Jeremías 18

1 Palabra que vino a Jeremías de parte de Yahvé, diciendo:

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

2 “Levántate y baja a la casa del alfarero, y allí te haré escuchar mis palabras.”

Up! go down to the potter's house, and there I will let my words come to your ears.

3 Entonces bajé a la casa del alfarero, y he aquí que estaba haciendo algo en las ruedas.

Then I went down to the potter's house, and he was doing his work on the stones.

4 Cuando la vasija que había hecho de barro se estropeó en la mano del alfarero, éste volvió a hacer otra vasija, según le pareció al alfarero hacerla.

And when the vessel, which he was forming out of earth, got damaged in the hand of the potter, he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make it.

5 Entonces vino a mí la palabra de Yahvé, diciendo:

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

6 “Casa de Israel, ¿no puedo hacer con vosotros como este alfarero?”, dice Yahvé. “He aquí que como el barro en la mano del alfarero, así sois vosotros en mi mano, casa de Israel.

O Israel, am I not able to do with you as this potter does? says the Lord. See, like earth in the potter's hand are you in my hands, O Israel.

7 En el momento en que yo hable de una nación y de un reino para arrancarlo, derribarlo y destruirlo,

Whenever I say anything about uprooting a nation or a kingdom, and smashing it and sending destruction on it;

8 si esa nación, de la que he hablado, se convierte de su maldad, me arrepentiré del mal que pensaba hacerles.

If, in that very minute, that nation of which I was talking is turned away from its evil, my purpose of doing evil to them will be changed.

9 En el momento en que hable sobre una nación y sobre un reino para construirlo y plantarlo,

And whenever I say anything about building up a nation or a kingdom, and planting it;

10 si hacen lo que es malo a mis ojos, que no obedecen mi voz, entonces me arrepentiré del bien con el que dije que los beneficiaría.

If, in that very minute, it does evil in my eyes, going against my orders, then my good purpose, which I said I would do for them, will be changed.

11 “Ahora, pues, hablen a los hombres de Judá y a los habitantes de Jerusalén, diciendo: “El Señor dice: “He aquí que yo trazo el mal contra ustedes, y que concibo un plan contra ustedes. Vuélvanse ahora todos de su mal camino, y enmienden sus caminos y sus obras”.

Now, then, say to the men of Judah and to the people of Jerusalem, This is what the Lord has said: See, I am forming an evil thing against you, and designing a design against you: let every man come back now from his evil way, and let your ways and your doings be changed for the better.

12 Pero ellos dicen: ‘Es en vano, porque caminaremos según nuestros propios planes, y cada uno seguirá la terquedad de su malvado corazón’.”

But they will say, There is no hope: we will go on in our designs, and every one of us will do what he is moved by the pride of his evil heart to do.

13 Por eso dice Yahvé: “Pregunta ahora entre las naciones, “¿Quién ha oído esas cosas? La virgen de Israel ha hecho algo muy horrible.

So this is what the Lord has said: Make search among the nations and see who has had word of such things; the virgin of Israel has done a very shocking thing.

14 ¿Fallará la nieve del Líbano de la roca del campo? ¿Se secarán las aguas frías que bajan de lejos?

Will the white snow go away from the top of Sirion? will the cold waters flowing from the mountains become dry?

15 Porque mi pueblo me ha olvidado. Han quemado incienso a dioses falsos. Se les ha hecho tropezar en sus caminos en los antiguos caminos, para caminar por los senderos, por un camino no construido,

For my people have put me out of their memory, burning perfumes to that which is nothing; and because of this, I will put a cause of falling in their ways, even in the old roads, and will make them go on side-roads, in a way not lifted up;

16 para hacer de su tierra un asombro, y un silbido perpetuo. Todos los que pasen por allí se quedarán asombrados, y sacudir la cabeza.

Making their land a thing of wonder, causing sounds of surprise for ever; everyone who goes by will be overcome with wonder, shaking his head.

17 Los dispersaré como con un viento del este ante el enemigo. Les mostraré la espalda, y no la cara, en el día de su calamidad.

I will send them in flight, as from an east wind, before the attacker; I will let them see my back and not my face on the day of their downfall.

18 Entonces dijeron: “¡Vengan! Ideemos planes contra Jeremías; porque la ley no perecerá del sacerdote, ni el consejo del sabio, ni la palabra del profeta. Venid, y golpeémosle con la lengua, y no prestemos atención a ninguna de sus palabras”.

Then they said, Come, let us make a design against Jeremiah; for teaching will never be cut off from the priest, or wisdom from the wise, or the word from the prophet. Come, let us make use of his words for an attack on him, and let us give attention with care to what he says.

19 Escúchame, Yahvé, y escucha la voz de los que contienden conmigo.

Give thought to me, O Lord, and give ear to the voice of those who put forward a cause against me.

20 ¿Hay que recompensar el mal por el bien? Porque han cavado una fosa para mi alma. Recuerda cómo me presenté ante ti para hablar bien de ellos, para alejar de ellos tu ira.

Is evil to be the reward of good? for they have made a deep hole for my soul. Keep in mind how I took my place before you, to say a good word for them so that your wrath might be turned away from them.

21 Por lo tanto, entreguen a sus hijos al hambre, y entregarlos al poder de la espada. Que sus esposas se queden sin hijos y viudas. Que sus hombres sean asesinados y sus jóvenes heridos por la espada en la batalla.

For this cause, let their children be without food, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives be without children and become widows; let their men be overtaken by death, and their young men be put to the sword in the fight.

22 Que se oiga un grito desde sus casas cuando traes una tropa de repente sobre ellos; porque han cavado una fosa para llevarme y trampas ocultas para mis pies.

Let a cry for help go up from their houses, when you send an armed band on them suddenly: for they have made a hole in which to take me, and have put nets for my feet secretly.

23 Sin embargo, Yahvé, tú conoces todo su consejo contra mí para matarme. No perdones su iniquidad. No borres su pecado de tu vista, Que sean derribados ante ti. Trata con ellos en el momento de tu ira.

But you, Lord, have knowledge of all the designs which they have made against my life; let not their evil-doing be covered or their sin be washed away from before your eyes: but let it be a cause of falling before you: so do to them in the time of your wrath.