Jeremiæ 18
1 Verbum, quod factum est ad Ieremiam a Domino, dicens:
The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, 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 behold, he was making something 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 LORD’s word 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 the LORD. “Behold, 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 the instant I 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, turns from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them.
9 Et subito loquar de gente et de regno, ut ædificem et plantem illud.
At the instant I 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, ‘The LORD says: “Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a plan against you. Everyone return from his evil way now, 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 plans, and we will each follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.’”
13 Ideo hæc dicit Dominus: Interrogate Gentes: Quis audivit talia horribilia, quæ fecit nimis virgo Israel?
Therefore the LORD says: “Ask now amongst 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?
Will the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? Will 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 burnt incense to false gods. 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 by it will 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! Let’s devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law won’t perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let’s strike him with the tongue, and let’s not give heed to any of his words.”
19 Attende Domine ad me, et audi vocem adversariorum meorum.
Give heed to me, LORD, 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.
Should 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. Let their wives become childless and widows. Let their men be killed and their young men struck by 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 bring a troop suddenly on them; for they have dug a pit to take me and hidden 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, LORD, you know all their counsel against me to kill me. Don’t forgive their iniquity. Don’t blot out their sin from your sight, Let them be overthrown before you. Deal with them in the time of your anger.
