Jeremiæ 51
1 Hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego suscitabo super Babylonem et super habitatores ejus, qui cor suum levaverunt contra me, quasi ventum pestilentem:
The LORD says: “Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against those who dwell in Lebkamai, a destroying wind.
2 et mittam in Babylonem ventilatores, et ventilabunt eam et demolientur terram ejus, quoniam venerunt super eam undique in die afflictionis ejus.
I will send to Babylon strangers, who will winnow her. They will empty her land; for in the day of trouble they will be against her all around.
3 Non tendat qui tendit arcum suum, et non ascendat loricatus: nolite parcere juvenibus ejus; interficite omnem militiam ejus.
Against him who bends, let the archer bend his bow, also against him who lifts himself up in his coat of mail. Don’t spare her young men! Utterly destroy all her army!
4 Et cadent interfecti in terra Chaldæorum, et vulnerati in regionibus ejus.
They will fall down slain in the land of the Kasdim, and thrust through in her streets.
5 Quoniam non fuit viduatus Israël et Juda a Deo suo, Domino exercituum, terra autem eorum repleta est delicto a Sancto Israël.
For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, by his God, by the LORD of Hosts; though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel.
6 Fugite de medio Babylonis, et salvet unusquisque animam suam: nolite tacere super iniquitatem ejus, quoniam tempus ultionis est a Domino: vicissitudinem ipse retribuet ei.
“Flee out of the middle of Babylon! Everyone save his own life! Don’t be cut off in her iniquity, for it is the time of the LORD’s vengeance. He will render to her a recompense.
7 Calix aureus Babylon in manu Domini, inebrians omnem terram: de vino ejus biberunt gentes, et ideo commotæ sunt.
Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, who made all the earth drunk. The nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.
8 Subito cecidit Babylon, et contrita est. Ululate super eam: tollite resinam ad dolorem ejus, si forte sanetur.
Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed! Wail for her! Take balm for her pain. Perhaps she may be healed.
9 Curavimus Babylonem, et non est sanata: derelinquamus eam, et eamus unusquisque in terram suam: quoniam pervenit usque ad cælos judicium ejus, et elevatum est usque ad nubes.
“We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her, and let’s each go into his own country; for her judgement reaches to heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
10 Protulit Dominus justitias nostras: venite, et narremus in Sion opus Domini Dei nostri.
‘The LORD has produced our righteousness. Come, and let’s declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.’
11 Acuite sagittas, implete pharetras: suscitavit Dominus spiritum regum Medorum: et contra Babylonem mens ejus est ut perdat eam, quoniam ultio Domini est, ultio templi sui.
“Make the arrows sharp! Hold the shields firmly! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it; for it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.
12 Super muros Babylonis levate signum, augete custodiam, levate custodes, præparate insidias: quia cogitavit Dominus, et fecit quæcumque locutus est contra habitatores Babylonis.
Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon! Make the watch strong! Set the watchmen, and prepare the ambushes; for the LORD has both purposed and done that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 Quæ habitas super aquas multas, locuples in thesauris: venit finis tuus, pedalis præcisionis tuæ.
You who dwell on many waters, abundant in treasures, your end has come, the measure of your covetousness.
14 Juravit Dominus exercituum per animam suam: Quoniam replebo te hominibus quasi brucho, et super te celeuma cantabitur.
The LORD of Hosts has sworn by himself, saying, ‘Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts, and they will lift up a shout against you.’
15 Qui fecit terram in fortitudine sua, præparavit orbem in sapientia sua, et prudentia sua extendit cælos.
“He has made the earth by his power. He has established the world by his wisdom. By his understanding he has stretched out the heavens.
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 utters his voice, there is a roar of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and brings the wind out of his treasuries.
17 Stultus factus est omnis homo a scientia; confusus est omnis conflator in sculptili: quia mendax est conflatio eorum, nec est spiritus in eis.
“Every man has become stupid and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is disappointed by his image, for his molten images are falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
18 Vana sunt opera, et risu digna: in tempore visitationis suæ peribunt.
They are vanity, a work of delusion. In the time of their visitation, they will perish.
19 Non sicut hæc, pars Jacob, quia qui fecit omnia ipse est: et Israël sceptrum hæreditatis ejus: Dominus exercituum nomen ejus.
The portion of Jacob is not like these, for he formed all things, including the tribe of his inheritance. The LORD of Hosts is his name.
20 Collidis tu mihi vasa belli: et ego collidam in te gentes, et disperdam in te regna:
“You are my battle axe and weapons of war. With you I will break the nations into pieces. With you I will destroy kingdoms.
21 et collidam in te equum et equitem ejus: et collidam in te currum et ascensorem ejus:
With you I will break in pieces the horse and his rider.
22 et collidam in te virum et mulierem: et collidam in te senem et puerum: et collidam in te juvenem et virginem:
With you I will break in pieces the chariot and him who rides therein. With you I will break in pieces man and woman. With you I will break in pieces the old man and the youth. With you I will break in pieces the young man and the virgin.
23 et collidam in te pastorem et gregem ejus: et collidam in te agricolam et jugales ejus: et collidam in te duces et magistratus:
With you I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock. With you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke. With you I will break in pieces governors and deputies.
24 et reddam Babyloni, et cunctis habitatoribus Chaldææ, omne malum suum quod fecerunt in Sion, in oculis vestris, ait Dominus.
“I will render to Babylon and to all the inhabitants of the Kasdim for all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight,” says the LORD.
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:
“Behold, I am against you, destroying mountain,” says the LORD, “which destroys all the earth. I will stretch out my hand on you, roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a burnt mountain.
26 et non tollent de te lapidem in angulum, et lapidem in fundamenta: sed perditus in æternum eris, ait Dominus.
They won’t take a cornerstone from you, nor a stone for foundations; but you will be desolate forever,” says the LORD.
27 Levate signum in terra, clangite buccina in gentibus, sanctificate super eam gentes, annuntiate contra illam regibus Ararat, Menni, et Ascenez: numerate contra eam Taphsar, adducite equum quasi bruchum aculeatum.
“Set up a standard in the land! Blow the shofar amongst the nations! Prepare the nations against her! Call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz! Appoint a marshal against her! Cause the horses to come up as the swarming locusts!
28 Sanctificate contra eam gentes, reges Mediæ, duces ejus, et universos magistratus ejus, cunctamque terram potestatis ejus.
Prepare against her the nations, the kings of the Medes, its governors, and all its deputies, and all the land of their dominion!
29 Et commovebitur terra et conturbabitur, quia evigilabit contra Babylonem cogitatio Domini, ut ponat terram Babylonis desertam et inhabitabilem.
The land trembles and is in pain; for the purposes of the LORD against Babylon stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.
30 Cessaverunt fortes Babylonis a prælio; habitaverunt in præsidiis: devoratum est robur eorum, et facti sunt quasi mulieres: incensa sunt tabernacula ejus, contriti sunt vectes ejus.
The mighty men of Babylon have stopped fighting, they remain in their strongholds. Their might has failed. They have become as women. Her dwelling places are set on fire. Her bars are broken.
31 Currens obviam currenti veniet, et nuntius obvius nuntianti, ut annuntiet regi Babylonis quia capta est civitas ejus a summo usque ad summum.
One runner will run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every quarter.
32 Et vada præoccupata sunt, et paludes incensæ sunt igni, et viri bellatores conturbati sunt.
So the passages are seized. They have burnt the reeds with fire. The men of war are frightened.”
33 Quia hæc dicit Dominus exercituum, Deus Israël: Filia Babylonis quasi area, tempus trituræ ejus: adhuc modicum, et veniet tempus messionis ejus.
For the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel says: “The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time when it is trodden. Yet a little while, and the time of harvest comes for her.”
34 Comedit me, devoravit me Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis: reddidit me quasi vas inane, absorbuit me quasi draco, replevit ventrem suum teneritudine mea, et ejecit me.
“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me. He has crushed me. He has made me an empty vessel. He has, like a monster, swallowed me up. He has filled his mouth with my delicacies. He has cast me out.
35 Iniquitas adversum me et caro mea super Babylonem, dicit habitatio Sion: et sanguis meus super habitatores Chaldææ, dicit Jerusalem.
May the violence done to me and to my flesh be on Babylon!” the inhabitant of Zion will say; and, “May my blood be on the inhabitants of Kasdim!” will Jerusalem say.
36 Propterea hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego judicabo causam tuam, et ulciscar ultionem tuam: et desertum faciam mare ejus, et siccabo venam ejus.
Therefore the LORD says: “Behold, I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry.
37 Et erit Babylon in tumulos, habitatio draconum, stupor et sibilus, eo quod non sit habitator.
Babylon will become heaps, a dwelling place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant.
38 Simul ut leones rugient; excutient comas veluti catuli leonum.
They will roar together like young lions. They will growl as lions’ cubs.
39 In calore eorum ponam potus eorum, et inebriabo eos ut sopiantur, et dormiant somnum sempiternum, et non consurgant, dicit Dominus.
When they are inflamed, I will make their feast, and I will make them drunk, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up,” says the LORD.
40 Deducam eos quasi agnos ad victimam, et quasi arietes cum hædis.
“I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats.
41 Quomodo capta est Sesach, et comprehensa est inclyta universæ terræ! quomodo facta est in stuporem Babylon inter gentes!
“How Sheshach is taken! How the praise of the whole earth is seized! How Babylon has become a desolation amongst the nations!
42 Ascendit super Babylonem mare: multitudine fluctuum ejus operta est.
The sea has come up on Babylon. She is covered with the multitude of its waves.
43 Factæ sunt civitates ejus in stuporem, terra inhabitabilis et deserta, terra in qua nullus habitet, nec transeat per eam filius hominis.
Her cities have become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land in which no man dwells. No son of man passes by it.
44 Et visitabo super Bel in Babylone, et ejiciam quod absorbuerat de ore ejus: et non confluent ad eum ultra gentes, siquidem et murus Babylonis corruet.
I will execute judgement on Bel in Babylon, and I will bring out of his mouth that which he has swallowed up. The nations will not flow any more to him. Yes, the wall of Babylon will fall.
45 Egredimini de medio ejus, populus meus, ut salvet unusquisque animam suam ab ira furoris Domini,
“My people, go away from the middle of her, and each of you save yourselves from the LORD’s fierce anger.
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.
Don’t let your heart faint. Don’t fear for the news that will be heard in the land. For news will come one year, and after that in another year news will come, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.
47 Propterea ecce dies veniunt, et visitabo super sculptilia Babylonis, et omnis terra ejus confundetur, et universi interfecti ejus cadent in medio ejus.
Therefore behold, the days come that I will execute judgement on the engraved images of Babylon; and her whole land will be confounded. All her slain will fall in the middle of her.
48 Et laudabunt super Babylonem cæli et terra, et omnia quæ in eis sunt: quia ab aquilone venient ei prædones, ait Dominus.
Then the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein, will sing for joy over Babylon; for the destroyers will come to her from the north,” says the LORD.
49 Et quomodo fecit Babylon, ut caderent occisi in Israël, sic de Babylone cadent occisi in universa terra.
“As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, so the slain of all the land will fall at Babylon.
50 Qui fugistis gladium, venite, nolite stare: recordamini procul Domini, et Jerusalem ascendat super cor vestrum.
You who have escaped the sword, go! Don’t stand still! Remember the LORD from afar, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.”
51 Confusi sumus, quoniam audivimus opprobrium: operuit ignominia facies nostras, quia venerunt alieni super sanctificationem domus Domini.
“We are confounded because we have heard reproach. Confusion has covered our faces, for strangers have come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’s house.”
52 Propterea ecce dies veniunt, ait Dominus, et visitabo super sculptilia ejus, et in omni terra ejus mugiet vulneratus.
“Therefore behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that I will execute judgement on her engraved images; and through all her land the wounded will groan.
53 Si ascenderit Babylon in cælum, et firmaverit in excelso robur suum, a me venient vastatores ejus, ait Dominus.
Though Babylon should mount up to the sky, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet destroyers will come to her from me,” says the LORD.
54 Vox clamoris de Babylone, et contritio magna de terra Chaldæorum:
“The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, and of great destruction from the land of the Kasdim!
55 quoniam vastavit Dominus Babylonem, et perdidit ex ea vocem magnam: et sonabunt fluctus eorum quasi aquæ multæ; dedit sonitum vox eorum:
For the LORD lays Babylon waste, and destroys out of her the great voice! Their waves roar like many waters. The noise of their voice is uttered.
56 quia venit super eam, id est super Babylonem, prædo, et apprehensi sunt fortes ejus, et emarcuit arcus eorum, quia fortis ultor Dominus reddens retribuet.
For the destroyer has come on her, even on Babylon. Her mighty men are taken. Their bows are broken in pieces, for the LORD is a God of retribution. He will surely repay.
57 Et inebriabo principes ejus, et sapientes ejus, et duces ejus, et magistratus ejus, et fortes ejus: et dormient somnum sempiternum, et non expergiscentur, ait Rex (Dominus exercituum nomen ejus).
I will make her princes, her wise men, her governors, her deputies, and her mighty men drunk. They will sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up,” says the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.
58 Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Murus Babylonis ille latissimus suffossione suffodietur, et portæ ejus excelsæ igni comburentur, et labores populorum ad nihilum, et gentium in ignem erunt, et disperibunt.
The LORD of Hosts says: “The wide walls of Babylon will be utterly overthrown. Her high gates will be burnt with fire. The peoples will labour for vanity, and the nations for the fire; and they will be weary.”
59 Verbum quod præcepit Jeremias propheta Saraiæ filio Neriæ filii Maasiæ, cum pergeret cum Sedecia rege in Babylonem, in anno quarto regni ejus: Saraias autem erat princeps prophetiæ.
The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was chief quartermaster.
60 Et scripsit Jeremias omne malum quod venturum erat super Babylonem, in libro uno: omnia verba hæc quæ scripta sunt contra Babylonem.
Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come on Babylon, even all these words that are written concerning Babylon.
61 Et dixit Jeremias ad Saraiam: Cum veneris in Babylonem, et videris, et legeris omnia verba hæc,
Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you come to Babylon, then see that you read all these words,
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.
and say, ‘LORD, you have spoken concerning this place, to cut it off, that no one will dwell in it, neither man nor animal, but that it will be desolate forever.’
63 Cumque compleveris legere librum istum, ligabis ad eum lapidem, et projicies illum in medium Euphraten,
It will be, when you have finished reading this book, that you shall bind a stone to it, and cast it into the middle of the Euphrates.
64 et dices: Sic submergetur Babylon, et non consurget a facie afflictionis quam ego adduco super eam, et dissolvetur. Hucusque verba Jeremiæ.
Then you shall say, ‘Thus will Babylon sink, and will not rise again because of the evil that I will bring on her; and they will be weary.’” Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
