< Jeremiah 2 >

1 The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:
2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘The LORD says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
Vade, et clama in auribus Jerusalem, dicens: Hæc dicit Dominus: Recordatus sum tui, miserans adolescentiam tuam, et caritatem desponsationis tuæ, quando secuta es me in deserto, in terra quæ non seminatur.
3 Israel was holiness to the LORD, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says the LORD.”
Sanctus Israël Domino, primitiæ frugum ejus: omnes qui devorant eum delinquunt: mala venient super eos, dicit Dominus.
4 Hear the LORD’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
Audite verbum Domini, domus Jacob, et omnes cognationes domus Israël.
5 The LORD says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?
Hæc dicit Dominus: Quid invenerunt patres vestri in me iniquitatis, quia elongaverunt a me, et ambulaverunt post vanitatem, et vani facti sunt?
6 They did not say, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that no one passed through, and where no man lived?’
Et non dixerunt: Ubi est Dominus qui ascendere nos fecit de terra Ægypti; 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?
7 I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
Et induxi vos in terram Carmeli, ut comederetis fructum ejus et optima illius: et ingressi contaminastis terram meam, et hæreditatem meam posuistis in abominationem.
8 The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ and those who handle the law did not know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.
Sacerdotes non dixerunt: Ubi est Dominus? et tenentes legem nescierunt me, et pastores prævaricati sunt in me, et prophetæ prophetaverunt in Baal, et idola secuti sunt.
9 “Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says the LORD, “and I will contend with your children’s children.
Propterea adhuc judicio contendam vobiscum, ait Dominus, et cum filiis vestris disceptabo.
10 For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.
Transite ad insulas Cethim, et videte: et in Cedar mittite, et considerate vehementer: et videte si factum est hujuscemodi:
11 Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
si mutavit gens deos suos, et certe ipsi non sunt dii: populus vero meus mutavit gloriam suam in idolum.
12 “Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says the LORD.
Obstupescite, cæli, super hoc, et portæ ejus, desolamini vehementer, dicit Dominus.
13 “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Duo enim mala fecit populus meus: me dereliquerunt fontem aquæ vivæ, et foderunt sibi cisternas, cisternas dissipatas, quia continere non valent aquas.
14 Is Israel a slave? Is he born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?
Numquid servus est Israël, aut vernaculus? quare ergo factus est in prædam?
15 The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.
Super eum rugierunt leones, et dederunt vocem suam: posuerunt terram ejus in solitudinem. Civitates ejus exustæ sunt, et non est qui habitet in eis.
16 The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.
Filii quoque Mempheos et Taphnes constupraverunt te usque ad verticem.
17 “Have not you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD your God, when he led you by the way?
Numquid non istud factum est tibi, quia dereliquisti Dominum Deum tuum eo tempore quo ducebat te per viam?
18 Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
Et nunc quid tibi vis in via Ægypti, ut bibas aquam turbidam? et quid tibi cum via Assyriorum, ut bibas aquam fluminis?
19 “Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, GOD of Armies.
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.
20 “For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.
A sæculo confregisti jugum meum: rupisti vincula mea, et dixisti: Non serviam. In omni enim colle sublimi, et sub omni ligno frondoso, tu prosternebaris meretrix.
21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a pure and faithful seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
Ego autem plantavi te vineam electam, omne semen verum: quomodo ergo conversa es mihi in pravum, vinea aliena?
22 For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord GOD.
Si laveris te nitro, et multiplicaveris tibi herbam borith, maculata es in iniquitate tua coram me, dicit Dominus Deus.
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways,
Quomodo dicis: Non sum polluta; post Baalim non ambulavi? Vide vias tuas in convalle; scito quid feceris: cursor levis explicans vias suas.
24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.
Onager assuetus in solitudine, in desiderio animæ suæ attraxit ventum amoris sui: nullus avertet eam: omnes qui quærunt eam non deficient: in menstruis ejus invenient eam.
25 “Keep your feet from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.’
Prohibe pedem tuum a nuditate, et guttur tuum a siti. Et dixisti: Desperavi: nequaquam faciam: adamavi quippe alienos, et post eos ambulabo.
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so the house of Israel is ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,
Quomodo confunditur fur quando deprehenditur, sic confusi sunt domus Israël, ipsi et reges eorum, principes, et sacerdotes, et prophetæ eorum,
27 who tell wood, ‘You are my father,’ and a stone, ‘You have given birth to me,’ for they have turned their back to me, and not their face, but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise, and save us!’
dicentes ligno: Pater meus es tu: et lapidi: Tu me genuisti. Verterunt ad me tergum et non faciem, et in tempore afflictionis suæ dicent: Surge, et libera nos.
28 “But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
Ubi sunt dii tui quos fecisti tibi? surgant, et liberent te in tempore afflictionis tuæ: secundum numerum quippe civitatum tuarum erant dii tui, Juda.
29 “Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says the LORD.
Quid vultis mecum judicio contendere? omnes dereliquistis me, dicit Dominus.
30 “I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Frustra percussi filios vestros: disciplinam non receperunt. Devoravit gladius vester prophetas vestros: quasi leo vastator
31 Generation, consider the LORD’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more’?
generatio vestra. Videte verbum Domini: numquid solitudo factus sum Israëli, aut terra serotina? quare ergo dixit populus meus: Recessimus; non veniemus ultra ad te?
32 “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
Numquid obliviscetur virgo ornamenti sui, aut sponsa fasciæ pectoralis suæ? populus vero meus oblitus est mei diebus innumeris.
33 How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.
Quid niteris bonam ostendere viam tuam ad quærendam dilectionem, quæ insuper et malitias tuas docuisti vias tuas,
34 Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You did not find them breaking in, but it is because of all these things.
et in alis tuis inventus est sanguis animarum pauperum et innocentum? non in fossis inveni eos, sed in omnibus quæ supra memoravi.
35 “Yet you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
Et dixisti: Absque peccato et innocens ego sum, et propterea avertatur furor tuus a me. Ecce ego judicio contendam tecum, eo quod dixeris: Non peccavi.
36 Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
Quam vilis facta es nimis, iterans vias tuas! et ab Ægypto confunderis, sicut confusa es ab Assur.
37 You will also leave that place with your hands on your head; for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper with them.
Nam et ab ista egredieris, et manus tuæ erunt super caput tuum: quoniam obtrivit Dominus confidentiam tuam, et nihil habebis prosperum in ea.

< Jeremiah 2 >