Jeremiæ 10
1 Audite verbum, quod locutus est Dominus super vos domus Israel.
“Hear the word that Yahweh is announcing to you, house of Israel.
2 Haec dicit Dominus: Iuxta vias Gentium nolite discere: et a signis caeli nolite metuere, quae timent Gentes:
Yahweh says this, 'Do not learn the ways of the nations, and do not be dismayed by the signs in the heavens, for the nations are dismayed by these.
3 quia leges populorum vanae sunt: quia lignum de saltu praecidit opus manus artificis in ascia.
For the religious customs of these people are worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and the craftsman carves the wood.
4 Argento, et auro decoravit illud: clavis et malleis compegit, ut non dissolvatur.
Then they decorate it with silver and gold. They strengthen it with hammer and nails so it will not fall over.
5 In similitudinem palmae fabricata sunt, et non loquentur: portata tollentur, quia incedere non valent. nolite ergo timere ea, quia nec male possunt facere, nec bene.
What they make with their hands is like scarecrows in a cucumber field, because they, too, can say nothing, and they have to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they cannot bring about evil, nor are they able to do anything good.'”
6 Non est similis tui Domine: magnus es tu, et magnum nomen tuum in fortitudine.
There is no one like you, Yahweh. You are great, and your name is great in power.
7 Quis non timebit te o rex Gentium? tuum est enim decus: inter cunctos sapientes Gentium, et in universis regnis eorum nullus est similis tui.
Who does not fear you, king of the nations? For this is what you deserve, for there is no one like you among all the wise men of the nations or all their royal kingdoms.
8 Pariter insipientes et fatui probabuntur: doctrina vanitatis eorum lignum est.
They are all the same, they are brutish and stupid, disciples of idols that are nothing but wood.
9 Argentum involutum de Tharsis affertur, et aurum de Ophaz: opus artificis, et manus aerarii, hyacinthus et purpura indumentum eorum. opus artificum universa haec.
They bring hammered silver from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz made by artificers, the hands of refiners. Their clothes are blue and purple cloth. Their skillful men made all of these things.
10 Dominus autem Deus verus est: ipse Deus vivens, et rex sempiternus. ab indignatione eius commovebitur terra: et non sustinebunt Gentes comminationem eius.
But Yahweh is the true God. He is the living God and eternal king. The earth quakes at his anger, and the nations cannot endure his anger.
11 Sic ergo dicetis eis: Dii, qui caelos et terram non fecerunt, pereant de terra, et de his, quae sub caelo sunt.
You will speak to them like this, “The gods that did not make the heavens and earth will perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”
12 Qui facit terram in fortitudine sua, praeparat orbem in sapientia sua, et prudentia sua extendit caelos.
But it was he who made the earth by his power, and he established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding he stretched out the heavens.
13 Ad vocem suam dat multitudinem aquarum in caelo, et elevat nebulas ab extremitatibus terrae: fulgura in pluviam facit, et educit ventum de thesauris suis.
His voice makes the roar of waters in the heavens, and he brings up the mists from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and sends out wind from his storehouse.
14 Stultus factus est omnis homo a scientia, confusus est artifex omnis in sculptili: quoniam falsum est quod conflavit, et non est spiritus in eis.
Every man has become ignorant, without knowledge. Every metalworker is put to shame by his idols. For his cast images are frauds; there is no life in them.
15 Vana sunt, et opus risu dignum: in tempore visitationis suae peribunt.
They are useless, the work of mockers; they will perish at the time of their punishment.
16 Non est his similis pars Iacob: qui enim formavit omnia, ipse est: et Israel virga hereditatis eius: Dominus exercituum nomen illi.
But God, the portion of Jacob, is not like these, for he is the molder of all things. Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; Yahweh of hosts is his name.
17 Congrega de terra confusionem tuam, quae habitas in obsidione:
Gather your bundle and leave the land, you people who have been living under the siege.
18 quia haec dicit Dominus: Ecce ego longe proiiciam habitatores terrae in hac vice: et tribulabo eos ita ut non inveniantur.
For Yahweh says this, “See, I am about to throw the inhabitants of the land out this time. I will cause them distress, and they will find it to be so.”
19 Vae mihi super contritione mea, pessima plaga mea. Ego autem dixi: Plane haec infirmitas mea est, et portabo illam.
Woe to me! Because of my broken bones, my wound is infected. So I said, “Surely this is agony, but I must bear it.”
20 Tabernaculum meum vastatum est, omnes funiculi mei dirupti sunt, filii mei exierunt a me, et non subsistunt: non est qui extendat ultra tentorium meum, et erigat pelles meas.
My tent is devastated, and all of my tent cords are cut in two. They have taken my children away from me, so they no longer exist. There is no longer anyone to spread out my tent or to raise up my tent curtains.
21 Quia stulte egerunt pastores, et Dominum non quaesierunt: propterea non intellexerunt, et omnis grex eorum dispersus est.
For the shepherds are stupid and they do not seek Yahweh; so they have not prospered, and all their flock has been scattered.
22 Vox auditionis ecce venit, et commotio magna de terra Aquilonis: ut ponat civitates Iuda solitudinem, et habitaculum draconum.
The report of news has arrived, “See! It is coming, a great earthquake is coming from the land of the north To make the cities of Judah into ruins, hideouts for jackals.”
23 Scio Domine quia non est hominis via eius: nec viri est ut ambulet, et dirigat gressus suos.
I know, Yahweh, that the way of a man does not come from himself. No person walking directs his own steps.
24 Corripe me Domine, verumtamen in iudicio: et non in furore tuo, ne forte ad nihilum redigas me.
Discipline me, Yahweh, with justice, not in your anger or you would destroy me.
25 Effunde indignationem tuam super Gentes, quae non cognoverunt te, et super provincias, quae nomen tuum non invocaverunt: quia comederunt Iacob, et devoraverunt eum, et consumpserunt illum, et decus eius dissipaverunt.
Pour your fury on the nations that do not know you and on the families that do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob and consumed him so as to completely destroy him and demolish his habitation.
