Jeremiæ 18
1 Verbum quod factum est ad Jeremiam a Domino, dicens:
The word that came from the Lord to
2 Surge, et descende in domum figuli, et ibi audies verba mea.
Jeremias, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there you shall hear my words.
3 Et descendi in domum figuli, et ecce ipse faciebat opus super rotam.
So I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was making a vessel on the stones.
4 Et dissipatum est vas quod ipse faciebat e luto manibus suis: conversusque fecit illud vas alterum, sicut placuerat in oculis ejus ut faceret.
And the vessel which he was making with his hands fell: so he made it again another vessel, as it seemed good to him to make [it].
5 Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
6 Numquid sicut figulus iste, non potero vobis facere, domus Israël? ait Dominus: ecce sicut lutum in manu figuli, sic vos in manu mea, domus Israël.
Shall I not be able, O house of Israel, to do to you as this potter? behold, as the clay of the potter are you in my hands.
7 Repente loquar adversum gentem et adversus regnum, ut eradicem, et destruam, et disperdam illud:
[If] I shall pronounce a decree upon a nation, or upon a kingdom, to cut them off, and to destroy [them];
8 si pœnitentiam egerit gens illa a malo suo quod locutus sum adversus eam, agam et ego pœnitentiam super malo quod cogitavi ut facerem ei.
and that nation turn from all their sins, then will I repent of the evils which I purposed to do to them.
9 Et subito loquar de gente et de regno, ut ædificem et plantem illud.
And [if] I shall pronounce a decree upon a nation and kingdom, to rebuild and to plant [it];
10 Si fecerit malum in oculis meis, ut non audiat vocem meam, pœnitentiam agam super bono quod locutus sum ut facerem ei.
and they do evil before me, so as not to listen to my voice, then will I repent of the good which I spoke of, to do it to them.
11 Nunc ergo dic viro Juda, et habitatoribus Jerusalem, dicens: Hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego fingo contra vos malum, et cogito contra vos cogitationem: revertatur unusquisque a via sua mala, et dirigite vias vestras et studia vestra.
And now say to the men of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Behold, I prepare evils against you, and devise a device against you: let every one turn now from his evil way, and amend your practices.
12 Qui dixerunt: Desperavimus: post cogitationes enim nostras ibimus, et unusquisque pravitatem cordis sui mali faciemus.
And they said, We will quit ourselves like men, for we will pursue our perverse ways, and we will perform each the lusts of his evil heart.
13 Ideo hæc dicit Dominus: Interrogate gentes: Quis audivit talia horribilia, quæ fecit nimis virgo Israël?
Therefore thus says the Lord; Enquire now amongst the nations, who has heard such very horrible things as the virgin of Israel has done?
14 Numquid deficiet de petra agri nix Libani? aut evelli possunt aquæ erumpentes frigidæ, et defluentes?
Will fertilising streams fail [to flow] from a rock, or snow [fail] from Libanus? will water violently impelled by the wind turn aside?
15 Quia oblitus est mei populus meus, frustra libantes, et impingentes in viis suis, in semitis sæculi, ut ambularent per eas in itinere non trito,
For my people have forgotten me, they have offered incense in vain, and they fail in their ways, [leaving] the ancient tracks, to enter upon impassable paths;
16 ut fieret terra eorum in desolationem, et in sibilum sempiternum: omnis qui præterierit per eam obstupescet, et movebit caput suum.
to make their land a desolation, and a perpetual hissing; all that go through it shall be amazed, and shall shake their heads.
17 Sicut ventus urens dispergam eos coram inimico: dorsum, et non faciem, ostendam eis in die perditionis eorum.
I will scatter them before their enemies like an east wind; I will show them the day of their destruction.
18 Et dixerunt: Venite, et cogitemus contra Jeremiam cogitationes: non enim peribit lex a sacerdote, neque consilium a sapiente, nec sermo a propheta: venite, et percutiamus eum lingua, et non attendamus ad universos sermones ejus.
Then they said, Come, and let us devise a device against Jeremias; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and we will hear all his words.
19 Attende, Domine, ad me, et audi vocem adversariorum meorum.
Hear me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my pleading.
20 Numquid redditur pro bono malum, quia foderunt foveam animæ meæ? Recordare quod steterim in conspectu tuo ut loquerer pro eis bonum, et averterem indignationem tuam ab eis.
Forasmuch as evil is rewarded for good; for they have spoken words against my soul, and they have hidden the punishment they [meant] for me; remember that I stood before your face, to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
21 Propterea da filios eorum in famem, et deduc eos in manus gladii: fiant uxores eorum absque liberis, et viduæ: et viri earum interficiantur morte: juvenes eorum confodiantur gladio in prælio:
Therefore do you deliver their sons to famine, and gather them to the power of the sword: let their women be childless and widows; and let their men be cut off by death, and their young men fall by the sword in war.
22 audiatur clamor de domibus eorum: adduces enim super eos latronem repente, quia foderunt foveam ut caperent me, et laqueos absconderunt pedibus meis.
Let there be a cry in their houses: you shall bring upon them robbers suddenly: for they have formed a plan to take me, and have hidden snares for me.
23 Tu autem, Domine, scis omne consilium eorum adversum me in mortem: ne propitieris iniquitati eorum, et peccatum eorum a facie tua non deleatur: fiant corruentes in conspectu tuo; in tempore furoris tui abutere eis.
And you, Lord, know all their deadly counsel against me: account not their iniquities guiltless, and blot not out their sins from before you: let their weakness come before you; deal with them in the time of your wrath.
