Jeremiæ 18
1 Verbum, quod factum est ad Ieremiam a Domino, dicens:
The word that came from the Lord to
2 Surge, et descende in domum figuli, et ibi audies verba mea.
Jeremias, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there thou shalt hear my words.
3 Et descendi in domum figuli, et ecce ipse faciebat opus super rotam.
So I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was making a vessel on the stones.
4 Et dissipatum est vas, quod ipse faciebat e luto manibus suis: conversusque fecit illud vas alterum, sicut placuerat in oculis eius ut faceret.
And the vessel which he was making with his hands fell: so he made it again another vessel, as it seemed good to him to make [it].
5 Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
6 Numquid sicut figulus iste, non potero vobis facere, domus Israel, ait Dominus? ecce sicut lutum in manu figuli, sic vos in manu mea, domus Israel.
Shall I not be able, O house of Israel, to do to you as this potter? behold, as the clay of the potter are ye in my hands.
7 Repente loquar adversum gentem et adversus regnum, ut eradicem, et destruam, et disperdam illud.
[If] I shall pronounce a decree upon a nation, or upon a kingdom, to cut them off, and to destroy [them];
8 Si poenitentiam egerit gens illa a malo suo, quod locutus sum adversus eam: agam et ego poenitentiam super malo, quod cogitavi ut facerem ei.
and that nation turn from all their sins, then will I repent of the evils which I purposed to do to them.
9 Et subito loquar de gente et de regno, ut aedificem et plantem illud.
And [if] I shall pronounce a decree upon a nation and kingdom, to rebuild and to plant [it];
10 Si fecerit malum in oculis meis, ut non audiat vocem meam: poenitentiam agam super bono, quod locutus sum ut facerem ei.
and they do evil before me, so as not to hearken to my voice, then will I repent of the good which I spoke of, to do it to them.
11 Nunc ergo dic viro Iuda, et habitatoribus Ierusalem, dicens: Haec dicit Dominus: Ecce ego fingo contra vos malum, et cogito contra vos cogitationem: revertatur unusquisque a via sua mala, et dirigite vias vestras et studia vestra.
And now say to the men of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Behold, I prepare evils against you, and devise a device against you: let every one turn now from his evil way, and amend your practices.
12 Qui dixerunt: Desperavimus: post cogitationes enim nostras ibimus, et unusquisque pravitatem cordis sui mali faciemus.
And they said, We will quit ourselves like men, for we will pursue our perverse ways, and we will perform each the lusts of his evil heart.
13 Ideo haec dicit Dominus: Interrogate Gentes: Quis audivit talia horribilia, quae fecit nimis virgo Israel?
Therefore thus saith the Lord; Enquire now among the nations, who has heard such very horrible things as the virgin of Israel has done?
14 Numquid deficiet de petra agri nix Libani? aut evelli possunt aquae erumpentes frigidae, et defluentes?
Will fertilising streams fail [to flow] from a rock, or snow [fail] from Libanus? will water violently impelled by the wind turn aside?
15 Quia oblitus est mei populus meus, frustra libantes, et impingentes in viis suis, in semitis saeculi, ut ambularent per eas in itinere non trito:
For my people have forgotten me, they have offered incense in vain, and they fail in their ways, [leaving] the ancient tracks, to enter upon impassable paths;
16 ut fieret terra eorum in desolationem, et in sibilum sempiternum: omnis qui praeterierit per eam obstupescet, et movebit caput suum.
to make their land a desolation, and a perpetual hissing; all that go through it shall be amazed, and shall shake their heads.
17 Sicut ventus urens dispergam eos coram inimico: dorsum, et non faciem ostendam eis in die perditionis eorum.
I will scatter them before their enemies like an east wind; I will shew them the day of their destruction.
18 Et dixerunt: Venite, et cogitemus contra Ieremiam cogitationes: non enim peribit lex a sacerdote, neque consilium a sapiente, nec sermo a propheta: venite, et percutiamus eum lingua, et non attendamus ad universos sermones eius.
Then they said, Come, and let us devise a device against Jeremias; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and we will hear all his words.
19 Attende Domine ad me, et audi vocem adversariorum meorum.
Hear me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my pleading.
20 Numquid redditur pro bono malum, quia foderunt foveam animae meae? Recordare quod steterim in conspectu tuo, ut loquerer pro eis bonum, et averterem indignationem tuam ab eis.
Forasmuch as evil is rewarded for good; for they have spoken words against my soul, and they have hidden the punishment they [meant] for me; remember that I stood before thy face, to speak good for them, to turn away thy wrath from them.
21 Propterea da filios eorum in famem, et deduc eos in manus gladii: fiant uxores eorum absque liberis, et viduae: et viri earum interficiantur morte: iuvenes eorum confodiantur gladio in praelio.
Therefore do thou deliver their sons to famine, and gather them to the power of the sword: let their women be childless and widows; and let their men be cut off by death, and their young men fall by the sword in war.
22 Audiatur clamor de domibus eorum: adduces enim super eos latronem repente: quia foderunt foveam ut caperent me, et laqueos absconderunt pedibus meis.
Let there be a cry in their houses: thou shalt bring upon them robbers suddenly: for they have formed a plan to take me, and have hidden snares for me.
23 Tu autem Domine scis omne consilium eorum adversum me in mortem: ne propitieris iniquitati eorum, et peccatum eorum a facie tua non deleatur: fiant corruentes in conspectu tuo, in tempore furoris tui abutere eis.
And thou, Lord, knowest all their deadly counsel against me: account not their iniquities guiltless, and blot not out their sins from before thee: let their weakness come before thee; deal with them in the time of thy wrath.
