Jeremiæ 12
1 Iustus quidem tu es Domine, si disputem tecum: verumtamen iusta loquar ad te: Quare via impiorum prosperatur: bene est omnibus, qui prævaricantur, et inique agunt?
Right wouldest Thou be, O LORD, were I to contend with Thee, yet will I reason with Thee: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? Wherefore are all they secure that deal very treacherously?
2 Plantasti eos, et radicem miserunt: proficiunt et faciunt fructum: prope es tu ori eorum, et longe a renibus eorum.
Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root; they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit; Thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
3 Et tu Domine nosti me, vidisti me, et probasti cor meum tecum: congrega eos quasi gregem ad victimam, et sanctifica eos in die occisionis.
But Thou, O LORD, knowest me, Thou seest me, and triest my heart toward Thee; pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
4 Usquequo lugebit terra, et herba omnis regionis siccabitur propter malitiam habitantium in ea? consumptum est animal, et volucre, quoniam dixerunt: Non videbit novissima nostra.
How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole field wither? For the wickedness of them that dwell therein, the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said: 'He seeth not our end.'
5 Si cum peditibus currens laborasti: quomodo contendere poteris cum equis? cum autem in terra pacis securus fueris, quid facies in superbia Iordanis?
'If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And though in a land of peace thou art secure, yet how wilt thou do in the thickets of the Jordan?
6 Nam et fratres tui, et domus patris tui, etiam ipsi pugnaverunt adversum te, et clamaverunt post te plena voce: ne credas eis cum locuti fuerint tibi bona.
For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee, even they have cried aloud after thee; believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.'
7 Reliqui domum meam, dimisi hereditatem meam: dedi dilectam animam meam in manu inimicorum eius.
I have forsaken My house, I have cast off My heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.
8 Facta est mihi hereditas mea quasi leo in silva: dedit contra me vocem, ideo odivi eam.
My heritage is become unto Me as a lion in the forest; she hath uttered her voice against Me; therefore have I hated her.
9 Numquid avis discolor hereditas mea mihi? numquid avis tincta per totum? venite, congregamini omnes bestiæ terræ, properate ad devorandum.
Is My heritage unto Me as a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her round about? Come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, bring them to devour.
10 Pastores multi demoliti sunt vineam meam, conculcaverunt partem meam: dederunt portionem meam desiderabilem in desertum solitudinis.
Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard, they have trodden My portion under foot, they have made My pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 Posuerunt eam in dissipationem, luxitque super me: desolatione desolata est omnis terra: quia nullus est qui recogitet corde.
They have made it a desolation, it mourneth unto Me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
12 Super omnes vias deserti venerunt vastatores, quia gladius Domini devorabit ab extremo terræ usque ad extremum eius: non est pax universæ carni.
Upon all the high hills in the wilderness spoilers are come; for the sword of the LORD devoureth from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land, no flesh hath peace.
13 Seminaverunt triticum, et spinas messuerunt: hereditatem acceperunt, et non eis proderit: confundemini a fructibus vestris, propter iram furoris Domini.
They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, they profit not; be ye then ashamed of your increase, because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
14 Hæc dicit Dominus adversum omnes vicinos meos pessimos, qui tangunt hereditatem, quam distribui populo meo Israel: Ecce ego evellam eos de terra sua, et domum Iuda evellam de medio eorum.
Thus saith the LORD: As for all Mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit, behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.
15 Et cum evulsero eos, convertar, et miserebor eorum: et reducam eos, virum ad hereditatem suam, et virum in terram suam.
And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them; and I will bring them back, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
16 Et erit: si eruditi didicerint vias populi mei, ut iurent in nomine meo: Vivit Dominus, sicut docuerunt populum meum iurare in Baal: ædificabuntur in medio populi mei.
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of My people to swear by My name: 'As the LORD liveth,' even as they taught My people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of My people.
17 Quod si non audierint, evellam gentem illam evulsione et perditione, ait Dominus.
But if they will not hearken, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, saith the LORD.
