Jeremiæ 6
1 Confortamini filii Beniamin in medio Ierusalem, et in Thecua clangite buccina, et super Bethacarem levate vexillum: quia malum visum est ab Aquilone, et contritio magna.
“Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction.
2 Speciosae et delicatae assimilavi filiam Sion.
Though she is beautiful and delicate, I will destroy the Daughter of Zion.
3 Ad eam venient pastores, et greges eorum: fixerunt in ea tentoria in circuitu: pascet unusquisque eos, qui sub manu sua sunt.
Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents all around her, each tending his own portion:
4 Sanctificate super eam bellum: consurgite, et ascendamus in meridie: vae nobis, quia declinavit dies, quia longiores factae sunt umbrae vesperi.
‘Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long.
5 Surgite, et ascendamus in nocte, et dissipemus domus eius.
Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’”
6 Quia haec dicit Dominus exercituum: Caedite lignum eius, et fundite circa Ierusalem aggerem: haec est civitas visitationis, omnis calumnia in medio eius.
For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst.
7 Sicut frigidam facit cisterna aquam suam, sic frigidam fecit malitiam suam: iniquitas et vastitas audietur in ea, coram me semper infirmitas et plaga.
As a well gushes its water, so she pours out her evil. Violence and destruction resound in her; sickness and wounds are ever before Me.
8 Erudire Ierusalem, ne forte recedat anima mea a te, ne forte ponam te desertam terram inhabitabilem.
Be forewarned, O Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you; I will make you a desolation, a land without inhabitant.”
9 Haec dicit Dominus exercituum: Usque ad racemum colligent quasi in vinea reliquias Israel: converte manum tuam quasi vindemiator ad cartallum.
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine. Pass your hand once more like a grape gatherer over the branches.”
10 Cui loquar? et quem contestabor ut audiat? ecce incircumcisae aures eorum, et audire non possunt: ecce verbum Domini factum est eis in opprobrium: et non suscipient illud.
To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.
11 Idcirco furore Domini plenus sum, laboravi sustinens: effunde super parvulum foris, et super consilium iuvenum simul: vir enim cum muliere capietur, senex cum pleno dierum.
But I am full of the LORD’s wrath; I am tired of holding it back. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be captured, the old and the very old alike.
12 Et transibunt domus eorum ad alteros, agri et uxores pariter: quia extendam manum meam super habitantes terram, dicit Dominus.
Their houses will be turned over to others, their fields and wives as well, for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,”
13 A minore quippe usque ad maiorem omnes avaritiae student: et a propheta usque ad sacerdotem cuncti faciunt dolum.
“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.
14 Et curabant contritionem filiae populi mei cum ignominia, dicentes: Pax, pax: et non erat pax.
They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.
15 Confusi sunt, quia abominationem fecerunt: quin potius confusione non sunt confusi, et erubescere nescierunt. quam ob rem cadent inter ruentes: in tempore visitationis suae corruent, dicit Dominus.
Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,”
16 Haec dicit Dominus: State super vias, et videte, et interrogate de semitis antiquis, quae sit via bona, et ambulate in ea: et invenietis refrigerium animabus vestris. Et dixerunt: Non ambulabimus.
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’
17 Et constitui super vos speculatores. Audite vocem tubae. Et dixerunt: Non audiemus.
I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’
18 Ideo audite Gentes, et cognosce congregatio, quanta ego faciam eis.
Therefore hear, O nations, and learn, O congregations, what will happen to them.
19 Audi terra: Ecce ego adducam mala super populum istum, fructum cogitationum eius: quia verba mea non audierunt, et legem meam proiecerunt.
Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction.
20 Ut quid mihi thus de Saba affertis, et calamum suave olentem de terra longinqua? holocaustomata vestra non sunt accepta, et victimae vestrae non placuerunt mihi.
What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”
21 Propterea haec dicit Dominus: Ecce ego dabo in populum istum ruinas, et ruent in eis patres et filii simul, vicinus, et proximus peribunt.
Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I will lay stumbling blocks before this people; fathers and sons alike will be staggered; friends and neighbors will perish.”
22 Haec dicit Dominus: Ecce populus venit de terra Aquilonis, et gens magna consurget a finibus terrae.
This is what the LORD says: “Behold, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is stirred up from the ends of the earth.
23 Sagittam et scutum arripiet: crudelis est, et non miserebitur. vox eius quasi mare sonabit: et super equos ascendent, praeparati quasi vir ad praelium, adversum te filia Sion.
They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Zion.”
24 Audivimus famam eius, dissolutae sunt manus nostrae: tribulatio apprehendit nos, dolores ut parturientem.
We have heard the report; our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.
25 Nolite exire ad agros, et in via ne ambuletis: quoniam gladius inimici pavor in circuitu.
Do not go out to the fields; do not walk the road. For the enemy has a sword; terror is on every side.
26 Filia populi mei accingere cilicio, et conspergere cinere: luctum unigeniti fac tibi, planctum amarum, quia repente veniet vastator super vos.
O daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as you would for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.
27 Probatorem dedi te in populo meo robustum: et scies, et probabis viam eorum.
“I have appointed you to examine My people like ore, so you may know and try their ways.
28 Omnes isti principes declinantes, ambulantes fraudulenter, aes et ferrum: universi corrupti sunt.
All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.
29 Defecit sufflatorium, in igne consumptum est plumbum, frustra conflavit conflator: malitiae enim eorum non sunt consumptae.
The bellows blow fiercely, blasting away the lead with fire. The refining proceeds in vain, for the wicked are not purged.
30 Argentum reprobum vocate eos, quia Dominus proiecit illos.
They are called rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them.”
