Jeremiæ 2
1 Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2 Vade, et clama in auribus Ierusalem, dicens: Haec dicit Dominus: Recordatus sum tui, miserans adolescentiam tuam, et charitatem desponsationis tuae, quando secuta es me in deserto, in terra, quae non seminatur.
“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem. Say, 'Yahweh says this: I have called to mind on your behalf the covenant faithfulness in your youthfulness, your love at the time when we were engaged, when you went after me in the wilderness, the land that was not sown.
3 Sanctus Israel Domino, primitiae frugum eius: omnes, qui devorant eum, delinquunt: mala venient super eos, dicit Dominus.
Israel was set apart to Yahweh, the firstfruits of his harvest! All who ate from the firstfruits were held guilty; disaster came upon them—this is Yahweh's declaration.'”
4 Audite verbum Domini domus Iacob, et omnes cognationes domus Israel:
Hear the word of Yahweh, house of Jacob, all you clans of the house of Israel.
5 haec dicit Dominus: Quid invenerunt patres vestri in me iniquitatis, quia se elongaverunt a me, et ambulaverunt post vanitatem, et vani facti sunt?
Yahweh says this, “What did your fathers find wrong with me, that they went far from following me? That they went after useless idols and became useless themselves?
6 Et non dixerunt: Ubi est Dominus, qui ascendere nos fecit de Terra Aegypti: qui traduxit nos per desertum, per terram inhabitabilem et inviam, per terram sitis, et imaginem mortis, per terram, in qua non ambulavit vir, neque habitavit homo?
They did not say, 'Where is Yahweh, who brought us up from the land of Egypt? Where is Yahweh, who led us to the wilderness, into the land of the Arabah and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, a land through which no one passes and where no one lives?'
7 Et induxi vos in terram Carmeli, ut comederetis fructum eius, et optima illius: et ingressi contaminastis terram meam, et hereditatem meam posuistis in abominationem.
But I brought you to the land of Carmel, to eat its fruit and other good things! Yet when you came, you defiled my land, you made my inheritance an abomination!
8 Sacerdotes non dixerunt: Ubi est Dominus? et tenentes legem nescierunt me, et pastores praevaricati sunt in me: et prophetae prophetaverunt in Baal, et idola secuti sunt.
The priest did not say, 'Where is Yahweh?' and the experts in the law did not care about me! The shepherds transgressed against me. The prophets prophesied for Baal and walked after unprofitable things.
9 Propterea adhuc iudicio contendam vobiscum, ait Dominus, et cum filiis vestris disceptabo.
So I will still accuse you—this is Yahweh's declaration—and I will accuse your sons' sons.
10 Transite ad insulas Cethim, et videte: et in Cedar mittite, et considerate vehementer: et videte si factum est huiuscemodi.
For cross over to the coasts of Kittim and look. Send messengers out to Kedar and find out and see if there has ever before been anything like this.
11 Si mutavit gens deos suos, et certe ipsi non sunt dii: populus vero meus mutavit gloriam suam in idolum.
Has a nation exchanged gods, even though they were not gods? But my people have exchanged their glory for what cannot help them.
12 Obstupescite caeli super hoc, et portae eius desolamini vehementer, dicit Dominus.
Shudder, heavens, because of this! Be shocked and horrified—this is Yahweh's declaration.
13 Duo enim mala fecit populus meus: Me dereliquerunt fontem aquae vivae, et foderunt sibi cisternas, cisternas dissipatas, quia continere non valent aquas.
For my people have committed two evils against me: They have abandoned the springs of living waters, and they have dug out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
14 Numquid servus est Israel, aut vernaculus? quare ergo factus est in praedam?
Is Israel a slave? Was he born in his master's home? So why has he become plunder?
15 Super eum rugierunt leones, et dederunt vocem suam, posuerunt terram eius in solitudinem: civitates eius exustae sunt, et non est qui habitet in eis.
Young lions roared against him. They made a lot of noise and made his land a horror. His cities are destroyed without any inhabitants.
16 Filii quoque Mempheos et Taphneos constupraverunt te usque ad verticem.
Also, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes will shave your skull.
17 Numquid non istud factum est tibi, quia dereliquisti Dominum Deum tuum eo tempore, quo ducebat te per viam?
Did you not do this to yourselves when you abandoned Yahweh your God, while he was leading you along the way?
18 Et nunc quid tibi vis in via Aegypti, ut bibas aquam turbidam? et quid tibi cum via Assyriorum, ut bibas aquam fluminis?
So now, why take the road to Egypt and drink the waters of Shihor? Why take the road to Assyria and drink the waters of the Euphrates River?
19 Arguet te malitia tua, et aversio tua increpabit te. Scito, et vide quia malum et amarum est reliquisse te Dominum Deum tuum, et non esse timorem mei apud te, dicit Dominus Deus exercituum.
Your wickedness rebukes you, and your faithlessness punishes you. So think about it and understand that it is wicked and bitter when you forsake Yahweh your God, and have no fear of me—this is the declaration of Lord Yahweh of hosts.
20 A saeculo confregisti iugum meum, rupisti vincula mea, et dixisti: Non serviam. In omni enim colle sublimi, et sub omni ligno frondoso tu prosternebaris meretrix.
For I broke your yoke that you had in ancient days; I tore your fetters off you. Still you said, 'I will not serve!' since you bowed down on every high hill and beneath every leafy tree, you adulterer.
21 Ego autem plantavi te vineam electam, omne semen verum: quomodo ergo conversa es mihi in pravum vinea aliena?
I planted you as a choice vine, completely from pure seed. How then have you have changed yourself into a corrupt, worthless vine?
22 Si laveris te nitro, et multiplicaveris tibi herbam borith, maculata es in iniquitate tua coram me, dicit Dominus Deus.
For even if you clean yourself in the river or wash with strong soap, your iniquity is a stain before me—this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh.
23 Quomodo dicis: Non sum polluta, post Baalim non ambulavi? vide vias tuas in convalle, scito quid feceris: cursor levis explicans vias suas.
How can you say, 'I am not defiled! I have not walked after the Baals'? Look at what you did in the valleys! Consider what you have done—you are a swift female camel running here and there,
24 Onager assuetus in solitudine, in desiderio animae suae attraxit ventum amoris sui: nullus avertet eam: omnes, qui quaerunt eam, non deficient: in menstruis eius invenient eam.
a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None of the males need wear themselves out pursuing her; at mating time they will find her.
25 Prohibe pedem tuum a nuditate, et guttur tuum a siti. Et dixisti: Desperavi, nequaquam faciam: adamavi quippe alienos, et post eos ambulabo.
You must restrain your feet from becoming bare and your throat from being thirsty! But you have said, 'It is hopeless! No, I love strangers and go after them!'
26 Quomodo confunditur fur quando deprehenditur, sic confusi sunt domus Israel, ipsi et reges eorum, principes, et sacerdotes, et prophetae eorum,
Like the shame of a thief when he is found, so the house of Israel will be ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, and their priests and prophets!
27 dicentes ligno: Pater meus es tu: et lapidi: Tu me genuisti. verterunt ad me tergum, et non faciem, et in tempore afflictionis suae dicent: Surge, et libera nos.
These are the ones who say to the tree, 'You are my father,' and to the stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For their back faces me and not their faces. Nevertheless, they say in the time of troubles, 'Arise and save us!'
28 Ubi sunt dii tui, quos fecisti tibi? surgant et liberent te in tempore afflictionis tuae: secundum numerum quippe civitatum tuarum erant dii tui Iuda.
Yet where are the gods that you made for yourselves? Let them arise if they wish to save you in your time of troubles, for your idols equal your cities in number, Judah!
29 Quid vultis mecum iudicio contendere? omnes dereliquistis me, dicit Dominus.
So why do you accuse me of doing wrong? All of you have sinned against me—this is Yahweh's declaration.
30 Frustra percussi filios vestros, disciplinam non receperunt: devoravit gladius vester prophetas vestros, quasi leo vastator
I have punished your people in vain. They would not accept discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destructive lion!
31 generatio vestra. Videte verbum Domini: Numquid solitudo factus sum Israeli, aut terra serotina? quare ergo dixit populus meus: Recessimus, non veniemus ultra ad te?
You who belong to this generation! Pay attention to my word, the word of Yahweh! Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of deep darkness? Why would my people say, 'Let us wander around, we will not go to you anymore'?
32 Numquid obliviscetur virgo ornamenti sui, aut sponsa fasciae pectoralis suae? populus vero meus oblitus est mei diebus innumeris.
Will a virgin forget her jewelry, a bride her veils? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number!
33 Quid niteris bonam ostendere viam tuam ad quaerendam dilectionem, quae insuper et malitias tuas docuisti vias tuas,
How well you make your way to look for love. You have even taught your ways to wicked women.
34 et in alis tuis inventus est sanguis animarum pauperum et innocentum? non in fossis inveni eos, sed in omnibus, quae supra memoravi.
The blood that was the life of innocent, poor people has been found on your clothes. These people were not discovered in acts of burglary.
35 Et dixisti: Absque peccato et innocens ego sum: et propterea avertatur furor tuus a me. Ecce ego iudicio contendam tecum, eo quod dixeris: Non peccavi.
Yet you say, 'I am innocent; surely his anger has turned away from me.' But look! I will bring down judgment on you because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
36 Quam vilis facta es nimis, iterans vias tuas! et ab Aegypto confunderis, sicut confusa es ab Assur.
Why do you treat so very lightly this change in your ways? You will also be disappointed by Egypt, just as you were by Assyria.
37 Nam et ab ista egredieris, et manus tuae erunt super caput tuum: quoniam obtrivit Dominus confidentiam tuam, et nihil habebis prosperum in ea.
You will also go out from there dejected, with your hands on your head, for Yahweh has rejected the ones whom you trusted, so you will not be helped by them.”
