Jeremias 18

1 Det Ord, som kom til Jeremmas fra Herren

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:

2 "Gå ned til pottemagerens Hus! Der skal du få mine Ord at høre."

“Rise up and descend into the house of the potter, and there you will hear my words.”

3 Så gik jeg ned til Pottemagerens Hus, og se, han var i Arbejde ved Drejeskiven.

And I descended into the house of the potter, and behold, he was making a work on the wheel.

4 Og når et Kar, han arbejdede på, mislykkedes, som det kan gå med Leret i Pottemagerens Hånd, begyndte han igen og lavede det om til et andet, som han nu vilde have det gjort.

And the vessel, which he was making with his hands out of clay, broke. And turning away, he made another vessel, for it had been pleasing in his eyes to make it.

5 Da kom HERRENs Ord til mig:

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

6 Skulde jeg ikke kunne gøre med eder, Israels Hus, som denne Pottemager? lyder det fra HERREN. Se, som Leret i Pottemagerens Hånd er I i min Hånd, Israels Hus.

“Am I not able to do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done, says the Lord? Behold, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

7 Snart truer jeg et Folk og et Rige med at rykke detop, nedbryde og ødelægge det;

Suddenly, I will speak against a nation and against a kingdom, so that I may uproot, and destroy, and scatter it.

8 men når det Folk, jeg har truet, omvender sig fra sin Ondskab, angrer jeg det onde, jeg tænkte at gøre det.

If that nation, against which I have spoken, will repent from their evil, I too will repent from the evil that I have decided I would do to them.

9 Og snart lover jeg et Folk og et Rige at opbygge og planle det;

And soon, I will speak about a nation and about a kingdom, so that I may build and plant it.

10 men gør det så, hvad der er ondt i mine Øjne, idet det ikke hører min Røst, angrer jeg det gode, jeg havde lovet at gøre det.

If it does evil in my sight, so as not to listen to my voice, I will repent of the good that I have said I would do to it.

11 Og sig nu til Judas Mænd og Jerusalems Borgere: Så siger HERREN: Se, jeg skaber eder en Ulykke og udtænker et Råd imod eder; vend derfor om, hver fra sin onde Vej, og bedrer eders Veje og eders Gerninger.

Now, therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: Thus says the Lord: Behold, I am forming an evil against you, and I am considering a plan against you. Let each one of you return from his evil way, and direct your ways and your intentions well.”

12 Men de svarer: "Nej! Vi vil følge vore egne Tanker og gøre hver efter sit onde Hjertes Stivsind."

And they said: “We have lost hope. And so we will follow our own thoughts, and each of us will act according to the depravity of his own evil heart.”

13 Derfor, så siger HERREN: Spørg dog rundt blandt Folkene: Hvo hørte mon sligt? Grufulde Ting har hun øvet, Israels Jomfru.

For this reason, thus says the Lord: “Inquire among the Gentiles. Who has heard of such horrible things as the virgin of Israel has done to excess?

14 Forlader Libanons Sne den Almægtiges klippe, eller udtørres Bjergenes kølige, rislende Vande,

Do the snows of Lebanon fail to fall on the rocks of the field? Or are the cold waters, which burst forth and flow down, able to be rooted out?

15 siden mit Folk har glemt mig og ofrer til Løgn? De snubler på deres Veje, de ældgamle Spor, og vandrer ad Stier, en Vej, der ikke er højnet,

Yet my people have forgotten me, offering useless libations, and stumbling in their ways, in the paths of the world, so that they walk by these on an unmarked route.

16 for at gøre deres Land til Gru, til evig Spot; hver farende Mand skal grue og ryste på Hovedet.

And so their land has been given over to desolation and to perpetual hissing. Each one who passes by will be astonished and will shake his head.

17 Som en Østenstorm splitter jeg dem for Fjendens Ansigt, jeg viser dem Ryg, ej Åsyn på Vanheldets Dag.

Like a burning wind, I will disperse them in the sight the enemy. I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their perdition.”

18 De sagde: Kom, vi spinder Rænker imod Jeremias! Thi ej glipper Loven for Præsten, ej Rådet for den vise, ej Ordet for Profeten. Kom, lad os slå ham med Tungen og lure på alle hans Ord!"

And they said: “Come, and let us devise a plan against Jeremiah. For the law will not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor a sermon from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us pay no attention to any of his words.”

19 Lyt, o Herre, til mig og hør min Modparts Ord!

Attend to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries.

20 Skal godt gengældes med ondt? De grov jo min Sjæl en Grav. Kom i Hu, at jeg stod for dit Åsyn for at tale til Bedste for dem og vende din Vrede fra dem!

Should evil be rendered for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul! Remember that I have stood in your sight, so as to speak on their behalf for good, and to avert your indignation from them.

21 Giv derfor deres Sønner til Hunger, styrt dem i Sværdets Vold; Barnløshed og Enkestand ramme deres Kvinder, deres Mænd vorde slagne af Døden, deres ungdom sværdslagne i Krig;

Because of this, give their sons over to famine, and bring them to the hand of the sword. Let their wives be widows without children. And let their husbands be slain by death. Let their youths be stabbed with the sword in battle.

22 lad der høres et Skrig fra Husene, når du lader en Mordbande brat komme over dem. Thi de grov en Grav for at fange mig og lagde Snarer for min Fod.

Let an outcry be heard from their houses. For you will lead the robber upon them suddenly. For they have dug a pit, so that they may seize me, and they have hidden snares for my feet.

23 Ja du, o HERRE, du kender alle deres Dødsråd imod mig. Tilgiv ikke deres Brøde, slet ikke deres Synd for dit Åsyn, lad dem komme til Fald for dit Åsyn, få med dig at gøre i din Vredes Stund!

But you, O Lord, know all their plans against me unto death. May you not forgive their iniquity, and do not allow their sin be taken away from your face. Let them be thrown down in your sight, in the time of your fury, so that you may destroy them.