Jeremiæ 20

1 Et audivit Phassur filius Emmer, sacerdos, qui constitutus erat princeps in domo Domini, Jeremiam prophetantem sermones istos.

And Pashhur, the son of Immer, the priest who had been appointed leader in the house of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these words.

2 Et percussit Phassur Jeremiam prophetam, et misit eum in nervum quod erat in porta Benjamin superiori, in domo Domini.

And Pashhur struck the prophet Jeremiah, and he sent him to the stocks, which were at the upper gate of Benjamin at the house of the Lord.

3 Cumque illuxisset in crastinum, eduxit Phassur Jeremiam de nervo, et dixit ad eum Jeremias: Non Phassur vocavit Dominus nomen tuum, sed Pavorem undique.

And when it had become light on the next day, Pashhur led Jeremiah from the stocks. And Jeremiah said to him: “The Lord has not called your name: ‘Pashhur,’ but instead: ‘Fear all around.’”

4 Quia hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego dabo te in pavorem, te et omnes amicos tuos: et corruent gladio inimicorum suorum, et oculi tui videbunt: et omnem Judam dabo in manum regis Babylonis, et traducet eos in Babylonem, et percutiet eos gladio.

For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will give you over to fear, you and all your friends, and they will fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes will see it. And I will give all of Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. And he will lead them away to Babylon, and he will strike them with the sword.

5 Et dabo universam substantiam civitatis hujus, et omnem laborem ejus, omneque pretium, et cunctos thesauros regum Juda dabo in manu inimicorum eorum: et diripient eos, et tollent, et ducent in Babylonem.

And I will give away the entire substance of this city, and all its labor, and every precious thing. And I will give all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hands of their enemies. And they will plunder them, and take them away, and lead them into Babylon.

6 Tu autem, Phassur, et omnes habitatores domus tuæ, ibitis in captivitatem: et in Babylonem venies, et ibi morieris, ibique sepelieris tu, et omnes amici tui, quibus prophetasti mendacium.

But you, Pashhur, and all the inhabitants of your house, will go into captivity. And you will go to Babylon. And there you shall die. And there you shall be buried, you and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied a lie.”

7 Seduxisti me, Domine, et seductus sum: fortior me fuisti, et invaluisti: factus sum in derisum tota die; omnes subsannant me.

“You have led me away, O Lord, and I have been led away. You have been stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a derision all day long; everyone mocks me.

8 Quia jam olim loquor, vociferans iniquitatem, et vastitatem clamito: et factus est mihi sermo Domini in opprobrium, et in derisum tota die.

For I speak now as I have long spoken: crying out against iniquity and proclaiming devastation. And the word of the Lord has been made into a reproach against me and a derision, all day long.

9 Et dixi: Non recordabor ejus, neque loquar ultra in nomine illius: et factus est in corde meo quasi ignis exæstuans, claususque in ossibus meis, et defeci, ferre non sustinens.

Then I said: I will not call him to mind, nor will I speak any longer in his name. And my heart became like a raging fire, enclosed within my bones. And I became weary of continuing to bear it.

10 Audivi enim contumelias multorum, et terrorem in circuitu: Persequimini, et persequamur eum, ab omnibus viris qui erant pacifici mei, et custodientes latus meum: si quomodo decipiatur, et prævaleamus adversus eum, et consequamur ultionem ex eo.

For I heard the insults of many, and terror all around: ‘Persecute him!’ and, ‘Let us persecute him!’ from all the men who had been at peace with me and who had kept watch by my side. ‘If only there were some way that he might be deceived, and we might prevail against him and obtain vengeance from him!’

11 Dominus autem mecum est, quasi bellator fortis: idcirco qui persequuntur me cadent, et infirmi erunt: confundentur vehementer, quia non intellexerunt opprobrium sempiternum, quod numquam delebitur.

But the Lord is with me, like a strong warrior. For this reason, those who persecute me will fall, and they will be ineffective. They will be greatly confounded. For they have not understood the everlasting disgrace that will never be wiped away.

12 Et tu, Domine exercituum, probator justi, qui vides renes et cor, videam, quæso, ultionem tuam ex eis: tibi enim revelavi causam meam.

And you, O Lord of hosts, the Tester of the just, who sees the temperament and the heart: I beg you to let me see your vengeance upon them. For I have revealed my case to you.

13 Cantate Domino, laudate Dominum, quia liberavit animam pauperis de manu malorum.

Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For he has freed the soul of the poor from the hand of the wicked.

14 Maledicta dies in qua natus sum! dies in qua peperit me mater mea non sit benedicta!

Cursed is the day on which I was born! The day on which my mother gave birth to me: let it not be blessed!

15 Maledictus vir qui annuntiavit patri meo, dicens: Natus est tibi puer masculus, et quasi gaudio lætificavit eum!

Cursed is the man who announced it to my father, saying, ‘A male child has been born to you,’ causing him to rejoice with gladness.

16 Sit homo ille ut sunt civitates quæ subvertit Dominus, et non pœnituit eum: audiat clamorem mane, et ululatum in tempore meridiano,

Let that man be like the cities that the Lord has overthrown without regret. Let him hear an outcry in the morning, and wailing at the time of midday!

17 qui non me interfecit a vulva, ut fieret mihi mater mea sepulchrum, et vulva ejus conceptus æternus!

So let him be, who did not put me to death from the womb, so that my mother would have been my sepulcher, and her womb would have been my eternal resting place!

18 Quare de vulva egressus sum, ut viderem laborem et dolorem, et consumerentur in confusione dies mei?

Why did I depart from the womb, so that I would see hardship and sorrow, and so that my days would be consumed by trouble?”