do whatever we want. Each of us will stubbornly follow our own evil thinking.”
Y dijeron: Es por demás: porque en pos de nuestras imaginaciones hemos de ir, y hemos de hacer cada uno el pensamiento de su malvado corazón.
13 Consequently this is what the Lord says: Ask around the nations—has anybody ever heard anything like this? Virgin Israel has acted really badly.
Por tanto, así dijo Jehová: Preguntad ahora á las gentes, quién tal haya oído. Gran fealdad ha hecho la virgen de Israel.
14 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?
¿Faltará la nieve del Líbano de la piedra del campo? ¿faltarán las aguas frías que corren de lejanas tierras?
15 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.
Porque mi pueblo me ha olvidado, incensando á la vanidad, y hácenles tropezar en sus caminos, en las sendas antiguas, para que caminen por sendas, por camino no hollado;
16 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.
Para poner su tierra en desolación, y en silbos perpetuos; todo aquel que pasare por ella se maravillará, y meneará su cabeza.
17 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.
Como viento solano los esparciré delante del enemigo; mostraréles las espaldas, y no el rostro, en el día de su perdición.
18 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.”
Y dijeron: Venid, y tracemos maquinaciones contra Jeremías; porque la ley no faltará del sacerdote, ni consejo del sabio, ni palabra del profeta. Venid é hirámoslo de lengua, y no miremos á todas sus palabras.
19 Lord, please pay attention to what's happening to me! Listen to what my accusers are saying!
Oh Jehová, mira por mí, y oye la voz de los que contienden conmigo.
20 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?
¿Dase mal por bien, para que hayan cavado hoyo á mi alma? Acuérdate que me puse delante de ti para hablar bien por ellos, para apartar de ellos tu ira.
21 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.
Por tanto, entrega sus hijos á hambre, y hazlos derramar por medio de la espada; y queden sus mujeres sin hijos, y viudas; y sus maridos sean puestos á muerte, y sus jóvenes heridos á cuchillo en la guerra.
22 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.
Oigase clamor de sus casas, cuando trajeres sobre ellos ejército de repente: porque cavaron hoyo para prenderme, y á mis pies han escondido lazos.
23 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!
Mas tú, oh Jehová, conoces todo su consejo contra mí para muerte; no perdones su maldad, ni borres su pecado de delante de tu rostro: y tropiecen delante de ti; haz [así] con ellos en el tiempo de tu furor.
