Jeremiæ 2
1 et factum est verbum Domini ad me dicens
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2 vade et clama in auribus Hierusalem dicens haec dicit Dominus recordatus sum tui miserans adulescentiam tuam et caritatem disponsationis tuae quando secuta me es in deserto in terra quae non seminatur
“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3 sanctus Israhel Domino primitiae frugum eius omnes qui devorant eum delinquunt mala venient super eos dicit Dominus
Israel was holiness to Yahweh, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says Yahweh.”
4 audite verbum Domini domus Iacob et omnes cognationes domus Israhel
Hear Yahweh’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
5 haec dicit Dominus quid invenerunt patres vestri in me iniquitatis quia elongaverunt a me et ambulaverunt post vanitatem et vani facti sunt
Yahweh says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?
6 et non dixerunt ubi est Dominus qui ascendere nos fecit de terra Aegypti qui transduxit nos per desertum per terram inhabitabilem et inviam per terram sitis et imaginem mortis per terram in qua non ambulavit vir neque habitavit homo
They didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that no one passed through, and where no man lived?’
7 et induxi vos in terram Carmeli ut comederetis fructum eius et optima illius et ingressi contaminastis terram meam et hereditatem meam posuistis in abominationem
I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
8 sacerdotes non dixerunt ubi est Dominus et tenentes legem nescierunt me et pastores praevaricati sunt in me et prophetae prophetaverunt in Baal et idola secuti sunt
The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.
9 propterea adhuc iudicio contendam vobiscum ait Dominus et cum filiis vestris disceptabo
“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says Yahweh, “and I will contend with your children’s children.
10 transite ad insulas Cetthim et videte et in Cedar mittite et considerate vehementer et videte si factum est huiuscemodi
For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.
11 si mutavit gens deos et certe ipsi non sunt dii populus vero meus mutavit Gloriam suam in idolum
Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.
12 obstupescite caeli super hoc et portae eius desolamini vehementer dicit Dominus
“Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.
13 duo enim mala fecit populus meus me dereliquerunt fontem aquae vivae ut foderent sibi cisternas cisternas dissipatas quae continere non valent aquas
“For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.
14 numquid servus est Israhel aut vernaculus quare ergo est factus in praedam
Is Israel a slave? Is he born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?
15 super eum rugierunt leones et dederunt vocem suam posuerunt terram eius in solitudinem civitates eius exustae sunt et non est qui habitet in eis
The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.
16 filii quoque Memfeos et Tafnes constupraverunt te usque ad verticem
The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.
17 numquid non istud factum est tibi quia dereliquisti Dominum Deum tuum eo tempore quo ducebat te per viam
“Haven’t you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, when he led you by the way?
18 et nunc quid tibi vis in via Aegypti ut bibas aquam turbidam et quid tibi cum via Assyriorum ut bibas aquam Fluminis
Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
19 arguet te malitia tua et aversio tua increpabit te scito et vide quia malum et amarum est reliquisse te Dominum Deum tuum et non esse timorem mei apud te dicit Dominus Deus exercituum
“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
20 a saeculo confregisti iugum meum rupisti vincula mea et dixisti non serviam in omni enim colle sublimi et sub omni ligno frondoso tu prosternebaris meretrix
“For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.
21 ego autem plantavi te vineam electam omne semen verum quomodo ergo conversa es in pravum vinea aliena
Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a pure and faithful seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
22 si laveris te nitro et multiplicaveris tibi herbam borith maculata es in iniquitate tua coram me dicit Dominus Deus
For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord Yahweh.
23 quomodo dicis non sum polluta post Baalim non ambulavi vide vias tuas in convalle scito quid feceris cursor levis explicans vias tuas
“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways,
24 onager adsuetus in solitudine in desiderio animae suae adtraxit ventum amoris sui nullus avertet eam omnes qui quaerunt eam non deficient in menstruis eius invenient eam
a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.
25 prohibe pedem tuum a nuditate et guttur tuum a siti et dixisti desperavi nequaquam faciam adamavi quippe alienos et post eos ambulabo
“Keep your feet from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.’
26 quomodo confunditur fur quando deprehenditur sic confusi sunt domus Israhel ipsi et reges eorum principes et sacerdotes et prophetae eorum
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so the house of Israel is ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,
27 dicentes ligno pater meus es tu et lapidi tu me genuisti verterunt ad me tergum et non faciem et in tempore adflictionis suae dicent surge et libera nos
who tell wood, ‘You are my father,’ and a stone, ‘You have given birth to me,’ for they have turned their back to me, and not their face, but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise, and save us!’
28 ubi sunt dii tui quos fecisti tibi surgant et liberent te in tempore adflictionis tuae secundum numerum quippe civitatum tuarum erant dii tui Iuda
“But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
29 quid vultis mecum iudicio contendere omnes dereliquistis me dicit Dominus
“Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says Yahweh.
30 frustra percussi filios vestros disciplinam non receperunt devoravit gladius vester prophetas vestros quasi leo vastator
“I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 generatio vestra videte verbum Domini numquid solitudo factus sum Israheli aut terra serotina quare ergo dixit populus meus recessimus non veniemus ultra ad te
Generation, consider Yahweh’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more’?
32 numquid obliviscitur virgo ornamenti sui sponsa fasciae pectoralis suae populus vero meus oblitus est mei diebus innumeris
“Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
33 quid niteris bonam ostendere viam tuam ad quaerendam dilectionem quae insuper et malitias tuas docuisti vias tuas
How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.
34 et in alis tuis inventus est sanguis animarum pauperum et innocentium non in fossis inveni eos sed in omnibus quae supra memoravi
Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You didn’t find them breaking in, but it is because of all these things.
35 et dixisti absque peccato et innocens ego sum et propterea avertatur furor tuus a me ecce ego iudicio contendam tecum eo quod dixeris non peccavi
“Yet you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 quam vilis es facta nimis iterans vias tuas et ab Aegypto confunderis sicut confusa es ab Assur
Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 nam et ab ista egredieris et manus tuae erunt super caput tuum quoniam obtrivit Dominus confidentiam tuam et nihil habebis prosperum
You will also leave that place with your hands on your head; for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust, and you won’t prosper with them.
