Jeremiæ 13
1 Hæc dicit Dominus ad me: Vade, et posside tibi lumbare lineum, et pones illud super lumbos tuos, et in aquam non inferes illud.
This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.”
2 Et possedi lumbare iuxta verbum Domini, et posui circa lumbos meos.
So I bought a loincloth as the LORD had instructed me, and I put it around my waist.
3 Et factus est sermo Domini ad me, secundo, dicens:
Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time:
4 Tolle lumbare, quod possedisti, quod est circa lumbos tuos, et surgens vade ad Euphraten, et absconde ibi illud in foramine petræ.
“Take the loincloth that you bought and are wearing, and go at once to Perath and hide it there in a crevice of the rocks.”
5 Et abii, et abscondi illud in Euphrate, sicut præceperat mihi Dominus.
So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD had commanded me.
6 Et factum est post dies plurimos, dixit Dominus ad me: Surge, vade ad Euphraten: et tolle inde lumbare, quod præcepi tibi ut absconderes illud ibi.
Many days later the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to Perath, and get the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.”
7 Et abii ad Euphraten, et fodi, et tuli lumbare de loco, ubi absconderam illud: et ecce computruerat lumbare, ita ut nulli usui aptum esset.
So I went to Perath and dug up the loincloth, and I took it from the place where I had hidden it. But now it was ruined—of no use at all.
8 Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:
Then the word of the LORD came to me:
9 Hæc dicit Dominus: Sic putrescere faciam superbiam Iuda, et superbiam Ierusalem multam.
“This is what the LORD says: In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
10 Populum istum pessimum, qui nolunt audire verba mea, et ambulant in pravitate cordis sui: abieruntque post deos alienos ut servirent eis, et adorarent eos: et erunt sicut lumbare istud, quod nulli usui aptum est.
These evil people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who go after other gods to serve and worship them, they will be like this loincloth—of no use at all.
11 Sicut enim adhæret lumbare ad lumbos viri, sic agglutinavi mihi omnem domum Israel, et omnem domum Iuda, dicit Dominus: ut essent mihi in populum, et in nomen, et in laudem, et in gloriam: et non audierunt.
For just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I have made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to Me, declares the LORD, so that they might be My people for My renown and praise and glory. But they did not listen.
12 Dices ergo ad eos sermonem istum: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus Israel: Omnis laguncula implebitur vino. Et dicent ad te: Numquid ignoramus quia omnis laguncula implebitur vino?
Therefore you are to tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Every wineskin shall be filled with wine.’ And when they reply, ‘Don’t we surely know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?’
13 Et dices ad eos: Hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego implebo omnes habitatores terræ huius, et reges qui sedent de stirpe David super thronum eius, et sacerdotes, et prophetas, et omnes habitatores Ierusalem, ebrietate:
then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land—the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem.
14 et dispergam eos virum a fratre suo, et patres et filios pariter, ait Dominus: non parcam, et non concedam: neque miserebor ut non disperdam eos.
I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’”
15 Audite, et auribus percipite. Nolite elevari, quia Dominus locutus est.
Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.
16 Date Domino Deo vestro gloriam antequam contenebrescat, et antequam offendant pedes vestri ad montes caliginosos: expectabitis lucem, et ponet eam in umbram mortis, et in caliginem.
Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.
17 Quod si hoc non audieritis, in abscondito plorabit anima mea a facie superbiæ: plorans plorabit, et deducet oculus meus lacrymam, quia captus est grex Domini.
But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.
18 Dic regi, et dominatrici: Humiliamini, sedete: quoniam descendit de capite vestro corona gloriæ vestræ.
Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”
19 Civitates Austri clausæ sunt, et non est qui aperiat: translata est omnis Iuda transmigratione perfecta.
The cities of the Negev have been shut tight, and no one can open them. All Judah has been carried into exile, wholly taken captive.
20 Levate oculos vestros, et videte qui venitis ab Aquilone: ubi est grex, qui datus est tibi, pecus inclytum tuum?
Lift up your eyes and see those coming from the north. Where is the flock entrusted to you, the sheep that were your pride?
21 Quid dices cum visitaverit te? Tu enim docuisti eos adversum te, et erudisti in caput tuum: Numquid non dolores apprehendent te, quasi mulierem parturientem?
What will you say when He sets over you close allies whom you yourself trained? Will not pangs of anguish grip you, as they do a woman in labor?
22 Quod si dixeris in corde tuo: Quare venerunt mihi hæc? Propter multitudinem iniquitatis tuæ revelata sunt verecundiora tua, pollutæ sunt plantæ tuæ.
And if you ask yourself, “Why has this happened to me?” It is because of the magnitude of your iniquity that your skirts have been stripped off and your body has been exposed.
23 Si mutare potest Æthiops pellem suam, aut pardus varietates suas: et vos poteritis benefacere, cum didiceritis malum.
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good— you who are accustomed to doing evil.
24 Et disseminabo eos quasi stipulam, quæ vento raptatur in deserto.
“I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind.
25 Hæc sors tua, parsque mensuræ tuæ a me, dicit Dominus, quia oblita es mei, et confisa es in mendacio.
This is your lot, the portion I have measured to you,” declares the LORD, “because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood.
26 Unde et ego nudavi femora tua contra faciem tuam, et apparuit ignominia tua,
So I will pull your skirts up over your face, that your shame may be seen.
27 adulteria tua, et hinnitus tuus scelus fornicationis tuæ: super colles in agro vidi abominationes tuas. Væ tibi Ierusalem, non mundaberis post me: usquequo adhuc?
Your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution on the hills and in the fields— I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?”
