Jeremías 18
1 Palabra que de parte de Yahvé llegó a Jeremías en estos términos:
Yahweh gave another message to me. [He said],
2 “Levántate y desciende a la casa del alfarero, y allí te haré oír mis palabras.”
“Go to the shop of the man who makes clay pots. I will give you a message there.”
3 Descendí a la casa del alfarero, y he aquí que este estaba trabajando sobre la rueda.
So I went to that shop, and I saw the man who makes pots. He was working at the wheel [that he uses to form pots].
4 Mas la vasija que el alfarero hacía de barro se deshizo entre sus manos, por lo cual volvió a hacer otra vasija de la forma que le plugo.
But when he finished making one jar, it was not as good as he hoped/wanted it to be. [So], he took that clay and formed it into another jar, shaping it as he desired.
5 Y me llegó la palabra de Yahvé que decía:
Then Yahweh gave me this message:
6 “¿Acaso no puedo hacer Yo con vosotros, oh casa de Israel, como hace este alfarero?, dice Yahvé. Mirad lo que es el barro en la mano del alfarero, eso mismo sois vosotros en mi mano, oh casa de Israel.
“Perhaps the people of Israel [think that] I cannot do to them like this man who makes pots has done [RHQ]. [But what they think is wrong]. I [can control what happens to them like] this man [controls what he does with the clay] in his hands.
7 A veces hablo Yo contra una nación o un reino, para arrancarlo, para derribarlo y para destruirlo;
There may be a time when I proclaim that I will get rid of a nation or kingdom, [like someone] pulls up [a plant with its roots], and smashes it, and destroys it.
8 Si aquella nación contra la cual he hablado se convierte de su maldad, Yo también me arrepiento del mal que había pensado hacerle.
But if [the people of] that nation repent of doing evil things, I will not send to them the disasters that I planned to send.
9 Y a veces pienso en fundar y plantar una nación o un reino,
And there may be a time when I proclaim that I will establish a nation or kingdom and cause it to be strong [MET].
10 si (esta nación) obra mal ante mis ojos, y no escucha mi voz. Yo también me arrepiento del bien que dije que le haría.
But if [the people of] that nation [start to] do evil things and refuse to obey me, then I will not bless them as I said that I would do.
11 Habla ahora, a los hombres de Judá y a los habitantes de Jerusalén, diciendo: Así dice Yahvé: He aquí que Yo preparo males para vosotros, y estoy trazando un plan en daño vuestro. Convertíos cada cual de su mal camino, y enmendad vuestras costumbres y vuestras obras.”
Therefore, [Jeremiah, go and warn all] the people in Jerusalem and [in other places] in Judah. Say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh says: “I am planning to cause you to experience a disaster [DOU]. [So], each of you should turn from your evil behavior and start doing what is right, [in order that you will not experience that disaster].”’’”
12 Pero ellos dicen: “Es inútil, seguiremos nuestras propias ideas, y obre cada uno según la dureza de su mal corazón.”
[So I told that message to the people], but they replied, “It is useless [for you to tell us that]. We will [continue to] be stubborn and behave as we want to.”
13 Por esto, así dice Yahvé: “Preguntad a los pueblos: ¿Quién jamás oyó cosas cómo estas? Crímenes horribles ha cometido la virgen de Israel.
So, this is what Yahweh says: “Ask the [people who live in other] nations if they have [RHQ] ever heard of such a thing. My Israeli people, who [have been pure like] [MET] virgins, have done a terrible thing!
14 ¿Acaso puede faltar la nieve en las peñas de la tierra o en el Líbano? ¿o se secan las aguas que vienen de lejos, frescas y corrientes?
The snow certainly never [RHQ] completely disappears/melts from the rocky slopes of the mountains in Lebanon. The cold streams that flow down from those distant mountains never [RHQ] cease flowing.
15 Pues mi pueblo se ha olvidado de Mí; queman incienso a los ídolos que los hacen tropezar en sus caminos, en las sendas antiguas, para que yendo por (su propio) camino, por vía no allanada,
But my people [are not as reliable as those streams: ] They have abandoned me. They burn incense to [honor/worship] worthless idols. [It is as though] they have stumbled as they walked along very old roads that are good roads, and now, instead, they are walking on dirt paths.
16 convierten su tierra en un desierto, objeto de eterno ludibrio. Todo aquel que pase junto a ella, quedará pasmado y meneará la cabeza.
Therefore, their land will become desolate, and people who see it will hiss [to ridicule it]. Everyone who passes by will be appalled; they will shake their heads [to show that they are shocked].
17 Como viento solano los dispersaré delante del enemigo; les mostraré las espaldas, y no el rostro, en el día de su calamidad.”
I will scatter the people when their enemies [attack them] like dust is scattered by an east wind. And when they experience all those difficulties/disasters, I will turn my back on them [and refuse] to help them.”
18 Ellos dijeron: “Venid, vamos a urdir asechanzas contra Jeremías; porque no falta todavía la Ley al sacerdote, ni el consejo al sabio, ni el oráculo al profeta. Vamos, pues, y ataquémosle con la lengua, y no hagamos caso de ninguna de sus palabras.”
Then some of the people said, “Come, let’s plan to attack Jeremiah. We have [many] priests who teach us God’s laws, and wise men who give us good advice, and prophets who tell us [what will happen. We do not need Jeremiah!] So, let’s slander him and not pay attention to anything that he says.”
19 Préstame, oh Yahvé, tu atención, y escucha la voz de mis adversarios.
[Then I prayed], “Yahweh, [please] listen to me! And listen to what my enemies are saying about me.
20 ¿Así se paga bien con mal? Pues ellos han cavado una fosa para mi vida. Acuérdate de cómo me he presentado ante Ti, para hablar en favor de ellos y sustraerlos a tu ira.
I am doing things that are good, so it is disgusting that [RHQ] they are paying me back by doing evil [things to me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into] and die. Do not forget that [one time] I stood in front of you and pleaded for you [to help them], and I tried to prevent you from [punishing them] [MTY], even though you were very angry with them.
21 Por eso, abandona a sus hijos al hambre, y entrégalos al poder de la espada; quédense sus mujeres viudas y sin hijos, mueran sus maridos de muerte violenta, y sean traspasados sus jóvenes en la batalla por la espada.
So [now], allow their children to die from hunger! Or cause them to be killed by [their enemies’] swords! Cause their wives to become widows, whose children are all dead! Cause their [old] men to die in a plague, and cause their young men to be killed in battles!
22 Óiganse alaridos desde sus casas, cuando de repente hagas venir sobre ellos bandas armadas; porque cavaron una fosa para prenderme, y tendieron a mis pies lazos ocultos.
Cause people to scream in their homes when enemy soldiers suddenly come into their houses! [Cause all those things to happen to them] because they [want to kill me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into], and they have hidden traps along my path.
23 Péro Tú, Yahvé, conoces todos sus planes de destruirme; ¡no les perdones su iniquidad, ni borres de tu presencia su pecado! ¡Que tropiecen delante de Ti! Castígalos en el tiempo de tu ira.
Yahweh, you know all the things that they are planning to do to kill me. Do not forgive them for their crimes or blot out [the record of] their sins. Cause them to be destroyed; punish them because of your being angry [with them]!”
