Jeremiæ 2
1 Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
2 Vade, et clama in auribus Jerusalem, dicens: Hæc dicit Dominus: Recordatus sum tui, miserans adolescentiam tuam, et caritatem desponsationis tuæ, quando secuta es me in deserto, in terra quæ non seminatur.
Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith the LORD: I remember for thee the affection of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3 Sanctus Israël Domino, primitiæ frugum ejus: omnes qui devorant eum delinquunt: mala venient super eos, dicit Dominus.
Israel is the LORD'S hallowed portion, His first-fruits of the increase; all that devour him shall be held guilty, evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
4 Audite verbum Domini, domus Jacob, et omnes cognationes domus Israël.
Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel;
5 Hæc dicit Dominus: Quid invenerunt patres vestri in me iniquitatis, quia elongaverunt a me, et ambulaverunt post vanitatem, et vani facti sunt?
Thus saith the LORD: What unrighteousness have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after things of nought, and are become nought?
6 Et non dixerunt: Ubi est Dominus qui ascendere nos fecit de terra Ægypti; qui traduxit nos per desertum, per terram inhabitabilem et inviam, per terram sitis, et imaginem mortis, per terram in qua non ambulavit vir, neque habitavit homo?
Neither said they: 'Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt; that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?'
7 Et induxi vos in terram Carmeli, ut comederetis fructum ejus et optima illius: et ingressi contaminastis terram meam, et hæreditatem meam posuistis in abominationem.
And I brought you into a land of fruitful fields, to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled My land, and made My heritage an abomination.
8 Sacerdotes non dixerunt: Ubi est Dominus? et tenentes legem nescierunt me, et pastores prævaricati sunt in me, et prophetæ prophetaverunt in Baal, et idola secuti sunt.
The priests said not: 'Where is the LORD?' And they that handle the law knew Me not, and the rulers transgressed against Me; the prophets also prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9 Propterea adhuc judicio contendam vobiscum, ait Dominus, et cum filiis vestris disceptabo.
Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.
10 Transite ad insulas Cethim, et videte: et in Cedar mittite, et considerate vehementer: et videte si factum est hujuscemodi:
For pass over to the isles of the Kittites, and see, and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there hath been such a thing.
11 si mutavit gens deos suos, et certe ipsi non sunt dii: populus vero meus mutavit gloriam suam in idolum.
Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? But My people hath changed its glory for that which doth not profit.
12 Obstupescite, cæli, super hoc, et portæ ejus, desolamini vehementer, dicit Dominus.
Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye exceeding amazed, saith the LORD.
13 Duo enim mala fecit populus meus: me dereliquerunt fontem aquæ vivæ, et foderunt sibi cisternas, cisternas dissipatas, quia continere non valent aquas.
For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
14 Numquid servus est Israël, aut vernaculus? quare ergo factus est in prædam?
Is Israel a servant? Is he a home-born slave? Why is he become a prey?
15 Super eum rugierunt leones, et dederunt vocem suam: posuerunt terram ejus in solitudinem. Civitates ejus exustæ sunt, et non est qui habitet in eis.
The young lions have roared upon him, and let their voice resound; and they have made his land desolate, his cities are laid waste, without inhabitant.
16 Filii quoque Mempheos et Taphnes constupraverunt te usque ad verticem.
The children also of Noph and Tahpanhes feed upon the crown of thy head.
17 Numquid non istud factum est tibi, quia dereliquisti Dominum Deum tuum eo tempore quo ducebat te per viam?
Is it not this that doth cause it unto thee, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when He led thee by the way?
18 Et nunc quid tibi vis in via Ægypti, ut bibas aquam turbidam? et quid tibi cum via Assyriorum, ut bibas aquam fluminis?
And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? Or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
19 Arguet te malitia tua, et aversio tua increpabit te. Scito et vide quia malum et amarum est reliquisse te Dominum Deum tuum, et non esse timorem mei apud te, dicit Dominus Deus exercituum.
Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil and a bitter thing, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, neither is My fear in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
20 A sæculo confregisti jugum meum: rupisti vincula mea, et dixisti: Non serviam. In omni enim colle sublimi, et sub omni ligno frondoso, tu prosternebaris meretrix.
For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands, and thou saidst: 'I will not transgress'; upon every high hill and under every leafy tree thou didst recline, playing the harlot.
21 Ego autem plantavi te vineam electam, omne semen verum: quomodo ergo conversa es mihi in pravum, vinea aliena?
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed; how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me?
22 Si laveris te nitro, et multiplicaveris tibi herbam borith, maculata es in iniquitate tua coram me, dicit Dominus Deus.
For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith the Lord GOD.
23 Quomodo dicis: Non sum polluta; post Baalim non ambulavi? Vide vias tuas in convalle; scito quid feceris: cursor levis explicans vias suas.
How canst thou say: 'I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim'? See thy way in the Valley, know what thou hast done; thou art a swift young camel traversing her ways;
24 Onager assuetus in solitudine, in desiderio animæ suæ attraxit ventum amoris sui: nullus avertet eam: omnes qui quærunt eam non deficient: in menstruis ejus invenient eam.
A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire; her lust, who can hinder it? All they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
25 Prohibe pedem tuum a nuditate, et guttur tuum a siti. Et dixisti: Desperavi: nequaquam faciam: adamavi quippe alienos, et post eos ambulabo.
Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst; but thou saidst: 'There is no hope; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.'
26 Quomodo confunditur fur quando deprehenditur, sic confusi sunt domus Israël, ipsi et reges eorum, principes, et sacerdotes, et prophetæ eorum,
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets;
27 dicentes ligno: Pater meus es tu: et lapidi: Tu me genuisti. Verterunt ad me tergum et non faciem, et in tempore afflictionis suæ dicent: Surge, et libera nos.
Who say to a stock: 'Thou art my father', and to a stone: 'Thou hast brought us forth', for they have turned their back unto Me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will say: 'Arise, and save us.'
28 Ubi sunt dii tui quos fecisti tibi? surgant, et liberent te in tempore afflictionis tuæ: secundum numerum quippe civitatum tuarum erant dii tui, Juda.
But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble; for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
29 Quid vultis mecum judicio contendere? omnes dereliquistis me, dicit Dominus.
Wherefore will ye contend with Me? Ye all have transgressed against Me, saith the LORD.
30 Frustra percussi filios vestros: disciplinam non receperunt. Devoravit gladius vester prophetas vestros: quasi leo vastator
In vain have I smitten your children — they received no correction; your sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 generatio vestra. Videte verbum Domini: numquid solitudo factus sum Israëli, aut terra serotina? quare ergo dixit populus meus: Recessimus; non veniemus ultra ad te?
O generation, see ye the word of the LORD: have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of thick darkness? Wherefore say My people: 'We roam at large; we will come no more unto Thee'?
32 Numquid obliviscetur virgo ornamenti sui, aut sponsa fasciæ pectoralis suæ? populus vero meus oblitus est mei diebus innumeris.
Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.
33 Quid niteris bonam ostendere viam tuam ad quærendam dilectionem, quæ insuper et malitias tuas docuisti vias tuas,
How trimmest thou thy way to seek love! Therefore — even the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways;
34 et in alis tuis inventus est sanguis animarum pauperum et innocentum? non in fossis inveni eos, sed in omnibus quæ supra memoravi.
Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor; thou didst not find them breaking in; yet for all these things
35 Et dixisti: Absque peccato et innocens ego sum, et propterea avertatur furor tuus a me. Ecce ego judicio contendam tecum, eo quod dixeris: Non peccavi.
Thou saidst: 'I am innocent; surely His anger is turned away from me' — behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest: 'I have not sinned.'
36 Quam vilis facta es nimis, iterans vias tuas! et ab Ægypto confunderis, sicut confusa es ab Assur.
How greatly dost thou cheapen thyself to change thy way? Thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, as thou wast ashamed of Asshur.
37 Nam et ab ista egredieris, et manus tuæ erunt super caput tuum: quoniam obtrivit Dominus confidentiam tuam, et nihil habebis prosperum in ea.
From him also shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy head; for the LORD hath rejected them in whom thou didst trust, and thou shalt not prosper in them.
