Jeremiah 18
1 Yahweh gave another message to me. [He said],
Este mensaje llegó a Jeremías de parte del Señor:
2 “Go to the shop of the man who makes clay pots. I will give you a message there.”
Baja enseguida a la casa del alfarero. Allí te daré mi mensaje.
3 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].
Bajé a la casa del alfarero y lo vi trabajando en su torno.
4 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.
Pero la vasija que estaba haciendo con la arcilla estaba mal. Así que la convirtió en algo diferente, como mejor le pareció.
5 Then Yahweh gave me this message:
Me llegó el mensaje del Señor, diciendo:
6 “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.
Pueblo de Israel, declara el Señor, ¿no puedo tratar con ustedes como este alfarero hace con su arcilla? Los tengo en mi mano como la arcilla en la mano del alfarero, pueblo de Israel.
7 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.
En un momento dado puede suceder que yo anuncie que una nación o un reino va a ser desarraigado, derribado y destruido.
8 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.
Sin embargo, si esa nación a la que advertí abandona sus malos caminos, entonces cambiaré de opinión respecto al desastre que iba a traer.
9 And there may be a time when I proclaim that I will establish a nation or kingdom and cause it to be strong [MET].
En otro momento podría anunciar que voy a edificar y dar poder a una nación o a un reino.
10 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.
Pero si hace el mal ante mis ojos y se niega a escuchar mi voz, entonces cambiaré de opinión con respecto al bien que había planeado para ella.
11 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].”’’”
Así que dile al pueblo de Judá y a los que viven en Jerusalén que esto es lo que dice el Señor: ¡Cuidado! Estoy preparando un desastre para ustedes, y elaborando un plan contra ustedes. Abandonen todos ustedes sus malos caminos. ¡Vivan bien y actúen bien!
12 [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.”
Pero ellos dirán: “¡No podemos! Haremos lo que nos dé la gana. Cada uno de nosotros seguirá obstinadamente su propio pensamiento malvado”.
13 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!
En consecuencia, esto es lo que dice el Señor: Pregunten en las naciones: ¿alguien ha escuchado algo así? La virgen Israel ha actuado muy mal.
14 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.
¿Acaso la nieve del Líbano desaparece alguna vez de sus cimas rocosas? ¿Se secan alguna vez sus aguas frescas que fluyen de fuentes tan lejanas?
15 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.
¡Pero mi pueblo me ha rechazado! Queman incienso a ídolos inútiles que los hacen tropezar, haciéndolos abandonar los viejos caminos para andar por senderos sin hacer en lugar de la carretera.
16 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].
Han convertido su país en un horrible páramo, un lugar que siempre será tratado con desprecio. La gente que pase por allí se escandalizará y sacudirá la cabeza con incredulidad.
17 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.”
Como un fuerte viento del este, los dispersaré ante el enemigo. Les daré la espalda y no los miraré cuando llegue su tiempo de angustia.
18 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.”
Algunos decidieron: “Necesitamos un plan para lidiar con Jeremías. Todavía habrá sacerdotes para explicar la ley, todavía habrá sabios para dar consejos, y todavía habrá profetas para dar profecías. Organicemos una campaña de desprestigio contra él para no tener que escuchar una palabra de lo que dice”.
19 [Then I prayed], “Yahweh, [please] listen to me! And listen to what my enemies are saying about me.
¡Señor, por favor, presta atención a lo que me pasa! ¡Escucha lo que dicen mis acusadores!
20 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.
¿Hay que pagar el bien con el mal? Sin embargo, ¡han cavado una fosa para atraparme! ¿Recuerdas cómo me presenté ante ti para abogar por ellos, para que no te enfadaras con ellos?
21 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!
Pero ahora que sus hijos se mueran de hambre; que los maten a espada. Que sus mujeres pierdan a sus hijos y a sus maridos; que sus maridos mueran de enfermedad; que sus jóvenes mueran en la batalla.
22 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.
Que se oigan gritos de agonía desde sus casas cuando de repente traigas invasores que los ataquen, porque han cavado una fosa para capturarme y han escondido trampas para atraparme mientras camino.
23 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]!”
Pero, Señor, tú conoces todas sus conspiraciones para intentar matarme. No perdones su maldad; no borres su pecado. Derríbalos. Trata con ellos cuando estés enojado!
