Jeremia 4
1 "Ja, wenn du umkehrst, Israel", ein Spruch des Herrn, "zu mir umkehrst, entfernst du meinetwegen deine Scheusale, ganz ohne Zaudern,
Yahweh says, “You Israeli [people], come back to me! If you get rid of those detestable idols and do not turn away from me [again],
2 und wenn du schwörst den Schwur 'Beim Herrn!' aufrichtig, schlicht und rückhaltlos, dann segnen sich mit ihm die Heiden, sich seiner rühmend."
and if you declare, ‘Just as surely as Yahweh lives, what he says is true,’ and if you [start to] always say what is true and act justly/fairly and righteously, then the [people in the other] nations [of the world] will request that I bless them [as I have blessed you], and they will [all come and] honor/praise me.”
3 Nun also spricht der Herr zu Judas Männern und zu denen aus Jerusalem: "Brecht euch ein Neuland um und sät nicht unter Dornen!
This is what Yahweh says to the people of Jerusalem and [the other cities in] Judah: “[Prepare yourselves to receive my messages] like farmers plow up hard ground [in order that they can plant seed in it]. Just as farmers do not [waste good seed by] sowing seeds among thorny plants, [I do not want to waste my time telling you messages that you are not ready to receive].
4 Beschneidet euch dem Herrn zulieb! Weg mit der Vorhaut eures Herzens, ihr Männer Judas, ihr Bewohner von Jerusalem! - Sonst fährt mein Grimm wie Feuer aus und brennt, und niemand löscht, ob eurer Taten Schlechtigkeit!"
Purify your inner beings and your minds for me. If you do not do that, my being angry with you [MTY] because of [all] the sins that you have committed will be like a fire that will be impossible to extinguish.”
5 Verkündet es in Juda, und in Jerusalem ruft aus und redet, und bei Trompetenschall verkündigt es im Land und ruft aus vollem Hals und sprecht: "Zuhauf! Wir müssen in die festen Städte ziehen."
“Declare this [DOU] to [all the people in] Jerusalem and [the rest of] Judea; blow the trumpets everywhere in the land [to warn the people]. Tell them that they should flee to the cities that have high walls around them.
6 "Die Flagge schwinget gegen Sion hin! Fort! Bleibt nicht stehen! Denn Unheil bringe ich von Norden her, gewaltigen Niederbruch.
Shout to the people of Jerusalem, ‘Run away [now]! Do not delay, because I am about to cause you to experience a terrible disaster [DOU] that will come from the north.
7 Aus seinem Dickicht steigt der Löwe, der Völkerwürger. Nun bricht er auf, läßt seine Stätte hinter sich. Dein Land macht er zur Wüstenei und deine Städte wüst und menschenleer.
[An army] that has destroyed [many] nations will attack you [like] [MET] a lion that comes out of its den [to attack other animals]. [The soldiers of that army] have taken down their tents and they are ready to march toward your land. They will destroy your cities and leave them without any people still living in them.’
8 Legt deshalb Trauerkleider an! So klaget! Heult: 'Daß sich des Herren Zornesglut von uns nicht wendet!' -
So, put on sackcloth/rough clothes and weep and beat your chests [to show that you are very sorry for what you have done], because Yahweh is still very angry with us.
9 An jenem Tage aber", ein Spruch des Herrn, "entsinkt das Herz dem König und den Fürsten. Die Priester sind verstört, entsetzt die Seher!"
Yahweh said that at the time [he punishes you], the King of Judah and [all his] officials will be very afraid. The priests and the prophets will be terrified.
10 Ein Klagelied: "Ach Herr, o Herr! Gar gründlich hast Du dieses Volk getäuscht, mitsamt Jerusalem. Du sprachst: 'Der Friede wird euch sein!' Nun geht das Schwert an ihre Kehle."
Then I replied, “Yahweh [my] God, you completely deceived the people by telling them that there would be peace in Jerusalem, but now [our enemies] [PRS] are ready to slaughter us with their swords!”
11 "Zu jener Zeit wird für dies Volk und für Jerusalem, zur Tochter meines Volkes hin bestellt ein Sturmwind, der die Wüstenhöhen sengt, zum Worfeln nicht geeignet noch zum Säubern.
When that happens, [Yahweh] will say to the people of Jerusalem, [“A huge army will come to attack you]. They will not [be like a gentle breeze that] separates wheat from chaff. [They will be like] a very hot wind [that blows in] from the desert [MET].
12 Ein Wind, zu scharf dafür, erscheint auf mein Geheiß. Ich spreche jetzt das Urteil aber sie.
[They will be like] [MET] a strong blast that I will send. Now I am declaring that I will punish/destroy you.”
13 Wie Meergewölk zieht es heran. Gleichwie ein Sturmgebrause sind seine Wagen, und seine Rosse schneller als der Aar: 'Ach wehe uns! Wir sind verloren.'"
[Our enemies] are about to rush down on us; their chariots are like [SIM] whirlwinds. Their horses are faster than eagles. It will be terrible for us!
14 So wasche rein dein Herz von Missetat, Jerusalem, daß Heil dir werde! Wie lange haust in deiner Brust dein heillos Gieren?
[You people of] Jerusalem [APO], purify your hearts/inner beings, in order that Yahweh will rescue you. How long will you continue to think about [doing] evil things?
15 Aus Dan, horch, eine Meldung! Ein Unheilsbote vom Gebirge Ephraim!
From Dan [city in the far north] to the hills of Ephraim [a few miles/kilometers north of Jerusalem] messengers are proclaiming that disasters are coming.
16 "Heidnische Völker bietet auf und ruft sie gen Jerusalem zusammen! Aus fernem Lande kommen Krieger; ihr Kriegsgeschrei gilt Judas Städten.
Tell this to the [people in other] nations [but also] announce it in Jerusalem: [Yahweh says], “An army is coming to Jerusalem from far away; they will shout [a battle-cry] against the cities in Judah.
17 Wie Feldhüter umlagern sie es ganz. Es war ja widerspenstig gegen mich." Ein Spruch des Herrn.
They will set up tents around Jerusalem like people set up temporary shelters [SIM] around a field [at harvest time]. That will happen because the people of Judah have rebelled against me.
18 Dein Wandel, deine Taten, die tragen dir dies ein. Das kommt von deiner Schlechtigkeit, daß es so bitter hart ans Herz dir greift.
You will be punished very severely; it will [be as though a sword] has stabbed your inner beings. But you are causing those things to happen to you because of the evil things that you have done.”
19 Mein Inneres, mein Inneres! Ich muß mich krümmen. Ach, meines Herzens Kammern! Mein Herz! Es pocht; ich kann's nicht stillen. - Ich höre schon des Lärmhorns Schall - des Krieges Lärmgetümmel.
I am extremely anguished/sad; the pain in my inner being is very severe. My heart beats wildly. But I cannot remain silent because I have heard [our enemies] blowing their trumpets to announce that the battle [against Judah will start immediately].
20 Verheerung auf Verheerung wird gemeldet. Verloren ist das ganze Land, im Nu vernichtet mein Gezelt, im Augenblicke meine Hütte!
Disasters will occur one after another until the whole land is ruined. Suddenly [all] our tents will be destroyed; [even] the curtains [inside the tents] will be ripped apart.
21 Wie lange muß ich Kriegspaniere schauen, das Lärmhorn hören?
How long will this battle continue? How long will I continue to see the enemy battle flags and hear the sound of their trumpets being blown?
22 "Ach, töricht ist mein Volk; sie wollen mich nicht kennen. Einfältige Kinder sind's, so unvernünftig, nur klug, um Schlechtes zu verüben. Dagegen schlicht zu handeln, das verstehn sie nicht."
[Yahweh says], “My people are [very] foolish! They do not have a relationship with me. They are [like] [MET] stupid children who do not understand [anything]. They very cleverly do what is wrong, but they do not know how to do what is good.”
23 Ich schaue auf die Erde hin; nur Irr- und Wirrsal. Empor zum Himmel blicke ich: Fort Ist sein Licht.
[God gave me a vision in which] I saw that the earth was barren and without form. I looked at the sky, and there was no light there.
24 Ich seh die Berge an: Sie zittern, und alle Hügel beben.
I looked at the mountains and hills, and they shook and moved from side to side.
25 Ich schaue hin: Da gibt es keine Menschen mehr, und alle Himmelsvögel sind davon.
I looked and saw that there were no [more] people, and all the birds had flown away.
26 Ich schaue hin: das Fruchtgefilde eine Wüste; verheert all seine Städte vor dem Herrn, vor seiner Zornesglut.
I looked and saw that the fields that previously were fertile had become a desert. The cities were all ruined; they had all been destroyed by Yahweh because he was extremely angry.
27 Denn also spricht der Herr: "Das ganze Land soll eine Wüste werden; nur ganz vernichten will ich's nicht.
This is what Yahweh is saying: “The entire land [of Judah] will be ruined, but I will not destroy it completely.
28 Darüber trauere das Land! Der Himmel droben schwärze sich! Drum rede ich von meinem Plan und lasse ihn mich nicht gereuen; ich gehe nimmer davon ab." -
I will do to my people what I said that I would do, and I will not change my mind. So [when that happens, it will be as though] the earth will mourn and the sky will become very dark.”
29 Doch vor dem Rufe "Reiter! Schützen!" sind alle Städte auf der Flucht. Die schlüpfen in Gebüsche, und die erklettern Felsen; die Städte alle sind verlassen, und niemand siedelt mehr darin. -
[When the people hear] the sound of the [enemy] army marching, [they will be terrified as] they flee from their cities. Some of them will find places to hide in the bushes, and others will run toward the mountains/hills [to escape being killed by their enemies]. All the cities [in Judah] will be abandoned; not one person will remain in them.
30 Du Elende, was willst du tun? Ob du dich auch in Scharlach kleidest, ob du dich schmückst mit goldnem Schmuck, ob du mit Bleiglanz deine Augen schminkst, du machst umsonst dich schön. Die Buhlen haben dich jetzt satt; nach deinem Leben trachten sie. -
So you who will surely be destroyed, [why are you doing the things that you are doing now]? Why are you wearing beautiful clothes and jewelry? Why are you putting paint around your eyes? Doing those things will not help you, because the people [in other countries that you think] love you [actually] despise you, and they will try to kill you.
31 Ich höre Schreie wie von einer Kreißenden, Angstrufe wie von einer Erstgebärenden. Horch, wie die Sionstochter stöhnt und ihre Hände breitet: "O wehe mir! Dem Henkerstod bin ich verfallen."
[It is as though] I already hear [the people in Jerusalem] crying very loudly, like [SIM] a woman cries when she is giving birth to her first child; she gasps for breath and pleads for someone to help her. [It is as though Jerusalem] is crying, “Something terrible is happening to me! They are about to murder me!”
