Jeremías 18
1 La palabra que vino a Jeremías del SEÑOR, diciendo:
Yahweh gave another message to me. [He said],
2 Levántate, y vete a 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 Y descendí a casa del alfarero, y he aquí que él hacía obra sobre una 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 Y el vaso que él hacía de barro se quebró en la mano del alfarero; y tornó y lo hizo otro vaso, según que al alfarero pareció mejor hacerlo.
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 Entonces vino a mí palabra del SEÑOR, diciendo:
Then Yahweh gave me this message:
6 ¿Por ventura no podré yo hacer de vosotros como este alfarero, oh Casa de Israel, dice el SEÑOR? He aquí que como el barro en la mano del alfarero, así 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 En un instante hablaré contra gentiles y contra reinos, para arrancar, y disipar, y destruir.
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 Pero si esos gentiles se convirtieren de su maldad, contra el cual mal yo hablé, yo me arrepentiré del mal que había pensado hacerles.
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 en un instante hablaré de la gente y del Reino, para edificar y para plantar;
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 pero si hiciere lo malo delante de mis ojos, no oyendo mi voz, me arrepentiré del bien que había determinado hacerle.
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 Ahora, pues, habla ahora a todo hombre de Judá, y a los moradores de Jerusalén, diciendo: Así dijo el SEÑOR: He aquí que yo dispongo mal contra vosotros, y trazo contra vosotros designios; conviértase ahora cada uno de su mal camino, y mejorad vuestros caminos 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 Y dijeron: Es por demás: porque en pos de nuestras imaginaciones hemos de ir, y hemos de hacer cada uno el pensamiento de su malvado 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 tanto, así dijo el SEÑOR: Preguntad ahora a los gentiles, quién oyó tal. Gran fealdad hizo 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 ¿Dejará alguno por ventura la nieve de la piedra del campo que corre del Líbano? ¿Dejarán las aguas singulares, frías, 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 Porque mi pueblo me ha olvidado, incensando a la vanidad, y les hacen tropezar en sus caminos, en las sendas antiguas, para que caminen por sendas, por camino no hollado;
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 para poner su tierra en desolación, y en silbos perpetuos; todo aquel que pasare por ella se maravillará, y meneará su 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 esparciré delante del enemigo; les mostraré las espaldas, y no el rostro, en el día de su perdición.
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 Y dijeron: Venid, y tracemos maquinaciones contra Jeremías; porque la ley no faltará del sacerdote, ni el consejo del sabio, ni la palabra del profeta. Venid e hirámoslo de lengua, y no miremos a todas 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 SEÑOR, mira por mí, y oye la voz de los que contienden conmigo.
[Then I prayed], “Yahweh, [please] listen to me! And listen to what my enemies are saying about me.
20 ¿Se da por ventura mal por bien para que caven hoyo a mi alma? Acuérdate que me puse delante de ti para hablar bien por ellos, para apartar de ellos 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 tanto, entrega sus hijos a hambre, y hazlos escurrir por manos de cuchillo; y queden sus mujeres sin hijos, y viudas; y sus maridos sean puestos a muerte, y sus jóvenes heridos a cuchillo en la guerra.
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 Oigase clamor de sus casas, cuando trajeres sobre ellos ejército de repente; porque cavaron hoyo para tomarme, y a mis pies han escondido lazos.
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 Mas tú, oh SEÑOR, conoces todo su consejo contra mí que es para muerte; no perdones su maldad, ni borres su pecado de delante de tu rostro, y tropiecen delante de ti; haz así con ellos en el tiempo de tu furor.
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]!”
