Jeremiæ 51
1 Hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego suscitabo super Babylonem et super habitatores eius, qui cor suum levaverunt contra me, quasi ventum pestilentem.
This is what Yahweh says: “I will inspire/motivate [an army] to destroy Babylon [like a powerful] wind [MET], and [also] to destroy the people of Babylonia.
2 Et mittam in Babylonem ventilatores, et ventilabunt eam et demolientur terram eius: quoniam venerunt super eam undique in die afflictionis eius.
I will send a foreign army to come to get rid of Babylonia [like a strong wind] that blows away chaff. They will attack from every direction on that day of disaster.
3 Non tendat qui tendit arcum suum, et non ascendat loricatus, nolite parcere iuvenibus eius, interficite omnem militiam eius.
[I will tell them, ] ‘Do not allow the archers [of Babylon] to [have time to] put on their armor or draw their bows. Do not spare the young men of Babylon. Completely destroy their army.’
4 Et cadent interfecti in terra Chaldæorum, et vulnerati in regionibus eius.
Their soldiers will fall dead in Babylonia; [they will die after being] wounded in the streets.
5 Quoniam non fuit viduatus Israel et Iuda a Deo suo Domino exercituum: terra autem eorum repleta est delicto a sancto Israel.
[I, ] the Commander of the armies of angels, the Israelis’ God, have not abandoned Israel and Judah. [Even though] their land was full of people who sinned against [me], the Holy God of Israel, I am still their God.
6 Fugite de medio Babylonis, et salvet unusquisque animam suam: nolite tacere super iniquitatem eius: quoniam tempus ultionis est a Domino, vicissitudinem ipse retribuet ei.
[You people of Israel and Judah, ] flee from Babylon! Run away from there! Do not stay there and be killed when I punish [the people of Babylon]! It will be the time when I will get revenge; I will do to them what they deserve.
7 Calix aureus Babylon in manu Domini, inebrians omnem terram: de vino eius biberunt Gentes, et ideo commotæ sunt.
Babylon has been [like] [MET] a gold cup in my hand, [a cup that is full of wine] that caused people all over the earth [who drank some of it to become] drunk. [It is as though] the [rulers of] the nations drank the wine from Babylon, and it caused them to become crazy.
8 Subito cecidit Babylon, et contrita est: ululate super eam, tollite resinam ad dolorem eius, si forte sanetur.
But suddenly Babylon will be conquered. [You foreigners who live in Babylon, ] weep for its people. Give them medicine for their wounds; perhaps they can be healed.”
9 Curavimus Babylonem, et non est sanata: derelinquamus eam, et eamus unusquisque in terram suam: quoniam pervenit usque ad cælos iudicium eius, et elevatum est usque ad nubes.
We [foreigners] would have [tried to] heal them, but [now] they cannot be healed. [So we will not try to help them; ] we will abandon them, and return to our own lands, because [it is as though] the punishment they are receiving is so great that it reaches up to the clouds in sky, [so great that no one can measure it].
10 Protulit Dominus iustitias nostras: venite, et narremus in Sion opus Domini Dei nostri.
Yahweh has (vindicated us/shown that we were right); [so] let’s proclaim in Jerusalem everything that Yahweh our God has done [for us].
11 Acuite sagittas, implete pharetras: suscitavit Dominus spiritum regum Medorum: et contra Babylonem mens eius est ut perdat eam, quoniam ultio Domini est, ultio templi sui.
[You enemy soldiers, ] sharpen your arrows! Lift up your shields, [because] Yahweh has incited your kings of Media [and Persia to march with their armies] to Babylon and to destroy it. That is how Yahweh will get revenge on [those foreigners who entered] his temple [in Jerusalem] and defiled it.
12 Super muros Babylonis levate signum, augete custodiam: levate custodes, præparate insidias: quia cogitavit Dominus, et fecit quæcumque locutus est contra habitatores Babylonis.
Lift up a battle flag close to the walls of Babylon! (Reinforce the/Appoint more) guards, and tell the watchmen to stand [in their positions]! Prepare an ambush, because Yahweh is about to accomplish all that he has planned to do to the people of Babylon.
13 Quæ habitas super aquas multas, locuples in thesauris: venit finis tuus pedalis præcisionis tuæ.
Babylon is [a city] near the great [Euphrates] River, a city in which there are many rich people, but it is time for Babylon to be finished; the time [for the city] to exist is ended.
14 Iuravit Dominus exercituum per animam suam: Quoniam replebo te hominibus quasi brucho, et super te celeuma cantabitur.
The Commander of the armies of angels has solemnly promised, using his own name, “Your cities will be filled with your enemies; I will cause them to be like [SIM] a swarm of locusts; and they will shout triumphantly [when they conquer your city].”
15 Qui fecit terram in fortitudine sua, præparavit orbem in sapientia sua, et prudentia sua extendit cælos.
Yahweh created the earth by his power; he established it by his wisdom, and he stretched out the sky by his understanding.
16 Dante eo vocem, multiplicantur aquæ in cælo: qui levat nubes ab extremo terræ, fulgura in pluviam fecit: et produxit ventum de thesauris suis.
When he speaks loudly, there is thunder in the sky; he causes clouds to form in every part of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and releases the winds from his storehouses.
17 Stultus factus est omnis homo a scientia: confusus est omnis conflator in sculptili. quia mendax est conflatio eorum, nec est spiritus in eis.
People are senseless, and they know very little [HYP]; those who make idols are [always] disappointed, because their idols [do nothing for them]. The images/statues that they make are not real [gods]; they are lifeless.
18 Vana sunt opera, et risu digna, in tempore visitationis suæ peribunt.
Idols are worthless; they deserve to be ridiculed; there will be a time when they will [all] be destroyed.
19 Non sicut hæc pars Iacob: quia qui fecit omnia ipse est, et Israel sceptrum hereditatis eius: Dominus exercituum nomen eius.
But the God whom [we] Israelis [worship] is not like those [idols]; he is the one who created everything [that exists]; [we], the people of Israel, belong to him; his name is ‘the Commander of the armies of angels’.
20 Collidis tu mihi vasa belli, et ego collidam in te Gentes, et disperdam in te regna:
Yahweh says [about the army of Babylonia] (OR, [about a nation that will attack Babylonia)], “You have been [like] [MET] my battle-axe and war-club; with your [power] I have shattered nations and destroyed [many] kingdoms.
21 et collidam in te equum, et equitem eius: et collidam in te currum, et ascensorem eius:
With your [power] I have shattered armies [of other nations]: I destroyed [their] horses and their riders, [their] chariots and [their] chariot-drivers.
22 et collidam in te virum et mulierem: et collidam in te senem et puerum: et collidam in te iuvenem et virginem:
With your [power] I shattered men and women, old people and children, young men and young women.
23 et collidam in te pastorem et gregem eius: et collidam in te agricolam et iugales eius: et collidam in te duces et magistratus.
With your [power] I shattered shepherds and their flocks [of sheep], farmers and their oxen, governors and [their] officials.”
24 Et reddam Babyloni, et cunctis habitatoribus Chaldææ omne malum suum, quod fecerunt in Sion, in oculis vestris, ait Dominus.
But, Yahweh [also] says, “[Soon] I will repay/punish [you] people in Babylon and in the rest of Babylonia for all the evil things that you have done in Jerusalem.
25 Ecce ego ad te mons pestifer, ait Dominus, qui corrumpis universam terram: et extendam manum meam super te, et evolvam te de petris, et dabo te in montem combustionis.
[Babylonia is] [APO] like [MET] a great mountain [from which bandits descend] to (plunder/steal things from) people all over the earth. But I, Yahweh, am the enemy of you [people of Babylonia]. I will raise my fist to strike you. I will knock you down from the cliffs and cause you to be [only] a huge pile of burned rubble.
26 Et non tollent de te lapidem in angulum, et lapidem in fundamenta, sed perditus in æternum eris, ait Dominus.
Your [city] will be abandoned forever; [even] the stones in your [city] will never [again] be used for buildings. [Your city will be completely destroyed].”
27 Levate signum in terra: clangite buccina in Gentibus, sanctificate super eam Gentes: annunciate contra illam regibus Ararat, Menni, et Ascenez: numerate contra eam Taphsar, adducite equum quasi bruchum aculeatum.
[Tell] the nations to lift up a battle flag! [Tell them to] shout the battle-cry! Gather all their armies to fight against Babylon! Prepare the nations to attack Babylon. Summon [the armies of] the kingdoms [north of Babylonia]—from Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a commander for them, and bring [a great number of] horses; [there must be a huge number of horses]; that [huge number] will resemble [SIM] a swarm of locusts.
28 Sanctificate contra eam Gentes, reges Mediæ, duces eius, et universos magistratus eius, cunctamque terram potestatis eius.
Prepare the [armies of other nations], armies that will be led by the kings of Media [and Persia], their governors and [their] officials.
29 Et commovebitur terra, et conturbabitur: quia evigilabit contra Babylonem cogitatio Domini ut ponat Terram Babylonis desertam et inhabitabilem.
[When they attack Babylon, it will be as though] the earth will shake and writhe [in pain], because [those armies] will accomplish everything that Yahweh has planned to do to Babylon; they will destroy it completely, [with the result that] no one will live there [again].
30 Cessaverunt fortes Babylonis a prælio, habitaverunt in præsidiis: devoratum est robur eorum, et facti sunt quasi mulieres: incensa sunt tabernacula eius, contriti sunt vectes eius.
[When their enemies attack], the strongest warriors in Babylon will not fight. They will remain in their barracks, without any strength. They will be as timid/weak as [SIM] women. [The enemy soldiers] will burn the buildings in the city and pull down the bars [of the city gates].
31 Currens obviam currenti veniet: et nuncius obvius nuncianti: ut annunciet regi Babylonis quia capta est civitas eius a summo usque ad summum:
Messengers will go quickly, one after another, to tell the king that his city has been captured.
32 et vada præoccupata sunt, et paludes incensæ sunt igni, et viri bellatores conturbati sunt.
The places at which people can cross the river [to escape from the city] will be blocked. The dry reeds in the marshes/swamps will be set on fire, and the soldiers of Babylon will be terrified.
33 Quia hæc dicit Dominus exercituum, Deus Israel: Filia Babylonis quasi area, tempus trituræ eius: adhuc modicum, et veniet tempus messionis eius.
This is what the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom [we] Israelis [worship], says; “Babylon is like [SIM] wheat on the ground where it is about to be threshed by [animals] tramping on it. Very soon [their enemies] will trample on [the city of] Babylon [MET].”
34 Comedit me, devoravit me Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis: reddidit me quasi vas inane, absorbuit me quasi draco, replevit ventrem suum teneritudine mea, et eiecit me.
[The army of] Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, has attacked and crushed us [Israeli people], and we have no strength [left]. [It is as though] they have swallowed us like a [great] monster that filled its belly with all our tasty parts, and then has spit out [what it did not like].
35 Iniquitas adversum me, et caro mea super Babylonem, dicit habitatio Sion: et sanguis meus super habitatores Chaldææ, dicit Ierusalem.
[So] the people of [PRS] Jerusalem say [to Yahweh], “Cause the people of Babylon to suffer like they caused us to suffer! Cause the people of Babylonia to be punished for killing [MTY] our people!”
36 Propterea hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego iudicabo causam tuam, et ulciscar ultionem tuam, et desertum faciam mare eius, et siccabo venam eius.
And this is what Yahweh replies to the people of Jerusalem: “I will [be like your lawyer to] defend you, and I will avenge you. I will dry up the river in Babylon and [all] the springs of water.
37 Et erit Babylon in tumulos, habitatio draconum, stupor, et sibilus, eo quod non sit habitator.
Babylon will become a heap of ruins, a place where jackals/wolves live. It will become a place that people are horrified about and will ridicule; it will be a place where no one lives.
38 Simul ut leones rugient, excutient comas veluti catuli leonum.
The people of Babylon will [all] roar like young lions; they will growl like baby lions.
39 In calore eorum ponam potus eorum, et inebriabo eos, ut sopiantur, et dormiant somnum sempiternum, et non consurgant, dicit Dominus.
But while they are extremely hungry, I will prepare a [different kind of] feast for them. [It is as though] I will cause them to drink wine until they are very drunk, [with the result that] they will fall asleep. But they will never wake up from that sleep!
40 Deducam eos quasi agnos ad victimam, et quasi arietes cum hœdis.
I will bring them down to a place where they will be slaughtered, like [SIM] [someone who takes] lambs or rams or goats [to where they will be slaughtered for sacrifices].
41 Quomodo capta est Sesach, et comprehensa est inclyta universæ terræ? quomodo facta est in stuporem Babylon inter gentes?
People all over the earth [now] (honor/praise) Babylon; they say that it is a great city. But I will cause it to become a [place about which people of all] nations are horrified.
42 Ascendit super Babylonem mare, multitudine fluctuum eius operta est.
The [enemies of Babylon] will cover the city [like] huge waves of the sea [DOU].
43 Factæ sunt civitates eius in stuporem, terra inhabitabilis et deserta, terra in qua nullus habitet, nec transeat per eam filius hominis.
The towns in Babylonia will become ruins, Babylonia will become a dry desert area. It will be a land in which no one lives and which no one walks through.
44 Et visitabo super Bel in Babylone, et eiiciam quod absorbuerat de ore eius, et non confluent ad eum ultra Gentes, siquidem et murus Babylonis corruet.
And I will punish Bel, [the god that the people] of Babylon [worship], and I will cause the people to give back what they have stolen [MET]. [People of other] nations will no longer come to [worship] Bel. And the walls of Babylon will collapse.”
45 Egredimini de medio eius populus meus: ut salvet unusquisque animam suam ab ira furoris Domini.
[Yahweh also says, ] “My people, come out of Babylon! Run away from there! Run, because [I], Yahweh, am extremely angry [MTY] [with the people of Babylon, and I will get rid of them]!
46 Et ne forte mollescat cor vestrum, et timeatis auditum, qui audietur in terra: et veniet in anno auditio, et post hunc annum auditio: et iniquitas in terra, et dominator super dominatorem.
Do not be discouraged/worried [IDM] or afraid when you hear reports [about what is happening in Babylon]. People will report rumors like that every year, rumors about violent things being done in the land, and rumors about leaders fighting against each other.
47 Propterea ecce dies veniunt, et visitabo super sculptilia Babylonis: et omnis terra eius confundetur, et universi interfecti eius cadent in medio eius.
But it will soon be the time for me to get rid of the idols in Babylon. [People all over] the land will be ashamed [because of being defeated]; and the corpses of their [soldiers] will lie in the streets.
48 Et laudabunt super Babylonem cæli et terra, et omnia quæ in eis sunt: quia ab Aquilone venient ei prædones, ait Dominus.
Then all [the angels in] heaven and all the [people on] [PRS] the earth will rejoice, because from the north will come [armies] that will destroy Babylon.
49 Et quomodo fecit Babylon ut caderent occisi in Israel: sic de Babylone cadent occisi in universa terra.
Like [the soldiers of Babylon] killed the people of Israel and [also] killed others all over the world [HYP], [the people of] Babylon must also be killed.
50 Qui fugistis gladium, venite, nolite stare: recordamini procul Domini, et Ierusalem ascendat super cor vestrum.
You [Israeli people] who have not been killed [MTY], get out of Babylon! Do not wait! [Even though you are in a land] far away [from Israel], think about Yahweh, and think about Jerusalem!”
51 Confusi sumus, quoniam audivimus opprobrium: operuit ignominia facies nostras: quia venerunt alieni super sanctificationem domus Domini.
[The Israeli people say], “We are ashamed. We are completely disgraced [DOU], because foreigners have entered Yahweh’s temple [and (defiled it/caused it to become unfit for worship)].”
52 Propterea ecce dies veniunt, ait Dominus: et visitabo super sculptilia eius, et in omni terra eius mugiet vulneratus.
Yahweh replies, “[That is true], but there will soon be a time when I will destroy the idols in Babylon, and throughout Babylonia there will be wounded people who will groan.
53 Si ascenderit Babylon in cælum, et firmaverit in excelso robur suum: a me venient vastatores eius, ait Dominus.
Even if [the walls around] Babylon could extend up to the sky, and if its walls/fortifications were extremely strong, I will send [armies] that will destroy the city. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.”
54 Vox clamoris de Babylone, et contritio magna de Terra Chaldæorum:
Listen to [the people of] Babylon crying [for help]! And listen to the sounds of things being destroyed all over Babylonia!
55 quoniam vastavit Dominus Babylonem, et perdidit ex ea vocem magnam: et sonabunt fluctus eorum quasi aquæ multæ: dedit sonitum vox eorum:
Yahweh will be destroying Babylon. He will cause the loud noises in the city to cease.
56 Quia venit super eam, id est super Babylonem prædo, et apprehensi sunt fortes eius, et emarcuit arcus eorum, quia fortis ultor Dominus reddens retribuet.
Enemy troops will surge against the city like [SIM] a great wave. They will capture the city’s mighty soldiers and break their weapons. [That will happen] because Yahweh is a God who punishes [his enemies] justly; he will punish them as they deserve.
57 Et inebriabo principes eius, et sapientes eius, et duces eius, et magistratus eius, et fortes eius: et dormient somnum sempiternum, et non expergiscentur, ait rex, Dominus exercituum nomen eius.
The king, the Commander of the armies of angels says, “I will cause the city officials and wise men, the army captains and soldiers [in Babylon] to become drunk. They will fall asleep, but they will never wake up [again]!”
58 Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Murus Babylonis ille latissimus suffossione suffodietur, et portæ eius excelsæ igni comburentur, et labores populorum ad nihilum, et gentium in ignem erunt, et disperibunt.
Yahweh also says, “The thick walls around Babylon will be flattened to the ground. The city gates will be burned. People [from other countries] will work hard [to save the city], but it will be (in vain/useless), because everything [that they have built] will be destroyed by fire.”
59 Verbum, quod præcepit Ieremias propheta, Saraiæ filio Neriæ filii Maasiæ cum pergeret cum Sedecia rege in Babylonem, in anno quarto regni eius: Saraias autem erat princeps prophetiæ.
Seraiah was the man who made arrangements for the King of Babylon [whenever he traveled]. He was the son of Neraiah and grandson of Mahseiah. When he was about to go to Babylon with King Zedekiah, after Zedekiah had been ruling Judah for almost four years, the prophet Jeremiah gave him a message.
60 Et scripsit Ieremias omne malum, quod venturum erat super Babylonem in libro uno: omnia verba hæc, quæ scripta sunt contra Babylonem.
Jeremiah had written on a scroll a list of all the disasters that he had written about, disasters that would soon occur in Babylon.
61 Et dixit Ieremias ad Saraiam: Cum veneris in Babylonem, et videris, et legeris omnia verba hæc,
He said to Seraiah, “When you arrive in Babylon, read [aloud] everything that I have written [on this scroll].
62 dices: Domine tu locutus es contra locum istum ut disperderes eum: ne sit qui in eo habitet ab homine usque ad pecus, et ut sit perpetua solitudo.
Then pray, ‘Yahweh, you said that you will thoroughly destroy Babylon, with the result that people and animals will no [longer] live there. You said that it will be desolate forever.’
63 Cumque compleveris legere librum istum, ligabis ad eum lapidem, et proiicies illum in medium Euphraten:
[Then], when you have finished reading [what I have written on] the scroll, tie it to a [heavy] stone and throw it into the Euphrates [River].
64 et dices: Sic submergetur Babylon, et non consurget a facie afflictionis, quam ego adduco super eam, et dissolvetur. Hucusque verba Ieremiæ.
Then say, ‘In the same way, Babylon [and its people] will disappear and never exist again, because of the disasters that Yahweh will cause to occur there’” That is the end of Jeremiah’s messages.
