Jeremiæ 18

1 Verbum, quod factum est ad Ieremiam a Domino, dicens:

The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,

2 Surge, et descende in domum figuli, et ibi audies verba mea.

"Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear my words."

3 Et descendi in domum figuli, et ecce ipse faciebat opus super rotam.

Then I went down to the potter's house, and look, he was making a work on the wheels.

4 Et dissipatum est vas, quod ipse faciebat e luto manibus suis: conversusque fecit illud vas alterum, sicut placuerat in oculis eius ut faceret.

When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

5 Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:

Then the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,

6 Numquid sicut figulus iste, non potero vobis facere, domus Israel, ait Dominus? Ecce sicut lutum in manu figuli, sic vos in manu mea, domus Israel.

"'House of Israel, can't I do with you as this potter?' says Jehovah. 'Look, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.'

7 Repente loquar adversum gentem et adversus regnum, ut eradicem, et destruam, et disperdam illud.

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;

8 Si pœnitentiam egerit gens illa a malo suo, quod locutus sum adversus eam: agam et ego pœnitentiam super malo, quod cogitavi ut facerem ei.

if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I thought to do to them.

9 Et subito loquar de gente et de regno, ut ædificem et plantem illud.

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;

10 Si fecerit malum in oculis meis, ut non audiat vocem meam: pœnitentiam agam super bono, quod locutus sum ut facerem ei.

if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good, with which I said I would benefit them.

11 Nunc ergo dic viro Iuda, et habitatoribus Ierusalem, dicens: Hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego fingo contra vos malum, et cogito contra vos cogitationem: revertatur unusquisque a via sua mala, et dirigite vias vestras et studia vestra.

Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says Jehovah: Look, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return now everyone from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.'

12 Qui dixerunt: Desperavimus: post cogitationes enim nostras ibimus, et unusquisque pravitatem cordis sui mali faciemus.

But they say, 'It is in vain; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do everyone after the stubbornness of his evil heart.'"

13 Ideo hæc dicit Dominus: Interrogate Gentes: Quis audivit talia horribilia, quæ fecit nimis virgo Israel?

Therefore thus says Jehovah: "Ask now among the nations, who has heard such things; the virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.

14 Numquid deficiet de petra agri nix Libani? Aut evelli possunt aquæ erumpentes frigidæ, et defluentes?

Shall the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? Shall the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?

15 Quia oblitus est mei populus meus, frustra libantes, et impingentes in viis suis, in semitis sæculi, ut ambularent per eas in itinere non trito:

For my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to false gods; and they have been made to stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths, to walk in byways, in a way not built up;

16 ut fieret terra eorum in desolationem, et in sibilum sempiternum: omnis qui præterierit per eam obstupescet, et movebit caput suum.

to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; everyone who passes thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head.

17 Sicut ventus urens dispergam eos coram inimico: dorsum, et non faciem ostendam eis in die perditionis eorum.

I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity."

18 Et dixerunt: Venite, et cogitemus contra Ieremiam cogitationes: non enim peribit lex a sacerdote, neque consilium a sapiente, nec sermo a propheta: venite, et percutiamus eum lingua, et non attendamus ad universos sermones eius.

Then they said, "Come, and let us make plans against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words."

19 Attende Domine ad me, et audi vocem adversariorum meorum.

"Give heed to me, Jehovah, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.

20 Numquid redditur pro bono malum, quia foderunt foveam animæ meæ? Recordare quod steterim in conspectu tuo, ut loquerer pro eis bonum, et averterem indignationem tuam ab eis.

Shall evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.

21 Propterea da filios eorum in famem, et deduc eos in manus gladii: fiant uxores eorum absque liberis, et viduæ: et viri earum interficiantur morte: iuvenes eorum confodiantur gladio in prælio.

Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives become childless, and widows; and let their men be slain of death, and their young men struck of the sword in battle.

22 Audiatur clamor de domibus eorum: adduces enim super eos latronem repente: quia foderunt foveam ut caperent me, et laqueos absconderunt pedibus meis.

Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you shall bring a troop suddenly on them; for they have dug a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.

23 Tu autem Domine scis omne consilium eorum adversum me in mortem: ne propitieris iniquitati eorum, et peccatum eorum a facie tua non deleatur: fiant corruentes in conspectu tuo, in tempore furoris tui abutere eis.

Yet, Jehovah, you know all their counsel against me to kill me; do not forgive their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from your sight; but let them be overthrown before you; deal you with them in the time of your anger."