Jeremiah 2

1 The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

HERRENS Ord kom til mig saaledes:

2 “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.

Gaa hen og raab Jerusalem i Ørene: Saa siger HERREN: Jeg mindes din Kærlighed som ung, din Elskov som Brud, at du fulgte mig i Ørkenen, et Land, hvor der ikke saas;

3 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.”

Israel var helliget HERREN, hans Førstegrøde, alle, som aad det, maatte bøde, Ulykke ramte dem, lyder det fra HERREN.

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

Hør HERRENS Ord, Jakobs Hus og alle Slægter i Israels Hus:

5 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?

Saa 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?

6 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?’

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?«

7 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.

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.

8 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.

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.

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

Derfor maa jeg fremdeles gaa i Rette med eder, lyder det fra HERREN, og med eders Sønners Sønner maa jeg gaa i Rette.

10 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.

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!

11 Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.

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

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

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

13 “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.

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.

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

Er Israel da en Træl, en hjemmefødt Træl? Hvorfor er han blevet til Bytte?

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

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

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

Selv Nofs og Takpankes's Sønner afgnaver din Isse.

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

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

18 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?

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

19 “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.

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, saa lyder det fra Herren, Hærskarers HERRE.

20 “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.

Thi længst har du brudt dit Aag og sprængt dine Baand. Du siger: »Ej vil jeg tjene!« Nej, Skøgeleje har du paa hver en Høj, under alle de grønne Træer.

21 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?

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

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

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

23 “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,

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

24 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.

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

25 “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.’

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.«

26 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,

Som Tyven faar Skam, naar han gribes, saa Israels Hus, de, deres Konger og Fyrster, Præster og Profeter,

27 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!’

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: »Staa op og frels os!«

28 “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.

Hvor er de da, dine Guder, dem, du har gjort dig? Lad dem staa op! Kan de frelse dig i Ulykkestiden? Thi som dine Byers Tal er dine Guders, Juda.

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

Hvorfor tvistes I med mig? I har alle forbrudt jer imod mig, lyder det fra HERREN.

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

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

31 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’?

Du onde Slægt, saa mærk jer dog HERRENS Ord! Har jeg været en Ørk for Israel, et bælgmørkt Land? Hvorfor mon mit Folk da siger: »Vi gaar, hvor vi vil, og kommer ej mer til dig.«

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

Glemmer en Jomfru sit Smykke, en Brud sit Bælte? Og mig har mit Folk dog glemt i talløse Dage.

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

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

34 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.

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

35 “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.’

Og du siger: »Jeg er frikendt, hans Vrede har vendt sig fra mig.« Se, med dig gaar jeg i Rette, da du siger: »Jeg har ikke syndet.«

36 Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.

Hvor let det dog falder for dig at skifte din Vej! Du skal ogsaa faa Skam af Ægypten, som du fik det af Assur;

37 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.

ogsaa derfra skal du gaa med Hænder paa Hoved, thi HERREN har forkastet dine Støtter, de baader dig intet.