Jeremiæ 18
1 Verbum, quod factum est ad Ieremiam a Domino, dicens:
This message came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
2 Surge, et descende in domum figuli, et ibi audies verba mea.
Go down right away to the potter's house. I will give you my message there.
3 Et descendi in domum figuli, et ecce ipse faciebat opus super rotam.
I went down to the potter's house and saw him working at his potter's wheel.
4 Et dissipatum est vas, quod ipse faciebat e luto manibus suis: conversusque fecit illud vas alterum, sicut placuerat in oculis eius ut faceret.
But the pot that he was making from the clay went wrong. So he made it into something different as he thought best.
5 Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:
The Lord's message 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.
People of Israel, declares the Lord, can't I deal with you just like this potter does with his clay? I hold you in my hand just like clay in the potter's hand, people of Israel.
7 Repente loquar adversum gentem et adversus regnum, ut eradicem, et destruam, et disperdam illud.
At one time it could happen that I announce that a nation or a kingdom is going to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed.
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.
However, if that nation I warned gives up its evil ways, then I will change my mind regarding the disaster I was about to bring.
9 Et subito loquar de gente et de regno, ut aedificem et plantem illud.
At another time I could announce that I'm going to build up and give power to a nation or a kingdom.
10 Si fecerit malum in oculis meis, ut non audiat vocem meam: poenitentiam agam super bono, quod locutus sum ut facerem ei.
But if it does evil in my sight and refuses to listen to my voice, then I will change my mind regarding the good I had planned for it.
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.
So tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem that this is what the Lord says: Watch out! I am preparing disaster for you, and working out a plan against you. All of you, give up your evil ways. Live right and act right!
12 Qui dixerunt: Desperavimus: post cogitationes enim nostras ibimus, et unusquisque pravitatem cordis sui mali faciemus.
But they'll say, “We just can't! We'll do whatever we want. Each of us will stubbornly follow our own evil thinking.”
13 Ideo haec dicit Dominus: Interrogate Gentes: Quis audivit talia horribilia, quae fecit nimis virgo Israel?
Consequently this is what the Lord says: Ask around the nations—has anybody ever heard anything like this? Virgin Israel has acted really badly.
14 Numquid deficiet de petra agri nix Libani? aut evelli possunt aquae erumpentes frigidae, et defluentes?
Does the snow of Lebanon ever disappear from its rocky mountain-tops? Do its cool waters that flow from such distant sources ever dry up?
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:
But my people have rejected me! They burn incense to useless idols which trip them up, making them leave the old roads in order to walk down unmade paths instead of the highway.
16 ut fieret terra eorum in desolationem, et in sibilum sempiternum: omnis qui praeterierit per eam obstupescet, et movebit caput suum.
They have turned their country into a horrific wasteland, a place that will always be treated with contempt. People passing by will be shocked, shaking their heads in disbelief.
17 Sicut ventus urens dispergam eos coram inimico: dorsum, et non faciem ostendam eis in die perditionis eorum.
Like a strong wind from the east I will scatter them before the enemy. I will turn my back on them and not look at them when their time of trouble comes.
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.
Some people decided, “We need a plan to deal with Jeremiah. There'll still be priests to explain the law, there'll still be wise people to give advice, and there'll still be prophets to give prophecies. Let's organize a smear campaign against him so we don't have to listen to a word he says.”
19 Attende Domine ad me, et audi vocem adversariorum meorum.
Lord, please pay attention to what's happening to me! Listen to what my accusers are saying!
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.
Should good be paid back with evil? Yet they have dug a pit to trap me! Remember how I stood before you to plead on their behalf, to stop you being angry with 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.
But now may their children starve; may they be killed by the sword. May their wives lose their children and their husbands; may their husbands die from disease; may their young men be killed in battle.
22 Audiatur clamor de domibus eorum: adduces enim super eos latronem repente: quia foderunt foveam ut caperent me, et laqueos absconderunt pedibus meis.
May cries of agony be heard from their houses when you suddenly bring invaders to attack them, because they dug a pit to capture me and hid traps to catch me as I walk along.
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.
But Lord, you know about all their plots to try and kill me. Don't forgive their wickedness; don't wipe away their sin. Bring them down! Deal with them when you're angry!
