Jeremías 18
1 La Palabra de Yavé que vino a Jeremías:
The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
2 Levántate, baja a la casa del alfarero y allí oirás mis Palabras.
Up! go down to the potter's house, and there I will let my words come to your ears.
3 Bajé a la casa del alfarero. Ahí estaba él trabajando sobre la rueda.
Then I went down to the potter's house, and he was doing his work on the stones.
4 La vasija de arcilla que hacía se echó a perder en su mano. Volvió e hizo de ella otra vasija, según le pareció mejor 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 la Palabra de Yavé vino a mí:
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
6 ¿No podré Yo hacer con ustedes, oh Casa de Israel, como hace este alfarero? dice Yavé. Ciertamente como la arcilla es en mano del alfarero, así son ustedes en mi mano, oh 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 un momento hablo contra pueblos y contra reinos, para desarraigar, destruir y arruinar.
Whenever I say anything about uprooting a nation or a kingdom, and smashing it and sending destruction on it;
8 Pero si esa nación contra la cual hablé se devuelve de su maldad, Yo desistiré del mal que pensé hacerle.
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 un momento hablo a una nación o a un reino para edificar y plantar.
And whenever I say anything about building up a nation or a kingdom, and planting it;
10 Pero si hace lo malo ante mis ojos y no obedece mi voz, entonces Yo también desistiré del bien que prometí hacerle.
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, habla a los hombres de Judá y a los habitantes de Jerusalén: Yavé dice: En verdad, Yo preparo un mal, y trazo un designio contra ustedes. Cada uno regrese de su mal camino, y mejore 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 responderán: Es inútil, porque seguimos tras nuestros propios designios. Cada uno hace según 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 tanto Yavé dice: Pregunten ahora entre los pueblos: ¿Quién oyó cosa semejante? ¡La virgen de Israel hizo algo 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 ¿Desaparecerá la nieve de las peñas de las montañas del Líbano? ¿Se agotarán las frescas aguas que fluyen de tierras lejanas?
Will the white snow go away from the top of Sirion? will the cold waters flowing from the mountains become dry?
15 Pues mi pueblo me olvidó. Ofrece incienso a lo que no tiene valor. Tropezó en sus caminos, en las sendas antiguas. Camina por senderos, y no por la calzada.
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 Convirtió su tierra en una desolación y burla perpetua. Todo el que pase por ella se asombrará y meneará 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 Como con un viento del oriente los esparciré delante del enemigo. En el día de la aflicción les daré la espalda y no el rostro.
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 ellos dijeron: ¡Vengan, tramemos nosotros un plan contra Jeremías! Porque la enseñanza no le faltará al sacerdote, ni el consejo al sabio, ni la palabra al profeta. Vengan, causémosle una herida en la lengua, y no atendamos 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 Oh Yavé, escúchame y oye la voz de los que contienden contra mí.
Give thought to me, O Lord, and give ear to the voice of those who put forward a cause against me.
20 ¿Se paga el bien con mal? Porque cavaron una fosa para mi vida. Recuerda cómo intercedí por ellos ante Ti, para apartar tu ira de ellos.
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 tanto, entrega sus hijos al hambre. Entrégalos al poder de la espada. Queden sus esposas viudas y sin hijos. Sean sus esposos expuestos a la muerte, y sus jóvenes mueran a 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 clamor en sus casas cuando de repente lleves tropas contra ellos, porque cavaron una fosa para atraparme, y escondieron trampas a 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 Pero Tú, oh Yavé, conoces sus designios contra mí para matarme. No hagas sacrificio que apacigüe por sus pecados. Procede así con ellos en el tiempo de tu furor.
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.
