Ἱερεμίας 18

1 Ο λόγος ο γενόμενος προς Ιερεμίαν παρά Κυρίου, λέγων,

Yahweh gave another message to me. [He said],

2 Σηκώθητι και κατάβηθι εις τον οίκον του κεραμέως, και εκεί θέλω σε κάμει να ακούσης τους λόγους μου.

“Go to the shop of the man who makes clay pots. I will give you a message there.”

3 Τότε κατέβην εις τον οίκον του κεραμέως, και ιδού, ειργάζετο έργον επί τους τροχούς.

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].

4 Και εχαλάσθη το αγγείον, το οποίον έκαμνεν εκ πηλού, εν τη χειρί του κεραμέως, και πάλιν έκαμεν αυτό άλλο αγγείον, καθώς ήρεσεν εις τον κεραμέα να κάμη.

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.

5 Τότε έγεινε λόγος Κύριου προς εμέ, λέγων,

Then Yahweh gave me this message:

6 Οίκος Ισραήλ, δεν δύναμαι να κάμω εις εσάς, καθώς ούτος ο κεραμεύς; λέγει Κύριος. Ιδού, ως ο πηλός εν τη χειρί του κεραμέως, ούτω σεις, οίκος Ισραήλ, είσθε εν τη χειρί μου.

“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.

7 Εν τη στιγμή, καθ' ην ήθελον λαλήσει κατά έθνους ή κατά βασιλείας, διά να εκριζώσω και να κατασκάψω και να καταστρέψω,

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.

8 εάν το έθνος εκείνο, κατά του οποίου ελάλησα, επιστρέψη από της κακίας αυτού, θέλω μετανοήσει περί του κακού, το οποίον εβουλεύθην να κάμω εις αυτό.

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.

9 Και εν τη στιγμή, καθ' ην ήθελον λαλήσει περί έθνους ή περί βασιλείας, να οικοδομήσω και να φυτεύσω,

And there may be a time when I proclaim that I will establish a nation or kingdom and cause it to be strong [MET].

10 εάν κάμη κακόν ενώπιόν μου, ώστε να μη υπακούη της φωνής μου, τότε θέλω μετανοήσει περί του καλού, με το οποίον είπα ότι θέλω αγαθοποιήσει αυτό.

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.

11 Και τώρα ειπέ προς τους άνδρας Ιούδα και προς τους κατοίκους της Ιερουσαλήμ, λέγων, Ούτω λέγει Κύριος· Ιδού, εγώ ετοιμάζω κακόν καθ' υμών και βουλεύομαι βουλήν καθ' υμών· επιστρέψατε λοιπόν έκαστος από της πονηράς οδού αυτού και διορθώσατε τας οδούς υμών και τας πράξεις υμών.

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].”’’”

12 Οι δε είπον, Εις μάτην· διότι οπίσω των διαβουλίων ημών θέλομεν περιπατεί και έκαστος τας ορέξεις της καρδίας αυτού της πονηράς θέλομεν πράττει.

[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.”

13 Διά τούτο ούτω λέγει Κύριος· Ερωτήσατε τώρα μεταξύ των εθνών, τις ήκουσε τοιαύτα; η παρθένος του Ισραήλ έκαμε φρικτά σφόδρα.

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!

14 Θέλει τις αφήσει τον χιονώδη Λίβανον διά τον βράχον της πεδιάδος; ή θέλουσιν εγκαταλίπει τα δροσερά εκρέοντα ύδατα διά τα μακρόθεν ερχόμενα;

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.

15 Αλλ' ο λαός μου ελησμόνησεν εμέ, εθυμίασεν εις την ματαιότητα και προσέκοψαν εν ταις οδοίς αυτών, ταις αιωνίοις τρίβοις, διά να περιπατώσιν εν τρίβοις οδού μη εξωμαλισμένης·

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.

16 διά να καταστήσωσι την γην αυτών ερήμωσιν και χλευασμόν αιώνιον· πας ο διαβαίνων δι' αυτής θέλει μένει έκθαμβος και σείει την κεφαλήν αυτού.

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].

17 Θέλω διασκορπίσει αυτούς έμπροσθεν του εχθρού ως καυστικός άνεμος· θέλω δείξει εις αυτούς νώτα και ουχί πρόσωπον εν τη ημέρα της συμφοράς αυτών.

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.”

18 Τότε είπον, Έλθετε και ας συμβουλευθώμεν βουλάς κατά του Ιερεμίου· διότι νόμος δεν θέλει χαθή από ιερέως ουδέ βουλή από σοφού ουδέ λόγος από προφήτου· έλθετε και ας πατάξωμεν αυτόν με την γλώσσαν και ας μη προσέξωμεν εις μηδένα των λόγων αυτού.

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.”

19 Πρόσεξον εις εμέ, Κύριε, και άκουσον την φωνήν των διαφιλονεικούντων με εμέ.

[Then I prayed], “Yahweh, [please] listen to me! And listen to what my enemies are saying about me.

20 Θέλει ανταποδοθή κακόν αντί καλού; διότι έσκαψαν λάκκον διά την ψυχήν μου. Ενθυμήθητι ότι εστάθην ενώπιόν σου διά να λαλήσω υπέρ αυτών αγαθά, διά να αποστρέψω τον θυμόν σου απ' αυτών.

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.

21 Διά τούτο παράδος τους υιούς αυτών εις την πείναν και δος αυτούς εις χείρας μαχαίρας, και ας γείνωσιν αι γυναίκες αυτών άτεκνοι και χήραι· και οι άνδρες αυτών ας θανατωθώσιν· οι νεανίσκοι αυτών ας πέσωσι διά μαχαίρας εν τη μάχη.

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!

22 Ας ακουσθή κραυγή εκ των οικιών αυτών, όταν φέρης εξαίφνης επ' αυτούς λεηλάτας· διότι έσκαψαν λάκκον διά να με πιάσωσι και έκρυψαν παγίδας διά τους πόδας μου.

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.

23 Συ δε, Κύριε, γνωρίζεις πάσαν την κατ' εμού βουλήν αυτών εις το να με θανατώσωσι· μη συγχωρήσης την ανομίαν αυτών, και την αμαρτίαν αυτών μη εξαλείψης απ' έμπροσθέν σου· αλλά ας καταστραφώσιν ενώπιόν σου· ενέργησον κατ' αυτών εν τω καιρώ του θυμού σου.

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]!”